Much ado about the ‘Thrilla in Naia’

Expectedly, some stars were reluctant to comment on the airport fracas that shook Show Town. After all, there’s less than six degrees separating many in the biz from the characters in this true-life match.

Some could have worked with either Claudine Barretto or Raymart Santiago in the past. Were others intimidated by the on-air fire spouted by the Tulfo brothers on TV5? (Well, a few of those we asked work in TV5.)

We commend these respondents who bravely shared their thoughts on the scandal and its implications on press freedom, media responsibility, right to privacy, airport security, passenger rights, among other urgent concerns.

Bibeth Orteza

Scriptwriter

We’re talking about rights so I’m wondering why no one is thinking about (poet-activist) Ericson Acosta, who’s been illegally detained since God-knows-when. Will networks ever go crazy featuring non-celebrity political detainees? My goodness. Kids were risking [their lives] in Baguio to protect 182 trees and they didn’t get much space. Neither did the girl whose foreign rapist was allowed to leave the country. The big to-do over Tulfo vs. Santiago/Barretto says so much, or so little, about us.

Richard Gutierrez

Actor

There are two sides to every story, but I can’t help but feel for Ate Claudine and Kuya Raymart. They’re good people. I’m sure they were provoked. Kuya Raymart said he was just protecting his wife. As they say: Never mess with a family man. I hope people would ask permission first before they take photos and videos of celebrities. We’re not robots. We get emotional, too.

Jose Javier Reyes

Filmmaker

Some people have made a career out of being celebrities, getting overpaid as scandal-magnets. Intrusion into their privacy is the payback. So they better learn to behave. If you are

screaming in public, why should you be appalled if you attract the attention of a reporter? It’s part of the deal. The two camps could be both right or wrong. But images don’t lie. The protagonists in this real-life drama will be judged based on the YouTube video. What transpired before the video was shot has become immaterial. What the public will remember is the sight of a senior citizen being beaten up. Sad, but true.

Khavn de la Cruz

Indie filmmaker/poet

the day the tulfo-claudine-raymart bash happened, a grenade killed two and injured thirty in iligan / a tornado injured over thirty people in tsukuba / snap elections kicked off in serbia / and 9/11 defendants were formally charged in guantanamo bay. the fact that the threesome is still discussed today / is another lesson in absurdity / talking about it is futile. on the other hand, it’s also a lesson in poetry / how to give attention to trivial things / amazing it’s still discussed today.

Gina Alajar

Actress

I’m keen on siding with the Santiagos mainly because I know the feeling of other artists when being videoed without consent and in the middle of a bad situation… I really get upset especially if I am talking to someone incompetent. I’d also get mad if, while I express my dissatisfaction, another person would shoot a video just to get a scoop. That’s unfair. It’s all about respect. It seems no one knows that word anymore.

Tessie Tomas

Actress

Celebrities should be extra careful as to how they behave in public places. We are public property and are moving targets for authorized or unauthorized coverage.

Carmi Martin

Actress

I also get upset about airline delays and excuses. But the lesson in this incident is that public figures should always be polite and proper when in public places.

Willie Nepomuceno

Stand-up comic

When you become a public figure, you automatically give up your right to privacy. But the threat of revenge and the cursing from the T3 on national television? That’s not press freedom at all. The rights of passengers are curtailed the moment the security guard asks for their IDs. That should be done at the check-in counter. Airline security? It’s simple math. They weigh in your baggage with limits. Total it and you’ll know if the plane can take off and avoid off-loading. As to the warring parties, it’s simply a question of character. Child abuse happens when you don’t get the kid out of the way before you engage in a fight. Verbal abuse has limits even when you’re the aggrieved party. Media power, however, is a privilege and not a badge of authority. Lesson learned: Don’t fly in the summer heat… it’s more fun in Switzerland!