Nadine Samonte couldn’t stop crying after she was informed that she was not invited to GMA Gala 2024.

In her statement, Nadine, who’s still a talent of GMA Sparkle, said that she had already bought her gown in preparation for the event and already checked in at Manila Marriott Hotel during the day of the gala.

“May nag-message rin kasi sa handler ko na bigla daw nawala ang name ko sa list. So, nagtaka ako, bakit nawala? Nakaka-sad po talaga. Yung table ko, dulo talaga siya na daanan na ng mga lumalabas,” she said.

The incident forced her to leave the event early.

“Noong dumating ako sa hotel room, sa comfort room, hindi ko na talaga napigilan, dun ako umiyak. Narinig ng husband ko and dun ko na naikuwento sa kanya ang totoong nangyari. Galit talaga siya, gusto niyang bumaba. Sabi ko, ‘Okay na yon.’ Sabi niya lang sa akin, ‘Hindi kita pinayagang bumalik sa pag-aartista para ganyanin lang,” she said.

According to her, a production staff member of GMA Gala has already apologized to her for the incident and has even vowed to do better next year.

She also clarified that she was not upset about GMA Network.

“Hindi po masama ang loob ko sa GMA, and I’m still thankful kasi nabigyan ako ng magandang show and opportunity na maipakita ko yung skills ko sa acting. Masama ang loob ko sa production ng Gala Night kasi may nangyari na before, tapos ngayon, meron na naman,” she stated.

Nadine Samonte @ GMA Gala
byu/AdTurbulent706 inChikaPH

It can be recalled that Nadine’s stylist, Miss Keith, revealed the incident on X.

“Treat your artists right. Kahit na di yan prime niyo. Bat kayo magiinvite pero wala pala sa listahan. Wag niyo unahin mga influencers na iniinvite niyo. So disappointing Sparkle GMA Artist Center. #GMAGala2024 CHEAP!” she said.

Netizens were launching a boycott campaign against the restaurant where a waiter was reportedly forced to stand for two hours in front of an LGBT+ customer.

The incident started when the waiter innocently addressed writer Jude Bacalso as ‘sir.’

Ulli’s Streets of Asia, the restaurant where the incident happened, already released a statement following the issue, saying that discrimination has no place in their establishment.

“Ulli’s Streets of Asia respects and celebrates people from all walks of life, including LGBTQIA+ community. Discrimination has no place in our restaurant,” the restaurant first statement read.

However, netizens and some restaurant customers were not satisfied with the statement they released.

They quickly corrected their statement by releasing another post, but it was too late to revert the netizens’ emotions.

“I used to patronize your resto. That would be my last visit. Merese nnu,” netizen Willie said.

“If you cant protect your employees in front of the crowd, imagine what happened behind closed doors?? Please, boycott this restaurant. PLEASE, can someone hire that server?” netizen Noreen commented.

“Equality means equality for all, not only to the ones who are part of the LGBTQ community. The employee also has a right for equality.. mao na ni ang giingon nga “the wrong becomes right and the right becomes wrong”. Being called a sir or a ma’am is a sign of respect,” netizen Carla remarked.

Ogie Diaz gave friendly advice to P-pop star BINI amid the controversy being faced by the group.

During one episode of his online show, Ogie discussed the criticism BINI received and how they were trying to handle it.

According to Ogie, BINI members should understand that they cannot please everybody.

“The mere fact na napapansin kayo at nakakaapekto kayo ng buhay ng iba, o in na in parin kayo,” said Ogie.

The veteran talent manager believed that BINI should stop hiding from the public as people may lose interest in them.

He also pointed out that people who were affected by BINI’s attempt to conceal themselves were not their critics but the fans who waited for them at the airport to catch a glimpse of them.

“Hindi naman kasi sila kasama sa bashers, pati sila nadamay,” said Ogie.

“Kawawa ‘yung mga fans na na-deprived doon sa opportunity na makita sila up close,” Ogie’s co-host Mama Loi added.

@aerollanes

Constructive Criticism #BiniPH #Bini #Biniverse #eyy #OgieDiaz Credits to Ogie Diaz Showbiz update for the video.

♬ original sound – eyrollanes – eyrollanes

The waiter who went viral on social media after he was allegedly forced to stand in front of a complaining LGBTQIA+ customer whom he addressed as ‘sir’ received thousands of support from the netizens.

It can be recalled that the said waiter, who was working at a restaurant in Cebu City, was spotted standing in front of writer Jude Bacalso for almost two hours.

According to some witnesses who saw the incident, other employees of the restaurant couldn’t do anything to save their colleague, believing that Jude was close to their boss.

Many netizens believed that the waiter would not stay at the restaurant whether he was removed from his position or not.

Despite his possible employment loss, many business owners were already offering jobs for the said waiter.

