Jaehwa Bernardo

(From left) Toni Fowler and Jerry Gracio. Fowler’s image from ABS-CBN News; Gracio’s photo from his Facebook page

Article (news)

Ex-KWF commissioner reacts to Toni Fowler's vagina comment

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17696872418632-Composite (4).jpg" style="width:960px;display:block;height:auto" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">(From left) Toni Fowler and Jerry Gracio.<em> Fowler’s image from ABS-CBN News; Gracio’s photo from his Facebook page</em></span></span></span></div><p>A former commissioner of the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) agreed Thursday with social media personality Toni Fowler, who had questioned why certain Tagalog words are often perceived as more vulgar than their English counterparts.</p><p>Fowler made the statement during her interview with broadcast journalist Rico Hizon during the debut episode of his podcast &quot;Rated R: The Rico Hizon Podcast.&quot;</p><p>She raised the language issue when she was made to react to comments referring to her as &quot;bastos.&quot;</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NDFwt43aBYI?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>&quot;For example, sabihin ko &#x27;puke.&#x27; Bastos po ba &#x27;yon? Eh parte &#x27;yon ng katawan ng isang babae. Pero &#x27;pag sinabi mo ang babae na vagina, &#x27;Ay hindi bastos &#x27;yong sinabi ni Toni,&#x27;&quot; said Fowler, known for her unfiltered personality and songs that tackle sexuality.</p><p>&quot;So hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit nagiging bastos ang isang Tagalog na salita,&quot; she added.</p><p>Her comment sparked online discussion about why English terms for genitals are perceived by some as less crass than their Filipino counterparts, while others argued that it is not the language itself but other factors such as setting, intent, tone, and delivery that can make certain words inappropriate.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2026/1/29/toni-fowler-opens-up-on-life-and-fame-in-rico-hizon-s-podcast-1516"><strong>READ: Toni Fowler opens up on life and fame in Rico Hizon&#x27;s podcast<br/></strong></a></div><p>Writer Jerry Gracio, a former KWF commissioner, weighed in on the matter, appearing to agree with Fowler that Filipino terms for genitals — such as &quot;puke&quot; for vagina — are not inherently vulgar.</p><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FabscbnNEWS%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0S73QDoKvg2xxyXjww2r3vcPvptwsjiXW9moS1SdLBP93zkh8M8wgr6ipAYgS1Y9zl&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=500" width="500" height="498" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>&quot;Tama si Toni Fowler. Hindi bastos ang puke,&quot; Gracio wrote in <a href="https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DUnxqy1a3/"><strong>a social media post</strong></a>.</p><p>&quot;Nag-iiba ba ang kahulugan kapag sinabing vagina? Hindi, puke pa rin siya,&quot; he said.</p><p>Gracio said there are no appropriate terms to refer to a vagina whether in a formal, informal or scientific use.</p><p>&quot;Hindi totoong may mga angkop na termino para sa formal, balbal, at siyentipikong pangangailangan. Ang puke ay puke pormal man o informal. Ang puke ay puke sa balbal man o sa agham,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;Kailangan nating tukuyin ang puke bilang puke dahil hindi siya flower. Puki siya,&quot; he said.</p><p>Flower is often used as a euphemism for vagina.</p><p>In a separate post, Gracio, in apparent jest, even called for Fowler&#x27;s appointment as chairperson of the KWF.</p><p>&quot;Mami Oni as chair of the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino, baka umayos pa &#x27;yung KWF,&quot; he said.<u></u><br/></p>

<p>A former commissioner of the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino agreed with social media personality Toni Fowler, who had questioned why certain Tagalog words are often perceived as more vulgar than their English counterparts.</p>

A former commissioner of the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino agreed with social media personality Toni Fowler, who had questioned why certain Tagalog words are often perceived as more vulgar than their English counterparts.

'Bastos po ba 'yon?' Ex-KWF commissioner reacts to Toni Fowler's vagina comment

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'Bastos po ba 'yon?' Ex-KWF commissioner reacts to Toni Fowler's vagina comment

ABS-CBN News

Published January 29, 2026 07:58 PM PHT

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Toni Fowler

Jerry Gracio

language

Rico Hizon

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