Jarren Garcia Faces Backlash for Gloria Romero Report
JARREN GARCIA – The former Pinoy Big Brother (PBB) housemate faced backlash for his report on the passing of veteran actress Gloria Romero during his guest appearance as a Star Patroller on TV Patrol Express on January 28. Garcia, who was covering the influx of showbiz personalities attending Romero’s wake, mispronounced several Filipino words and names, which did not sit well with some netizens.
The main criticism was directed at Garcia’s difficulty in pronouncing Tagalog words, such as “burol,” “lamay,” and “malapit,” as well as struggling with the name of actress Daisy Romualdez. Many felt his delivery lacked the expected respect, given the somber nature of the news about a beloved icon in Philippine cinema.
Some netizens found his performance disrespectful, suggesting that it was inappropriate to have a rookie like Garcia deliver such sensitive news, while others blamed those who assigned him to read the segment. One commenter pointed out that, as a Filipino-American, Garcia should have made a greater effort to master the Filipino language, especially if he wanted to be part of the entertainment industry in the Philippines.
However, some defended Garcia. Some believed he had practiced for the segment and was simply trying his best, considering his background in the UK. They argued that he shouldn’t be blamed for being assigned the task and that the responsibility should lie with the producers who made the decision. Others mentioned that English could have been an alternative for Garcia to present the news fluently, which might have avoided the issue.
As of now, Garcia’s camp has not issued a statement regarding the criticism. The incident sparked a mix of opinions, with some feeling that Garcia was unfairly criticized, while others maintained that he should have been more prepared for such a delicate assignment.
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