Saab Magalona and Vito Tomas. Images: Instagram/@saabmagalona, Twitter/@saabmagalona
Saab Magalona lamented Instagram’s flagging of a throwback video clip of her son Vito Tomas in which she called him “siopao” because of his chubby cheeks.
The musician revealed that her Instagram post featuring Vito, which was uploaded in September 2022, was taken down by the social media site on Tuesday, March 14.
Magalona was referring to a throwback video clip when Vito was still a baby, as he appeared to be sound asleep. His blush-tinted chubby cheeks looked adorably puffy, as it resembled a siopao or a steamed bun with various fillings. “Isang matinding #FlashbackFriday para sa siopao na ‘to,” her caption read.
Magalona shared a screenshot of her Instagram notifications, while reacting to her post being taken down, as seen on her personal Twitter page. According to the platform, the post was supposedly a “violation” of its community guidelines.
“Omg sorry na tinawag kong siopao yung anak ko,” she tweeted. (Ohmigosh, sorry for calling a child a siopao.)
Omg sorry na tinawag kong siopao yung anak ko 😭 pic.twitter.com/ka06aDicg6
— Saab (@saabmagalona) March 13, 2023
The actress then noted that she updated the caption of her post, where she changed “siopao” into “cutie.”
Update: inedit ko yung siopao to cutie 🥹
— Saab (@saabmagalona) March 14, 2023
Magalona’s fans also took to social media to express their shock over the actress’ post being taken down.
@thegilalmighty said, “Hustisya para sa [mga] siopao!” (Justice to all the siopaos!)
Hustisya para sa nga siopao! 🤭
— gilliana 🌸 (@thegilalmighty) March 13, 2023
Another @candidlycolene said, “Di ata ako papasang momfluencer in the future [because] if my baby’s also this cute, baka kung ano anong cute siopao-like words din icaption ko.” (I don’t think I can be a mom-fluencer in the future because if my baby is this cute, I might use the word “siopao” as well.)
Di ata ako papasang momfluencer in the future bc if my baby’s also this cute, baka kung ano anong cute siopao-like words din icaption ko 😭😭😭 https://t.co/fruVIcsQKK
— o sole mio (@candidlycolene) March 14, 2023
Twitter user @paulakatarina asked, “Wait. Is siopao a bad word now?”
Wait. Is siopao a bad word now? 🥹 https://t.co/PlKQRWPa0g
— ポーラカタリーナ (delayed quarterlife crisis era) (@paulakatarina) March 13, 2023
Following Magalona’s tweet, the post — along with its updated caption — has already been restored to the celebrity mom’s page, as of this writing.
The photo- and video-sharing app urged audiences to be mindful of posting content regarding their children, and while some are meant to be shared with “good intentions,” it could be used in “unanticipated ways,” according to Instagram’s official website.
The platform also pointed out that certain content will be removed if it’s deemed to be a form of “credible threat or hate speech.”
Magalona and husband Jim Bacarro, who tied the knot in January 2015, welcomed their third child Vito in September 2019. The actress gave birth to her eldest child Pancho in February 2018, however, she lost the latter’s twin son Luna. EDV