Beauty queen Winwyn Marquez calls out PH officials' lack of empathy, humility' amid heavy flooding

Beauty queen and actress Teresita Ssen “Winwyn” Marquez called out public officials over what she described as a lack of empathy, humility, and urgency amid widespread flooding caused by heavy monsoon rains and recent typhoons.

In a recent Facebook post, Marquez questioned how some public servants treat residents seeking assistance after severe floodwaters submerged entire communities.

“Ako lang po ba, or parang may something talaga sa ibang public servants lately? The way they talk and present themselves… parang kasalanan pa ng mga tao for expecting help after nila malubog sa baha?” Marquez wrote.

“Read the room. You’re speaking to people you’re supposed to serve. Hindi naman instant solution ang hinihingi, di ba? Konting empathy, urgency, at humility lang sana,” she stressed, adding that public servants must remember the core purpose of their role: “Public service is called service for a reason. Sakit sa brain.”

Marquez urged officials to communicate respectfully, collaborate with affected communities, and focus on immediate solutions rather than deflecting blame.

While Marquez did not explicitly name anyone, her statements followed mounting online backlash against several local leaders regarding their conduct and attire during flood inspections. 

Some officials, such as Pampanga Governor Lilia Pineda, her son Vice Governor Dennis “Delta” Pineda, and San Fernando Mayor Vilma Balle-Caluag recently drew sharp criticism after photos circulated showing them wearing luxury-brand clothing while visiting submerged areas.

In a subsequent television interview, Governor Pineda apologized, acknowledging that the outfits were inappropriate for the situation and stating that the public reaction served as an eye-opener. She denied living lavishly, describing the attire as an oversight during a rushed morning.

Continuing her critique in a separate post, Marquez emphasized that no family should lose a loved one due to governance failures.

“Nakakaiyak. Nakakagalit. Nakakapagod,” she wrote. “Hindi dapat ganito. Walang pamilyang dapat mawalan ng mahal sa buhay dahil sa kapabayaan, incompetence, at kasakiman ng mga taong nasa posisyon at dapat naglilingkod sa taumbayan. People deserve better!!”

While acknowledging that natural disasters are inevitable, Marquez insisted that their impact can be mitigated through proactive planning and stronger infrastructure.

“Mother Nature can be unpredictable. But we can prepare. We can build better systems. We can act before it’s too late,” she noted, concluding with a firm demand: “Hindi natin kontrolado ang kalikasan, pero may mga bagay na kaya nating paghandaan at maiwasan... kung ginagawa lang nang maayos ang trabaho. Filipinos deserve better!!!!”

-Kim Asis/Paraluman News