Moira Dela Torre explains after drawing flak for performing at Marcos Fest

MANILA, Philippines — Kapamilya singer Moira Dela Torre cried foul after netizens bashed her for performing at the Marcos Fest in Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena. 

Moira said she did not know that the event was to celebrate the 101st birthday of the deceased dictator Ferdinand Marcos. 

It was the producer who failed to give us all the information. I think he purposely left that out to keep us from not accepting the event.... which makes me even angrier.

— Moira Dela Torre (@moirarachelle4) September 15, 2018

“This Marcos Fest was supposed to be called I-Millenial Fest. I AM NOT A MARCOS APOLOGETIC. Never will i be,” Moira commented on a post. 

When asked by a netizen if she knew that the music fest is for Marcos’ birthday celebration, Moira replied that the organizers described the event as the Ilocano Millennial Night.

“No i didn't. From the earlier reminders til before we got there, they addressed it as the Ilocano Millenial Night. Not once was his name brought up. So let me be clear about this: i performed for the people of Ilocos and NOT for Marcos,” Moira said. 

For their part, Ilocos Norte’s Provincial Tourism Office Head Aian Raquel posted on his Facebook account that nobody tricked the singer because she knew that the event was called Marcos Fest. 

“Don’t make it seem like we lied to get you to perform. Ask your agent and your manager about it and please, don’t blame the ‘producers.’” Aian wrote.  

He added that the he is thankful to Moira for bringing her music to Ilocos and they appreciate it, but they felt bad about Moira’s posts.

“But now that you are complaining about performing at an event where you’re requirements and demands were given, including your fee, bakit parang nambabastos ka?” he added. 

The tide has now shifted to Moira as Marcos supporters are now bashing the singer for her comments. A petition is now up online, targeting 200 signatures for her to be declared “persona non grata” in Ilocos. 

Meanwhile, Moira’s management, Cornerstone Entertainment, said in its statement that the performance of the singer in the event was non-political. 

“Considering that the name of the fiesta event in Ilocos Norte held last September 11, 2018, was changed from ‘Ilocano Millennial Night’ to ‘Marcos Fest,’ Cornerstone Entertainment Inc. wishes to clarify that Moira’s performance in said fiesta was nonpolitical in nature as she neither endorses nor is she affiliated in any way with the Marcoses,” the management said.