Official Statement from Christopher Lao

I’m not sure if this is true, though. Anyway, to be fair, here’s he’s side of the, er, I dont’ know.

If you don’t know what happened, you better see this (click the link) first before reading Lao’s message below.

4 August 2011

The past few days have been very disheartening for me and my family. As you know I have been a subject of a viral video that showed my helplessness during a trying moment. As it stands right now, I have several hate pages in Facebook and Twitter with hurtful and derogatory messages attacking my person. The reputation that I built the past years has been besmirched. A bad day has now turned into wounded feelings and sleepless nights for me and my family.

I have been silent the past few days as I want this to go away soon but not before saying sorry and thank you to people who matter.

I would like to apologize for my behavior that was seen on nationwide television and now on the internet. It was unfortunate that I was caught on camera immediately after an overwhelmingly stressful mishap.

I would like to again sincerely thank those who braved the flood to help a distraught stranger like me. Their selfless act reminded me of how dependable Filipinos are in times of crisis.

Lastly, I would like to thank my family, friends and all of those who showed empathy, consideration and support throughout these trying times. You have given me strength and courage to rise above and be a better person.

Sincerely yours,
Christopher Lao

And here are some of the reactions to his statement (I chose the first five on the visible list):

Why is he apologizing? What for? What behavior? Terrible judgment call, yes. But we all make that once in a while. He did nothing to deserve the ridicule he got. He should be apologized to, not the one apologizing. Just a thought. – Hanniyah P. Sevilla

ABOUT TIME. Kung tinutulungan ka, mag-thank you ka. wag mo syang sisihin. (If someone’s helping you, thank them. Don’t blame them.) Good thing this is out. – Raph G. Doval-Santos

Lao does not owe the internet an apology. He owes those bystanders he insulted and blamed a good time. Good that he learned to man up. The bullying has to stop somehow, for both Lao and the whole internetz. – Marc Ayende (The Hypocrite: I like that internetz! Hahahahahaha!)

copy-paste time! – Fernan Mascarinas (The Hypocrite: Yeah!)

Lao was arrogant in the video that was broadcasted nationwide. No wonder people had a negative reaction upon seeing the said video clip. This is no excuse though for the type of criticism that he received via the internet. Just a thought. 🙂 – Ana Karina Bartolome

My reaction

It’s good that you apologized for your behavior. You should have thought hard before you spoke your heart out. I understand that you were flustered at that time and you were not able to contain your emotions. But that’s a lesson to be learned. When you face a media camera, be at your very best.

IMHO, you should apologize to the traffic enforcers. It’s not their job to teach you common-sense.

Now, get up and regain your “reputation you built the past years that was besmirched” by this viral video.

Never blame someone for your own stupidity

Manila, Philippines – A man thought his car was amphibious.

“I think this is a problem with the traffic enforcers, as well. They should have already blocked the road… [Asked by the reporter if he didn’t know how deep the flood was.] Tingnan mo (look at it), who will tell me, really? did you guys tell me? Nobody even stopped. Nobody informed (me). People were waiting to just do that. [Asked if he even hadn’t realized that the water could be deep.] Why (are you blaming) me? I should have been informed, that’s it.” – Christopher Lao

Do you really think people in the vicinity were really expecting for the only whatever-brained person to do exactly what you did? (-_-)W

"Christopher Lao (The idiot who dared to drive on the flood.)" Click the image to go to the Facebook page.

Treading the waters where no one would, taking the road less traveled; truly, he was such a great man. Pft!

Sobrang what the fuck!