Mariel Pamintuan was notably absent from this year’s GMA Gala, held at the Grand Ballroom of the Manila Marriott Hotel on July 20.
Her absence left fans eagerly awaiting her humorous and unfiltered commentary on the event, disappointed.
Mariel revealed on her Facebook page that she did not receive an invitation to the prestigious event this year.
“Hallur Krazy Pipol, it has come to my attention that some of you… ang hirap pala tagalugin ko na nga lang! May mga nalungkot dahil di ako na-imbita sa GMA Gala,” she wrote.
She further explained the reason for her absence: “Natapos na po ang aking 2 yr. contract sakanila at ngayon ay isa na po akong freelancer.”
Despite not being part of the guest list, Mariel expressed her gratitude towards GMA Network for the opportunities they provided during her contract. “Ganun pa man gusto ko po malaman niyo na malaki ang pasasalamat ko sa GMA na binigyan nila ako ng mga proyektong nahubog ang kakayahan ko bilang artista at nakatulong sa aming pinansyal. Yun po ay malaking bagay para sakin kaya naman nanatiling masaya ang aking puso. I love Kapuso EYYYY”
Reflecting on her missed chance to critique the gala’s food, she added humorously, “P.S. Sayang mukhang masarap ang food.”
Mariel made a significant impact in past GMA Galas with her honest and often comedic reviews. In 2022, she trended for her no-holds-barred comments about the event, which earned her both admiration and criticism. Her TikTok videos from that year went viral, particularly her remarks about not recognizing many attendees and her critique of the food served.
In 2023, she once again captured attention with her preparation and post-event reviews. Her straightforward take on the experience and her reflections on the previous year’s gala were widely shared and discussed.
This year, however, fans were disappointed by her absence. Many had looked forward to her unique perspective and engaging content from the gala.