Charles Teves
Aiko Melendez defended Toni Gonzaga from bashers via a Facebook post on October 1, after the latter got chosen by e-commerce site Shopee as its new brand endorser.
Before Gonzaga was announced as the latest endorser, Shopee laid off employees in the Philippines. In turn, thousands deleted the Shopee app from their phones and switched to Lazada, the former’s rival.
Aside from the downsizing of the workforce in the country, netizens also disliked the fact that Shopee hired a “Marcos apologist.”
During the campaign season, Gonzaga left ABS-CBN and campaigned for then-presidential candidate Bongbong Marcos who eventually won the presidency.
Netizens called for Shopee to drop Gonzaga while the TV host’s supporters were right behind her.
Melendez, who ran under the Nacionalista party and won a seat in the Quezon City Council, also defended Gonzaga.
She said criticizing Shopee for laying off of employees was understandable but trashing Gonzaga is a different story.
“Sana magstick po tayo na mali ang timing ng ginawa Shopee sa pagalis ng mga tauhan nila at pagbabawas. Dahil dipo ito makatao. Pero mali naman ang atakihin nyo ang kinuha nilang endorser dahil iba ang political leanings nya,” she wrote.
“Ang shopee din lang ang makaka alam na baka kaya kinuha nila si Toni Gonzaga para maisalba also ang sales nila at eventually pag nakabangon sila ihire back ang mga tao.
“Sana nga ganun ang diskarte nila, Whether we like it or not si Toni is one of top endorsers and kapag siya also ang kinukuha maganda ang sales. Wag na kayo maging divided para sa isang Company, Maging malawak sana ang pag iisip ng mga tao. Sa Shopee nyo icall ang attention nyo dahil sila ang nagalis ng mga empleyado nila and not Toni!.”
She ended the post with the hashtag “#justsaying.”
Meanwhile, Gonzaga said she is unfazed by the backlash. At a launching event, Gonzaga said her bashers basically gave the new deal free “mentions and engagements.”
“We are grateful because we [have been] trending since yesterday and today. We are grateful to our netizens for the mentions, and the engagements. We are grateful for them because they are also one of the reasons why we are here where we are today.”
