Popular comedian-writer Ramon Bautista was booed on stage during the Kadayawan Festival after joking that Davao city has many sexy but ugly women, likening them to a "HIPON" (shrimp) -- you keep the body and throw the head.
However, he quickly returned to the stage and apologized for the bad, insensitive joke.
In an ABS-CBN news report, it said the incident happened last Saturday during Davao City's annual Kadayawan Festival.
"Ang daming hipon dito sa Davao, alright, 'hipon, hipon.' ... When I say 'hi,' you say 'pon,'" Bautista joked.
Former Davao mayor Sara Duterte and vice mayor Paolo Duterte who were present at the event were offended by Bautista's joke.
In her Facebook page, Sara Duterte lambasted Bautista and encouraged the City Council to declare Bautista persona non grata.Paolo Duterte, meanwhile, said he talked to Bautista backstage and asked the comedian to apologize publicly. He also lectured Bautista on how to respect women.
Before the event ended, Bautista returned on stage to say sorry.
"I am here to say my apologies because sinabi ko na maraming hipon dito. Nahihiya ako sa inyo because you welcomed me in your beautiful city. Nandito po ako lagi at nage-enjoy po ako dito. Para masabi ko ang mga bagay na 'yon na marami sa inyo ang na-offend, I say my sincerest apologies. Sana po ay matanggap niyo,"
"Nandito po ako makisaya sa Kadayawan Festival at para maging enjoyable ang gabi ito from the bottom of my heart, sobrang nahihiya po ako sa inyong lahat. Sana ay mapatawad po niyo ako. Mahal ko po kayong lahat. Maraming salamat po. Sana mag-enjoy po tayo. Again, my sincerest apologies. I love you all. Party, party tayo,"
Bautista wrote the hit novel, "Bakit Di Ka Crush Ng Crush Mo". The book later got a movie version starring Kim Chiu and Xian Lim.
He is also featured on National Geographic Channel's new show, "Science of Stupid."