Alex Eala, hiningan ng paumanhin ng may-ari ng viral na rebulto matapos itong batikusin

• June Ducat addressed the backlash surrounding the viral Alex Eala statue
• Ducat apologized to the tennis star for the statue’s appearance
• He said the artwork was created to honor and support Filipino athletes
• The statue had already been displayed at the resort before Eala became widely known

The owner of a viral statue depicting Filipino tennis star Alex Eala has addressed the criticism surrounding the artwork, admitting that it does not exactly resemble the athlete.

The statue, displayed at a resort in Naic, Cavite, recently drew widespread attention after content creator Owhen Ranger shared a video of it online. The post quickly circulated on social media, with many viewers commenting on the statue’s noticeable difference from Eala’s actual appearance.

During the September 27 episode of KALURKS!, statue owner June Ducat spoke about the controversy and explained why he had the artwork commissioned in the first place.

Ducat said he was surprised when the statue suddenly became the subject of a viral post and attracted harsh reactions online.

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"Nagulat nga ako nung isang araw bigla na lang mayroong nag-post na taga-Naic. Nag-viral, napakaraming mga basher na talagang nagagalit, para akong politiko na bina-bash. Ang akin lang naman bilang dumakila sa isang Pilipina na nagbibigay-dangal sa ating bansa," said June.

He also directly addressed Eala, apologizing that the statue did not accurately capture her likeness.

"Ang mensahe ko kay Alex Eala, pasensya ka na kung hindi mo eksakto kamukha. Hindi namin sinasadya na hindi mo maging kamukha. Talagang 'yun lang talaga ang kapasidad nung artist ko."

"Basta ang akin, ipinagawa ko bilang suporta, pagpupunyagi, at itaguyod ang mga atleta natin dito sa ating bansa," he added.

The statement also prompted KALURKS! host DJ Jhai Ho to express his appreciation for Ducat’s gesture and the intention behind the statue.

"Gusto ko munang saluduhan si Sir June. Maraming-maraming salamat po. Alam mo na-fragile 'yung heart ko talaga nung sinabi niya na, 'Alex, pasensya ka na. Hindi man na-achieve nung artist ko 'yung as in kamukhang-kamukha mo, pero gusto ko lang saluduhan 'yung karangalang dinadala mo for the Philippines,'" said DJ Jhai Ho.

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Ashley Rivera likewise provided additional context about the statue. According to her, it had already been displayed at the resort as early as April of the previous year, before Eala rose to greater prominence.

The clarification highlighted that Ducat’s decision to commission and display the statue was intended as a show of support for Filipino athletes rather than a response to Eala’s recent popularity.

While the statue became a source of online discussion because of its appearance, Ducat maintained that his primary intention was to honor an athlete who has brought recognition to the Philippines.

Alex Eala (born Alexandra Maniego Eala) is a trailblazing Filipino professional tennis player who made history as the first Filipina to win a junior Grand Slam singles title and capture a WTA Tour singles title. A former standout scholar at the Rafa Nadal Academy, she has continued to break national records and elevate Philippine tennis on the global professional stage.

In another report, Alex Eala made her first appearance at New York Fashion Week as a guest at Tory Burch’s Spring/Summer 2027 runway show. The Filipina tennis star took her place in the front row and admitted feeling excited yet nervous while surrounded by high-profile guests from the fashion industry. Alex also shared her thoughts on the similarities she sees between sports and fashion, particularly the discipline and creativity involved in both fields.

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Meanwhile, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. congratulated Alex Eala after she made history at the 2026 Mubadala DC Open. Eala defeated world No. 3 Jessica Pegula, 4-6, 6-4, 6-0, in the final to become the first Filipino to win a WTA 500 singles title. Marcos praised the achievement and said Eala continues to inspire young Filipinos while showing what is possible for Philippine tennis. He also expressed his support for the tennis star following her historic victory.

Source: KAMI.com.gh