Government administrators and politicians are now jumping on the bandwagon in criticizing the U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines, Harry Thomas, Jr. for saying that 40% or 4 of every 10 male foreigners who visit the Philippines come for "sex tourism."

Many are offended because they do not like what he said. For them, it is not only humiliating but also demeaning to our pride and dignity as a people.

I guess, such knee-jerk reactions are expected. In fact, it is understandable especially when one falls shy of a reasoned counter-argument against a message. One can always refuse to admit that the problem exists, or better, discredit the messenger.

But my question is: Does all of this barking and howling address the problem at hand? And why are we really offended?

Is it because we could not agree on the accuracy of the percentage? Is it because we do not regard it as a social problem at all? Or, is it because the remark comes out of the mouth of a foreigner?

I think it is the latter. We are vexed, and more so provoked by it, not because we disagree with the percentage share nor deny its existence but because it is simply spoken by an outsider!

Unfortunately, sex tourism exists in the Philippines and it is a social problem!

Why is it then that our leaders and government officials refuse to admit the problem exists? Why is it that this issue remains a "forgotten secret?"

To educate the Department of Justice (DOJ) on what is happening on the ground, I suggest that it ask one simple question: How many adult bars, clubs, and shows are operating in the country? If at a minimum, it can come up with a list of red light districts in our various towns and cities, I’ll be grateful.

But I guess, this is not the function of the DOJ.

So now, it is a personal issue rather than a social issue.

Personalizing an issue is a common response of a highly personalistic society like the Philippines. It is a cultural trait that has been the major source of our defensive attitude against actual or perceived criticism until now, without our knowing it.

It is the bread and butter of government functionaries who entangle themselves in peripheral disputes thereby blinding themselves to issues screaming for attention and resolution.

Rather than facing them head on, we bury our heads in the sand. We not only resort to blaming others but also displace our monetized time and effort to things that do not really matter in the end. That is, finding professional and workable solutions to our social problems.

And yet, no matter how we try to ignore the problem of sex tourism, we cannot close our eyes to what is going on. How can we be so blind not to see the reasons that drive many of our women as well as men to sell their bodies for sex?

Isn’t it easy to see?

For a small country teeming with men, women, and children battered by grinding poverty as well as natural calamities, i.e. typhoons, floods, landslides, and earthquakes on a permanent basis, the physical hardship of our people is scarcely imaginable.

Our affected towns and cities are crowded with families in pitiful scenes of grime and slime with nothing but their ill-clothe tubercular bodies huddled under canvases and tents anxiously waiting for government dole-outs as well as presidential visits.

Since we do this year in and year out like an unbroken ritual, I am sad to say that unless we break this vicious cycle, ours is a pathetic prospect and future indeed.

The basis of sex tourism is right under our noses, in the harsh reality of material and economic conditions of our people.

Thus, I suggest that instead of being indignant at U.S. Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr. for exposing the pestering social problem of sex tourism, we should be indignant against the hypocrisy and blindness of those who try to cover it up with flimsy explanations of protecting our dignity, good image, or national sovereignty.