One of those entrepreneurs was Joel Torres, who said that he would hire the waiter as a supervisor of their barbershop or maybe in his own travel agency.

“Mag star na ako ng renovation sa Master’s Barbershop. I-refer niyo ako sa waiter sa Ullies kung natanggal na siya sa work,” said Torres. “I-hire ko siya sa Barbershop o sa South Shore Travel and Tours,” he wrote.

According to Torres, he admired the attitude of the waiter, who didn’t make any bad moves despite being forced to stand for almost two hours.

As of writing, the said waiter has yet to be identified.

LGBTQQIP2SAA writer Jude Bacalso made another statement, hoping to end the issue involving her.

In her statement, Jude made a lengthy message to address the criticism she received on social media after she allegedly forced a waiter to stand for two hours for addressing her as ‘sir.’

In her Facebook post, Jude shared that she met again with the restaurant management to address their mistakes and push for more ‘inclusive practices’ in the restaurant.

“I made a personal apology to the group present, and requested if I may do so for the concerned waiter. I am also making it very public with this post as it has become a quite public fodder,” she said.

She also apologized to all the staff and to the customers present during the incident.

“This is a huge chunk of humble pie that I must ingest because I have errered. May we start here with, as the supervisor pointed out, an uphill path to reconciliation and we hope you will be able to allow us and yourselves to do so unhampered so we may all learn and heal from this,” she stated.

As of writing, the waiter involved has yet to give his own statement on the issue.

Sandara Park went viral on social media amid the news that the Korean pop group 2ne1 would return after several years of taking a break.

YG Entertainment announced on Sunday that the group, consisting of Sandara, Park Bom, CL, and Minzy, would return for their 15th anniversary world tour.

In a tweet, a fan told Sandara not to reconnect with her former friends who left her when 2NE1 was disbanded.

“Wag na wag lang bumalik-balik ‘yung mga ex-friends ni Ati na biglang hindi na siya kilala when 2ne1 disbanded. Baka mamalimos ng tickets sayo @krungy21 parang awa i-WHO YOU mo sila. Alam kong mabait ka pero di nila deserve ng kahit anong favor from you,” the fan told Sandara.

Sandara only made a one-word reply to the netizen.

“Exactly,” she wrote.

Meanwhile, netizens started to guess the individual being referred by the fan, and one of the people mentioned was Ella Cruz.

In 2018, Ella went viral on social media after she asked Sandara for a free ticket to the BLACKPINK concert.

The request made by Ella received criticism from the netizens.

Ella then apologized and defended herself and even used her dog, who passed away.

“Seeing people’s tweets about me and masakit… Tao rin ako, tao rin kaming mga artista nasasaktan. Kung nabastusan kayo sa tweet ko tagging Ms. Dara, I am now deleting it,” she wrote.

Talent manager and showbiz reporter Ogie Diaz addressed the LGBT writer who went viral after he allegedly forced a waiter to stand for two hours.

In a Facebook post, Ogie believed that the said writer, Jude Bacalso, was not happy that she was still addressed as “sir” despite her efforts to look feminine.

However, instead of letting the waiter stand for two hours, Ogie said that Jude should have been shown documentary evidence that she was a woman.

“Ganun naman pala na babae ang tingin mo sa sarili mo, eh di sana, pinakitaan mo ng pruweba na magpapatunay na babae ka talaga bukod sa pagpapakita ng keps,” he said.

“Katulad kunwari ng birth certificate. Ipakita mo na FEMALE ang nakalagay sa gender mo doon para mas maintindihan ka ng waiter kung saan nanggagaling yung ngitngit mo,” he added.

According to him, Jude should accept the fact that not everyone would know that not everyone would address her pronouns correctly.

“Nagdesisyon kang ibahin ang pagkatao mo, tapos ang gusto mo, mag-adjust lahat ang mga tao sa pagbabago mo ng anyo. Agad-agad? Di ba pwedeng dahan-dahan lang, Ateng? Tutal, ikaw naman ang nagdesisyong magbago ang takbo ng pagkatao mo? Entitled ka naman masyado, teh,” he stated.

“Nag-sorry na nga yung waiter, di pa rin sapat at pinatayo mo pa talaga nang dalawang oras? Gusto mong maging proud ang LGBTQIA+ community sa yo, paano? Itsura mo lang ata nagbago, sana, idinamay mo na rin pati pagkatao mo para mabitbit mo kahit saan ka dumayo,” he added.

Ogie also added that while Jude wanted to promote LGBTQIA+ sensitivity, the latter failed also to recognize that people outside his community have sensitivity also.

“Pag ang tao, nag-sorry na, patawarin mo na. Wag mo nang bini-big deal ang isang sitwasyon na ikaw mismo, kaya mong solusyunan, ayaw mo lang,” he said before ending his post.