'Baywalk Bodies' turn unlikely champions in panel's fight against pornography

Manila: The Baywalk Bodies, a group of starlets who earned notoriety for posing nude in the middle of a busy capital thoroughfare, say they have changed and turned into crusaders against pornography.

"We have reformed our ways," the six-member group - composed of Kissa Kurdi, Jeanette Joaquin, Michaela Espinosa, Rejoice Rivera, Palmolive Paloma and Dove de Vera - said to Representative Bienvenido Abante at a recent congressional hearing.

Abante's Committee on Public Information is conducting hearings aimed at coming up with a more comprehensive law against pornography and the Baywalk Body members have been invited to provide inputs to the panel.

The group said they are willing to pitch in to help the government's drive against pornography and immorality in general.

Three years ago, such words would not have been uttered by any member of the notorious sextet.

The group is known for its liberal views on sex and other issues considered taboo in this predominantly Christian country. The all-woman assemblage have been behind novelty hits like Bombera, Bibingka and Lollipop - songs that carry sexually explicit lyrics and titles. During the hearing, Abante, a pastor, said coming up with a stronger law against pornography is necessary.

"We have the duty to protect Filipinos, especially the youth, from the evils of pornography," Abante, said.

Baywalk Bodies' most recent brush with the law was in August 2006 when its members were detained temporarily in Guam for prostitution.

According to a proposed law being crafted by Abante and several other legislators, the new anti-pornography edict will cover all forms of media, including billboards and the internet.

Naked pose

The Baywalk Bodies first drew attention in 2004 when they posed naked during a pictorial at the Baywalk near the Rajah Sulaiman Park in Manila.

The mid-afternoon photo session drew a sizeable crowd and disrupted traffic, prompting authorities to file charges against the group for indecent exposure.