Veteran broadcaster Ramon Tulfo unleashed a blistering tirade against his own kababayan from Manay, Davao Oriental, calling them “mga pusaka, taga-bundok na malayo sa sibilisasyon” and accusing them of lacking “class” and “refinement.”
Manay, a coastal town in Davao Oriental, was among the hardest hit by the twin earthquakes that struck on October 10, 2025. The magnitude 7.4 and 6.8 “doublet” quakes triggered landslides, widespread building damage, power outages, and the displacement of thousands of residents. Many homes were cracked or destroyed, infrastructure like the local hospital was compromised, and roads and utilities were disrupted, leaving residents in urgent need of relief and services.
In a statement posted on his Facebook page, Tulfo lashed out at residents who shouted “Sara, Sara” during President Bongbong Marcos’s visit to Manay after the earthquake. “Ako’y taga-Manay, pero kinahihiya ko ang asal ninyo,” he said. He described their behavior as a “kawalan ng magandang asal” and “entitled.”
He said locals should have shown respect for the President’s position even if they did not like him personally. “But no matter how the people of Manay regard BBM, they should respect his position if they can’t respect his person,” Tulfo said.
He then followed with one of his harshest remarks. “Palibhasa karamihan sa kanila ay pusaka, mga taga-bundok na malayo sa sibilisasyon,” he wrote. “Class ang tawag diyan sa English. Sa mga may pinag-aralan na taga-Manay ay alam nila ang kahulugan ng ‘class’ o ‘refinement.’” He added, “Masakit man ay tanggapin natin na kulang pa tayo ng refinement. Kaya hanggang ngayon ay third class municipality pa rin ang Manay.”
The statement came as his sister, former Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo , also addressed the people of Manay in a separate post. She claimed the family had extended assistance to the town through medical help “from our own pocket,” DSWD and DOLE programs supposedly prioritized through another Tulfo sibling, Senator Erwin Tulfo, who briefly served as DSWD Secretary under the Marcos administration, and the donation of land for the local hospital. “Hindi pa ba ito sapat na tulong?” she wrote, urging residents to be patient. She added that Erwin, who is currently in Geneva, is coordinating planned relief efforts. “CAN WE NOT WAIT!!!”
Wanda Teo has since deleted the post.
