Senator Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri has publicly apologized to the family of the late entertainment icon Inday Badiday after using her name to describe a "circus" on the Senate floor, drawing criticism from her grandchild, TV host and personality IC Mendoza
The issue stemmed from an analogy made by Zubiri during a heated Senate manifestation regarding a video presentation, which Mendoza quickly called out on his personal Facebook page.
"Please do not disrespect the legacy of my late mommy Luds. She was more than showbiz chika and intrigues," Mendoza wrote, referring to his grandmother by her real name, Lourdes Carvajal.
"She helped shape local pop culture and the entertainment journalism landscape of her time, and her work influenced conversations around media and entertainment for generations,"
Mendoza emphasized that "reducing her name and legacy to describe the 'circus' happening in the Senate is offensive," adding a firm plea: "Ang tagal nang patay ng lola ko. Please leave her out of your political commentaries and analogies."
Following the post, Senator Zubiri immediately issued a public statement on his social media accounts, offering his "sincere apologies" to the veteran host's family and admitting to a lapse in judgment.
"Sa buong pamilya of the late Inday Badiday, I am sincerely sorry for mentioning her name during my manifestation sa Senado," Zubiri said.
"Slip of the tongue po iyon in the middle of a heated debate, and I take full responsibility because I should have been more careful with my words," the senator added.
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Zubiri clarified that his remarks were fueled by frustration over the video shown during the plenary session and carried no intent to tarnish the late icon's reputation.
"I want to say this from the heart: I respect Inday Badiday, and like many from my generation, lumaki rin po ako na nakikita siya sa TV... My frustration was about the video shown on the Senate floor, and I never meant to disrespect her memory or reduce her legacy to politics," the senator explained, conceding that Mendoza was correct.
"Tama si IC Mendoza, dapat hindi na nadamay ang lola niya sa usaping pulitika."
The issue was swiftly resolved as Mendoza accepted the lawmaker's apology in a subsequent online reply, acknowledging the high-pressure environment of the Senate debates.
"I also get where you’re coming from and your frustration. And yes, I’m sure you meant no malice by it," Mendoza responded. He admitted that while his grandmother was known for showbiz intrigues, "it just felt off seeing her memory associated with fake news peddlers."
Ending the exchange on a positive note, Mendoza concluded, "But all good! Thank you for this Senator Migz. Appreciate it, Keep fighting the good fight."
Inday Badiday, dubbed the country's undisputed "Queen of Showbiz Talk Shows," passed away in 2003, leaving behind a multi-decade legacy that pioneered modern Philippine entertainment journalism.