Ashley Montenegro sets record straight on Miss World PH Q&A answer: ‘I’m aware of the dangers of spreading misinformation’
Miss Eco Philippines 2022 Ashley Subijano Montenegro has apologized for “offending” pageant fans after her answer in the Miss World Philippines 2022 Q&A portion drew negative feedback on social media.
During the pageant’s second Q&A portion, Montenegro was asked if bloggers and vloggers deserve to be accredited as members of mainstream media. She said they can be recognized as such since they “do their best to provide people with information in all shapes, sizes, forms, and platforms.”
“My mother personally herself is a blogger. I know she proudly advocates and shares all the things she’s passionate about. Anyone can be well educated on the subject if they’re passionate and dedicated. And if people use credible sources, then absolutely,” she added.
Montenegro’s response, however, caught the attention of netizens, with one even accusing her of not knowing the “sanctity of freedom of the press.”
It's sealed - Ashley Subijano Montenegro did very well in the last Q&A on whether vloggers/bloggers should be included ad accredited members in the MSM. #MissWorldPhilippines2022
— Weiner Henry Caparros (@weinsworld) June 5, 2022
Ashley montenegro doesn't know what the sanctity of the freedom of the press is all about. Journalism is not equal to v/blogging😵
— UP Naming No Chill (@MasarapSnickers) June 5, 2022
Three days after the Miss World PH coronation night, Montenegro took to social media to address her performance and apologize to “those whom I have offended with my answer.”
“I knew I did not answer my best. As soon as I finished, I wished I had added more substance about the need for accountability as a consequence for those who (even unintentionally) spread libel and misinformation,” Montenegro said.
“Freedom of speech is right, but being trustworthy and having integrity needs to be earned especially when giving public information.”
The beauty queen added that the “microphone or audio problems really gave some of us a difficult time” during the pageant’s coronation night.
“Second, I knew where I was. I was on live national TV standing in front of around 2,000 people with at least 100 bloggers/vloggers/journalists who had been sitting for five hours within 20 meters [of] where I was standing. So my instinct prioritized, not wanting to offend their profession,” Montenegro added.
Montenegro then clarified that her mother, Cara Subijano, was a former ABS-CBN anchor who “always used her words responsibly.”
The beauty queen said she is “aware” of the dangers of “spreading misinformation and declaring opinions as public facts.”
“I do regret not being able to add more context to what I said in those 45 seconds, and I wish some circumstances were different so I could have remained focused. But I simply did the best I could in the given moment,” Montenegro said.
The issue of vlogging versus journalism has cropped up recently after incoming press secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said that one of the priorities of the Marcos Jr. administration would be to accredit vloggers for Palace briefings.
Prior to clarifying her performance in the Q&A portion, Montenegro reshared the post of fellow Miss World PH candidate Paula Ortega on her Instagram Stories.
Ortega also made headlines after saying she was “still processing” her performance at the pageant’s second Q&A portion since she “couldn’t hear a thing on stage.”
“It’s true. I struggled to hear my own number being called a couple of times until my fellow candidates would tell me I was being called for an award or placement,” Montenegro said.
The beauty queen also seconded Ortega’s post, adding that she “could barely hear my question” and she was “too caught off guard.”
Montenegro is set to represent the Philippines in the Miss Eco International pageant.