Muslim outrage over ‘praying’ beauties

Aubrey Miles

The Muslim region of the Philippines is outraged over what it claims the desecration of Islam by stars Ara Mina, Aubrey Miles and Rufa Mae Quinto.

Led by Anak Mindanao Rep. Mujiv Hataman and Lanao de Sur Rep. Benasing Macarambon, the outcry threatens to escalate into a major national issue as the Muslim solons call for the sacking of Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) chairman Consoliza Laguardia for allowing the offensive segment of “Extra Challenge” to air on national television.

Ara, Aubrey and Rufa were in Dubai recently to tape an episode of “Extra Challenge,” a GMA-7 reality TV show that approximates U.S. TV’s “Fear Factor.” In one of the show’s challenges, the buxom threesome were made to recite an Islam prayer while being driven in a Landcruiser in the outskirts of Dubai.

According to Representatives Hataman and Macarambon, the three recited the Al Fatiha — the Islam equivalent of the Catholic religion’s The Lord’s Prayer — in a foolishly humorous and irreverent manner that desecrated the Islam faith. According to the solons, the three women tried to inject foolish comedy in their recitation with the intention of drawing laughter from television viewers.

“I condemn in the strongest possible terms the lack of respect and the impertinence of the ‘Extra Challenge’ and Misses Mina, Miles and Quinto showed towards our religion,” said Rep. Hataman.

‘Zero budget’

Rep. Macarambon also expressed outrage at how the offensive footage passed the review and classification standards of the MTRCB. The two solons are now threatening to get back at Chairman Laguardia by pressing for a “zero budget” for the MTRCB in the coming deliberations of the General Appropriations Act 2006 in the House of Congress.

Aside from the desecration of Islam, one other thing that the Muslim solons found offensive with “Extra Challenge” was the fact that Ara, Aubrey and Rufa were filmed wearing skimpy outfits as they did various segments of the show in the streets of Dubai. Plus the fact that in the show’s teasers, according to Representatives Hataman and Macarambon, the predominantly male onlookers were depicted as sex-crazed men ogling maliciously at the three beauties.

“If ‘Extra Challenge’ did that in Saudi Arabia, pugot-ulo sila,” said Rep. Macarambon.

GMA-7 and “Extra Challenge” hosts Paolo Bediones and Ethel Booba have apologized to the Muslim community this week, but it was not clear whether the Muslim brothers, particularly Representatives Hataman and Macarambon, were appeased.