Arron Villaflor was quick to issue an apology after a post expressing solidarity with the victims of the recent Cebu earthquake earned backlash on social media when people pointed out his more prominent image in the photo card.
Villaflor, who currently serves as a Board Member of Tarlac, recently shared on his social media platforms an image of himself wearing a red shirt while in a praying position, accompanied by a black-and-white message, ‘Pray for Cebu and those affected by the earthquake.’
The image, however, did not sit well with netizens, who quickly referenced the TV characters ‘Honesto’ or ‘Santino’ with his prayerful stance in the picture.
He has since removed the image from his socials.
In an ambush interview on Tuesday, Villaflor said the post was a ‘lapse’ in judgment of his social media team.
‘First of all, gusto kong humingi ng pasensya. I want to apologize. It was a lapse from my social media team, and I told them na wala, nandito na tayo,’ he told reporters. ‘Let’s just learn from our mistakes and tawang-tawa ako kasi [na-realize ko] na ganito pa pala ako ka-relevant sa mundong ‘to.’
(First of all, I want to say sorry. I want to apologize. It was a lapse from my social media team, and I told them that there’s nothing we can do about it. We’re already here. Let’s just learn from our mistakes. And I find it funny because I realized that I’m still relevant in this world.)
‘AKO AY HUMIHINGI NG TAWAD’ WATCH: Actor-politician Arron Villaflor apologizes for his controversial ‘Pray For Cebu’ post, saying that his intentions were there but the ‘photo didn’t land well.’ | @HMallorcaINQ pic.twitter.com/OKpezzTeEn
– Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) October 7, 2025
A magnitude 6.9 earthquake jolted Cebu with the epicenter at Bogo City north of the province. The trembler was felt in most parts of the Visayas islands, with the death toll reaching 72 as of posting.
Well intentions
Villaflor also pointed out that while the post was made with well intentions, it ‘didn’t land well,’ saying that the public has the right to voice their own opinions.
‘For me, I am a public servant of Tarlac. The intention was there, but the photo didn’t land well. Sa lahat ng mga kababayan natin sa Pilipinas, ako ay humihingi ng tawad mula sa aking social media team,’ he said, noting that he had been receiving comments such as Honesto and Santino. ‘Hindi natin masisisi ang tao ngayon because everyone has the right to state their opinions, everyone has the right to say their arguments.’
(For me, I am a public servant of Tarlac. The intention was there, but the photo didn’t land well. To all my countrymen in the Philippines, I want to apologize for my social media team. We can’t blame the public now because everyone has the right to state their opinions, everyone has the right to say their arguments.)
The actor-politician also shared that the controversial post was a lesson for him to be ‘aware’ of his surroundings.
‘In my case, thank you for giving me this chance to apologize, and as a public servant and young leader of Tarlac, this is my advocacy,’ he said. ‘Let’s just be aware of our surroundings. Sa lahat ng mga ahensya, let’s just be aware of our surroundings so we can execute it well in that situation, and for us to serve with integrity and transparency.’
Villaflor is one of the stars of the upcoming Jerrold Tarog-helmed film ‘Quezon,’ which stars Jericho Rosales as the titular Manuel L. Quezon.
Also part of the cast are Benjamin Alves, Karylle, Mon Confiado, Iain Glen, Ana Abad Santos, and Romnick Sarmenta.