Charles Teves
Wowowin co-host Sugar Mercado has been accused of exploiting small businesses. Mercado has been a television for over a decade already, from starting out as Sexbomb dancer to co-hosting several TV shows.
One Franchella Micu, a small business owner, went on Facebook to share her experience with Mercado.
Franchella said that Mercado sent her a message offering to advertise her product in a ‘collab’ but later added that she had to pay her a certain amount.
“Dear Ms. SUGAR MERCADO DONT ASK FOR A COLLAB IF YOU WILL END UP MAKING THE OTHER PERSON OR THE BUSINESS OWNERS PAY FOR YOU IF THEY WILL POST YOU WITH THEIR PRODUCTS ON THEIR FEED.”
Franchella understood that it was free of charge because the whole thing was a collaboration. Mercado could possibly be an exploiter of small businesses by what the post is implying.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10216217838107938&set=pcb.10216217849748229&type=3&theater
“Collab nga diba tapos maniningil ka ng TF after namin mag bigay ng product namin?! We are just starting out and you are abusing loads of people na po. ”
Mercado allegedly taught Herlene Budol, also known as Hipon Girl, her exploiting tactics, but the latter apologized for doing such.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10216217841388020&set=pcb.10216217849748229&type=3&theater
“Kawawa yung mga nag bibigay ng pagkain para makatulong din sana sa business nila. Ilan na ba ang hinengan mo? At talagang tinuruan mo pa si Ms. Herlene Budol aka hipon girl ng diskarte mo para kumita? Pare-parehas po tayo nag hahanap buhay. Buti pa nga si Herlene nag-sorry. Ikaw hindi?”
“…nag deactivate si ms.sugar and ngayon lng nag active ng account pero iba na name. Meaning, di lng po kami yung inaask nila for collab. Madami sila niyaya makipag collab sa kanila,” Franchella said.
She decided to post the alleged exploitation on social media because she doesn’t want other small business owners to go through the same thing.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10216217839187965&set=pcb.10216217849748229&type=3&theater
“…kaya ako lalo na trigger ipost dahil po binura ni Ms. Sugar sa feed niya yung picture niya kasama yung product namin. Sabi collab nga di na nga binayaran. Nakakasama lang ng loob kasi nag eeffort kaming mga tao para sana makatulong sa business namin tapos ikaw mang aagrabyado lang ng tao.”
Franchella shared screenshots of her conversation with Mercado showing that the TV host was asking for P5,000 for an advertisement on her social media page.
