Several officials of the Bicol Region were criticized on social media after photos of them distributing relief goods to the affected families of Typhoon Kristine went viral.

Photos showed Albay Governor Joey Salceda distributing sacks of rice, which included a portrait of AKO-BICOL party-list Rep. Zaldy Co.

Netizens questioned why the relief goods included a photo of the said public official.

Some of them suspected that the officials were using the Typhoon relief operations to promote themselves for the upcoming elections.

“Cringe ng may mukha yung mga sako ng bigas. Jusko. Sana yung funds for campaign, ipondo na lang nila sa pump boats. Hayst,” a netizen said.

“Yung gastos nila sa pagpaprint ng mga mukha nila sa repack, dapat additional nalang for actual relief goods. Itatapon lang naman yang packaging na may mukha nila sa basurahan,” another netizen commented.

“Kung sariling pera ni Mr. Co ang ibinili ng bigas walang problima pero kung galing sa taxpayers na kagaya ko ang ibinili ng bigas kapal naman ng pagmumukha nya,” netizen Feliciano remarked.

As of writing, Bicol officials have yet to respond to the criticism they received from the netizens.

It can be recalled that ‘Anti-Epal Bill’ was proposed several times in Congress to prevent public officials from including their names, initials, logos, or images in any operations or projects funded by taxpayers’ money.

Camarines Sur Governor Luigi Villafuerte and his father, Congressman LRay Villafuerte, were criticized on social media after some photos of them during their vacation in Siargao Island went viral.

Some photos showed the Villafuertes were also being accompanied by actress Yassi Pressman, who was the governor’s partner, and some officials of Sangguniang Kabataan.

Netizens couldn’t stop themselves from criticizing the Villafuertes as Typhoon Kristine was ravaging their province.

There were reports that the public officials were stranded in Siargao and couldn’t go back to their province because of the bad weather.

In a statement, Rep. Villafuerte called the stories circulating on the internet fake news.

“Yan picture na kinakalat nila ngayon daw o kahapon nasa siargao kami kasama ang mga sk sa ibat ibang bayan ng camsur . Yan photo in siargao posted kahapon or today was taken Saturday at lahat ng sk nakabalik na ng camsur Monday bago pa nag bagyo,” said Villafuerte.

“Ang problema rescue teams , kami nag Pa Padala ng rescue teams . Problema sa relief kami tuloy tuloy and relief . Kulang rubber boats , ako mismo at aming pamilya nag ambag kami mismo bumili ng mga rubber boats . Nag tatawag kami sa natl agencies and department secretaries , international agencies , mga kaibigan na senator para humimgi ng tulong,” he added.

Meanwhile, netizens dared the Villafuertes to show proof that they were already in Camarines Sur, like doing a Facebook live.

As of writing, they’re have yet to show proof that they left Siargao already.

Rosmar Tan received criticism on social media after she posted expressing her guilt amid the onslaught of Typhoon Karina in the Philippines.

In her post, Rosmar said it was hard for her to think she could live comfortably while others suffered from the bad weather.

“Ang hirap isipin na habang kami naka higa sa malambot kama, matanda na di na alam paano ililigtas sarili sa Bicol dahil sa baha at bagyo,” Rosmar said.

Netizens couldn’t hide their disappointment in the post, which Rosmar had already deleted.

“Bakit pa niya pahihirapan ang sarili niya,?di tumulong siya sa mga nkikita niyang naghihirap,nang sa ganon gumaan pakiramdam niya,” he said.

“Komportable ngayon sa pag dating ng panginoon sana maharap mo siya,” netizen Jala remarked.

At the same time, Rosmar’s partner, Marki Tan, defended the internet celebrity.

“Hindi perpekto si Rosmar, Pero pag dating sa pag tulong sa mga taong nangangailangan maaasahan nyo yan. Hindi yan puro salita lang. Ngayon nyo masusubukan si Rosemarie Tan Pamulaklakin,” he said.

The roasted chicken brand Chooks-to-Go released an apology letter after receiving criticism from the members of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) after the company’s page used Pastor Apollo Quiboloy as a subject in one of its advertisements.

In their explanation, the company said that their marketing team did not approve the advertisement, which showed an edited photo of Quiboloy that was originally taken during one of the press conferences attended by the pastor.

One of Quiboloy’s lawyers, Atty. Mark Tolentino already warned the company on the possible charges they may face.

“We acknowledge that a recent social media post has caused concern among some in the community. This content does not reflect the views and values of the Company and its management. It was created by our consulting social marketing team during a leadership transition following the retirement of our President and was uploaded without full management’s consent or approval,” the company stated.

“Regardless, we take responsibility and apologize to the offended members of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ and Pastor Quiboloy. It was not our intention to upset or hurt anyone,” they added.

The apology received mixed reactions from the netizens.

The funeral parlor, where the mock wake of late One Direction member Liam Payne was held, ended its silence after receiving criticism from the netizens.

In a Facebook post, Funenaria De Sto. Rosario, Inc. published some photos of their funeral setup, including a portrait of Liam.

“Experience peace of mind with our Deluxe Service Package,” the funeral parlor wrote.

Several people connected to the funeral parlor already insisted that they were not holding a mock funeral for Liam, saying that it was only part of their setup.

