Sen. Cynthia Villar: 'Unli-Rice Is Bad'—Of Course Twitter Reacts

Senator Cynthia Villar is the chair of the Senate committee on agriculture and food. "On Wednesday, June 14, the committee began the inquiry into the current rice importation program of the National Food Authority and the proposed cancellation of the quantitative import restrictions on rice," reported Jocelyn R. Uy in Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Villar stated, "We should not encourage consumption of well-milled rice. If possible, we should already shift to brown rice so Filipinos would eat less and so that finally, we can already be self-sufficient."

She then added her now-infamous words: "Unlimited rice is bad for the health. We should learn how to eat more vegetables."

While Villar may have had good intentions behind her comment, many rice-loving Pinoys didn't see it that way. They pointed out that for people who aren't exactly well-off, rice is the most affordable option available.

Check out some of the heated reactions on Twitter:

shut up palibhasa sanay ka sa panay piling ulam kinakain n walang kanin. Maawa ka sa mga pobre. Gano ba kadalas pumunta s may unli rice?— nester (@nestercast) June 15, 2017

Teeeeka..... Pake mo ba??? Kanin is life!!!! Kung ayaw mo ng unli-rice edi wag ka kumain o mag-order!!! Wag mo... https://t.co/XtwwMepvC1— MoonChild (@rvmoonchild) June 15, 2017

NANANAHIMIK YUNG UNLI RICE VILLAR!! Ibang issue ng bansa yung pagtuunan mo ng pansin!!— Releth Lichauco (@liCHAUking) June 15, 2017

You don't know how much Mang Inasal's unli rice make my father happy Cynthia Villar. You don't know!— AICAH (@itsgaeun) June 15, 2017

Cynthia Villar: Let's ban unli rice Me: pic.twitter.com/MqHgUGsjoO— HIRAETH (@joshsparklings) June 14, 2017

I do not understand the point of banning unli-rice promos. Who hurt u, Cynthia Villar?— Akhina Tiu (@akhinamatata) June 14, 2017

To Sen. Cynthia Villar, I think ung conversion of ricefields to subdivision like Camella ang dapat i-ban than Unli Rice sa Mang Inasal etc.— Mykiru Isyusero (@mykiru) June 14, 2017

Cynthia Villar wants to ban unli-rice promos. We don't need that kind of negativity in our lives.— Averil Santos (@TheAveengers) June 14, 2017

A wealthy figure like Cynthia Villar doesn't understand how normal Filipinos get hungry and this unli-rice means so much. #RIP #UnliRice— ian (@ian_chrisbp) June 15, 2017

Cynthia Villar, Unli rice? what an unli-stupidity to even consider this as worth legislating; you are not even a nutritionist to begin with.— SyLicoNgaAko (@SyLicoNgaAko) June 14, 2017

I love it talaga when rich people (Cynthia Villar) tell me not to eat as much (unli rice).— Furious Cat (@Absolutalbert) June 14, 2017