You’ve probably seen the video of Christopher Lao and his floating car (when he tried to drive through a flooded street in Quezon City). Have you seen the comments that were posted in YouTube and Twitter? Whoa…
Official Statement from Christopher Lao
4 August 2011
The past few days have been very disheartening for me and my family. As you know I have been a subject of a viral video that showed my helplessness during a trying moment. As it stands right now, I have several hate pages in Facebook and Twitter with hurtful and derogatory messages attacking my person. The reputation that I built the past years has been besmirched. A bad day has now turned into wounded feelings and sleepless nights for me and my family.
I have been silent the past few days as I want this to go away soon but not before saying sorry and thank you to people who matter.
I would like to apologize for my behavior that was seen on nationwide television and now on the internet. It was unfortunate that I was caught on camera immediately after an overwhelmingly stressful mishap.
I would like to again sincerely thank those who braved the flood to help a distraught stranger like me. Their selfless act reminded me of how dependable Filipinos are in times of crisis.
Lastly, I would like to thank my family, friends and all of those who showed empathy, consideration and support throughout these trying times. You have given me strength and courage to rise above and be a better person.
Sincerely yours,
Christopher Lao
People make mistakes. Drivers make mistakes.
And when you take your chances with a flood and miscalculate, and then have Jun Veneracion (GMA 7 / 24 Oras) push a mic towards your face and ask you: “Pero hindi mo ba na-realize na baka malalim?”
And that’s where Christopher Lao says: “Why do you…[sorry, couldn’t hear this part well] Bakit ako?”
And media, with the help of YouTube, has allowed many people to view and replay that video clip so many times.
The result: A lot of hurtful comments and tweets, and even a hate page in Facebook.
Everyone, each one of us, has had at least one embarrassing moment in our lives. And when we get chastised on national television with a “didn’t you realize…”, that magnifies the embarrassment even more.
If you were in such a situation, how would you react? You’re soaked, your car needs to be repaired, you don’t exactly like the situation you’re in, and here you are being interviewed by a TV crew.
It’s amazing how Christopher Lao even managed to keep his voice more or less steady.
And now, after all of that, Christopher Lao is being cyber-bullied.
Newsworthy ba talaga iyon? Sometimes it seems that media holds anyone, not just public officials, up to ridicule. And then they try to appeal to people via Twitter or the web by tweeting: “Christopher Lao was victimized by the flood & a lack of warnings. He shouldn’t be victimized again. Let’s put a stop to online harassment.”
Tell you what — Let’s put a stop to media humiliating private individuals.
Dati, ‘pag mayroon tayong nagawang kapalpakan, alaskado lang tayo sa mga barkada natin. Tapos, medyo lumawak ang kahihiyan nung nagkaroon ng YouTube. At lalu pa ngayon na may Media na ipaaalam sa buong Pinas na meron palang kwentong ganyan.
Hayss…
NOTE: Hindi po kami kamag-anak ni Christopher Lao. Hindi nga po namin siya kilala bago kumalat ‘yang video na iyan. Pero tingnan po ninyo… Wala siyang sinaktan o sinagasaan, hindi siya lasing, hindi siya lumabag sa batas, hindi siya nagsampay ng tuta, hindi niya inapakan ang kuting. Minalas lang siya at hindi niya gaanong natantiya ang sitwasyon (kung sa anong dahilan, hindi po namin alam).
Pero dapat bang in-air pa ng media yung ganung video clip? News ba iyon? Ano, para pag-trip-an ng madla? Para gawan ng FB hatepage?
Haynaku. Wag sana kayo malagay sa ganung sitwasyon in the future.
To Christopher Lao: Turn lemons into lemonade. Publish your blog, create your YouTube channel, and put up your Facebook fanpage.
