Tag: Bill Clinton

By Vincent Cabreza
Philippine Daily Inquirer

BAGUIO CITY—A teenager from Sagada town, Mountain Province almost did not get a return for the “good money” that was paid to listen to former United States President Bill Clinton’s lecture at the Manila Hotel on “our common humanity” because he was wearing an Igorot G-string.

Moshe Dacmeg, 19, was almost thrown out of the hotel’s conference hall on Wednesday by an unidentified American and two hotel employees who regarded his Kankanaey G-string attire as inappropriate.

Dacleg is an aide of Vladimir Cayabas, administrator of the Baguio-based National Institute of Information Technology (NIIT), who spent P6,000 to bring the boy and a friend to the lecture.

From China, Ifugao Rep. Teodoro Baguilat Jr. told the Inquirer he was offended by the report.

“Diplomats who come to the Philippines should be educated about cultural sensibilities. A man in a G-string is not a terrorist but an honorable man,” said Baguilat, who chairs the House committee on indigenous cultural communities.

Cayabas, a Kankanaey from Mountain Province, had attended formal events in Baguio and the Cordillera wearing a G-string. But for the Clinton lecture, he wore a Cordillera-inspired Barong Tagalog. His female companion was in a Kankanaey “tapis” (skirt).