Michael V

Vlogger Rendon Labador experienced a backlash following his unremarkable comments against popular comedian Michael V.

Last May 12, Labador released a video calling out the respected veteran comedian: “ Yo! Rendon Labador here, gusto ko lang magsalita tungkol kay Michael V aka Bitoy, at sa lahat ng mga artistang laos. Influencers are the new celebrities!… wala kayong magagawa kundi sumunod sa amin ngayon, era namin ito. Ano yung sinasabi mong  alamin muna naming ang content bago kami mag content. Wala kang pakialam doon hindi mo ba alam negosyo naming yan?…Kung hindi ninyo kayang makipag- matalinuhan sa mga influencers sa pag produce ng content...Manahimik na lang kayo. Mainstream is dead!!! Social media is the new mainstream." Yo! Rendon Labador here, I just want to call out Michael V aka Bitoy, and to all has-been artists. Influencers are the new celebrities!…You have no choice but to follow us. It is our era. What are you saying that we should understand the meaning of content before doing content. Mind your own business. Don’t you know that this is our business. If you cannot ride with the wit of us influencers in producing content, just shut up. Mainstream is dead!!! Social media is the new mainstream.”)

Labador’s rant came from a general Facebook comment of Michael V in his Facebook account with 1.2 million followers saying, “The first thing any content creator should understand is the meaning of content.”

Tuesday Vargas

 
His comment did not sit well with Bitag host Ben Tulfo. In his television program, although he did not mention the name of Labador, he gave the motivational speaker some advise: “Meron lang akong ipapayo sa iyo….ang isang tao kapag sumikat tulad ni Michael V pinag-hirapan niya, nakamtan niya yung sinsabihing tagumpay sa hirap at tiyaga…may utak na ginagamit…at huwag mong sasabihin laos…maraming beterano mabubuwist sa iyo, huwag mong kantiin yung mga successful sa mainstream media - huwag mong sisiraan, diyan ka lang sa  mundong ginagalawan mo. Do not enter our space.” (I have a piece of advice for you. Michael V earned his success through hard work, he used his brains and don’t call him a has-been, a lot of veteran actors that have earned their success in mainstream media will get mad at you for calling them has-beens – don’t diss, just stay in the world where you operate. Do not enter our space.) 
 
Even his fellow influencers were crying foul of what Labador did. Vlogger I am Shanwein explained in her video that Labador was just “clout-chasing” meaning he is posting contents to gain followers. She said that Michael V has the right to give a bit of advice, having been in the industry for more than 30 years. “Si Michael V na po ang batikan when it comes to creating content...Isa sa pinakamahirap isulat ay comedy. Bakit nagtagal ang Bubble Gang, dahil sa kanya. Karamihan ng content creators na Filipino ay walang foundation when it comes to quality content creation. Pina-uso ang pang-di-diss, disrespect daw tawag doon. Sinusuportahan natin ang mga taong gumagawa ng libelous statements. Ipinagmamalaki ni Rendon na we are the new celebrities. Kung ganyan lang din guys, I will never call myself an influencer.” (Michael V is the king when it comes to creating content. One of the hardest to write is comedy. He is the reason for the staying power of Bubble Gang. Most Filipino content creators have no foundation when it comes to quality content creation. They have taught dissing or disrespecting people. We started to support libelous statements. Rendon is bragging that we are the new celebrities? If that is the case, then I don’t want to be called an influencer anymore.) 

Another vlogger on YouTube, Models of Manila FM said that Labador has already used the ranting formula on Coco Martin. It will not work anymore for Bitoy. “Galingan mo naman Rendon. Paano ka naming sasakyan, paano ka naming pagkakakitaan kung hindi mo galingan yung pang-aaway mo…Irrelevant yung ginawa mong video kay Michael V. Pinili mo pa si Michael V. Diyan mo makikita yung pinagkaiba ng isang Michael V sa isang Rendon. Si Michael V kahit yung mga gawa niya 20 years ago, yung mga gawa niya nakakatawa pa rin, comedy goal. At yung mga kabataan ngayon nadidiskubre na yung mga gawa ni Michael V noong araw. One of the best comedians si Michael V na naikumpara natin dito kay Rendon na wala namang talent.” (Can you do better Rendon. How are we content creators suppose to make money off you if your rants are of no value. Your video on Michael V is irrelevant. The choice was wrong, you chose Michael V. This is where you will see the difference between a Michael V  and and a Rendon Labador. Michael V’s content twenty years ago are still funny that the young ones are re-discovering it. Michael V is one of the best comedians compared to Rendon who has no talent.)

Rendon Labador

Mainstream comedian Tuesday Vargas advised that we should all support one another. On Facebook, she wrote a long cryptic advice to the motivational speaker without mentioning any names. “Tama ang beteranong actor na content is king. Kailangan gamitin nyo ang inyong new found fame for a purpose. Hindi puro prank, controversy, intriga ang bangko ng inyong channels para lang mapagusapan.

"Again, wala akong inaaway. Masakit na ayaw pasaling at feeling high and mighty ang isang tao kasi imbes na ipagbuklod mo ang viewers, nagkakaroon tuloy ng gulo sa kapwa mo celeb dahil ang kitid ng world view mo. Pwede namang suportahan tayo sa industriya di ba?” (The veteran actor is right that content is King. You need to use your newfound fame for a purpose and not dwell on pranks, controversy and intrigues so that your channels will have clout. Again, I am not fighting anyone. It hurts when someone is feeling high and mighty because instead of uniting viewers, you promote strife because of your narrow worldview. We can all support each other, can we ?”) 

I totally agree with Tuesday. Can we all support one another Rendon and end this strife once and for all? There is just too much negativity going around. You have 1.8 million followers because you motivate them. Motivate in a positive way, life is short.