Andronico Del Rosario
Celebrities have a way of attracting attention simply by posting a few choice words. They also become polarizing figures that reveal the worst in us.
This turned out to be true when Kapuso actress Chynna Ortaleza and Kapamilya actress Agot Isidro sent out tweets about the current condition of Manila Bay’s white sand beach.
Wait.. seryoso? Grey na? pic.twitter.com/kcnlQqHwCK
— Chynna Ortaleza (@ChynsOrtaleza) September 23, 2020
Or is this only 1 part of the area?
— Chynna Ortaleza (@ChynsOrtaleza) September 23, 2020
There goes our taxes. I was thinking instead of white sand shouldn’t they have thought of helping out NCMH instead? Just a thought.
— Chynna Ortaleza (@ChynsOrtaleza) September 23, 2020
Replies to Chynna’s tweets were mostly filled with people telling her to “judge the project when it’s finished,” echoing calls from both the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Interior and Local Government.
Some have taken to criticizing Chynna for reposting photos from the Philippine Star.
Heto po yung buong part na pinost mo po… ✌️ pic.twitter.com/Jdfpq8kcUK
— Marigrace P. Dalan (@graceybiyaya) September 24, 2020
ikaw ba mismo kumuha ng pics na yan? galing puro kayo puna, tumira kayo sa spratlys kayo na mga kontra sa progreso!
— Ani Jackylyn (@msguiyab) September 24, 2020
Others showed support, pointing out the government’s misplaced priorities. There were those, however, who stuck with the “old script” and said the crushed dolomite was better than what was there before: piles of trash.
https://twitter.com/sugar0876957365/status/1308739613809238016
Agot Isidro’s reply thread on Twitter showed pretty much the same comments as Chynna’s, though she had more support at first.
nakow. umuulan na naman.
manila bay sands…. say goodbye!#lostatsea #bestandbrightest
— Agot Isidro (@agot_isidro) September 24, 2020
She would later get tweets like asking her to run for President or blaming the previous administration for not doing anything.
https://twitter.com/ace52058227/status/1309034186901196808
https://twitter.com/dennisbutic/status/1309087667863408642
ibalik nalang cguro ang basura at c Pnoy
— the pretty girl in the world (@xenoxerd) September 24, 2020
Some even called her a hypocrite, saying she cares more for herself than the Filipino people.
How hypocrite you are. Pretending to be caring to the poor filipinos yet praying for the failure of this govt who just want yo give a better life for us (common filipinos).
— Harbi M. (@hardx17) September 24, 2020
These tweets come at the heat of criticisms being fired at the DENR and the Manila City LGU for going ahead with the project.
Recently, DENR Usec. Benny Antiporda said the dolomite sand placed on the shores of Manila Bay would not wash off as easily as critics say.
In an interview with CNN Philippines last September 15, Antiporda said they have placed geotubes to ensure the white sand doesn’t wash off during the rainy season. He also said they expect some of the white sand to erode, but “it will not be that big.”
He also promised to ask the Department of Public Works and Highways to go after the contractor should the white sand wash away as easily as critics claim it will be.
