OPM singer JK Labajo was asked to issue a public apology after doing this at an event.
Mayor Jerry Treñas disapproves of what singer JK Labajo did during his performance at the Dinagyang Festival.
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas called out singer Juan Karlos Labajo’s performance during the Dinagyang Festival. The OMP singer-songwriter took the stage for a routine performance, however, he did something that the mayor did not like.
He sang the 2023 hit “Ere” during a brand-sponsored event at the Festive Walk Parade on January 24 and this song is known for having an expletive word in its lyrics. What JK did was replace this particular word with its Hiligaynon counterpart and this is what the mayor called him out for.
Instead of singing, “Oh, ‘di ba? Nakakap*****na”, he sang “Oh, ‘di ba? Nakakayudpta.”
In the event, the crowd erupted with some even asking him to repeat the phrase. There were clips and videos of this that circulated online and sparked discussions about artistic expression, language, and the boundaries of public performances.
“I already received a report…and we will do something about it. We will not tolerate it,” Treñas said on Monday, January 27.
The Iloilo City Council has mulled on passing a resolution demanding the singer to issue a public apology which is backed by the Iloilo Festivals Foundation, Inc. (IFFI). IFFI admitted their failure to check on Labajo’s song lineup as they were more focused on providing security.
In a statement, the mayor also expressed, “While we value creativity and self-expression, we must also be mindful of the messages we share, especially during important celebrations like [the] Dinagyang Festival.”
Dinagyang Festival is an annual religious celebration to honor Santo Niño (Holy Child Jesus). This also paves the way for the people to express their faith and cultural devotion. The statement of Treñas, however, was taken down shortly after it was posted. This is after people reacted to this and called him out as he is also a known personality in the city for uttering profanities publicly.
Labajo is yet to issue an official statement on the issue.
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