Kamikazee. Image: Anne Apolinar via Instagram/@kamikazeephil
Sorsogon Gov. Jose Edwin “Boboy” Hamor said he sent Kamikazee home right before the band’s scheduled performance at Casiguran town festival event because of the latter’s alleged “attitude problem.”
After the performances of bands I Belong to the Zoo and Imago at Plaza Escudero, Casiguran Pier Site, on Sunday, Oct. 1, Hamor went to the stage to announce Kamikazee’s last-minute removal from the show’s performers lineup.
The governor also noted that Kamikazee’s talent fee had been paid beforehand.
“Humihingi ako ng paumanhin [dahil] hindi na matutuloy ang Kamikazee,” Hamor said, as seen in a live stream of the event on LGU Casiguran Sorsogon’s Facebook page. “Wala tayong magagawa. Bayad ‘yon kaso may mga attitude. Pinauwi ko na sa airport.”
(I apologize because Kamikazee will no longer perform tonight. There’s nothing we can do. Their talent fee has already been paid, but they have an attitude problem. I already sent them to the airport.)
“Nandyan na [sila] kanina kaso may attitude…. Sana maintindihan niyo [na] hindi ko gusto ‘to kaso, sinabi ko nga, may attitude,” he continued, then went on to address the band: “Hindi kayo makakabalik sa Sorsogon, maniwala kayo sa akin.”
(They were already at the venue a while ago but they have an attitude problem. I hope you understand that I did not want this to happen but, as I have said, they have an attitude problem.)
(You will not be able to return to Sorsogon. Mark my words.)
Hamor added that he barred Kamikazee from staying at the accommodation earlier prepared for them and that he ordered the latter to go straight to the airport.
“Hindi tayo pwedeng bastusin mga taga-Sorsogon. Pinipilit ko na itaas ang dignidad ng bawat Sorsoganon pero ‘wag ganon na tayo ay babastusin,” he stressed, but opted not to expound on why Kamikazee was booted out of their performance. “Alam ko na gustong-gusto niyo [sila] marinig pero sa YouTube na lang kayo.”
(We, the people of Sorsogon, do not tolerate disrespect. I am striving to uplift the dignity of every Sorsoganon and I won’t let them disrespect us. I know that you want to hear them perform live, but you can just watch them on YouTube.)
Public Information Officer of Sorsogon Dong Mendoza then disclosed in a statement to “24 Oras” that Hamor was apparently displeased after the band had agreed to a pictorial at the town’s 16,000 blue roses but was a no-show.
While Kamikazee, known for their hit songs “Huling Sayaw,” “Narda,” “Halik” and “Doo Bi Doo,” has yet to publicly comment on the matter as of this writing, the band’s frontman Jay Contreras dropped a cryptic post on his Instagram page.
“I choose love,” he said, while showing portraits of himself.
/ra