Nadine Samonte. Image: Philip Viktor via Instagram/@nadinesamonte
Nadine Samonte admitted feeling “frustrated and lost” after receiving shabby treatment at the GMA Gala 2024, despite preparing for the star-studded event since last year.
In an interview on Ogie Diaz’s Showbiz vlog last Tuesday, July 23, Samonte said that despite her having complied with the RSVP, the treatment she received was not commensurate to the effort and preparation she made for the night, thus she decided not to finish the program and leave.
“Hindi ko kasi mapigilan ang team ko na magpost sila at maglabas ng sama ng loob. Siyempre, nagpagod at naghirap kaming gawin ang shoot, pagandahin ako for almost a year of preparation tapos ‘yun lang ang nangyari. Paglabas ko sa event, hindi ko natapos ang program. I was so frustrated and so down and lost,” she said.
(I couldn’t stop my team from airing out their dismay. Of course, they put in a lot of effort for this shoot, to make me look beautiful after almost a year of preparation then this is what happened. When I attended the event, I didn’t finish the program. I was so frustrated and so down and lost.)
The actress reiterated that she prepared for the gala since last year, including handling the necessary bookings and deciding on the theme, expenses, and other related matters. Despite this, she pointed out that she never expected to be treated as a VIP.
“I wasn’t really expecting na maitrato ako as VIP but I was just wishing na maitrato [ako] fairly,” Samonte added. “Noong binigyan nila ako ng invitation for that gala, nag-RSVP ako kasi kung hindi ka makaka-RSVP, hindi ka makakapasok. I even asked them if I can bring my husband, sabi I cannot… Pagdating ko d’un, my name was not on the list.”
(I wasn’t really expecting to be treated as a VIP but I was just wishing to be treated fairly. When I received an invitation for the gala, I RSVP’ed for the event. If you can’t RSVP, you can’t go inside. I even asked them if I could bring my husband. They said I cannot. When I arrived there, my name was not on the list.)
After multiple attempts to say her “last name,” Samonte recalled that she was allowed inside after disclosing that she had a show with GMA. She was then brought to sit at a table, however, it was already full and it already had the names of the guests.
“When I went inside, sobrang puno ng table… may mga pangalan… nahihiya naman ako if uupo ako but it’s not my name,” she said. “I called my handler and sabi I can go to Table 44. Nagulat ako, dulong dulong table and walang nakaupo d’un. Ako lang. May dalawang lalaki lang.”
(When I went inside, the table was full. There were names. I was embarrassed if I would sit there but my name wasn’t there. I called my handler and they told me I could go to Table 44. I was surprised. It was at the far end and no one was seated there. Just me and two other guys.)
‘I feel so kawawa’
Despite having a table, the actress confessed that she still felt dismayed over the incident.
“Nag-RSVP naman ako. They even messaged me the list ng mga artista na papasok nang 6 to 7 p.m. and nan’dun ako. How come wala ako sa list and sa registration. I feel so kawawa… I prepared for this since last year. Lahat ng efforts binigay ko talaga. ‘Yung team ko, they were so excited also,” she said.
(I did the RSVP. They even messaged me the list of celebrities who would arrive from 6 to 7 p.m. and I was there. How come I wasn’t on the list and the registration? I feel so low. I prepared for this since last year. I put all my efforts into this. My team was so excited also.)
Samonte, however, reiterated that she’s thankful to GMA for extending an invitation to her. But she hoped that the production would “be more vigilant” when it comes to addressing matters like this.
“I’m hoping na sana mas naayos ‘tong situation ko nang tama. Masama lang loob ko but it’s okay. I’m thankful sa GMA kahit papaano na na-invite ako sa malaking event na once a year and I’m thankful na meron akong bagong show with them. Next year, I hope the production will be more vigilant.
(I’m hoping this situation will be addressed properly. I’m upset but it’s okay. I’m thankful to GMA because I was invited to this huge event and I have a new show with them. Next year, I hope the production will be more vigilant.)
GMA has yet to address Samonte’s statement, as of press time.
The GMA Gala 2024, held at the Marriott Hotel Manila in Pasay City last July 20, gathered the network’s biggest names and up-and-coming stars. Also part of the event were the hosts of the noontime show “It’s Showtime,” politicians, influencers, and executives from ABS-CBN.