The recent Ricky Lee and Pia Wurtzbach encounter happened at a book fair
Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach has made it a point to apologize to National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Ricky Lee after her security personnel cut him during the Manila International Book Fair.
The incident on September 14, 2023 was caught on tape and showed the beauty queen greeting the national artist, but one of her bodyguards cut between them.
Hinawi ng bodyguard ni miss @PiaWurtzbach si Sir Ricky Lee huhubells! ??? pero as we know ginagawa lang ng bodyguard yung work niya. #MIBF
— @pauloinmanila and 99 others (@pauloMDtweets) September 18, 2023
Pero love that small conversation ni Queen P at Sir Ricky "Thank you for the book" kahit maraming tao narecognize ni Pia si Sir Ricky. pic.twitter.com/ul1t3wQFi6
In the “Today’s Talk” segment of “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda” on September 20, 2023, Boy said Pia has already contacted the National Artist.
“Nag-reach out na si Pia, even if it was not Pia’s fault, to apologize, to say sorry na nangyari ito,” Tito Boy said.
“Naayos na ito pero leksyon po sa atin, dahil importante na tinatrato natin [ng maayos] ang number one, seniors. Number two, this was a book fair, this was a cultural event,” the host said.
Ricky Lee’s perspective
In a recent interview with PEP.ph, Ricky shared about his experience. According to him, the guard was rude and could have treated anyone in that situation more gracious.
“Siguro ‘yung guwardiya could have been more gracious. Hindi ko iisipin ang sarili ko. Iisipin ko ‘yung ibang tao ‘yan,” he started.
“Hindi kinakailangan na senior or hindi kinakailangang national artist. Pero kung may taong nilapitan din ni Pia, kinamayan pa ni Pia, respetuhin niya [guard] ‘yung tao at si Pia, kasi kilala ni Pia,” he continued.
The famed screenwriter reiterated that the gesture was more disrespectful to Pia.
“Hindi niya kailangang hawiin kasi si Pia mismo ang lumapit at nakipag-usap. So, kawalang respeto ‘yon hindi lang sa akin kung hindi kay Pia. Hindi in-acknowledge ng guard na in-acknowledge ako ni Pia,” he explained.
Ricky was named National Artist of the Philippines for Film and Broadcasting Arts last year. He is the author of “Para Kay B,” “Si Amapola sa 65 na Kabanata,” and other books.
Meanwhile, Pia was at the book fair to promote her debut novel “Queen of the Universe: A Novel: Love, Truth, Beauty.”
Banner Art Paulo Correa
