GMA Network was facing another controversy again after a blind item about an actor allegedly being touched inappropriately by two company executives was published on the internet.

Several newspapers published the item about the actor after the GMA Gala 2024.

According to the report, the newbie actor was reportedly “forced” by the said gay executives in one of the rooms of the hotel where the gala happened.

The executives also allegedly tricked the actor into drinking a sleeping pill-laced drink.

Some reports also indicated that the actor suffered from mental health problems after the incident.

Talent manager and showbiz reporter Ogie Diaz, who is known for his accurate reports, also confirmed the incident.

Meanwhile, GMA Network released a statement saying they’re taking the information seriously.

“Online articles and posts have recently circulated regarding an alleged incident involving an artist and independent contractors of GMA Network,” the statement read.

“We have yet to receive a formal complaint from those allegedly involved in the issue. Should one be filed, the Network is committed to conducting a thorough and impartial investigation. We assure the public that GMA Network takes such matters with utmost seriousness,” they added.

As of this writing, the actor’s camp and the accused executives have yet to give their statement on the issue.

A former actress who became popular in the 90s admitted that she came from a family who knew witchcraft.

In an interview with Morly Alinio, Alma Soriano shared some trivia about her life, which included her supernatural ability.

According to Alma, they inherited their ability from her grandmother.

However, the former actress clarified that she’s a good witch and not one who does harm to others.

“I’m a gray witch; I can be black, or I can be white, or I can be both,” she said. “‘Wag na nating pangarapin na maging black [witch] ako so let’s stay in the middle,”

“I can heal, kaya kitang gamutin [pero] hindi ‘yung intense na [karamdaman]” she added.

Alma discovered her ability during the pandemic when she tried to extend the lives of her sick relatives.

She also claimed to know how to read the future of an individual.

The actress also admitted that she was capable of doing ‘kulam,’ but she didn’t want to do it due to its possible consequences.

“Masama talaga eh… Hindi mo pwedeng basta ka nalang mananakit ng kapwa mo,” she said.

She also said that if someone claimed to know witchcraft or fortunetelling and accepted money, there was a big chance that they were fake.

“Once na ang manggagamot or ‘yung manghuhula [ay] nagpabayad, hindi totoo ‘yon, because we never ask money. This is a gift from heaven, this is a gift from universe, this is a gift from Gods and Goddesses,” she said.

“Since regalo ito, bakit mo ibebenta?” she asked.

R-Jay Marcilla, the waiter who stood for two hours to listen to the lecture of an LGBTQIA+ writer whom he called ‘sir,’ was already back on social media.

The waiter, who received praises and even job offers from people who admired his professionality and patience during that time, was busy uploading his videos on his social media pages.

In his videos, R-Jay showed how he loved to dance and make social media content for fun.

@akiie014

TikTok sa usa mo duty🤣#fyp #tiktok #trend

♬ RIGHT NOW x CAKE DANCE MASHUP – Michael Napiza

A week after the incident between him and Bacalso happened, R-Jay’s mouth was still zipped, and he refused to speak.

It can be recalled that R-Jay deactivated some of his social media pages.

Some of his colleagues said that the waiter was still recovering from what happened.

That’s why netizens were happy. They saw that R-Jay was still active on other social media platforms, and it seems fine now.

Meanwhile, some people who offered jobs to R-Jay were still open to accepting the latter if he ever decided to leave his current employer.

The University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons guard Harold Alarcon vehemently denied any link to LGBTQIA+ writer Jude Bacalso.

The speculations started when Jude posted a photo of Harold on her Instagram page, which included a heartbroken emoji.

Jude’s post possibly prompted people to create fake accounts of the writer to create a false post about linking the two.

Several days ago, a post from an impersonator of Jude on social media shared a post that included Harold’s photo.

Some netizens who saw the post quickly asked Harold about the veracity of the post.

The basketball player then posted a statement linking any relationship with Jude.

“Roma Mae lang po jowa ko. Stop spreading wrong information. Thanks, boss,” he said.

It’s unknown whether Harold knew that the individual behind the post was not Jude.

