DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / August 26) — It is a wish granted for a teenager from the Island Garden City of Samal who wanted to go viral after throwing inappropriate, even threatening and vulgar, remarks to an English vlogger during the latter’s trip to the island late last year.

But he apparently regretted he ever made the wish as soon as the video went viral.

The bad press irked Samal Mayor Lemuel “Toto” Reyes, who immediately took to Facebook after the video was posted on YouTube on Monday, seeking for the local boy in the video. “Whoever knows this person, please tell him to be in the office. Do not wait that I will be the one looking for you,” he wrote in the vernacular.

The travel vlogger behind the “Journey of Josh” account on YouTube posted the video titled “Sometimes it’s NOT Always Fun in the Philippines! | Samal island” where, while cliff diving at Sabang Cliff in Kaputian, he met a 16-year-old boy who identified himself as “Joshua,” along with a few friends.

While Joshua tried to make friends with the English traveler while they were in the water, he often laughed at Josh for not being able to speak the language.

Joshua seemed to be joking, laughing often, but issued threatening words nevertheless.

“Niabot ka diris Samal unya di ka kabalog Bisaya? … Mao pagtuon kol, lumsan ta ka ron.” (You arrived in Samal and yet you don’t know Bisaya? … So learn the language, or I’ll drown you.)

Josh felt the boy’s abrasive behavior right away that he paused the video, which was showing Joshua, and said: “Before we continue, I just wanna say this is absolutely not representation of the Philippines or the Filipino people as a whole. The vast majority of my experiences here are always positive. And most of the people are some of the most friendly and kind people I’ve ever met.”

As they climbed the cliff for a jump and Josh lent Joshua his GoPro so the boy could film him, Joshua kept saying “f*ck you.”

“F*ck you, may’g videohan ta ka? F*ck you nimooo, wa kay video video diha. Sige backflip diha, di ta ka videohan.” (F*ck you, you think I’ll take your video? F*ck you, you won’t have your video. Do a backflip, and I won’t take your video.”)

Then Joshua further said:

“Di gani nimo ni i-post kol … dapat mosikat ko kol ha? Makit-an ta ka diri kol, lumsan ta ka kol.” (If you won’t post this, uncle … Make sure I’ll get famous, ok? If I see you here again, I’ll drown you.)

When they were back on the water after the jump, the boy congratulated Josh: “Good job kol! Jerjer unya kol ha? Iyot ta unya, kol.” (Good job, uncle. Let’s f*ck later, uncle, ok?)

Joshua then asked Josh to buy beer, to which the British obliged. He then left after a few cups, worried he would get drunk.

The video, according to the Samal Island Information (SII) Facebook page, was taken in November 2024.

The City Investment and Tourism Office (CITO) of Samal posted on Facebook Tuesday a press statement clarifying it was an “isolated incident” and “does not reflect the warmth and hospitality of Samaleños.”

“The individual involved has already been called to account, and appropriate actions will follow. Mayor Reyes also directed CITO to reach out to Mr. Josh to personally extend the City’s apology and willingness to make amends,” the statement wrote.

“While Sabang is not part of the city’s official tourism circuit, the City Government recognizes it as part of Samal’s identity and remains committed to promoting safe and positive experiences for all visitors,” it added.

At 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, SII posted on Facebook that the teenager and his family have met with the mayor. According to the post, Reyes reminded the minor to “be cautious with his actions and take the incident as a lesson.”

The minor and his family expressed their apologies for “the damage caused to the city’s image,” the post reads.

It added that the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) will impose disciplinary measures in line with the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, and will include an intervention program with spiritual counseling and three months of community service in his barangay. (Razl EJ Teman / MindaNews)