- Marian Rivera received backlash from netizens for her comment about the traffic problem
- Many netizens were dismayed when she suggested that one can use traffic hours as “me” time
- Marian made a public apology and some clarifications about her traffic problem comment
Kapuso Pimetime Queen Marian Rivera received criticisms online after she gave her comment about the current traffic crisis in the country.
In a recent interview after her launching event as the new Waltermart endorser, the actress said she believed that traffic is just normal nowadays and there is no reason for it to be stressed about it.
“Traffic? Parang matagal nang may traffic. Wala nang dahilan para ikunsume mo sarili mo sa traffic. Kung may lakad ka, eh ‘di pumunta ka ahead of time para ‘di ka ma-trapik.”
In addition, Marian also gave her own tips to use the hours spent in traffic as a ‘me’ time to make it productive.
“Sa sasakyan, ‘pag trapik, andaming pwedeng gawin. Magcellphone ka, magsulat ka, eh ‘di ‘yun ‘yung ‘me’ time mo sa sarili mo, ‘di ba? So andaming pwedeng gawin mo ‘pag traffic,” she said in an interview by Philstar.com.
But her remark did not sit well with many netizens as they claimed that Marian is not really affected by traffic because of her social status.
Some also asserted that the actress failed to consider the struggles of people who are less fortunate in life thus making an “insensitive” and “degrading” comment.
Marian Rivera can afford to be stuck in traffic for three to four hours. Her salary wouldnt get deducted by the number of hours she is tardy. This is the callousness her fame afforded her.
Akala mo hindi naghirap. Umalwan lang sa buhay naging bulag na sa paghihirap ng masa.
— KM (@karlitsssssss) October 12, 2019
https://twitter.com/jay_beltran/status/1183180675366584321?s=19
https://twitter.com/fordawinn/status/1182970735033118721?s=19
Marian Rivera really said this about the traffic issue in the Philippines. Well said by a matapobre, burgis, condescending, and apathetic person. She really hit the mark! She made such a great point! Pag mayaman ka nga naman, ang 3-4 hour traffic ay “me-time” lang para sayo! pic.twitter.com/9xkeCxBnWm
— Iris (@irisvicencio) October 12, 2019
Even if it was just about how THEY handle traffic, her response is very tone-deaf, she doesn’t acknowledge the situations that people who are unlike her go through, it’s ignorant and apathetic.
— Iris (@irisvicencio) October 12, 2019
Sa totoo lang a person with her reach could have helped this issue, if she wasn’t so out of touch with reality she could’ve really said something that would’ve made people more aware of the crisis in this country— pero wala, kaya people like her shouldn’t be interviewed about it.
— Iris (@irisvicencio) October 12, 2019
In psychology, we’re often reminded about empathy. Marian needs to be reminded of this. Not everyone has the convenience for “me time” when caught in traffic.
Stop normalizing the plight of commuters. Use your influence wisely. Practice empathy. pic.twitter.com/OK4zk9nX8t
— Miss Maggie (@MiaMagdalena) October 12, 2019
On the opposite side, some defended the actress, saying that her statement only pointed out the truth about the traffic issue and made suggestions about it.
I don't see anything wrong with Marian's answer. She was asked if she's affected by the traffic, & for her she was not, bec she already accepted na may traffic. Instead of stressing herself in the traffic eh she make it useful by keeping herself busy during traffic. pic.twitter.com/6hj8i5G1Sz
— SuperSuman (@SumanSaLihiya) October 12, 2019
https://twitter.com/iamjeromeow/status/1183504376641441792?s=19
https://twitter.com/itsMarianRivera/status/1183231479448514560?s=19
https://twitter.com/AdrianSanggala1/status/1183046005110931457?s=19
After receiving numerous hateful comments online, Marian finally decided to clarify her controversial remark and said she was just misinterpreted.
Marian wrote on Instagram with an attached photo of an article. “Lahat tayo ay biktima ng trapik, at kani-kaniyang paraan lang kung paano tayo mag-cope sa sitwasyon. Ang tanong po kasi during the interview—kung panonoorin at pakikinggan niyo ang buong clip—ay naka-tuon sa aking pamamaraan kung paano ko personal na itinatahak ang problemang ito ng ating lipunan, kaya’t sinagot ko naman iyon ayon sa kung ano ang totoo sa akin—at sa akin lamang. I just wanted to give a light take on my personal experience, but was misinterpreted.
“Hindi ko po nilalahat at lalu nang ginawang pangaral sa publiko ang aking pahayag,” she added.
According to her, the news site made a misleading headline and video of her interview which resulted in her words being taken out of context.
“Kung sana’y naging mas responsable lang ang Philstar.com sa kanilang headline at sa hindi pag edit ng tanong sa umpisa ng original video, hindi ako ma-tatake out of context. .
But the actress said that she is taking full responsibility of her answer though she added that she was apologetic towards the persons who were affected by her comment.
“Pinaninindigan ko po ang aking sagot and I take full responsibility, pero humihingi rin ako ng paumanhin sa mga nasaktan, nainis, napikon at kahit sa mga mema lang— hindi ko po nais na gawin ito sa inyo. Sa susunod, magiging mas maingat ako sa aking mga sinasabi, at sana ganoon din ang mga pahayagan na tinitingala ng nakararami.”
She also defended that she is aware about the daily struggles of a typical Filipino due to the traffic problem.
“Kinikilala ko po ang hirap na pinagdaraanan ng mga Pilipino sa kalbaryong ibinibigay sa ating lahat ng trapik. Ang bawat minuto na nasasayang sa kalsada ay dapat na sana’y nagagamit natin para makapiling ang ating mga mahal sa buhay— wala pong may gusto nito. . .
Peace everyone ❤️”
In the end of her post,the actress clarified that she is not “super rich” in opposition to a statement of the Philstar.com article.
“Hindi po ako super rich, gaya ng sabi ng Philstar.com. Maykaya, opo, dahil pinaghirapan ko po yun” Marian concluded.
