Anne Curtis Speaks Out During Women’s Month After Misogynistic Remarks by Bong Suntay

There is a phrase that often appears whenever women speak up about misogyny: “not all men.” The intention is usually to shut down the conversation. But the response many women have learned to give is simple. It may not be all men, but it is all women. Almost every woman has a story of being sexualized, catcalled, objectified, or spoken about in ways that strip away dignity. It happens regardless of age, appearance, or what someone was wearing. The experiences are so common that many women no longer ask if it will happen. Only when.

Photo: Anne Curtis / FB

That reality sat quietly behind the powerful statement released by Anne Curtis during Women’s Month. Her message came after remarks made by Bong Suntay circulated online and sparked criticism for being misogynistic and disrespectful.

Curtis explained that it took her time to respond. Her focus had been on reuniting with her family after they were stranded in the Middle East and ensuring they returned home safely. Once she was back, she said she felt ready to speak about what had happened.

In her statement, Curtis described the remarks as “a vulgar, sexualized analogy” where her name was used without consent and without respect. She shared that her first reaction was shock and anger. But she also made it clear that the issue was larger than a single person.

“What happened to me isn’t rare,” she wrote.

She pointed out that comments like this happen every day in offices, group chats, and private conversations where women are reduced to punchlines or examples in jokes. What made this incident particularly troubling, she said, was that the remark came from someone holding public office.

Curtis addressed the deeper cultural problem behind moments like this. Misogyny dressed up as humor, she wrote, is still misogyny. When comments like these go unchallenged, they normalize disrespect and quietly lower the standard for what leadership looks like.

She also emphasized accountability. Public officials hold positions funded by taxpayers. Women are taxpayers too. “We are not props in your commentary,” she wrote.

While Curtis did not accept the apology issued by Suntay himself, she acknowledged and accepted the apology made by his wife. She expressed empathy for the family members affected by the controversy, noting that they should not be made to carry the burden of someone else’s actions.

Still, Curtis made it clear that her message was not about revenge or public humiliation. Instead, it was about setting a standard. Women deserve better, she said, not just when an issue becomes viral, but every day.

Her statement ended with a broader call to challenge the culture that allows these remarks to continue unchecked. Every time misogynistic comments go unchallenged, she wrote, it sends a message about what behavior is acceptable and what leadership looks like to the next generation.

Curtis closed with a message that resonated widely across social media.

“We deserve better. Not just now, while this topic is a hot issue, but every single day.” She later summarized the sentiment in her caption: “Women’s Month isn’t just a celebration… it’s a reminder of how far we still have to go.”

In many ways, that line captures the deeper purpose of Women’s Month itself. It celebrates progress, but it also reminds society that respect, dignity, and accountability should not depend on whether the issue is trending.