SB19 Justin recalls encounter with ‘disrespectful’ Filipino staffer at LA airport

Justin de Dios of SB19 recalled being treated disrespectfully by a Filipino airport employee in Los Angeles while the group was traveling to the US for their historic Lollapalooza performance.

De Dios shared the encounter in SB19’s latest YouTube vlog, recalling how the incident happened after the group arrived in Los Angeles and was waiting for their luggage.

According to de Dios, an elderly Filipino woman approached the group’s manager, Leah, to ask for a photo. Leah politely asked if they could take the picture later, once the members had collected their luggage and were ready to leave the airport.

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“Siyempre, as manager, lumapit siya. Parang sabi ni Ate Leah, ‘Ay, okay lang po ba mamaya na lang po pagka-settle?’ So, meaning pag pagka-settle, pag nakuha na lahat ng luggage before we go, pa-picture kami with Nanay,” he recalled.

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De Dios said the elderly woman understood Leah’s request and eventually took photos with the other SB19 members, including him, when they were available.

However, a Filipino airport employee allegedly overheard Leah’s earlier conversation and approached the manager after the elderly woman had left.

“Tapos nung umalis na si Nanay, may lumapit na nagta-trabaho sa airport. Parang narinig niya ata na sabi ni Ate Leah na mamaya na, later na lang po magpa-picture. Kasi nakapagpa-picture naman na si Nanay,” he recalled.

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De Dios said the employee asked Leah for her name before telling her, “Suplada ka, ah.” The remark upset the singer, who said Leah had spoken politely and was not even directly addressing the employee.

“Maayos naman ’yung pagkakasabi nung manager namin, tapos hindi naman siya ’yung kausap. Na-overheard lang… hindi naman technically pinipigilan, nakapagpa-picture na nga eh,” he said.

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De Dios said the employee continued making negative remarks about Leah and SB19, while also talking about his previous encounters with celebrities and showing photos of himself with famous personalities.

“Ang dami niya nang sinabi bigla. Like sabi niya, ‘Di pa nga sikat, ’di na nagpapa-picture. ‘Pag nasa harap na ng camera, doon kakaway-kaway. Pero mga suplado naman,’” he recalled.

“Tapos parang sinabi niya pa na Filipino mentality daw. Basta ang dami niyang sinabing mga offensive… disrespectful na bagay, [kahit na] nagta-trabaho ka doon. And wala namang ginawang mali or masama ’yung tao,” he added.

De Dios said he chose to listen to the rude remarks so he would know what to say if ever he decided to confront the employee.

“But the thing is… parang ang hirap lang gumalaw kasi parang siyempre delikado and all, pero talagang as in super disrespectful,” he continued.

While he, the other SB19 members and Leah decided not to engage further with the employee, de Dios remarked that the incident was particularly disappointing because it involved a fellow Filipino.

“Sa mga past tours naman namin, hindi naman ganon ‘yung na-experience namin. Pero like sa Filipino pa namin mae-experience ‘yung ganon. Tapos parang, it’s very normal sa kanila. Tapos parang kami pa ’yung mali,” he said.

“Grabe, wow, the welcome committee sa pag-land ng LA… Shoutout to you, kuya!” he concluded the video.

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SB19 recently made history as the first Filipino act to perform at Lollapalooza in Chicago. They also recently performed at Japan’s Summer Sonic Festival alongside fellow P-pop act BINI. /ra