Content creator Whamos called out for using unauthorized video in his ‘Piliin mo ang Pillipinas’ entry

FOLLOWING the Asoka makeup trend, there is a new viral makeup challenge that has gotten attention and made numerous Filipino content creators hop into it: the “Piliin mo ang Pilipinas” makeup transformation.

The song was sung by OPM singer Angeline Quinto for the “Choose Philippines” campaign by the Department of Tourism (DOT) in 2011. 

Filipino content creators who took on the challenge had creative and unique ways to show off their home country and its rich culture. One example was the entry of Whamos, where he honored Filipino workers like jeepney drivers, tricycle drivers, and vendors.

While several netizens gave his entry a thumbs up, a video creator, who goes by the name JAK Seventy-Three, called him out on social media for using his videos without permission.

On Facebook, JAK Seventy-Three posted a video that showed the similarity between the video he made for the Sinulog Festival last year and the clips played at the beginning of Whamos’ video entry.

“Whamoscruz stole my videos. #Proudpinoy,” said the video creator.

Several netizens then started tagging Whamos in the comment section of JAK Seventy-Three’s post and told the content creator to give credit to the video creator. 

Other Facebook users, meanwhile, urged JAK Seventy-Three to file a complaint against Whamos for his unauthorized use of video and charge him for incorporating the Sinulog Festival clip in his entry.

After being called out, Whamos credited JAK Seventy-Three in the comment section.

Whamos responds

Whamos posted the behind-the-scenes clips of his “Piliin mo ang Pilipinas” entry, but many netizens still brought up the copyright issue in the comment section.

This prompted Whamos to publish a video statement regarding the issue, where he apologized on behalf of his editor who incorporated JAK Seventy-Three’s video in his entry.

“Hindi ho ako yung may kasalanan dito na bakit may na-involve na video doon,” explained Whamos. “Una sa lahat, ako po ay isang vlogger, content creator. Gumagawa lang din naman ng video, pero hindi ibig sabihin non ako ay isang editor o videographer.”

Whamos questioned the video creator’s move to call him out on social media when he could have just sent him a private message to bring up the issue.

“Sana minessage niyo na lang po kami and para hindi na po humaba yung issue kasi yung video clip po na ‘yon ginamit naman po sa tamang paraan eh, hindi naman sa maling paraan,” he stressed.

The content creator mentioned how he was promptly called out by JAK Seventy-Three, when there were other netizens who also used his videos in their “Piliin mo ang Pilipinas” entries. He also said that he got “hurt” by the way the video creator brought up the copyright issue in public.

“Masakit sa’kin na hinuhusgahan ako na magnanakaw, hinihili pa ko pababa. Gaano ba kasama yung ganong klase ng pagkakamali?” he questioned.

Several netizens, on the other hand, defended JAK Seventy-Three in the comment section and said that it was his right to demand credit for his hard work.

Other online users told Whamos to own up to his mistakes, stressing that his editor was not solely at fault.

JAK Seventy-Three then shared a cryptic post on Facebook, where he said, “Good morning sa lahat ng mga Editors, Travel Enthusiasts and passionate Content Creators, except sa isa dyan.”

It remains unclear whether the copyright issue between the two has already been settled.