MANILA - Will President Benigno agree to go on a date with a former Playboy playmate?
Hollywood actress Pamela Anderson, a former star of TV series Baywatch, sent a letter to Aquino suggesting a dinner date so they can discuss the transfer of the 39-year-old ailing elephant Mali from the Manila Zoo to a reputable sanctuary.
"[S]hould you find yourself in Los Angeles, I'd love to take you to dinner and talk more about how we can help Mali," she said.
"Thank you for taking a strong, serious stance on her behalf by issuing a directive to consider moving her to a sanctuary. In a world filled with political self-interest, your character and integrity are inspiring," Anderson said.
"Gandhi once famously said, 'The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.' I know that the Philippines is a great nation," said Anderson, who is a supporter of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).
Experts and animal rights activists have been campaigning for Mali's transfer, saying the Manila zoo has failed to give the animal a comfortable home and proper care.
"In her current environment, Mali is cruelly denied socialization, stimulation, room to explore, and everything else that is natural and important to her," PETA said in a press statement.
"She endures intense confinement, loneliness, boredom, and isolation in an area a tiny fraction of the size of her natural habitat. Decades without proper veterinary care have left her with painful and potentially fatal foot problems, which the zoo is still failing to treat," it added.
source: Pamela Anderson asks PNoy for a date | ABS-CBN News