Last February 28, Angel Locsin topbilled the "Blusa" episode of Maalaala Mo Kaya, the drama anthology show of ABS-CBN. She portrayed a girl who is supposedly a summa cum laude graduate of the University of the Philippines Los Baños. Her character had difficulty looking for a job so she resorted to being a night club dancer. Due to various problems, she lost her mind and became a vagrant (taong grasa).

Dimples Romana (who portrayed Angel's sister in the story) sewed a yellow blouse that became Angel's favorite item of clothing, hence the title of the episode "Blusa." (Click HERE to read more about the said episode.)


Online political humorist Loi Reyes Landicho pointed out in his blog The Professional Heckler that there were inaccuracies in the "Blusa" episode of MMK.


Prof. Ma. Stella Tirol, Office of Public Relations Director of UP Los Baños, sent the official statement of UPLB regarding the said "Blusa" episode. It stated that UPLB does not have an alumna that matches the life story presented by the drama anthology show of ABS-CBN. 

Through its statement, UPLB officials are asking ABS-CBN to set the record straight since the said MMK episode "affected the reputation of UPLB as an educational institution."


Here is the complete letter of UPLB (published as is):


"Our attention has been called by constituents and alumni to an episode featured in Maala-ala Mo Kaya entitled "Blusa," which was aired on ABS-CBN on Feb. 28 and on TFC recently. Our constituents and alumni were concerned whether the episode was based on truth.

The story was of a woman who allegedly graduated BS AgriBusiness, summa cum laude, from the University of the Philippines Los Baños or UPLB, who could not find a job, and ended up a stripper. We tried to find out who the subject was by tracking all 27 of our summa cum laude graduates from the time the University was established in 1909. We could not find anyone matching the subject as portrayed in "Blusa."

Whether or not the subject was a UPLB graduate, we deeply sympathize with her and her family. However, in the interest of maintaining its reputation as a truthful storyteller, the MMK should have a mechanism to validate claims by letter senders especially those that require a stretch of imagination as to be believed.

While indeed touching and a perfect example of a human-interest story, "Blusa" regrettably affected the reputation of UPLB as an educational institution and its constituents and alumni. We therefore request ABS-CBN to set the record straight and correct the wrong impression that it created among its viewers. We also make an appeal to producers of similar programs to be more prudent in reporting stories with claims that would affect the reputation not only of a school but also of its alumni in the Philippines and abroad."


At press time, PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) is still waiting for the feedback of ABS-CBN corporate communications department regarding this matter.