Oops, don’t think people were meant to see that.
Actor and former government official Cesar Montano is currently in a bit of a pickle after a birthday greeting he posted on Facebook went viral, not because of what he said, but because of what he showed — an allegedly naked woman walking in the background.
The video was first posted by Facebook user Rolando Olano on Tuesday, ABS-CBN News reported. It has since been taken down but, of course, a number of accounts have already reuploaded it.
The internet is forever, folks.
In the 15-second video, Montano greets a barangay kagawad (village councilor) a happy birthday and says in Filipino and English: “More power to you. Don’t forget, there is a Cesar Montano that supports you.”
Spoken like a true actor-politician.
The woman, who looks to be naked (she could be wearing flesh-colored undies or bikini?), enters the frame even before Montano starts his greeting. She walks across the room, grabs a few things, then walks back out of the frame at around the 6-second mark.
While she wasn’t there long and was pretty far away from the camera, that was enough to get netizens talking — and making their own versions of the video.
People are trying to make #CesarMontanoChallenge happen, which has people lampooning Montano’s video.
Here’s one with a man greeting someone a happy birthday when another man suddenly appears in the background, removes the towel around his waist, washes his hands, and scratches his butt.
Popular Radio DJs Sam Y.G. and Tony Toni of Magic 89.9’s Boys Night Out posted their own version as well.
Happy anniv nga pala kay Slick at kay Doc! More power! We lab you mhen! God Bless❤️
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.@_slickrick@gayndah@djtonytoni@lovesurvivor @boysnightout899 pic.twitter.com/vn2y2C10e9— Sam Gogna (@sam_yg) October 30, 2018
Philippine Twitter is abuzz about the video too. Satirical account @Senyora simply quoted Montano’s now iconic birthday greeting.
“Happy Birthday kagawad Cris Morales of Sta. Ana more power to you.” – Cesar Montano, 2018
— SENYORA (@Senyora) October 30, 2018
@SoYangHernandez is still trying to get over what happened. “I cannot unsee, Cesar Montano,” she wrote.
I cannot unsee, Cesar Montano.
— Yang Hernandez (@SoYangHernandez) October 30, 2018
@misisjennily said Montano just “broke the internet” but noted that she feels bad for the woman in the video.
https://twitter.com/misisjennily/status/1057267672105144320
But not everyone is so amused. @JannaAAP raised that people probably shouldn’t be laughing about this.
“Unpopular opinion: This Cesar Montano thing is not funny. I’ll be a kill joy but shouldn’t we protect the girl on the video [because] she was unintentionally filmed without her consent. We need to be more responsible,” she said in English and Filipino.
https://twitter.com/JannaAAP/status/1057288984278102017
@carmstaba had similar thoughts.
“Don’t know why but as a woman, I was really offended by Cesar Montano’s greeting video,” she said.
Don’t know why but as a woman, I was really offended by Cesar Montano’s greeting video…….
— Carms 🇵🇭🎀 (@carmsnr) October 30, 2018
Montano is known for appearing in action movies. He ran for public office several times in the past, including as senator and governor of Bohol province, but has never won.
In December 2016, President Rodrigo Duterte appointed Montano as the chief of the Tourism Promotions Board but he quit this position in May of this year amid controversy surrounding a project he was working on.
How do you feel about Montano’s video? Funny, unfortunate, or both? Let us know in the comments below or tweet us @CoconutsManila.
