Filipino tycoon Manny Pangilinan promotes Huawei in tweet using iPhone

Well, this is awkward.

Once again, netizens have proven how eagle-eyed they can be when they noticed something a little strange in Filipino tycoon Manny V. Pangilinan’s latest tweet. In it, the CEO of Smart Communications raved about using the telco’s 5G internet with his new 5G-capable Huawei phone.

“Got my 5G phone. Huawei. Using it now, on Smart 5G network in central parts of Makati. Wow. Super speed. Exciting,” the tweet posted at 7:40 last night reads.

It looks like a pretty standard social media promotion until you notice that the tweet source label at the bottom says “Twitter for iPhone.”

Oops?

Netizens are now basking in the glory of their discovery.

@MartinezA7 wondered why Pangilinan had to use an iPhone. @ethanriviello, on the other hand, went the punn-y route and said “Huaweit as second…” with a thinking emoji.

@bwrney56 tweeted a hilarious gif calling Pangilinan a liar.

@frapucchin0 called the tycoon out by quoting his promo tweet in the popular sticky caps meme used to mock someone.

However, some came to Pangilinan’s rescue and pointed out that he could just have two phones.

“Maybe he has two phones, the new Huawei, and his main phone is the iPhone. Don’t be judgemental (sic) guys, it could kill,” @dwytotep said.

@nhatzkie0606 agreed and said that she too has two phones.

This could be true, especially because many Filipinos have multiple phones, but it’s still not a good look. Especially when you’re the head of a telco.

Pangilinan or MVP, as he is more commonly referred to, is one of the richest men in the Philippines. Apart from the telco business, he’s also known as an avid supporter of sports and is the Chairman Emeritus of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, the Philippines’ national sport association for basketball.

He came under scrutiny in 2010 when it was discovered that his commencement address to Ateneo de Manila University graduates plagiarized speeches from Barack Obama, J.K. Rowling, Oprah Winfrey, and Conan O’Brien.

As of this article’s posting, Pangilinan’s tweet is still on his profile.