Author: Rochelle Pamotongan

On August 12, during a virtual forum for Diego Loyzaga’s contract signing with Viva Artists Agency, the actor shared his views on the huge criticism celebrities receive when voicing out their opinions online. He showed his support for celebs speaking out and said that it is the right of every person to stand for what they believe in. He said, “I sit on the fence with this issue because I think it’s right for a person to stand up for themselves, in what you believe in, if may comment na something and para sa iyo hindi tama, magrereact ka di…

Retired broadcaster Jay Sonza recently trended online after posting a supposed fact check on Maria Ressa’s previous profession before becoming a highly regarded journalist and CEO of Rappler. In his post, he stated that Ressa was never a journalist in the years 1986 to 1996 but rather she was a PA (Personal Assistant) of Cheche Lazaro’s defunct program Probe. “Maria Ressa was never a journalist or part of the immediate post-edsa (86-96) abs-cbn radio and television News, under TV News Director Larry Ng, TV News Manager Angelo Castro Jr., and Radio News & Public Affairs Director & TV Patrol Executive…

For the second time around Kris Aquino’s comeback show on the Kapatid network has reportedly been canceled. According to Philstar, an insider of TV5 exclusively disclosed that the show “Love Life with Kris” has been postponed. However, as of this writing, the network has not released any official statement regarding this allegation. It can be recalled that the show was supposed to premiere in July but was pushed back to August. After years of being on hiatus, the “Queen of All Media” was returning to television. She earlier hinted at her comeback when she signed a new contract with Cornerstone…

Recently Megastar Sharon Cuneta recalled her memories with former onscreen partner Gabby Concepcion on the 39th anniversary of their first-ever movie together, Dear Heart. On her Instagram account, she shared a throwback photo of her teenage years at 15 with matinee idol Gabby at 17, tagging their former life as “simple, pure and innocent.” “Eto na po mga solid na S-G (So this is it, solid fans of S-G). He was 17, I was 15. Things were super simple, pure, innocent, “Di pa po kami magkaano-ano dito at after shooting na kami nag-usap. Okay na po? Para sa susmaryosep na…

Beauty queen and actress Ruffa Gutierrez immediately responded to a critic who described her acting as “pangit” and “bading.” Ruffa is one of the most celebrated faces in the entertainment industry and has been acting for more than three decades. Recently she made a television comeback with ABS-CBN’s series Love Thy Woman where she played a secondary antagonist. Following her on-screen return was a comment from a netizen who insulted her acting skills. The netizen said, “Ang pangit ng character mo sa LTW para kang bading.” He added, “Sa lahat g bading ikw ang pangit, para kang bading umarte..real talk!”…

Kapuso actress Sunshine Dizon has had enough of keeping silent over the governance of public officials. Recently she aired her disappointment on her social media accounts following the Statement of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Rodrigo Duterte regarding the current situation of the country amid the trying times of the coronavirus pandemic. However, she clarified that her opinions do not imply that she was an activist but rather she is just a concerned mother who desires the well-being of her children. Her clarification was to answer back at criticism thrown at her which said that she is better off…

Following the 2020 State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Rodrigo Duterte, actress Kim Chiu slammed the government and compared the country’s current COVID-19 response status with other countries. In her Instagram story, she shared a Forbes article where it recognized the list of countries with the best coronavirus response while raising her opinion about it. “#SonaAll welfare ng tao ang iniisip mahirap man, middle class man or mayaman man. Mga tao muna bago ang sariling agenda,” she said. She also cautioned her critics saying that she is only a concerned taxpayer of the country. “Hep! Before kayo mag…

Jim Paredes, the lead singer of the well-known singing group APO Hiking Society trended online after his previous video scandal aired on the television news channel DZRH. On July 29, during the morning news of DZRH, a clip of the 67-year old’s scandal was displayed in the report. This incident was posted on Twitter by a concerned netizen which later went viral for its illicit broadcast. https://twitter.com/KimmyPatrol/status/1288292073498537985?s=20 Back in April 2019, Jim’s explicit video circulated online where he was recorded masturbating. He first denied the act and describe it as “fake” but he later admitted that he was the one…

