Gen Z Calls Out Alvin Elchico Over “Bembang pa more!”
ALVIN ELCHICO – The veteran ABS-CBN and DZMM TeleRadyo news anchor found himself the subject of online backlash from Gen Z netizens after he shouted “Bembang pa more!” during his morning radio show Gising Pilipinas.
Alvin shared the story with his audience in a light and cheerful tone, explaining that he didn’t realize the word “bembang” has a different meaning for younger people today. For him and others from his generation, the word simply means “being scolded badly,” which he thought fit the topic they were discussing on the show. He and co-host Doris Bigornia are known for their strong commentary on social issues, so using that term made sense to him in the context.
He opened the segment with energy, shouting, “Gising Pilipinas! Energy, energy! Bembang pa more!” hoping to engage listeners and set a lively tone. But soon after, Gen Z listeners started calling him out online, saying the word now has a completely different meaning—referring to s3x.
Laughing as he told the story, Alvin said, “Kinuyog pala ako ng mga kabataan dito. Iba pala ibig sabihin ng bembang sa mga batang ito! Eh kasi naman kami, ang ibig sabihin sa amin, ‘pag nabembang ako eh, ang ibig sabihin no’n napagalitan ako nang todo. Ang ibig sabihin pala sa mga bata ngayon, ‘yan ay s3x!”
Despite the misunderstanding, Alvin handled the situation with humor and grace. He also pointed out that s3x is a natural part of life and there’s nothing wrong with talking about it—but he emphasized how words can change over time and lead to confusion between generations.
In the end, Alvin reminded everyone to consider context, be open to learning, and not take things too seriously. It was a fun reminder of how language evolves—and how even familiar words can suddenly mean something new.