'It's Showtime' contestant says he wasn't bragging in viral video, calls out prevailing issue of smart shaming
The teacher who joined a trivia game segment of It's Showtime—and went viral for his incorrect answer after sharing his academic achievements—pointed out that he wasn't bragging in the circulating video that he noted was edited, even as he called out the prevailing issue of smart shaming.
In a Facebook post on Sept. 25, Tony Dizon pointed out that the viral video has been edited (as it's only a stitch of excerpts from the segment). He asked the public, especially his critics, to watch the full episode, noting his responses were taken out of context.
"Tinanong ako, so I just answered it," he said of the It's Showtime hosts.
"They have this perception of me based doon sa edited video," he said. "I was just being myself."
"I'm just a human being na na-hurt sa mga comments, and parang alam na nila 'yung buhay ko," he also said.
Nevertheless, Dizon apologized to those who thought he was bragging and asked the public not to put too much hate on people like him who make mistakes.
"Kaya nagkakaproblema sa mundo, not just in the Philippines," he said, "kasi mahilig tayo magsmart shame."
He said that even teachers like him make mistakes. "I accept my mistakes, my flaws. 'Wag tayo masyado magalit," he added.
Dizon noted that whether one's achievements are big or small, "you have to be proud of what you have and who you are now."
"'Yung achievements ng mga tao, deserve nila 'yun," he said. "I can say na deserve ko rin 'yun because God knows how hard it is to achieve these things."
The teacher stressed that his intention during that moment was to inspire other people, but it "turned into a different context" because of the viral video.
He asked the public to correct a person "with love."
"Kaya minsan may mga tao na ayaw magsalita, ayaw magbigay ng saloobin," he said, adding that it's a lesson not just for him but for everybody.
Ending his video, Dizon thanked those who supported him. "Ang pag-aaral ay 'di lang naman nakukuha sa classroom," he said. "Natututo din tayo sa kamalian."
In a previous Facebook video, Dizon said he would accept every criticism and negative comment, though noted that it's saddening that one mistake sums up who somebody is. He asked the public to imagine themselves in the same situation since there's pressure in answering a question in just five seconds. He also said he would continue working and learning after the incident.
'Throwbox!' segment
Before the game proper of the Throwbox! segment the show on Sept. 19, hosts Jhong Hilario and Amy Perez talked to Dizon, with Hilario asking, "Anong pinagkakaabalahan ni Tony?"
"Ang pinagkakaabalahan ko po ay nag-aaral ako uli," he said with enthusiasm, adding that he just finished studying earlier this year. "Pero ngayon, nag-aaral ulit ako ng aking doctorate degree," he added, raising his right hand with a pointed index finger.
Perez noted that Dizon is like Hilario, who just finished his master's degree in public administration with the highest merit.
Hilario then asked Dizon, "Anong kinukuha mo?" to which he replied that it's educational leadership. "Actually, I've been a teacher for eight years," he added. "Mahal na mahal ko ang mga guro kasi alam natin ang teaching ay noblest profession."
In the game, players will answer "throwback" questions concerning the '70s to the aughts. Hosts will present nine boxes that feature questions relating to a specific year and have a corresponding cash prize. The player will select boxes they will answer in five seconds.
Later in the game, Dizon chose the 1937 box held by Ryan Bang, noting that he was born in South Korea. (Bang is a Korean.)
Expressing regret, he said he missed visiting his birthplace when he went to South Korea in 2023 to represent the Philippines at a research conference at Seoul National University. He noted he was the only Filipino there to present a paper.
For the 1937 question, it noted that on April 30 of that year, a plebiscite with nearly 600,000 Filipino women decided on whether women can finally vote. Over 500,000 of them voted in favor of women's right to vote and run for public office. The question for Dizon was: "Sino ang unang babaeng naluklok bilang presidente ng Pilipinas?"
With two seconds left on the clock, he said, "Gloria Macapagal Arroyo," in a doubtful tone. The correct answer is Corazon Aquino, and Dizon said, "Sorry, sorry."
Divine Tetay, who's holding the 1971 box, began impersonating Kris Aquino, saying she was surprised by Dizon's wrong answer as he has several academic achievements.
"Alam kong alam mo 'yun," Tetay said. "You've been to Korea, nagmaster's ka and all, and you forgot that important thing. My goodness, my mom Corazon Cojuangco Aquino. Nakakaloka ka doon!"
Perez noted that everybody knows it, with Tetay saying that even children do.
"Bakit ka nagkamali?" Tetay said, before letting out a sigh in the tone of Kris' voice.
Hilario, meanwhile, noted that Dizon probably felt pressured.
"Sorry, actually, nakakakaba pala siya," Dizon said, shaking his head.