Singer-actor Mark Bautista defended fellow artist Sarah Geronimo from people who are criticizing the popstar princess for being silent about the ABS-CBN franchise issue.
People bashed Sarah for not showing enough support to ABS-CBN which is her home network.
Mark defended Sarah through his post on Twitter.
He explained that Sarah has always been private with her life which is a well-known fact to some Filipino people. She doesn’t post so much on social media and said that she is not the type of person to be ‘confrontational’.
“SG has always been very private and not even confrontational so I would understand her,” he said
“To each his own,” he added.
SG has always been very private and not even confrontational so I would understand her-To each his own.
— Mark Bautista (@iammarkbautista) July 20, 2020
Mark said that people have their own lives and are dealing with problems of their own. He believed that Sarah is not obligated to share her opinion on the issue because he knows that the actress is already grieving over the network’s shutdown.
He wanted people to know that even though Sarah doesn’t express herself much regarding the ABS-CBN shutdown, she still cares for the network and to all the ABS-CBN employees who were affected.
His post came after Sarah released a statement on the ABS-CBN shut down on July 19 on her social media pages. The Kapamilya artist called for the people to be united, appealed for another chance for the network, and shared her sympathies for those who have lost their jobs.
Sarah said that she loves and supports her home network that has given her many opportunities which led to her success in life.
“Malaking bahagi po ng aking karera ang ABS-CBN. Maliban po sa pamilya ko at sa aking manager na si Boss Vic, ang ABS-CBN po ay ang network na ilang beses na sumugal at sumuporta sa akin bilang artista at performer,” she said.
“Niyakap nila ako at inalagaan nang husto na parang kanilang sariling ‘anak’ o homegrown talent. Malaki po ang utang na loob ko sa network na ito at habangbuhay ko po ipagpapasalamat ang bawat oportunidad, tiwala na ibinigay nila sa akin,” she added.
Sarah expressed her sadness and sorrow with the rejection of the network’s franchise and said that she is still hoping to have an appeal for ABS-CBN to have another chance to be in service of the Filipinos again. She stated that she stands for the ABS-CBN network and all its employees who are suffering from the network’s shutdown.
She hoped that all the Kapamilya will stand together as one in helping one another to overcome the crisis and pandemic that the country is facing. She wanted the people to help each other and not fight with one another. She believed that in this time of the crisis, unity among the people is the most powerful along with continued faith and prayers.
“Ako po si Sarah Geronimo, di lamang artista, isa ring mamamayang Pilipino na umaapila para sa mga labis na apektado ng COVID19. Magtulungan po tayo, wag po tayo magwatak-watak. Ituon po natin ang ating pansin at pokus sa ating mga kababayan na sugatan at pasigaw nang humihingi ng saklolo dahil sa pagod, sakit, at pagdadalamhati.”
“MAGKAISA PO TAYO PARA SA ATING MAHAL NA BANSANG PILIPINAS. MAGKAISA PO TAYO PARA SA ATING KAPWA,” she said.
The “Popstar Royalty” was still bashed by the people who believed that she only decided to break her silence when netizens demanded a statement from her. People said she was just trying to avoid criticisms so she decided to speak up.
Many believed that another reason as to why Sarah decided to release a statement is because of actress Angel Locsin’s call to all artists to speak up about the crisis of their network. Angel has been very vocal with her concerns regarding the issue and said that other artists should also be vocal because they have the fame and influence to reach a larger audience.
A netizen mentioned with Mark’s statement of “to each his own,” he is only creating a misunderstanding between Sarah and Angel Locsin that could lead to a feud. He said that Mark should avoid using words that could put both artists in an awkward position. The netizen also said that Sarah and Angel don’t have anything against each other and that Mark should stop being the cause of a dispute.
Mark answered the netizen and said that he was not trying to stir something up with his statement and said that he actually loves both Sarah and Angel. He said that people should not assume right away and should try to comprehend first what other people really meant with their words before judging. He clarified that there was no fighting between the artists right from the start.
“Pls let’s not directly assume that I’m adding fuel to something I’m fully aware that is not even burning,” Mark said.
Mark Bautista got his career break when he became a grand finalist on the Philippine reality TV talent search Star for a Night where he placed third behind Sarah Geronimo. He stated in a 2008 interview that he was courting Sarah Geronimo but he came out as bisexual in February 2018. He was part of GMA’s television variety show, Studio 7 as one of the performers.