It can be recalled that Jude went viral on social media after she allegedly forced a waiter to listen to her lecture about gender sensitivity.

The incident happened after the waiter, identified as R-Jay Marcilla, mistakenly addressed Jude as ‘sir.’

Jude made an apology later on and insisted that she never forced the waiter to listen to her lecture.

She also claimed asking the waiter to sit, but the latter refused.

The private information of the 6.8 million subscribers of the online streaming app Vivamax might be endangered after a reported data breach orchestrated by a group of hackers.

According to the report, Deep Web Konek (DWK) reported on July 26 that the data of Vivamax subscribers was listed for sale on the dark web.

They said the data included the subscribers’ full names, phone numbers, email addresses, country of registration, subscription IDs, subscription timelines, payment methods, and even parental control PINs.

Deep Web Konek recommended that Vivamax users monitor their financial and online accounts.

“Affected users are advised to monitor their financial and online accounts for any unusual activity. It is also recommended to update passwords for all online accounts, especially if they are similar to those used for Vivamax. Implementing Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) wherever possible can add an extra layer of security. Users should also exercise caution with unsolicited emails or messages requesting personal information to avoid phishing attempts,” DWK wrote.

🚨 A massive data breach hits over 6.8M Vivamax Philippines subscribers' personal info compromised.

Compromised details include names, emails, phone numbers, and subscription data and many more.

Read more: https://t.co/GzbT6F59J1 pic.twitter.com/uca7sb0b5a

— Deep Web Konek (@deepwebkonek) July 26, 2024

As of writing, Vivamax has yet to give a statement on the issue.

Vivamax is one of the fastest-growing local streaming platform in the country.

Jhong Hilario asked a court in Makati to recognize that he was already divorced from his former partner, Michelle Marie Westgate, a British national.

In his column, Victor Agustin of Philippine Star’s Money-Go-Round by Victor C. Agustin published a court petition filed by Vhong before the Makati City RTC Branch 145.

According to the document, Jhong was asking the court to recognize that he was already single, which could be a hint that he would marry his current partner, Maia Azores.

Meanwhile, people were surprised that Jhong had been married before and that no one knew Westgate’s identity.

As of writing, Jhong has yet to state the legal action he made.

According to an old article, Michelle and Jhong were married in 2005.

Jhong said they met when they became colleague for a Miss Saigon project.

“Dito ko siya pinakasalan at si Mayor [Jejomar] Binay ang nagkasal sa amin. Her name is Michelle Westgate. Na-meet ko nga siya nung mag-work kami sa Miss Saigon, where ang work naman niya is a dresser. Yun ang tawag nila sa mga nag-aasikaso ng mga costumes and iba pang kailangan sa production,” Jhong said.

“She also works in a call center there at magaling din siyang chef. E, ako mahilig din magluto. Kaya nung nandito siya, sinigang na baboy at menudo ang inihahain ko sa kaniya. Sosyal nga lang, dahil sa sinigang ko, lemon ang ginagamit ko dahil yun ang gustung-gusto niya.” he added.

It’s not yet known how the two separated, but some sources said that it was related to language barrier between them.

The company that acquired the advertising agency’s services behind the controversial ‘Gil Tulog’ signage apologized after their marketing gimmick received backlash.

In a statement, Supplement brand Wellspring said that they didn’t intend to make fun of former Senate President Gil Puyat Sr, saying that the advertising was only a ‘wordplay’ to “promote the importance of sleep.”

The company that sells melatonin supplements recognized the insensitivity of its advertisement campaign.

“We deeply apologize to the family of the late Sen. Gil Puyat for the harm and offense that the campaign has caused them. Rest assured that there was no intent to besmirch and disrespect his legacy,” the statement read.

“We also would like to extend our sincerest apology to Makati City Mayor Abby Binay and the people of Makati for this misstep,” they added.

Meanwhile, the family of the late senate president filed a complaint against the ad agency behind the campaign.

According to them, “Gigil Advertising Agency’ was also suspended in the past because of their campaigns.

