KMJS, nag-sorry sa isang bayan dahil sa kanilang “Halloween Special” kamakailan lang
- Hit TV show Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho officially apologized to master woodcarver Pio Fadul and other Paete woodcarvers following intense backlash over a Halloween episode
- Local officials threatened KMJS with a persona non grata status if they failed to address the massive public complaints within 15 days
- The controversial broadcast allegedly painted Pio and his town's legendary carving industry in a bad light by linking them to dark curses
- The production team quickly clarified their true intentions, apologizing for the unintentional alarm caused to the talented local artisans
MAKI-TINGIN KA NAMAN: Pwede ka nang mag-comment sa mga artikulo ng KAMI! Subukan mo, madali lang!
A highly anticipated television Halloween special by the popular program, Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (KMJS), quickly turned into a real-life public relations nightmare after a beloved Philippine town fiercely defended its centuries-old cultural heritage.
Source: Instagram
The popular weekend magazine program has now issued a formal public apology to renowned master woodcarver Pio Fadul and the proud residents of Paete, Laguna.
The unexpected controversy erupted after a chilling broadcast allegedly associated the town's world-famous woodcarving livelihood with terrifying curses and evil spirits, sparking massive outrage among local artisans and community leaders.
The intense backlash reached a boiling point when the local town council swiftly stepped in to protect their economic and cultural identity.
PAY ATTENTION: Follow us on Instagram - get the most important news directly in your favourite app!
According to a detailed digital news report published by Philstar, the local government passed a strict resolution demanding a swift public clarification.
They firmly gave the network exactly fifteen days to rectify the situation, warning that failure to do so would result in the show and its involved personalities being declared persona non grata.
Sensing the immense gravity of the situation, KMJS immediately took to their official social media platforms to clear the air.
The production team passionately explained that their November 1 segment, titled “Ukit,” was never intended to disrespect Pio or the town's legendary craft.
In their official statement, the show explained, “Iginagalang namin ang husay at sining ni Ginoong Pio Fadul at ng mga mang-uukit ng Paete. Kaya nang makarating sa amin ang salaysay tungkol sa mga karanasang iniugnay sa isa sa kanyang mga ukit, nakipag-ugnayan kami sa kanya at sa kanyang pamilya upang makuha ang kanilang panig.”
The program further clarified that the spooky narrative strictly focused on one specific carving tied to a musician's personal experience, and was absolutely not a sweeping generalization of the community's artwork.
Recognizing the potential economic damage, they stated, “Nauunawaan namin na maaaring makaapekto ang ulat sa industriya ng pag-uukit sa Paete, at hindi namin layuning makasira sa tiwala sa kanilang sining at kabuhayan.”
To fully mend fences, the production team has actively reached out to the affected artisan's relatives.
“Nakikipag-ugnayan na rin kami sa pamilya Fadul upang talakayin ang kanilang mga alalahanin, at humihingi kami ng paumanhin sa kanila at sa mga taga-Paete sa pagkabahala na naidulot ng ulat,” the program humbly added.
The controversial segment, which aired during the highly rated "Gabi ng Lagim XIV" special, had already amassed over 870,000 views on YouTube and 1.1 million views on Facebook within just 24 hours.
For a town celebrated nationwide as the “Carving Capital of the Philippines,” reputation is everything.
This gripping incident serves as a powerful reminder of how modern media storytelling must always carefully balance entertainment with a deep, uncompromising respect for local culture and hardworking communities.
As one of the Philippines' most revered broadcast journalists and television icons, Jessica Soho has built a legendary media career. She is widely celebrated for leading powerful programs that masterfully highlight urgent social issues, impactful current events, and the deeply compelling, real-life stories of everyday Filipinos.
About a month ago Jessica Soho, a highly acclaimed television host and veteran broadcast journalist, passionately appealed to Generation Z and Generation Alpha regarding their crucial role in shaping tomorrow. The respected media icon stressed the urgent need to hold corrupt individuals accountable, warning that future generations will ultimately bear the heavy consequences of today's unresolved issues. During her powerful statement, she actively encouraged the youth to make their voices loudly heard and channel their frustrations positively to achieve concrete, meaningful societal changes. The seasoned news anchor also highlighted persistent national problems like severe flooding, expressing her deep hope that the younger demographic will not have to endure these same burdens when they finally lead the country.
A couple of months ago, she humorously addressed a viral internet comment jokingly claiming she only travels personally to interview highly attractive male guests. The veteran host could not help but laugh at the witty social media remark, though she quickly and playfully defended her professional integrity against the trending online narrative. In the end, she amusingly agreed with the netizens, candidly confirming that Eman Bacoso Pacquiao—the actual subject of the viral discussion—is indeed a very handsome young man. Showcasing her incredible media savvy, the celebrated anchor cleverly utilized the trending internet moment to casually promote her highly anticipated cinematic project, 'KMJS: Gabi ng Lagim: The Movie.'
Bagong feature: Tingnan ang mga balitang para sa'yo ➡️ hanapin ang "Recommended for you" block at mag-enjoy!
Source: KAMI.com.gh
