The recent incident involving Broadway superstar Lea Salonga has gained millions of views and various reactions but the Filipino fan who uploaded it does not regret putting it out as doing so was his relief from the “disappointment” he felt. 

To finally put clarity on what happened, salon owner and theater lover Christopher Carpila explained his side of the story in an interview on the Julius and Tintin show of broadcaster couple Julius Babao and Christine Bersola-Babao on One News. 

What went before

After the show Here Lies Love concluded, their group asked an event personnel where they can see their idol. Apparently, they were specifically instructed to go to the exit door where most of the cast sign autographs and take photos with fans. 

While waiting, they asked a black American who seemed to be part of the event security where  Salonga was. They were given the answer, “she’s inside” pointing to the dressing room. 

The black American then asked for their names and proceeded inside as if forwarding them to concerned authorities. The man went back to them for a second time and asked for their names again and proceeded again as if gesturing to have their names confirmed for access. 

The third time, they were given permission to go inside Salonga’s dressing room. 

“Sobrang saya po namin kasi sabi niya ‘you can go inside na so syempre kami super happy kasi my God makakapasok kami,” he said. 

They went ahead and surprisingly a woman came up to them to assist them to where the singer was. 

He also set the record straight that their group never declared association with any authority in the production contrary to the claim of another woman in the video who said she knew actress G Tongi who was among the producers. 

“Wala po kaming ni-name drop na producer na kahit sino nung mga oras na ‘yun,” he said. 

Disappointed 

As die-hard fans of the singer-actress, having a photo opportunity with her is a dream come true. However, their group was taken aback by Salonga’s reaction upon seeing them barging into her dressing room. 

“Pak nung nagsalita na po siya, alam niyo po ‘yung momentum namin na talagang nandiyan na, alam niyo po yung para kaming kandila po na biglang nalusaw, hindi po namin inexpect na, a little time po sana mapagbigyan na tutal andun na rin lang po kami,” he said. 

“But of course nirerespeto po namin si Ms. Lea baka pagod po siya and whatever. Naiintindihan po namin yun. Kaya kung napapansin niyo po nung naginstruct po siya sa amin ng doon doon doon, sinunod pa rin po namin siya,” he added. 

Does not regret uploading

The video which was now deleted has hogged the headlines over the past days. He clarified that he did not mean to offend, let alone put the singer in a bad light when he uploaded the controversial video. 

“Actually wala akong interes or isip na makapanira ng kapwa o siraan po si Ms. Lea dahil alam niyo naman, nakakahiya naman kung ganon at sino ba naman po ako kaya lang siguro tao lang naman din po tayo,” he said. 

However, he does not deny feeling disappointed with the actress actuations upon seeing them. 

“Marami po tayong ganyan mga Pilipino parang pag medyo nakakaramdam ng sakit ng dibdib parang nakakapagpost tayo o nakakapagsalita tayo ng bagay na hindi natin alam ‘yung mga consequences so ayun po siguro ‘yung nangyari sa akin. Siguro kasi dahil sa disappointment lang,” he added. 

Despite the deluge of reactions he got online, Carpila says he does not regret posting the video as it gave him relief after feeling “disappointed” over what happened. 

“Actually nirerespeto ko po silang lahat, hindi ako nagsisisi na pinost ko siya. Kasi nga po sabi ko lumuwag po ‘yung dibdib ko nailabas ko po ‘yung disappointment ko ‘yung sama ng loob ko. Tapos ngayon kung ano man ‘yung natatanggap ko,” he said. 

Celebs attest to Lea’s graciousness to fans 

As the issue went viral on social media, a number of celebrities showed support for the legendary singer and attested to her graciousness to her fans. 

Among them were former actress and now businesswoman and vlogger Neri Miranda who is a self-confessed Lea Salonga fan. 

She recounted the moment she had a chance to have a photo with the singer somewhere by the stage and not in her dressing room. 

Even if her husband, Parokya ni Edgar frontman Chito Miranda personally knows the Broadway singer, he did not use the friendship card to earn access to her dressing room. 

When she came out, she graciously heeded the request of her fans. 

“Pagkalabas naman nya, inisa isa nya lahat ng gustong magpapicture sa kanya. And hindi lahat ng andun ay artista or producers, lahat ng andun mga fans na nanood ng concert nya na naghihintay ng turn na makapagpapicture sa nag iisang Lea Salonga,” she said. 

Power belter Bituin Escalante uploaded a photo of the Tony award-winning singer together with her family after her performance of Sweeney Todd in Singapore. She shared that they asked permission from the production prior to the show if there was an opportunity to meet the cast. 

“Asking nicely and within respectful bounds, goes a long way,” she said.