Christopher Carpila (YouTube)

Christopher Carpila admitted that he and six other Pinoy fans were disappointed at Broadway star Lea Salonga who claimed they sneaked backstage for a photo.

In an exclusive interview with broadcaster Julius Babao, Carpila said he and his companions felt weak following their unexpected experience with Salonga. He was on vacation in the US when he and his friends decided to watch the preview for the Broadway play "Here Lies Love."

"Iba talaga yung naramdaman ko noong gabi na yun. Hindi po ako feeling entitled. Para akong ipis na tinapakan or kuto na tiniris. Yun talaga yung naramdaman ko. Natulala talaga kaming lahat. Para kaming nanghina at nanlambot. Lumalakad kami na parang naka-hang. Sabi namin, ano ba itong nangyari sa atin?" said Carpila.

(I felt really different that night. I didn't feel entitled. I was like a cockroach stepped on or a louse bitten. That's exactly what I felt. We were all really stunned. We felt weak and soft. We walked as if we were hanging. We said, what happened to us?)

Lea Salonga (Facebook)

Carpila added: "Sobrang excited kami na bonggang-bongga tapos bigla kaming natunaw. But we still respect her dahil alam natin pagod s'ya. I am not insulted but I was disappointed. Excited kami then biglang naging ganun eh."

Despite the experience, Carpila said that he would still support Salonga.

"Ms Lea, we're very proud of you. Pino-promote ko po sa post ko yung 'Here Lies Love' na sana panoorin ng mga kababayan natin. Ang gagaling ng mga actors natin. Congratulations Ms Lea. Ang galing galing niya. Gustong-gusto ko panoorin uli siya. Ang galing niya sa Here Lies Love."

(Ms Lea, we're very proud of you. I'm promoting 'Here Lies Love' in my post which I hope our compatriots will watch. Our actors are great. Congratulations Ms Lea. She's really great. I want to watch her again. She was great in 'Here Lies Love.')

Julius Babao (left) and Christopher Carpila (YouTube)

Carpila also said that he's firm on his decision not to apologize to Salonga. He also clarified that he and his companions did not enter Salonga's dressing room. They waited outside the star's dressing room, he pointed out.

"I dont think so dahil wala naman akong ginawang masama kaya confident ako at hindi ako naaapektuhan sa mga bashing," he said, when asked if he should apologize to Salonga.

(I don't think so because I didn't do anything wrong, so I'm confident and I'm not affected by the bashing.)

The Filipino fan also said that he will not delete the video on Salonga he shared on social media.

"Paano ko pa ite-takedown na-copyright na ng lahat. Dapat ang maunang magtanggal yung nangopya sa akin," he added.

(How can I take it down? It's already copyrighted by everyone. The one who copied my video should be the first to delete it.)

Carpila admitted however that he was in a bad mood when he uploaded the clip on social media.

"Wala akong intention na siraan s'ya. First time po itong nangyari sa akin. Hindi lang siguro ako sanay na ganun ang personality ni Lea and I respect that. Basta sabi ko gusto ko lang i-post ito," he said.

(I have no intention of defaming her. It's the first time this has happened to me. Maybe I'm just not used to Lea's personality and I respect that. I just said I just wanted to post it.)

On July 17, Salonga took to social media to issue a heartfelt reminder to her fans regarding the importance of respecting personal boundaries.

Salonga shared an incident that occurred in New York City, where some fans nearly invaded her dressing room recently.

"Just a reminder…I have boundaries. Do not cross them. Thank you," tweeted Salonga on July 17.

For Babao's full inteview on Carpila, please click: https://youtu.be/Wjr1C2hYs2w

Carpila narrated to Babao how it all started:

"After the show, tayong mga Pilipino gusto natin magpapicture sa mga actors. After the show, nagtanong kami kung saan namin pwedeng makita si Lea. Tinuro kami sa exit doors sa labas. Pumunta naman kami doon kung saan lumalabas ang mga actors. Ngatanong naman kami where is Lea. Sabi n'ya she's inside. Sabi sa amin what's your name? Anong pangalam mo sabi sa amin. Then sinabi namin yung pangalan namin.

"And then yung tao pumunta sa loob and then lumabas po s'ya. Sa pangalawang pagkakataon po, tinanong n'ya po uli kami. What's your name? So pumasok na naman siya parang nagko-confirm whatsoever. Sa pangatlong pagkakataon, sinabi niya na, okay pwede na kayong pumasok."

A scene from 'Here Lies Love'

Carpila said they were talking to a black man.

"Pagpasok po namin, merong sumalubong sa amin na isang babae na hindi namin alam kung ano ang position niya sa loob. S'ya po ang naghatid sa amin kung nasaan si Ms. Lea at may pila na ng mga fans na nagpapa-photo na sa loob. Hindi naman ganun kahaba. Mga maximum of 30 minutes kami nag-antay doon bago yung time namin.

"Hindi namin alam na may guest list po. Talagang hindi po namin alam na may ganun po. Kami naman andun na kami at pinapasok na kami,  so we're expecting na okay na kami at magkakaroon kami ng moment with Lea."

"Natulala kami sa reaction niya. Doon na nagumpisa po yun.

"Pero hindi rin natin masisisi si Ms Lea. Pero sana hindi rin nila kami masisi dahil kami ay pinapasok naman talaga at sumunod naman kami sa protocol.

"Lahat kami naka-on ang video because we're excited for Lea. Yung mga kasabayan ko super fan ni Lea yan. Gusto nilang ma-capture yung moment dahil first time nilang makikita si Ms Lea.  Kaya ready na yung phone namin na i-capture yung moment.

"Sobrang excited kami na bonggang-bongga tapos bigla kaming natunaw. But we still respect her dahil alam natin pagod s'ya."

Carpila also gave a message to his bashers.

"Hindi ko na sila mapipigil. Opinyon nyo po yan at nirerespeto ko yan. I wish them all good luck and God bless. Peace. No hate just love. Choose happiness."

READ MORE: https://mb.com.ph/2023/7/17/lea-salonga-reminds-fans-against-crossing-important-boundaries