Vice Ganda trends with ‘Piliin Mo Ang Pilipinas’ entry, Zeinab Harake apologizes for ‘laro’ comment

Vice Ganda and Zeinab Harake

Internet star Zeinab Harake has apologized for her “offensive” comment on Vice Ganda’s viral Asoka makeup challenge entry that highlighted relevant social issues in the Philippines.

On her social media accounts, Vice earned the praise of Internet users with her own take on the makeup challenge using Angeline Quinto’s song Piliin Mo ang Pilipinas. The clip kicks off with some famous tourist spots in the country before switching to Vice doing her makeup transitions.

The video ends with a twist as the It’s Showtime host gets transported to various scenes in the Philippines, shedding light on certain issues that the country has faced and is currently facing. These include the hardships of traffic and commuting, protests on the PUV modernization program, the Torre de Manila that photobombs the Rizal Monument in Luneta Park, the resort that was built in the Chocolate Hills, as well as the conflict happening in the West Philippine Sea.

“Kahit mahirap kang ipaglaban, pinipili pa rin kita, Pilipinas,” Vice wrote in the caption.

Social media users and other big personalities applauded her for using her influence to put the spotlight on such issues while still making people smile with her video’s comedic tone.

“This is what separates Vice Ganda from other comedians and so-called ‘influencers.’ Only Vice Ganda has the guts to expose socially and politically relevant issues while still being funny,” one user said.

“Ang husay! Maraming salamat Vice sa pagtuloy na pagtindig at pagpili sa Pilipinas!” Atty. Chel Diokno commented.

Another local personality who commended Vice was actress and content creator Zeinab, who wrote in the thread, “Larooooooo hahaha love you.”

However, her now-deleted comment had other online users criticizing her for her “out-of-touch” remark to the video as it aims to address serious topics.

“‘Yung context is, yung TikTok video ni Vice na Piliin ang Pilipinas ay about sa social issues ng bansa like Chinese bullying our fishermen and so on tapos itong si ante Zeinab nag-comment ng ‘laro’ eh hindi naman nakikipag-biruan si Vice,” one user explained.

“Ang out of touch lang ng comment niya considering na she’s a citizen rin and very silence siya sa mga issues ng bansa,” they added.

Zeinab, later in the day, issued an apology in her Instagram stories, writing, “Sa mga na-offend ko sa comment ko kay Meme Vice, I am really sorry. Na-amaze lang talaga ako nang sobra sa pagiging witty niya sa paggawa ng content dahil napasok niya ang social issues in which we all should be aware of.”

“I really do love her and I will always support her no matter what,” she said, adding that she has already talked to Vice about this.

“Let’s all support Meme Vice and let’s continue to use our platform for better purposes and to uplift one another and our country,” she ended.

Other social media users stood by Zeinab and stressed that there was nothing wrong with her using the term on Vice’s video.

“Bilang kabaklaan, okay naman comment ni Zeinab kay Vice, laro means ‘ginalingan, pinakabog o ‘Luh, kinabog ni accla,'” one user said.

“Yung iba kong gay na friend, ang meaning ng laro sa kanila is ginalingan. Kaya minsan maririnig nyo sa pageant may mga nasigaw ng ‘Nilaro ni accla ang pageant,’ parang ‘yun way nila para i-compliment yung sinusuportahan nila,” another said.

Apart from Vice, other celebrities who did the Asoka makeup challenge include Ivana Alawi and Marian Rivera. Angeline Quinto also had her own take on the Pilipiin Mo Ang Pilipinas trend, where she revealed she’s expecting her second baby.