Former ‘PBB’ housemate on Toni Gonzaga’s proclamation rally hosting: ‘I am deeply insulted and disappointed’
Former “Pinoy Big Brother” (PBB) housemate Dawn Chang expressed her dismay over the show’s former main host Toni Gonzaga after her controversial hosting of a proclamation rally during the 2022 election campaign kickoff.
Gonzaga has been receving social media vitriol after she hosted the proclamation rally of presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan on Feb. 8
During the rally, Gonzaga also introduced senatorial bet, SAGIP party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta, who was among the lawmakers who opposed ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal.
“I am deeply insulted and disappointed by the actions of my fellow Kapamilya actress Ms. Toni Gonzaga,” said Chang, a runner-up in Pinoy Big Brother: 737, the reality show that Gonzaga hosted.
She added, “Paano niyo po nasikmurang suportahan at tulungan ang mga taong may malupit na nakaraan sa kasaysayan ng bansa at sa pagkawala ng trabaho ng mga kasama natin sa industriya? As a former PBB housemate, alam kong magtatampo niyan si Kuya.”
Chang said she cannot remain silent and be “safe” not as “it is my privelege to lend my small voice in this battle for the soul of our country.”
“If this is my biggest fight, then I will forever cherish standing up to what I believe in. Hindi po pera-pera. Heto po ay laban ng prinsipyo. I want for all of us to say ‘Hello’ to a better Philippines,” she wrote.
As the issue on Gonzaga continues to swirl on social media, another PBB alum, soon-to-be-mom Dionne Monsanto, weighed in on the issue.
Self-proclaimed “Angel”.
— Dionne Monsanto Stalder (@DionneMonsanto) February 9, 2022
Reminds me of self-proclaimed
“Appointed Son of God”
“Modern-day Joseph”
Try nyo self-proclaimed Judas,
o self-proclaimed Satanas ganyan
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Monsanto, who is based in Switzerland, seemingly took a swipe at Gonzaga without mentioning the TV host’s name in a tweet, “Self-proclaimed ‘Angel.’ Reminds me of self-proclaimed ‘Appointed Son of God,’ ‘Modern-day Joseph’.”
After the proclamation rally, Gonzaga stepped down as Pinoy Big Brother host on Feb. 9 after 16 years. She concluded her message on Instagram with “This is your angel, now signing off…”
This part of Gonzaga’s message was what seems like Monsanto was referring to while “Appointed Son of God” could be in reference to the embattled pastor Apollo Quiboloy, who is now wanted by the FBI for his alleged labor trafficking schemes.
“Try niyo self-proclaimed Judas, o self-proclaimed Satanas, ganyan,” Monsanto added.
As Gonzaga continues to be slammed by netizens, former PBB co-hosts Mariel Rodriguez-Padilla and Bianca Gonzalez-Intal showed support to their friend.
In Gonzaga’s Instagram post on her departure from PBB as host, Rodriguez commented, “You’re a friend and a sister FOREVER. Welcome to the outside world, Toni.”
Gonzalez also commented, “Nobody can ever take your place and do it like you @celestinegonzaga, nag-iisa ka. Love you both.”
On Feb. 10, ABS-CBN issued a statement regarding Gonzaga’s departure from PBB.
“ABS-CBN remains grateful to Toni Gonzaga-Soriano for the 16 years of being the main host of ‘Pinoy Big Brother,’” the statement read. “We value Toni’s hosting prowess and her many years of serving the Filipino with us as our Kapamilya.”
“We accept her resignation from ‘Pinoy Big Brother’ and respect her personal choices.”
#Bothered
In a scathing social media post, filmmaker Erik Matti lambasted Gonzaga for her supposed “unbothered” stance over criticisms of her controversial hosting stint.
Matti posted a screenshot of Gonzaga’s Instagram Stories where the host reshared a supporter’s post describing her as “unbothered.”
“Everyone has a right to their own political stances,” the OTJ:The Missing 8 director wrote.
“But when Hitler runs for office after slaughtering millions of Jews and you still support his bid, the least you can do is acknowledge all the blood he has spilled and with integrity, stick to your own crazy misplaced loyalty in private or in silence,” he said.
Matti further pointed out the parallels between the leader of the Nazi party and dictator Ferdinand Marcos, whose son is running for the highest post in the land.
“The atrocities of Hitler was a history that has been written that actually happened and that no one can refute.”
“In the same way the plunder and the horrors of the Marcos regime to our country the Philippines, that no one has claimed responsibility until now with the players still roaming around free, moneyed and powerful, is irrefutable and a historical fact that cannot be forgotten and rewritten,” Matti said.
The filmmaker then called out Gonzaga for “being so arrogant and obnoxious” for brushing off critics and seemingly flaunting being “unbothered,” which Matti said was “just incomprehensible.”
“To give your support to any political candidate whether or not out of affinity, blood or loyalty is between you and your conscience. You can do whatever you want with your celebrity power and God’s guidance because this is a free world, after all. But to be brazen, arrogant and snooty makes all of it despicable, disgusting and really crude,” he said.
“What makes you people so emboldened, seeming almost like untouchables, to never have the decency to acknowledge with humble bowed heads and with Almighty God as your witness, that you are on the side of what history had unmistakably and irrefutably proven to have been part of the plunder and corruption of the Philippines then and now.”
Matti ended his post saying, “Impunity and apathy run so deep in all of us,” signing off with the hashtag #bothered.
