Culture
Siquijor Vloggers Slammed for Snide Remarks Involving Anne Curtis
Content creators Shaun Pelayo and Crissa Liaging have since addressed the issue, urging netizens to "move forward."
by Em Enriquez
Published on Apr 23, 2025
Last March 2025, Anne Curtis took a quick vacation to Siquijor. Deep into filming for the Philippine adaptation of It's Okay to Not Be Okay, the actress took a quick boat ride from Dumaguete to visit the neighboring island. She became a trending topic on social media after she posted a video of herself seemingly walking on water in one of Siquijor's waterfall groves. Netizens dubbed the viral moment the "fairy walk."
A month or so later, and Anne remains to be at the center of commotion as Siquijor-based vloggers Shaun Pelayo and Crissa Liaging made indirect remarks regarding her visit.
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Content Creators Shaun Pelayo and Crissa Liaging Face Backlash After Seemingly "Throwing Shade" at Anne Curtis' Siquijor Content
In a Facebook Live last April 18, the social media couple vented their frustrations about the lack of acknowledgment they've received for promoting tourism in Siquijor. This was prompted by a comment from a viewer voicing out about the island-state's rising popularity among visitors.
Translated from Bisaya, Shaun and Crissa stated: "Ako, promoting the island again pero walang acknowledgement... If I will be the [local government], I will say thank you for always promoting Siquijor.
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PHOTO: Instagram/annecurtissmith.
The recording of the Facebook Live has since been removed from their accounts. Some netizens flocked to their comments section to disagree with Shaun and Crissa's remarks. "Even if you don't promote Siquijor, it's already well-known, why are you asking for gratitude in return? one asked.
Another corroborated the point, adding that Siquijor has already been a tourist destination even before Anne's recent trip. "I mean Siquijor [has been] known even before the fairy walk of Anne Curtis, or even them 'promoting' the island."
On the flipside, some netizens expressed their support for the vlogging duo, saying that their content has been helpful in driving tourism to the island. "Let's be real, malaki naman talaga ambag nila kasi they keep promoting the Island of Siquijor. I understand yung point nila and para sakin [they] deserve more than acknowledgement," one wrote.
To address the issue, Shaun posted a video on his Facebook feed last April 21.
On the flipside, some netizens expressed their support for the vlogging duo, saying that their content has been helpful in driving tourism to the island. "Let's be real, malaki naman talaga ambag nila kasi they keep promoting the Island of Siquijor. I understand yung point nila and para sakin [they] deserve more than acknowledgement," one wrote.
To address the issue, Shaun posted a video on his Facebook feed last April 21.
In the video, Shaun takes full accountability for the "throwaway comment" he and Crissa made in their recent Facebook Live.
"If it has offended anyone, then I do apologize. I'm sorry [and it] was never my intention to bring any negativity," he said. The vlogger adds how taken aback he was by the sudden outpouring of disdain towards him and his wife regarding the issue. To this, he urges netizens to "move forward."
"I'm gonna be positive, and I don't want anyone to have a bad image of Siquijor and any of the people that are supporting me," he adds. "They're showing so much understanding, and I've got so much love and appreciation for them, so thank you from my heart. My love belongs to Siquijor still."
As of writing, Anne herself has not spoken up about the issue. On her recent Instagram stories, she's been reposting some users recreating or trying out the "fairy walk" she did in Siquijor.
Em Enriquez is queer and probably daydreaming somewhere. They're an editorial assistant at Preview who can't live without pop music and lemon-tinted sunnies.