OA as in sobrang exaggerated ang naging reaction sa ilang segments ng nakaraang Naked Truth show ng Bench Apparel. Umabot na sa puntong nagpa-presscon nang solo si Coco Martin for fear na baka mawalan siya ng career dahil sa OA ding reaction ng ilang women’s group sa segment niya sa naturang show.
Lumalabas tuloy na pati si Coco at ang manager niyang si Biboy Arboleda sampu ng kanilang legal counsel na si Lorna Kapunan is on the belief na talagang mali ang portrayal na binibgay sa kanya ng Bench.
Dahil dito nag-public apology na si Coco at ito po ang kabuuan. “Mr. Martin sincerely expresses his apology and requests the public for understanding. Mr. Martin equally feels bad about the incident and saddened at the thought that he unwittingly offended the public.
“While offering no excuse and admits that a mistake has been made, Mr. Martin wants to set the record straight about he incident. Mr. Martin has an existing contract with BENCH to model its apparel and this same contract obliges him to appear in fashion shows for BENCH.
Nevertheles, Mr. Martin, nor his manager or staff, was not involved in the conceptualization of the production of the Naked Truth Show nor the segment entitled, “The Animal Within Me”. He only appeared ONCE for a rehearsal which was a day prior to the show and it was only then that the role, as a ring master, was given to him.
“During the rehearsal, most of the people on stage were foreigners and even the choreographer was a foreigner. Mr. Martin wanted to voice out his concern, particularly with the leash strapped on the neck of the lady model, but he failed to successfully communicate his thought because of the language barrier.
Mr. Martin kept mum on his opinion on the matter because it was impressed upon him that the show was already finalized and he felt insignificant as to cause a scene and demand an overhaul of the entire segment.
“Mr. Marin feels extremely sorry for what transpired and admitted that this incident taught him a major lesson to be more sensitive and mindful of the repercussions of his portrayals. Let it be clarified, however that Mr. Martin did not have the slightest intention on his mind to insult women by this single unfortunate act.
Mr. Martin has high regard for women just as he respects and loves his mother, his grandmother, and his three sisters.
“Mr. Martin humbly asks for the public’s understanding and assures the public that he will no longer allow himself to be obliged to participate in a similar insensitive portrayal.”
Nagawa na nga raw ang ‘sangkaterbang apologies ng mga kinauukulan sa dapat ding pahatiran ng mga ito, lalo na sa parte ng BENCH. Kaya lang, nagkaroon naman pala ito ng repercussions sa aktor na nag-modelo na si Mr. Martin.
At sa isang kapitbahay pa raw nito nabalitaan sa isang blind item na may modelo nga raw na matatanggalan ng mga endorsement dahil sa nasabing insidente. Kaya naman, agad-agad na isinangguni ito ni Coco sa kanyang business manager na si Biboy Arboleda. Kaya naman kinuha na nila ang serbisyo ni Atty. Kapunan.
Kaya nga raw nang makita ito ni Atty. Kapunan, naalala niya ang ilang mga sandaling bilang bahagi siya ng Board ng CCP para sa advocacy ng Cinemalaya for 6 years, doon pa lang daw eh, nakita na niya ang pagiging promising noon ni Coco bilang isang alagad ng sining.
At kahit paano eh, nasubaybayan at nakilala na niya ang pagkatao nito sa mga nababasa tungkol sa kanya on how he holds esteem the women in his life. And according to Atty. Kapunan, nang kausapin nila si Coco, isa lang ang tinanong niya in his heart of hearts. Sa pakiramdam niya sa ginawa niya.
“Ang kwento pa nga ni Mr. Martin, sa rehearsal pa lang nila, nakita na niya na maikli ‘yung leash. Naisip nga niya na baka sa tumbling-tumbling ng babae’ng modelo, baka masaktan ito, pumulupot sa leeg and all that. It was handled by a foreign choreographer. And he was given the role of a ring master.
And it can be said na clueless sa culture ng Pinoy ang mga foreigners na ito. Ang maganda, inamin ni Mr. Martin na may mali at hindi niya lang ma-express ang sarili niya at baka masabi na nagpapa-importansya siya sa harap ng mga banyagang ito. He was humble enough to accept na may mali’ng nangyari.
And that is the kind of person I am willing to accept to help. Ang term pa nga na nagamit ni Mr. Martin nang i-describe ang leash was “lubid”. Dahil mahaba-haba’ng panahon na rin ang na-establish na relasyon between Coco and BENCH, walag kasuhang magaganap sa pagitan nila.
Ang hiling lang ng side ni Coco, base nga sa nabalitaan nitong mawawalan siya ng endorsement sa iba pa niyang produkto’ng ipino-promote eh, ang makipag-usap sa mga ito ang pamunuan ng BENCH na huwag itong humantong sa ganoong pangyayari.
Ayon nga sa business manager ni Coco na si Biboy, malungkot ang kanyang alaga. Worried dahil hindi naman nito mabuksan sa kanyang pamilya ang kabuuan ng mga pangyayari. At panindigan ang commitment na aayusin ang lahat ng nangyaring kaguluhan lalo na sa kapakanan ng kanilang mga modelo, lalo na kay Coco.
Aayusin din daw ang mga schedule ni Coco to have a sit-down with the women’s groups na na-offend sa nasabing pangyayari gaya ng GABRIELA at Philippine Commission on Women. “Hindi ito isang paghuhugas-kamay. Lahat ay may learnings sa mga nangyari.
And he is committed to support the right of every individual, lalake man ‘yan, babae, bakla o tomboy. All human beings. Nung makita ko nga siya, nagulat ako. Ang liit lang pala. But he is a big person and you really see him as a symbol sa industry niya.
He fulfilled a contract, an obligation. ‘Yun nga lang, when all this happened at kumalat na sa networking sites, days passed na walang kumausap sa kanya from the side of BENCH. There was silence for 5 days. Kaya sana, in times of distress, huwag pabayaan ng mga kumpanya ang mga tao nila lalo na kung they do not have the means to defend themselves.
Kaya now, ang hiling lang is for BENCH to help in talking to all the sponsors of Mr. Martin. It was a sad day for Mr. Martin.” At sana, tantanan na rin si Coco ng mga mapanghusgang mata at dila. This too shall pass. Sa tama’ng paraan.
He doesn’t deserve to be treated in a way na para bang may kriminalidad siyang ginawa. He did a show!”
So there!
