The use of profanity by singer-actor Juan Carlos “JK” Labajo during a beverage company-sponsored concert in Iloilo City did not sit well with the city government and the Iloilo Festivals Foundation, Inc. (IFFI), the organizer of the Dinagyang Festival.
The free concert at Iloilo Business Park in Mandurriao district on Jan. 24 was one of the activities lined up for the recently concluded celebration of Dinagyang. It featured Labajo, who performed his hit song Ere.
In a viral video on TikTok, Labajo translated the curse word on the chorus of the song to Hiligaynon. Instead of “nakakaput*ng ina” (a common profanity used by Filipinos to express anger), he used “nakakayud*p*ta.”
In a media interview, City Mayor Jerry Treñas said: “We will do something about it. We will not tolerate it.”
“While we value creativity and self-expression, we must also be mindful of the messages we share, especially during important celebrations like the Dinagyang Festival,” he stressed.
The Sangguniang Panlungsod is planning to summon the organizer of the concert to explain the incident during Dinagyang, which a religious and cultural festival.
According to Vice Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon, Labajo’s utterance of the curse word was “inappropriate and insensitive to the cultural and religious values of Ilonggos.”
He said Labajao could have replaced “nakakaput*ng ina” with “Hala Bira” to “show respect for our culture while still being creative.”
In an interview over radio station DYRI RMN-Iloilo, IFFI president Allan Ryan Tan said the foundation is now coordinating with City Council regarding the crafting of a measure that will prohibit the use of profanity during public events.
Ere is an “introspective ballad that delves into the emotions felt during the aftermath of a breakup.” It’s the first Filipino song to debut on the Spotify Global chart.IMT
