CONTENT creators Shaun Pelayo and Crissa Liaging (also known as Habibi) are facing backlash after appearing to throw shade at actress-host Anne Curtis who recently went to Siquijor to promote its tourist destinations.
Pelayo and Liaging appeared to be miffed during a Tiktok livestream on Saturday, April 19, saying their efforts to promote the province were not recognized by the provincial government.
This came after Curtis made the rounds of social media in March when she shared glimpses of her island getaway in March, apparently as part of a project she would be starring in.
In one of her viral Instagram videos, the “It’s Showtime” host, in a two-piece bikini, could be seen fashionably hanging from a long nylon cord as she walked circles over the Siquijor lake, her feet barely touching the surface of the water.
In contrast, Pelayo and Liaging said their efforts to promote Siquijor didn’t gain traction, as they zeroed in on the local government for failing to acknowledge or express gratitude to them.
“Ako promoting the island again pero walang acknowledgement,” Pelayo said in Bisaya in a video, which they posted on TikTok. The video has since been taken down from their platforms, but was reuploaded by netizens.
Liaging said in response, “If I will be the ano [local government], I will say thank you for always promoting Siquijor.”
Several netizens then called out the content creators for their statement, among them former Commission on Elections commissioner Rowena Guanzon, who said she has no idea who these vloggers were.
Others pointed out that Siquijor has long been known for its picturesque beauty and breathtaking sights, even before celebrities and content creators explored the island province.
Pelayo and Liaging have yet to directly address the backlash. (Hannah Mallorca © Philippine Daily Inquirer)
