See a shrink, Philippine Azkals challenged

Angel Guirado INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Facing their yet most formidable challenge outside the field, the Azkals superstars got a mouthful from Social Welfare Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman: Submit to psychiatric and psychological assessments to be sure all the fame is not getting into your heads.

Soliman challenged the national football team to submit to such assessments “so they’ll know how to comport themselves before millions of adoring Filipino fans,” Soliman said.

“I’m suggesting that they go through psychological assessment so that they can be aware of the values they carry and they can be aware of the mental age that they have,” she told reporters in a press forum at the Philippine Information Agency.

The stern admonition came after Cristina Ramos, match commissioner of the friendly football game between the Philippines and Malaysia, complained that she experienced “crude and totally shameful … sexist and demeaning” behavior from some members of the team. Ramos,  former president of the Philippine Olympic Committee, has filed with the Asian Football Confederation a formal complaint of sexual harassment against two members of the Azkals—Lexton Moy and Angel Guirado.

Soliman continued: “It really is no joke when you’re idolized by so many, and you behave—I don’t want to insult dogs—like a real boor. It’s just not acceptable to me because young people idolize you. So you better behave.”

The assessment should not take a day, and it’s the duty of their managers to arrange this, she added.

The daughter of former President Fidel V. Ramos was conducting a prematch inspection inside the Azkals’ dugout at Rizal Memorial Stadium in preparation for last week’s exhibition match between the Philippines and Malaysia when she was met by what she described as insulting remarks from the Azkals.

She said “one player disrespectfully asked for the size of her brassiere, which was followed by a roar of laughter” and another player appeared half-naked before her.

Some players had earlier been accused of rape, but they denied this.

Soliman acknowledged that some of the Azkals players were born abroad and grew up in a different culture, and hence, should be made to understand that their values and attitudes are inappropriate and not acceptable.

“Besides, their being lionized by the media could be getting into their heads,” she added.  Given their young age, fame and fortune could “get into their heads.”

“And so I challenge the managers of Azkals: You have to give your boys values education,” she added.

If they cannot not act responsibly, “they should not be in this business,” Soliman said. “There’s too much idolatry of young men and women who in the end prove to be not good role models of behavior. They should be good role models of behavior because they’re popular.”

Originally posted at 03:53 pm | Wednesday, March 07,  2012