“To clarify things, showroom po ito ng burulan. Sample set up package para a funeral service. No Hate. Thanks,” JM Bautista-Roxas said.

“Hindi po sya nagpalamay for Liam, again Sample set up po ito ng funeral package,” she added.

The issue started when a netizen posted a photo on another social media platform, which included a caption: “Yung hindi ka makapunta sa lamay ni Liam kaya nagpagawa ka ng sarili mong lamay,” 

Its original post has been deleted as of the moment, but it could be found in several archives.

For the first time, actress Heart Evangelista talked about her alleged feud with Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach.

In a media conference, Heart clarified that she didn’t have any problems with Pia but only expressed her concern to her based on the people surrounding the beauty queen.

“In fact, I was one of those who cheered for her in the past. And I’d like to think that it was the same for her,” said Heart.

“But it’s the people that she chose to surround herself with for specific reasons that makes this whole thing problematic,” she added.

She only wished that Pia would never experience what happened to her in the past.

Rumors about Heart and Pia started to circulate last year after the actress’s former glam team transferred to the beauty queen.

Heart and Pia actively participated in international fashion shows, requiring them to have glam teams.

There were reports that Heart’s former glam team helped Pia to gain instant connections to different fashion houses.

“Sana hindi mangyari sa ‘yo ‘yung nangyari sa ‘kin,” she stated.

As of writing, Pia has yet to give any statement on the issue.

Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Boying Remulla opened the possibility of filing charges against Vice President Sara Duterte after the latter’s remarks against the Marcos family.

In his statement, he called Duterte’s statement as ‘disturbing’ saying that her choice of words were not normal.

“We’re looking at the legal aspects also. We’re conducting a study,” said Remulla.

It can be recalled that Duterte made several remarks against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and even said that she mulled digging the body of late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., who was currently buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

“Dumating na sa punto na ganoon na magsalita si VP Sara, eh ang sabi ko nga, buti na lang ‘di siya tumakbong presidente, baka manalo pa,” ani Remulla.“Dapat malaman na natin talaga what she’s made of,” he stated.

As of writing, Duterte has yet to give her response to the possible move by DOJ against her.

Actor Romnick Sarmenta made his social media page private after receiving criticism because of his questions to the Davaoenos.

In his X/Twitter, Romnick’s page was visibly closed to the public already.

Romnick posts his controversial question to the said page.

It can be recalled that Romnick received criticism after he asked why Davao was allegedly becoming a hideout of bad elements.

“Tanong lang: Bakit yung mga pinaghahanap ng batas, madalas sa Davao natutunton? Maganda ba talagang taguan ang Davao? O may tumutulong magtago?” said Romnick.

“The sad part is… I know some people from Davao. Respectable and honest people. So hindi pwedeng sabihing lahat… Pero bakit nga doon safe ang mga nagtatago?” he added.

After his post went viral, netizens started to swarm his social media page, which possibly prompted him to protect his future posts.

Before he closed his post, Romnick even made a response to the netizens.

“Nakakatawa yung mga comments ‘di ka naman kilala’ o ‘papansin ka’ pero andami nilang nagkukumpulan para mag comment sa post ko,” he stated.

Two-time Olympic gold medalist Carlos Yulo was not yet an endorser of a popular fast food brand.

Some netizens criticized the fast-food brand after they thought that Carlos had become one of their endorsers.

The issue started when photos of Carlos, together with the officials of the said brand, met at an event.

However, according to the reports, Carlos was only a guest at the event organized by the Department of Education (DepEd) and the said company.

During the event, the company awarded the P5-M donation to the National Academy of Sports.

Carlos was only one of the guests at the event. As the most decorated Olympian, his appearance was considered important for inspiring the other Filipino athletes.

It can be recalled that some netizens asked the said fast food brand not to hire Carlos as an endorser due to his issue with his family.

They believed that getting Carlos as an endorser would only tarnish their brand, which is known for promoting Filipino family values.

Comedy Queen Ai-Ai delas Alas couldn’t hold her emotions after she received a surprise visit from former child star Jiro Manio.

Ai-Ai was the special guest of Boy Abunda’s program, My Mother My Story, where they discussed her life as a mom.

The comedian, who was set to celebrate her birthday on November 11, was visited by her son, Sancho.

But what Ai-Ai surprised the most was the visit of Jiro, who became one of her co-stars in the movie Ang Tanging Ina.

“Nakakatuwa naman ang mga anak ko.. Si Jiro grabe iba na siya ngayun at may gift pa,” said Ai-Ai.

It can be recalled that Ai-Ai helped Jiro recover from his vices in 2015, but the condition of the former child actor only worsened.

Ai-Ai ended her connections with Jiro at that time and only reappeared again in 2020 after the latter was put under the custody of the authorities after he faced a frustrated homicide charge.

She revealed that Jiro was unwilling to change himself then, so she decided not to pursue helping him.

“Yung isinumbong sa akin na iyon, siguro after ilang days o ilang weeks, nagsabi na siya sa akin ng ‘Mama, lalabas na ako ng rehab’. So ako, wala na. Nawalan na ako ng pag-asa. ‘Wala na, hindi na magbabago si Jiro,'” she said.