TONY LABRUSCA'S CASE: AN EYE OPENER


by Direk Romm Burlat

 ABS-CBN star Tony Labrusca, who became a byword after his online movie with Angel Aquino billed Glorious became a hit, got involved in a controversy at the Immigration in the Ninoy Aquino International airport yesterday. The incident served as a wake up call to a lot of people.

 Based on the Twitter post of an Immigration employee, Labrusca after being given a 30-day allowable stay in the Philippines got furious and threw expletives to the immigration officer.

 For everyone's information, Tony, son of actor Boom Labrusca was born in the US, where he grew up with his mother and his step-father.
In a statement released Friday morning, the Bureau of Immigration pertained to the incident involving Labrusca, but withheld his name, to “remind the public on the scope of the Balikbayan Program for former Filipinos visiting the Philippines.”
“The Balikbayan visa privilege is exclusively given to former Filipinos naturalized abroad, and their spouse and children who are travelling with them,” the statement quoted BI Commissioner Jaime Morente as saying.
In this case, Tony has limited rights while staying in the Philippines. If he was accompanied by his mother, he will be given a one-year stay in the country and may extend up to six months if he will request for an extension. Since he traveled by himself, he was not covered by the Balikbayan visa privilege. My question is, does a holder of a balikbayan visa allowed to work in the Philippines? It can be recalled that Tony has been continuously getting projects from ABS-CBN. I am just curious if he has a special working visa. 
In the country, there are plenty of foreigners working in the showbiz industry but I see them without working permits. Isn't this illegal?  Or they have special arrangements with some companies? Or perhaps they haven't been caught by immigration yet?
In the case of Filipinos getting a job abroad, we have to have a working visa unless you are a seaman who jumped ship or overstaying Filipinos who are billed TNT (Tago ng Tago). Nevertheless, if caught overstaying in other countries, one will get deported and will no longer have a chance to visit that country again.
Back to Tony Labrusca's case, since he spit fire and threw invectives to an immigation officer after being issued only a 30-day stay, his case was sensationalized in the social media. Had he been humble enough to direct his concern and not use his celebrity status as a ticket for him to be given a special treatment, this issue won't be blown out of proportion. In fairness to him, he already apologized for what happened and said, his frustration got the better of him. But the harm has been done and we can no longer undo what has been done. For now, it will only serve as a lesson to those people on a balikbayan visa and foreigners on a tourist visa. And a reminder to everyone to keep your cool if caught in a frustrating situation especially if you are not in the right track.
(Photo from ABS-CBN)




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

ROMM Around The World: A Different magazine show on television

Image
by Romm Burlat It has been a childhood dream to see myself hosting on television. Among my talents, this is the one I haven't done yet. I did some dancing and singing from high school. These talents were further developed in college when I was accepted as member of the Silliman University Dance Troupe and singing choristers. At 18, I was the dance champion of the whole university which branched out to the community where I vied in some competitions and won. Although I was not really a very good singer but I had my moments of fame in some contests. Writing followed when I tried being a contributor to our school paper. After graduation, I honed my writing skills when I was picked as Editor in-chief of a Coca-Cola plant newsletter.  My hosting skills started in college but was further enhanced when I worked on cruise ships as a cruise staff. In 1998, I was promoted as the first Filipino Cruise Director . This afforded me the chance to host and direct shows and events on the cr...
Read more

BOYFRIEND IS DIFFERENT FROM BOY FRIEND

Image
by Direk Romm Burlat Just wondered why malicious minds are all over the social media declaring that Tony Labrusca is gay. I vehemently disagree. I tried googling issues about his sexuality. I may not have been updated. There was no instance did Tony or his close friends said he was or he is. I first met Tony during the Pinoy Boyband Superstar days where ROMMantic   Jay-R Ramos was also a contestant like him. Despite being brought up in the US, you can still see some Filipino values in him. I didn't find him disrespectful. The first time I saw him, I know he will make it in showbiz. It's true, he is Adonis personified and many women and gays will fall for him. Some Filipinos may not understand the way he talks and acts because it may be very American but I can understand him since I have lived in San Diego, California for a bit and been visiting US every now and then. Like me, I can be misinterpreted as strict and brutally frank for comfort, Tony is also like that. But...
Read more

Direk Romm Burlat wins Best Supporting Actor at Oniros Film Festival in Italy

Image
Direk Romm Burlat won Best Supporting Actor in the Oniros Film Awards in Italy. He bested other performances in a support role as a mentally-deranged father in the suspense thriller, "Attention Grabbing" . It's local title is Agaw Pansin . Burlat , who is also the director of the film earlier won Best Director at the 4th Lutas Film Festival . Attention Grabbing is Burlat 's 2nd international award. It can be recalled that last year, he won Best Director in the 16th We Care International Film Festival  for the movie, "Father of Your Son (Ama Ka Ng Anak Mo)" in New Delhi, India. At the Oniros Film Awards ,  Burlat's ROMMantic Entertainment Productions won Best Horror Film for his movie, "Covered Candor( Tutop)" and a Best Supporting Actress award for Faye Tangonan . His other entry, "Cuckoo" gave  Bidaman Ron Macapagal a Best Actor Honorable Mention award and the movie was finalist for Best Film. "It was unexpected...
Read more