Cesar Montano speaks up about viral video greeting

FILE: Actor Cesar Montano in The Manor at Camp John Hay, Baguio City. (Photo: cesar_montano/Instagram)

Actor Cesar Montano has finally spoken about his birthday video greeting which recently went viral as an apparently naked woman was caught in the background.

In his controversial video, Cesar was only greeting a councilor whom he addressed as Chris Morales of Sta. Ana when a woman, who appeared to have no clothes, started walking in the frame.

“Happy birthday Kagawad (Councilor) Chris Morales of Sta. Ana. More power to you. Don’t forget na merong Cesar Montanong nagsu-support sa iyo, si Buboy (Do not forget that there is a Cesar Montano who will always support you, there is Buboy). Love you men. Happy birthday. God bless,” Cesar said in the video clip.

It is still unclear whether the mysterious woman was actually naked or she was just wearing flesh-toned clothing, but many netizens assumed that the woman had no clothes on.

On Saturday, Cesar explained his viral video through his friend, Dolly Anne Carjaval, who published the actor’s statement in her column on the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

“Bff (Best friend forever), you won’t believe that I get thousands of requests for video birthday greetings,” Cesar told Dolly through a text message.

“But the thing is, I can’t grant their requests to focus on the background instead of me. And a hundred other requests are for my voice-over greeting only so the video will zoom in on the background (laughs),” he added.

As the said clip surfaced online, several netizens also uploaded their own versions of Cesar’s viral video.

The resigned Tourism board chief, however, did not take offense of the spoofs as he himself enjoyed watching those videos.

“My favorite spoof is by Buknoy. It totally cracked me up,” Cesar said.

Buknoy, in his entry, was sending his birthday greeting when a naked man was seen in the mirror attached on the wall at the back.

Cesar’s video greeting has sparked curiosity among netizens as to who could be the woman in the background. Some social media users speculated that it was actress Bela Padilla, but the latter was quick to deny it.

On Friday, the 52-year-old actor posted another birthday greeting, this time, for GMA News anchor Arnold Clavio, who just celebrated his 52nd birthday.

In his birthday greeting, Cesar was seen sitting in a sofa chair, saying, “Konsehal (Councilor) Igan, happy birthday. ‘Wag mong kakalimutan na merong Buboy na nagmamahal sa’yo (Do not forget that there is Buboy who loves you). God bless you. More power.”

At the end of the clip, he then jested, “Sorry, walang (there is no) background ha,” referring to his viral video.