Henry Sy and his SM Group of Companies should have taken a second look at its contract with the organizers of the highly controversial Lady Gaga show, considering that the event would be the first or inaugural show in their newly built Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena.
Sy and his wife are known to be devout Catholics and deeply religious; they attribute their success ultimately to “God’s blessings.” They even constructed one of the most visited and attended Catholic churches, The Shrine of Jesus, near the MOA.
Also, SM was commended when it banned R-18 movies, or those which are strictly for persons 18 years old and above, in all its malls to insure that only quality and morally accepted films are shown in its theaters.
It is therefore very surprising why the Sys allowed its newly built MOA Arena to be inaugurated with an event where the songs to be sang are practically against morals, offensive to the Catholic faith, and against Jesus Christ who is the very center of SM’s pride, The Shrine of Jesus. Or perhaps, in good faith, the Sys agreed with the staging of the event without knowing the lyrics of Lady Gaga’s songs like the song, “Judas,” with the following highly objectionable lines: “I’m in love with Judas”; “Jesus, King with No Crown”; “Jesus, I’ll bring Him down, bring Him down”; “I’m a fame hooker and prostitute”; “Judas, wear an ear condom next time”; and “Judas is the demon I cling to,” to mention a few.
The Sys, consistent with their policy of exhibiting wholesome shows in their theaters, should not allow this song or its kind in its MOA Arena. If other business establishments are inaugurated with the “house blessing” rites, the MOA Arena does not deserve such apparently blasphemous lines to dominate its first event. For sure, Sy and all committed Catholics can agree that this is not appropriate song to sing just a day after we celebrated the Feast of the Ascension of Jesus Christ to heaven.
Sy and his family should draw the balance between their business interest and their faith in Jesus.
—ROMULO B. MACALINTAL,
lector-commentator,
Last Supper of Our Lord Parish,
Las Piñas City