ABS-CBN Admits Failure to Verify Summa Cum Laude Claim in MMK Blusa with UPLB

After UP Los Banos (UPLB) issued an official statement denouncing the shady facts exhibited in the Maalaala Mo Kaya (MMK) "Blusa" episode that starred Angel Locsin shown last February 28, ABS-CBN finally gives their side regarding this issue. It can be remembered that this MMK "Blusa" episode claimed that a former UPLB BS Agribusiness Management summa cum laude found it hard to find a job so she ended up as a night club dancer to fend off the needs of her poor family.



Over the Internet, students and alumni of UPLB condemned the MMK because no UPLB Agribusiness Management summa cum laude fits the description of Nemie, the character played by Angel Locsin. With this, UPLB asked MMK to "set the records straight" (To know more, please read - ABS-CBN Mum about MMK Blusa Inconsistencies | UPLB Demands to Set the Records Straight).

Finally, ABS-CBN released their official statement on March 9. This was issued by the ABS-CBN Corporate Communications Department:

Storytelling in Maalaala Mo Kaya (MMK) is always based on narratives sent to the program by people who want to share their stories. MMK decides to go into production of the chosen stories, ONLY after the letter sender has signed a waiver attesting to the authenticity of the story sent.

MMK recognizes that a number of UPLB alumni are questioning the truthfulness of one letter sender who claims that her sister, the main character in ‘Blusa’ essayed by Ms. Angel Locsin, was indeed a UPLB BS AgriBusiness, summa cum laude graduate, who could not find a job and ended up as a stripper.

When MMK found out about the adverse reactions, the MMK production group went back to the letter sender to inform her of the issue raised and to re-verify her account. She reiterated that she stands by her story.

Be that as it may, and after careful deliberation, MMK realizes that its writing and research pool may have been remiss in one thing—verifying with UPLB the veracity of the indicated facts of the letter sender. Having said that, MMK sincerely apologizes for the oversight.

MMK always aims for truth and excellence. This incident may have deviated from its tight norm, but rest assured that MMK will continue to serve its publics with utmost care and respect.