The internet calls CEO asking actress for ‘coffee date’through billboard a ‘creep’

“I can’t even espresso how much I like you a latte. Will you… drink coffee with me?” the billboard looming above Morayta Avenue reads.

They say it’s first time in Philippine history. I say: That’s how special you are to me. @erichgg , will you drink coffee with me? #PleaseSayYesErich #CoffeeWithErich

A post shared by XIAN S. GAZA (@xiangaza) on Jul 1, 2017 at 3:05am PDT

The jumbo billboard’s cutesy — and we’re being generous there — pitch for a coffee date is directed at “Erika Chryzelle Ganayco”, a Filipina actress more popularly known as Erich Gonzales.

The billboard was put up Xian Gaza, who, in his Instagram profile, identifies himself as the CEO of the Guanxiqian group. According to local media reports, the company is based in Hong Kong, though a quick Google search turns up little to nothing.

After Gaza’s Instagram post of the billboard went viral, a number of people and media outlets like Cosmo Philippines have emerged to give the alleged CEO “props” for the effort. Other netizens, unsurprisingly, have been less kind.

One Facebook account called “Catcalled in the Philippines,” with posts dedicated to calling out instances of inappropriate catcalling on social media said: “Thank you for contributing to the normalization of pressuring people into doing what the crowd wants. Never what the pressured person wants.”

After Gaza’s post bragging about the billboard, he went on to share the story of how his obsession with the actress began when the actress obliged to a selfie after he spotted her at a movie theater.

Erich Gonzales, As much as I want to send this heartfelt message to you privately, which I have been trying and doing so for the past month, I really can’t find a way. For this, please accept my sincerest apology in advance for doing this publicly with an ardent hope that this shall reach you at the soonest possible time. To start, let me indulge in a brief moment of remembering. Last January 5, I was so down and demotivated with life while nursing a broken heart. So I have decided to take a much-needed walk towards SM Aura’s chapel, crying while praying, desperately asking for some Divine strength and guidance then went down and decided to book a flight to Hong Kong immediately the next day to unwind and breathe some air. Afterwards, I jumped off to Uptown Mall Cinema to watch the last full show of “Assassin’s Creed” and much to my surprise you were seated right there in front of me along with some other four. After the movie, I mustered all courage I had up my sleeve in order to approach you and took this very selfie so that I may remember that magical moment. You, being kind, happily obliged. At that moment, you had left a massive imprint on my heart. You left me mesmerized. I don’t wanna portray sainthood nor pretend to be one in your eyes. Yes, I’m a typical bachelor who tries to meet and mingle with some girls but there are two factors why nothing shall really work out that time. First, I’m on my ‘moving on’ stage and second is without your knowledge, you really touched a portion of my heart that even myself can’t describe nor put it into words. Half of 2017 had passed now and I made 29 flights to numerous locations taking that “Uptown Mall Cinema Moment” with me, and so with you who never left my mind.

A post shared by XIAN S. GAZA (@xiangaza) on Jul 1, 2017 at 11:40pm PDT

As of 2:45pm, Xian Gaza was trending in the Philippines on Twitter, generating 1,400 tweets.

Sadly for Gaza, the reactions to the Instagram post of the billboard going viral seemed to utilize one word repeatedly: “creepy”.

that guy who asked erich out on a coffee date thru a billboard is so creepy in so many ways

— Donny Pangilinan (@lowkeydonny) July 3, 2017

Ang rich! Idinaan sa billboard ang pag-invite kay Erich Gonzales for a coffee date. Sweet but creepy! 😍😱😳☕️ pic.twitter.com/rZ4lH5hyuZ

— silkyberry 🍓 (@happylife2288) July 3, 2017

I’m just gonna say it. That ceo guy asking a local celebrity Erich Gonzales for a coffee date via billboard is super creepy.

— Gio Gene (@itsmegiogene) July 3, 2017

Me to the guy who asked Erich Gonzales for a coffee date via billboard: #CoffeeWithErich pic.twitter.com/hPhhJ0E3DD

— Telle ✨ (@istelcey) July 3, 2017

I hope Erich Gonzales turned down that coffee date invite. I just stalked the guy’s FB, and ghad, super annoying at papansin ni kuya.

— Rayshi レイシェル 🌸💖 (@RayshiMac) July 3, 2017

Some netizens thought the criticism was too harsh and he was just trying to be “sweet”.

May mas gaganda pa ba kay Erich? Hahahaha lahi ra pud ning lalaki mangimbita ug coffee date uy, ipa-billboard man gyud. #ErichGonzales pic.twitter.com/Fn2vT4ziiA

— Paul Jordan Berguia (@jordanberguia) July 2, 2017

I’ve been reading comments and opinions about the guy behind the billboard coffee date with Erich. Why is there so much hate?

— Alex Catabay (@alexcatabay) July 3, 2017

While many netizens may have found the billboard creepy, the actress didn’t seem to find the over-the-top way of asking her on a date all that strange. According to local news site Rappler, Erich responded to the proposal through a friend identified as Darla.

“Hi Darls!!! How are you? Hahaha!!! Ang cute ng effort ni Kuya. (His effort is cute!) It’s fine. Let’s see when I get back. There’s nothing wrong naman if we talk over coffee,” she texted Darla. But there’s a catch, “Pero dapat kasama ka (but you should be with me). Hahaha!!!”

Definitely seems wise to start things off with a chaperone. What do you guys think?