John Estrada has disputed reports that he punched the floor director of ABS-CBN television show “Happy Yipee Yehey!”According to reports, Estrada fumed and hit Alex Magbanua after learning that he berated and ordered 3 senior members of the audience to get out of the studio.
The actor, one of the main hosts of the show, granted an interview with “The Buzz” to put the speculations to rest. The interview was aired on Sunday.
Based on Estrada’s account, news of Magbanua scolding some members of the studio audience had already reached him even before the show started.
“Umihi kasi, pag balik, hindi na pinabalik,” he said.
He said when he was about to go to the studio, the 3 went up to him and hugged him as they cried.
“Sinabi, ‘Bakit direktor ninyo ang sakit magsalita?’ Kumbaga nag-joke siguro. Siyempre napahiya ang mga matatanda. Actually, nasaktan ako. Medyo totoo ‘yon, uminit ang ulo ko… Hindi na ako nakapagpigil. Sabi ko, ‘Di bale po mga lola, pasok na po. Ako na po ang bahala,’” he said.
Estrada approached the show’s creative head, Willie Cuevas, to help him address the issue and prevent the same incident from occurring again.
“Pero hindi ko sinasabi na masamang tao si Alex Magbanua. Ginagawa niya ang trabaho niya pero minsan may mga sensitibo tayong studio audience na minsan hindi makakaintindi ng jokes natin. Tinawag ko si Alex, talagang pumutok ako dahil nakita ko ‘yong lungkot at umiiyak ang mga lola natin,” he said.
During the confrontation, he said he hit the wall beside Magbanua contrary to rumors that he punched the floor director.
The TV host said they were able to iron things out immediately.
Magbanua apologized to the 3 elderly, said Estrada. He, on the other hand, said sorry not only to the floor director but to the whole staff and crew of “Happy Yipee Yehey!” as well.
“Ganoon tayo, hindi naman sa lahat [ng oras] maganda ang mood natin. Maganda doon na-realize namin na may ginawa kaming mali at inayos namin agad. At inamin naming mali kami,” he said.
Estrada was also unfazed by criticisms, saying he is not afraid to face his detractors as long as he knows the truth.
Source: www.abs-cbnnews.com