JERRY OLEA
Naglabas ang comedy writer na si Chito Francisco ng public apology kay Alex Calleja ngayong Pebrero 15, 2025, Sabado ng umaga, sa Facebook.
Read: Alex Calleja, mariing itinangging "ninakaw" ang carwash joke
Kaugnay ito ng FB post ni Chito sa carwash joke ni Alex sa Netflix comedy special na Tamang Panahon.
Read: Chito Francisco, may patutsada sa "carwash joke" ni Alex Calleja
Nag-premiere sa streaming site ang comedy TV show noong Pebrero 7, Biyernes.
CHITO FRANCISCO'S PUBLIC APOLOGY
Pahayag ni Chito (published as is), “I would like to publicly apologize to ALEX CALLEJA, my fellow writer, for accusing him of stealing the car wash joke, when in fact, as he has presented proof and receipts, Alex wrote it ahead, which substantiated that he wrote the joke earlier than mine.
"I would also like to say sorry to his family, friends, and his fans and supporters for my actions.
"I deeply regret what I have done to Alex, considering that my comments created and caused due and undue harm against him.
"I know Alex as a gentle soul, and by making those statements, it was wrong of me to put him in a bad light with false and baseless allegations.
“Worse, these comments went viral on social media, which led the public to insult him and question his integrity as a writer.
"I was careless and negligent in saying that, and did not realize the extent of the hurt and damage that I caused against Alex, nor the impact that it had on both his personal and professional life.
“This is no laughing matter, and I admit that I was wrong in accusing Alex of stealing a joke that he wrote, which were even picked up by PEP website. If only I could take back what I said, I would, but the damage had already been done.
“As a result of my statements, Alex suffered so much backlash and damage, which include online bashing, and having the public attack his credibility, which is extremely damaging to his career.
“While l apologized to Alex privately, saying that what I had said was just friendly teasing that was common among the circle of writers, I crossed the line when I went public with my accusations against him, and involved the public in our exchange.
“Because the situation got out of hand, I felt that there was a need to clear the air on this matter and to extend my deepest apologies to Alex on a public forum, and commit to make things right with him.
"It is the least I could do after everything I have said and done against Alex, and he does not deserve this treatment from anyone.
“With this, I am calling on other bloggers and netizens who commented, shared, and reposted my false statements about Alex to take them down and permanently delete them.
"What I said was wrong, and I would like to minimize the extent of the damage already suffered by Alex caused by my negligence to the best that I can.
“I know what I had said has civil and criminal implications and penalties, which I hope in writing this public apology and posting it, can show my remorse and acknowledgement of my irresponsible act against Alex.
"I hope that this public statement will peacefully end the issue and settle the matter between me and Alex once and for all.”
ALEX CALLEJA ACCEPTS CHITO FRANCISCO'S APOLOGY
Tinanggap ni Alex ang sorry ni Chito.
Nito ring Sabado ng umaga ay ni-repost ni Alex sa FB ang statement ni Chito.
Pahayag ni Alex: “Apology accepted. Now let's move! Salamat Atty. Howie Calleja and Atty. Lorna Kapunan [praying emoji]
“Tamang Panahon is still Number 1 on Netflix!”
By the way, pangungunahan ni Alex ang payanig ng The Comedy Crew sa Pebrero 21, Biyernes ng gabi, sa Karma Music Hall, Morato Ave. Ext., Quezon City. Ang door charge ay PHP850.
Read: Comedy special ni Alex Calleja naungusan ang Incognito sa Netflix
GORGY RULA
Nag-guest si Alex Calleja sa It’s Showtime noong Biyernes, February 14. Naglaro siya sa "Hide and Sing."
Iba na ang dating niya, dahil hindi siya bumalik sa noontime show para maging writer kundi mag-guest para ma-promote ang stand-up comedy special niya sa Netflix.
Kinuha na niya ang pagkakataong magpasalamat sa It’s Showtime, dahil malaki raw ang bahagi nito sa kanyang career bilang komedyante.
Ani Alex, “Nagpapasalamat naman talaga ako, dahil ang Showtime naman talaga, e, lahat ng mga milestone laging dito.
"Lumaban ako ng first… Nanalo ako sa 'Funniest Person In The World,' dito rin yun, 2016. Tapos, nagboses ako sa 'Musikahon,' ako rin yun.
“Pinabalik ako pero boses lang. Tapos ano pa, binash pa! Ang boses ko daw, hindi bagay sa kahon.”
Pinaalala ni Vice Ganda na pandemic nung pinabalik siya para lang mag-voice over sa isang segment nila.
Ngayon ay bigatin na siya, sabi ng mga host, at for the first time ay nag-No. 1 sa Netflix ang isang Pinoy stand-up comedy show.
“Mag-joke ka naman diyan,” urot ni Vice Ganda sa kanya.
“E, may carwash ako…” simula ni Alex.
“Huwag yun,” awat nina Ogie Alcasid at Jugs Jugueta.
“Basta 2011 pa yung joke mo na yun, di ba?” paglilinaw ni Jugs.
“2011, dito rin sa ABS-CBN,” pakli naman ni Alex.
Natutuwa si Alex dahil iba na raw ang pagbabalik niya ngayon sa It’s Showtime.
Pinag-powder na raw siya sa dressing room kasi guest siya at magpo-promote ng Tamang Panahon.
“Totoo yun. Maraming salamat. Utang na loob ko yung… Yung mga Showtime na napo-promote ako, ang lakas ng epekto.
“Hindi ko akalain yun kasi gusto ko rin naman mag-entry sa Netflix pero nag-number one tayo,” sabi pa nito.
Sa Asia Pacific ng Netflix lang napapanood ang Tamang Panahon.
At ipinakiusap ni Alex na mag-comment daw sana ang mga nasa America at Canada para umabot doon ang kanyang show.
Read: Why Alex Calleja thinks going viral can also work against stand-up comedians
NOEL FERRER
And his last words on the issue, heto ang sabi ni Alex Calleja: 1. Magsorry para no worry! 2. Nagsorry, be happy! 3. The truth will set you Pre!
Maraming puwedeng matutunan sa pangyayaring ito: 1. Think before you click. 2. Mahalaga ang resibo. 3. Tuloy lang … pero ingat!
It pays na may abogado de campanilla kang pinsan, at nasa tamang panig ka ng batas.
Happy carwashing weekend!