Charles Teves
Almost four years later, actor Tony Labrusca has commented on the 2019 controversy surrounding a scandal at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
He decided to divulge more about the incident to entertainment reporter/talent manager Ogie Diaz.
It can be remembered that the actor received widespread criticism online after an immigration office released a statement against Tony.
The actor said it wasn’t true that he had caused a commotion at the airport.
Labrusca revealed, “Yung nangyari sa immigration, akala nung mga tao nagwawala ako dun sa gitna ng airport pero hindi talaga yun totoo.”
In contrast to the issues that were brought up, he stated that the only reason an immigration official spoke to him when he arrived in the country was that he insisted on being given a Balikbayan Stamp.
“Nag-usap kami for a while pero hindi nga kami nagkakasundo. So parang tumataas yung boses niya medyo tumataas na rin yung boses ko,” he explained.
Tony denied that he was using his social status to get what he wanted.
The actor explained, “Nung nag-uusap kami, hindi ko sinabi yung pangalan ko, wala akong binanggit na ‘artista ako’. Ang sabi ko lang, ‘I work under ABS-CBN. My job always requires me to travel multiple times a year. Every time nagta-travel ako, binibigyan niyo naman ako ng balikbayan stamp. So bakit ngayon, ayaw niyo akong bigyan? Dahil ba wala kayo sa mood? Or feeling niyo nagfi-feelingero ako dito na big shot kaya ayaw niyo kong bigyan? Gusto ko lang maintindihan, kasi each time na lalabas ako ng bansa, babalik ako dito, binibigyan niyo ko ng balikbayan stamp. Bakit ngayon? Today, ayaw niyo kong bigyan?”
Tony revealed that the problem was solved when they decided to deliberately target the immigration office rather than the growth of the office’s presence on social media. This was a matter that made him really angry because of the criticism he was receiving.
“Nung nangyari ‘yun sa akin, hindi lumambot ‘yung puso ko…naging spiteful ako na tao. Sobrang naging negative ako. Wala na akong tiwala. Hindi na rin ako sobrang proud maging Pinoy,” he furthered.
At this point, Tony came to the realization that his bashers were exerting control over him.
He said, “Ito siguro ‘yung gusto ng mga bashers na ako mismo sirain ko na rin ‘yung buhay ko. Kung [i]tuloy-tuloy ko ‘yung mga ginagawa ko, sila ‘yung mananalo,” anang aktor sa kaniyang napagtanto matapos ang ilang serye aniya ng self-sabotage.”
Tony is sick of negative thinking and has decided to adopt a more optimistic perspective.
“Pick and choose your battles,” he said.
Tony is a Filipino-American actor from the United States. He first appeared in a McDonald’s TV commercial in 2016, ‘Tuloy Pa Rin.’ That same year, he entered the Philippine reality show Pinoy Boyband Superstar, but his journey was uneventful. He also had a minor role in the horror-fantasy drama series ‘La Luna Sangre.’
