Content creator Zac Alviz issued a public apology over his viral post that appeared to promote condominium investments while many Filipinos were dealing with severe flooding in their homes.
In the now-deleted post, he wrote: “In moments like this, [doon] mo masasabi na worth it ‘yung condo investments mo. Ang daming binabaha, may tulo sa kisame, lumilipad ‘yung bubong. Pero ‘pag high-quality condo, in most cases, sara mo lang bintana mo, okay ka na. Resume Netflix na ulit.”
Many netizens criticized its tone as “insensitive” and “out of touch” with the realities faced by Filipinos affected by the storm, including damaged homes and evacuation due to rising floodwaters.
On Tuesday, July 22, Zac took to Facebook to share a lengthy apology, acknowledging the post’s insensitivity and the privilege from which it may have come.
“I want to sincerely apologise for what I said in my recent post. It was insensitive and irresponsible, especially given the situation so many are going through right now,” he began.
Alviz, who shared that he grew up in flood-prone areas like Valenzuela and Malabon, said he should have known better, having experienced similar challenges firsthand.
“Coming from the bottom myself, getting soaked in floods at church and school, and doing life alongside people who’ve faced these same hardships, I should’ve known better.”
He also opened up about personal flaw of lacking empathy, saying his instinct is often to look for solutions rather than acknowledge emotions.
“I’ve always been self-aware of a flaw I carry. I often lack empathy. Even as a kid, when I saw someone homeless on the street, my first instinct was to ask how they got there instead of simply offering help,” Alviz shared.
“My default mindset tends to focus on solutions, often overlooking the feelings and experiences of those around me.
Despite his intentions, Alviz acknowledged the impact of his words and expressed regret to those he may have offended.
“I want to genuinely apologise to anyone I may have hurt or offended. My goal has always been to inspire and motivate others despite my own imperfections. I’m not better than anyone and I never meant to come across as entitled or out of touch.”
He went on to say that he was taking the backlash as a “moment of learning” and pledging to “do better and be better.”
Zac concluded his post by expressing sympathy for those affected by the severe weather, “My heart goes out to everyone facing difficult challenges right now. I’m really sorry.”
