Albay ruckus blows up over actor’s quip

LEGAZPI CITY—Actor Xian Lim [Alexander Xian Cruz Lim Uy in real life] is now getting flak in social media from the people of Albay province, particularly from Gov. Joey Salceda, for saying “I’m not here to promote Albay” while in the city on Thursday as a featured guest in a Chinese New Year event organized by the provincial government.

A fuming Salceda, in one of his series of Facebook posts on Friday, said Lim could not be forgiven for his rude remarks, especially since he was paid by the provincial government P350,000 to appear in “Fiesta Tsinoy,” an event of the Chinese-Filipino community in Albay for the Chinese New Year at the Albay Astrodome here on Thursday.

Carol Sabio, chief of staff of Salceda, said Lim was at the Oriental Hotel here on Thursday morning when the actor rudely rejected gifts she was handing to him: A T-shirt with the words “Warm Albay” printed on it and a coffee table book on the province.

“While I am handing the T-shirt [to him], he said he didn’t like it,” said Sabio in a phone interview.

“Then I tried to give the coffee table book. Instead, he responded with ‘I’m not here to promote Albay,’” Sabio said.

“After that I just asked him to have a photo together (with us) but he was so uncomfortable as he looked in the camera,” she added.

The governor, who was in the same hotel when the incident happened, said he got very angry when he was told of Lim’s rudeness.

“It’s either 1. His parents did not raise him well. 2. He had bad education. 3. He is not managed well. 4. His character is inversely proportional to his looks. 5. He is on something,” the governor said in his official Facebook page.

The post immediately generated negative reactions from thousands of Albayanos and followers of Salceda.

Lim arrived at 10:40 a.m. at the Legazpi City airport for the 5 p.m. event at the astrodome. He was billeted at the Oriental Hotel for an overnight stay.

Reacting through the official website of his network, ABS-CBN, Lim apologized to Salceda and the people of Albay.

The ABS-CBN report said Lim refused to wear the T-shirt promoting Albay to avoid conflict with the apparel brand that he is endorsing.

“I just read an online article about an incident which is deeply upsetting because it doesn’t tell the right story,” the ABS-CBN report quoted Lim as saying.

“In the article I was quoted as saying ‘I am not here to promote Albay,’ something I never said or would ever say,” Lim said.

“My parents raised me to be respectful and generous to everyone, and my management has always stressed the virtues of decency and humility,” the actor was quoted as saying.

“I do not do drugs and have worked hard to get to where I am. If you send me the T-shirt and after I have cleared it with my clothing endorsement, I would be more than happy to wear it online and on air. I am also very willing to promote the book of Albay,” he added.

But Salceda, in another Facebook post, said Lim is “lying.”

He said the province gives away T-shirts for tourism promotion that bear the words “Warm Albay,” not “I love Albay” as claimed by Lim.

He said the T-shirts are given as souvenirs and guests are never asked to wear these.

Lim, said the governor, also lied when the actor denied saying “I am not here to promote Albay.”

“Our chief of staff posted it as a comment as early as 1 p.m. yesterday,” said Salceda.

“We did not upload it because we did not want to affect the Fiesta Tsinoy affair,” he said.

“Since we paid ABS CBN Starmagic for his services, we expect them to be fair in reporting this hurtful PTCAO (provincial tourism office) .. incident,” said Salceda.

He added that it was “ordinary PTCAO working staff” who were insulted by Lim.