Singer Sheena Lee Palad has taken to social media to reveal her side of the FAMAS (Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences) debacle which created a buzz online.
Palad took over veteran actress Ms. Eva Darren's role as awards presenter alongside contemporary Tirso Cruz III despite Darren's presence during the event.
The upcoming singer promptly posted a video on Instagram, wherein she and her boyfriend, singer and host Johann Enriquez, spoke up about the incident.
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"Whatever happened po, talagang we feel sorry about it," Enriquez said. "And si Sheena ... wala naman siyang kinalaman about what happened."
["Whatever happened, we really feel sorry about it. Sheena had nothing to do with it."]
Palad explained that she was tapped by the event organizers to entertain guests during the dinner.
"I was chosen, I was called by the organizers to perform for the Dinner Pleasure. 'Yun po yung una. [That was first] So the Dinner Pleasure is the entertainment for the dinner time."
While on standby after singing two songs, she was called backstage and asked a "big favor" by staff.
"Noong naka-standby po kami, we were called earlier sa backstage, kami pong tatlo. And then, noong naka-standby, nakaupo po ako, pinuntahan po ako ng staff. Noong pinuntahan ako ng staff, 'Sheena, can we ask a big favor from you?' Sabi ko, 'Yes, what's that?' Tapos sabi niya, 'Can you present the awards?' Sabi ko, 'Ok, sige, sige, no problem.'
"That's it. 'Yun lang po 'yung alam ko. Hindi ko po alam na si Miss Eva 'yung magpe-present po," Palad disclosed.
["While we were on standby, we three were called backstage earlier. When I was on standby, sitting, staff approached me. When they did, 'Sheena, can we ask a big favor from you?' I said, 'Yes, what's that?' And they said, 'Can you present the awards?' I said, 'Okay, okay, no problem.'
"That's it. That's all I know. I didn't know Miss Eva was supposed to present."]
Palad shared that she was actually "clueless" and didn't know how to present as she was in the holding area and couldn't keep tabs on the evening's developments.
"And if you're gonna be reviewing the videos, nakakatawa pa nga, we were laughing about it because i mispronounced the name of Kuya Germs [German Moreno]," she pointed out.
"Siguro 'yun 'yung isa sa mga pinakakabado na magbabasa lang naman ako, kasi nga I was not prepared. 'Di ko manlang po nabasa yung script. Wala as in, wala po talaga."
["And if you review the videos, it was funny, we were laughing about how I mispronounced the name of Kuya Germs (German Moreno). Maybe that was one of the times I was incredibly nervous despite only having to read aloud, because, like I said, I was not prepared. I wasn't even able to read the script. No preparation at all, really."]
Palad added she was instructed to present after her production number. She was to stay to the side, where she would be joined by Cruz.
Enriquez concluded the video asking netizens to stop bashing Palad, who could not help tears.
"Sheena is very much in pain right now because of all the bashings and all the hate that you are throwing at her ... Nakikiusap po ako na kung puwede po, itigil na po yung pangju-judge, and pangha-hate, and pangba-bash kay Sheena because wala talaga siyang kinalaman sa nangyari.
["I'm asking you that if possible, to stop judging, hating, and bashing Sheena, because she had nothing to do with the incident."]
"She's totally innocent, she was just following instructions, she was just doing her job," Enriquez reasoned.
The couple extended their "deepest empathies" to Darren's family, and Palad thanked her friends and family for reaching out to her and showing concern.
Fernando de la Pena, Darren's son, said in a Facebook that Darren and her family has accepted the apology FAMAS offered, not without recommending they "stick to the script" and "maybe [provide] a nice pair of eyeglasses for all in charge."
