Theater actor and director Vince Tañada seemingly took a swipe at Bongga Ka, ’Day!: The Annie Batungbakal Musical lead star Atasha Muhlach.

Tañada appeared baffled as to why videos from the musical had surfaced online.

“Di ba na-video n’yo naman ’yung Bongga Ka, ‘Day!? Kaya nga walang nanonood kasi vinideo n’yo (You’re taking videos of Bongga Ka, ‘Day!, right? That’s why no one is watching because you’re taking videos),” he said.

He added, “Kayo naman, next time ‘wag n’yo i-video. ‘Pag walang talent, ‘wag i-video… (Next time, don’t take videos. If there’s no talent, don’t take videos…).”

Although he did not specifically mention Muhlach by name, he appeared to play around with her name.

“Sino ‘yun…? Atisha…? Muhlach? Ano…?” (Who’s that? Atisha? Muhlach? What…?)” he said.

Not surprisingly, his comments elicited mixed reactions online.

“Well, he has all the audacity to say that ‘coz he’s a legit theater actor. Can’t blame him,” one fan said.

“The insecurity is screaming. Dapat habang tumatanda sa industriya mas welcoming sa mga baguhan, hindi ego ang pinaiiral (As you grow older in the industry, you should be more welcoming to newcomers instead of letting your ego prevail).”

“Walang lugar sa kanya ang pagiging humble. Magaling nga siya as theater actor pero kailangan ba talaga mangialam? (Being humble has no place in him. He’s a good theater actor, but does he really need to meddle?)” another commenter wrote.

Another netizen shared a lengthier take:

“Ganoon talaga eh. ‘Yan ang reality. Minsan, kahit hindi naman pang-theater ‘yung talent ng tao, sila ang sikat at kilala. Sila ang gusto ng producers. Wala tayong magagawa doon. Parang si Nick Jonas dati sa Les Misérables. Napili siya for a valid reason kahit hindi naman siya pang-theater talaga. ‘Yan ang reality. Kung ayaw ng tao i-support, nasa kanila na ‘yun. Huwag na sana tayong mang-bash. Hayaan n’yo na si Atasha. Let’s love one another. Lahat tayo mga anak ng Diyos. May option ka rin na gawing bida ang sarili mo. Self-funded ang projects. Wala namang problema doon. Ikaw ang producer, ikaw ang bida, ikaw ang mamimili kung sino ang gusto mong makasama (That’s just reality. Sometimes, even if someone isn’t really a theater performer, they’re the popular ones. Producers want them, and we can’t do anything about that. It’s like Nick Jonas before in Les Misérables. He was chosen for a valid reason even if theater wasn’t really his forte. If people don’t want to support it, that’s their choice. Let’s stop bashing. Leave Atasha alone. Let’s love one another. We’re all children of God. You also have the option to produce your own projects and cast yourself if you want).”

Boy Abunda ready to face Alex Eala in ‘Fast Talk’

After Alex Eala’s historic victory at the Mubadala DC Open, where she clinched her first WTA Tour-level singles title, “King of Talk” Boy Abunda is manifesting an interview with the champion tennis player.

In a recent episode of Fast Talk with Boy Abunda, he showed the outfit he planned to wear for his interview with Eala, underscoring his desire to have the tennis star on the show.

Abunda also shared that he called Alex’s uncle, Noli Eala, a former sports commissioner, to seek his help in inviting the tennis player to Fast Talk with Boy Abunda.

“Before the show, tinawagan ko si Noli Eala. He used to be the sports commissioner. Kaibigan ko. Sabi ko, ‘Noli, tulungan mo naman ako. Nakahanda na ang isusuot kong damit ’pag dumating dito si Alex (Before the show, I called Noli Eala. He used to be the sports commissioner. He’s my friend. I told him, ‘Noli, please help me. I’ve already prepared the outfit I’ll wear when Alex comes here’),” Abunda said.

“Kaya Alex, kung nanonood ka, Tito Boy is ready (So Alex, if you’re watching, Tito Boy is ready),” he added.