Xian Lim on Albay t-shirt controversy: I’m telling the truth

MANILA, Philippines – Actor Xian Lim spoke up on the reports saying that he was rude to the people in Albay during his visit last February 19, Chinese New Year. (READ: Salceda to Xian Lim on t-shirt controversy: Learn from Ramon Bautista)

In an interview on The Buzz, Sunday, February 22 Xian spoke about his side of the story.

“Si Attorney (Caroline Cruz) came up to me and said ‘may t-shirt ako para sa iyo.’  Bigla ko po naman sinabi kay Atty. Carol na ‘naku po pasensya na po, hindi ko puwede isuot iyan,” Xian said, saying that afterward, his road manager told Cruz that wearing the shirt might result in a conflict with Xian’s clothing endorsement.

(Attorney came up to me and said ‘I have a t-shirt for you. I told Atty. Carol ‘I’m very sorry but I cannot wear the t-shirt.) 

Regarding the Facebook posts from the page of Albay Governor Joey Salceda, Xian said he was surprised over the issue, because he had been very happy with the outcome of his performance in Albay. 

“Nasaktan ako. Sabi ko, saan nanggaling eto?’ Nung pakalabag ko sa airport, I was very happy in Albay. I was very happy sa outcome nung show.

“Pumunta ako sa Albay para magpasaya ng tao. Hindi ako nagpunta sa Albay para mangbastos . Nalulungkot ako… alam ko na wala akong ginawa para ikagalit ng mga tao sa Albay,” Xian said.

(I was hurt. I said, ‘where did this come from? When I landed at the airport – I was very happy in Albay. I was very happy with the outcome of the show. I went to Albay to entertain people. I did not go to Albay to be rude. I was really sad…I know I did not do anything that would make the people of Albay angry.)

Xian also answered the points raised against him, saying that he was raised well by his mother, that his managers at Star Magic take good care of him, reminding him to be humble, and that he had a good education. 

Speaking to his mother, who raised him on her own, he said: “Mom, I’m sorry I got you into this. And huwag kang mag-alala (don’t worry), we will get through this. And I’m sorry na nangyari ito. (I’m sorry this happened.) You don’t deserve this.”

In the end, Xian once again apologized to Salceda and thanked the people of Albay.

“Gusto ko lang sabihin na kung ano man ang nakakarating kay Gov. Joey Salceda, hindi po iyon totoo. Kung ano man sinasabi tungkol sa akin hindi rin po iyon totoo and gusto ko lang mag-sorry uli kung ano man ang kinagalit niya, I’m sorry.”

(I want to tell Gov. Joey Salceda that whatever reaches him, it’s not true. Whatever is said about me is not true either. And I just want to say sorry again for what has gotten him angry.)

When asked why people should believe him, Xian said: “because nagsasabi ako ng totoo.” (Because I am telling the truth.)

In a different interview which also aired on The Buzz,  Salceda accepted Xian’s apology. 

The conflict began during Xian’s visit to Albay last February 19 for the Tsinoy Albay festival. According to Caroline Cruz, a lawyer and Albay Governor Joey Salceda’s chief of staff, Xian refused the t-shirt souvenir he was given. He also reportedly said that he wasn’t there to promote Albay. 

Xian later issued a statement on social media, denying that he said this, and clarified that he wouldn’t wear the shirt in order to protect his clothing endorsement. 

But according to a report from Radyo ng Bayan – Albay, shared by Governor Salceda on Facebook, there shouldn’t have been a conflict with Xian’s endorsement because the local government, and not a private institution, brought him to Albay. – Rappler.com