Former congressional candidate Edu Manzano criticized the production design outcome of President Rodrigo Duterte’s 2020 State of the Nation Address (SONA). On Twitter, he questioned who was behind the preparation of the SONA and urged the team to not repeat the same mistake. “Who did the production design of the last SONA? Never again pls!” he said. https://twitter.com/realedumanzano/status/1288126986657792001?s=20 The preparation of this year’s SONA was headed by the well-known romantic-comedy director Joyce Bernal. Prior to the event, Bernal said that its design will be simple yet will display a “different flavor” that’s “very Filipino.” “Para sa mga tao naman ito…

Singer-songwriter Daryl Ong recently deactivated his personal Facebook account after engaging in a word war with several netizens. The post which triggered netizens to react was his statement about the possibility of Metro Manila returning to enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) due to “rallies”. Ong claimed that the COVID-19 cases will continue to rise since people in “rallies” are enjoined to gather together. “Mukhang mag E-ECQ na naman daw? Ayos rally pa more guys,” he stated in his now-deleted post. However, his remark drew the ire of some netizens since his claim is supposedly false. Accordingly, studies have shown “rallies” do…

Recently talk show host Jules Guiang lost his longtime job at state-run network PTV4 after commenting about the alleged violation on labor laws raised by some lawmakers during the ABS-CBN franchise renewal hearings. On his Twitter account, Guiang posted about the accusation of Anakalusugan Partylist Rep. Mike Defensor to ABS-CBN for its alleged unfair labor practices. In his post, he reiterated the fact that the government itself has been practicing non-regularization of employees. He further proved his statement by using his experience with PTV4 as an example wherein in his eight years of service he is still a contractual employee…

On (Monday) July 27, during his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Rodrigo Duterte once again attacked the Lopez family and the embattled ABS-CBN company. In his statement, he tagged the Lopezes as “oligarchs” who abuse their power and control politics by backing electoral candidates who favored their interests. “Great wealth enables economic elites and corporations to influence public policy to their advantage. Media is a powerful tool in the hands of oligarchs like the Lopezes who used their media outlets in their battles with political figures,” he said. He added that he was a “casualty” of the…

Veteran broadcast journalist Ces Oreña-Drilon, together with other ABS-CBN employees who were retrenched, assembled to protest the rejection of the network’s franchise bid. On July 27, a protest called “SONAkaisa” held at the University of the Philippines in Diliman was set hours before President Rodrigo Duterte’s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA). Retrenched ABS-CBN workers led by Drilon condemned the unjust verdict of Congress that junked the franchise application of the network, which led to the mass layoffs of 11,000 workers. Drilon, in front of various groups, said she is one with the workers who were affected by the…

Singer-comedian K Brosas hit back at a critic who insulted her appearance. On Facebook, a certain Isabelita Pascua threw shade on Brosas after calling her a ‘bakulaw’ behind her thick makeup. She said, “Inggit c Brosas parang bakulaw ang itsura nya. Kapal kapal ng make up pero bakulaw pa rin hitsura.” Brosas, who is known for being outspoken, did not let this criticism pass as she clapped back at the basher. “Pero sensya na, dito ako na natawa.. ang daming kc nag tag saken SA FB nito ehh.. tehh.. uhm.. hiyang Hiya naman ako sa ganda nyo. Anong skin care…

Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin, who was one of the lawmakers who voted to deny ABS-CBN’s application for a franchise renewal, claimed that the government is taking steps to ensure that the 11,000 employees affected by the denial would not go jobless amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In an online press forum, Garin raised her concern towards the untimely loss of jobs of the ABS-CBN employees and guaranteed that this matter has already been taken care of. “On the issue of the 11,000 workers, we were very clear in stating and we were assured by the government that there are steps are…

Senate President Vicente Sotto III denounced the intention of some Congress members to take over ABS-CBN’s property. Representatives Mike Defensor, Jesus Crispin Remulla, and Rodante Marcoleta plotted to seize ABS-CBN’s assets and property via a Zoom meeting. On Twitter, he claimed that the company’s property is “constitutionally protected” and the owner’s possession of such assets is substantial thus, acquisition of it should be properly taken to the courts. “Takeover ABS-CBN property? Private property is constitutionally protected. Possession is given weight. There is a venue, the courts; and there is due process,” he said. https://twitter.com/sotto_tito/status/1286101420584792065?s=20 Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate…