Broadway singer Lea Salonga recently went viral for her controversial social media post on Facebook where she cursed while expressing her frustration with what was happening in the Philippines.
This did not sit well with former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile who called the singer’s actions as ‘bastos’.
In an interview with DZOR Sonshine Radio, Admar Vilano and Jess Aranza asked Enrile’s reaction on the viral statement of the broadway singer.
Enrile answered, “Bastos, napakabastos. Ano namang malay ng Lea na yun ang alam niya eh kumanta lang.”
The Facebook post by Lea led some netizens wanting to petition for her to be declared persona non grata.
Dapat Ideklara ng malacanang na "PERSONA NON GRATA" ang @MsLeaSalonga.. Kasalanan nya tlga ang lahat ng ito! hahahha Kalurks!
— ♕ Angel_LocKring ♕ (@AngeL_LocKring) September 13, 2011
Punyeta ka!!!! Ngayon mag sosorry ka ksi nsa hot sit kna!!! At kakasuhan kna ng persona non grata!!! Putang ina mo ksi eh kala mo kung sino ka eh!!! Kainin mo yan mic mo animal!!!!
— lovable (@BambiMontecarlo) June 22, 2020
OPINION: Declare Lea Salonga persona non grata..please get out from Philippines..
$#t@%^&!€@— SlymerQueen (@SlymerQueen) June 16, 2020
Yes, you need them ‘PERSONA NON GRATA’ pic.twitter.com/Fgqcg1sPSd
— ManilaGirl_In_Cali (@elliculucille) June 20, 2020
In a Tweet, Lea made a clarification about her viral post.
According to the singer, although she stands by every word she wrote, she wanted to clarify what many misunderstood that she was cursing as an expression and that it was not directed to anyone or to the country.
Hi, gang. It seems a recent Facebook post of mine has gotten quite a bit of attention and launched all sorts of… I don’t even know what word to use, so I thought to use this platform and this space to offer some clarification in the hope that I’m more clearly understood. 1/
— Lea Salonga (@MsLeaSalonga) June 22, 2020
She said that she did not and will never curse the Philippines that she loves and respects dearly.
Regarding the post itself, yes I stand by every single word I wrote as an expression of my frustration with certain events currently taking place in our country. However, contrary to what some of you might believe, I never, NOT EVER, cursed the Philippines. 2/
— Lea Salonga (@MsLeaSalonga) June 22, 2020
So, to further clarify, I didn’t say p- i- mo, or p- i- ka. If that was what I meant, I would’ve been explicit in my expression. My p- i- was aimed at no one in particular, and was used only as an outburst, a cry. My apologies if I hurt your feelings with my choice of words. 4/
— Lea Salonga (@MsLeaSalonga) June 22, 2020
One of the celebrities who reacted to Lea Salonga’s swearing was Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP) Director-General and known DDS supporter Vivian Velez.
“We are on a correcting stage and unity is our lifejacket at this increasingly divisive time. I say, let’s love our country flaws and all. 
#MahalKongPilipinas”
https://www.facebook.com/vivianvelez888/posts/3358744474160201
