AMID inflation and rising commodity prices, coming across a vlog about making and flying a kite from P1 million worth of P1,000 bills attracted negative criticism from internet users offended by the perceived insensitivity of the act.
The online backlash prompted Ronnie Suan, also known as “Boy Tapang,” a 24-year-old well-known vlogger from Alcoy, Cebu, to issue a public apology over his recent vlog.
Suan said he also took down his vlog, which garnered seven million views in just a week, after being called out by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).
“Medyo na-dismaya gamay kay kana lagi, naghago ka og buhat, nya gi-delete ra. Pero mas okay ra to kay at least walay problema ba. Sayang kon ang kwarta gyud ang nawala,” he told SunStar Cebu on Wednesday, April 17, 2024.
(In a way, I was a bit dismayed because, you know, you put effort into something, then, you just delete it. But it’s actually okay because at least there is no problem anymore. It’s a waste if the money is lost.)
Suan said a BSP representative came to his home and asked him to remove his social media post, which he did.
He said he used the money to buy a sports car.
He claimed that he created the kite for amusement and to set a record that a kite made from 1,000 pieces of P1,000 can only be found in their municipality.
When asked when he made the money kite and shot the video, he said he couldn’t recall precisely, but it was sometime last week.
Suan claimed that he consulted with a lawyer before creating the kite. The lawyer advised him that it would not be illegal as long as the money bills were not damaged.
He said he used scotch tape to make the kite, which was more than a meter in length. To avoid entanglement and damage to the money, he flew the kite in an open vacant lot near their place.
Presidential Decree (PD) 247 prohibits and penalizes defacement, mutilation, tearing, burning or destruction of central bank notes and coins. Violation constitutes a fine of not more than P20,000 and/or imprisonment of not more than five years.
He added that the BSP official accepted his explanation and would not be pursuing legal action against him.
Public apology
Suan’s public apology video on his Facebook page on April 13, garnered 56,000 reactions, 11,200 comments and 1,200 reactions as of this writing. Suan has 3.9 million followers on Facebook.
While some appreciated his public apology, some also continued to criticize the vlogger.
“Mao na! Nasobraan na man gud mo ka hambog! Kuhai nag lesson, dong...maypag itabang ninyo nang kwartaha kong wa moy mabuhat or inegosyo or ipalit og mga gamit makapalipay ninyo. Ambot nalang gyud ninyo!” a netizen commented.
(That’s it! You’re just too boastful! Learn your lesson, buddy... It’s better to use your money to help if you can’t do anything productive or start a business or buy things that will make you happy. I really don’t know about you!)
Suan, for his part, said helping the poor is not new to him because he has been helping some people for a while now.
“Wala lang gyud sila kita...Usa gyud na sa obligation nako sa pag vlogging gyud nga motabang kog kabos sama namo sauna ba,” he said.
(They just don’t see it... It’s really one of my obligations in vlogging to help the less fortunate like us before.) / DVG, WBS, TPT