“We want Gigil Advertising Agency to be suspended or banned from your council. They have made several ads, when they have been suspended in the past,” the complaint filed by the Puyat family read.

Gigil was a multi-awarded advertising agency and worked with several big brands.

Former Wowowee dancer RR Enriquez believed that it was already unnecessary for LGBT writer Jude Bacalso to lecture the waiter who called her ‘sir.’

It can be recalled that Bacalso went viral on social media after she asked a waiter to listen to his lecture about gender sensitivity and pronouns, which lasted for two hours.

According to RR, Bacalso was wrong for letting the waiter stand for two hours while he was listening to her lecture.

“There are always two sides to every story. It may have been a peaceful conversation for you and the waiter and you didn’t insist on making him stand while talking to him. But since you are the one who initiate na ilecture sya, you cannot blame people to think how rude you are,” said RR.

“Although it was so nice of you to admit your mistakes and appologize to public… my only concern is why educate someone about pronouns when gradeschool pa lang tayo tinuturo na yan sa atin. He is for men and She is for women. Yan ang alam ng lahat.

“Although I get you, very offending naman kasi talaga na despite of you wearing a make up and dressed like a woman tapos tawagin ka pa din na Sir. But for someone na mas nakaka angat ng konti sa buhay why not just correct him right away and say call me Ma’am na lang Kuya. I prefer Ma’am instead of Sir.“ she added.

RR said what happened should teach Bacalso to be humble and treat others better.

RR’s post received mixed reactions from the netizens.

Mayor Abby Binay apologized for the confusion caused by an alleged marketing gimmick around Gil Puyat Avenue.

It can be recalled that many netizens called out the people who changed the street signs of Gil Puyat to Gil Tulog.

The change was believed to be part of a marketing campaign for a company selling sleeping aids.

On July 26, the said street sign was replaced with the original one again.

In a statement, Mayor Binay said that the marketing campaign didn’t reach her office.

She also apologized to the relatives of late Senate President Gil Puyat.

“It is unfortunate that the request for a permit for the so-called advertising campaign to change the street signs of Gil Puyat Avenue did not reach my office. Kung dumaan sa akin yan, rejected yan agad,” she said.

“The city officials who issued the permit should have exercised prudence. They should have been more thorough. Dapat inisip ang kaguluhan na maaaring idulot sa mga motorista at komyuter. At dapat ay binigyang halaga ang respeto sa pamilya at sa alaala ni dating Senate President Gil Puyat. I have already reprimanded these officials for this glaring oversight,” she added.

Meanwhile, Victor Puyat, the son of Puyat Sr. expressed his disappointment on the marketing campaign.

“What was happened to our sense of respect for each other,” said Puyat. “There is a line we should not cross so we can maintain our own self respect, and for everone else,”

“Our name is not to be violated, by reasons that are financial, political or otherwise,” he added.

Puyat was a senator from 1951 until 1973 and even became a senate president for six years.

He passed away on March 23, 1980.

As of writing the company behind the marketing campaign has yet to give their official statement.

Netizens were trying to guess if Angel Locsin attended her friend Bubbles Paraiso’s birthday party on July 25.

In her Instagram post, a woman who resembles Angel could be seen having fun during the party.

“My heart is overflowing with gratitude for the village that helped me for my little celebration, so pls indulge me as I say my heartfelt thank you’s to those who made it how it came to be,” Bubbles wrote.

However, some netizens believed that it was not Angel.

“Doesn’t look like Angel to me. Pero kung siya nga, I’m glad she’s happy. Bubbles is a long time friend of hers so no wonder na magpapakita siya dyan,” a netizen said.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Bubbles Paraiso (@bubblesparaiso)

It can be recalled that Angel went viral on social media after some netizens remembered her during Typhoon Carina’s arrival in the country.

Angel was known for her active participation in humanitarian missions and relief operations.

After she became inactive on showbusiness, Angel became inactive on social media and was never seen in public again.

However, some of Angel’s friends were sharing some updates about the actress to reassure her fans that she was okay and enjoying her private life.