Francis Lopez, a prominent member of the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons basketball team, has taken responsibility for a regrettable incident that occurred two weeks ago.
In an admirable display of accountability, Lopez, accompanied by teammate CJ Cansino, personally visited Subic Bay Freeport on Friday to extend a heartfelt apology to a 21-year-old carnival worker who was the victim of a physical offense during a team outing at the Fiesta Carnival in Subic on Dec. 13.
Lopez expressed remorse for his actions, acknowledging that there is no excuse for what transpired. He emphasized the importance of learning from the incident, stating, “This is a life lesson for me.”
The incident was captured on video and widely circulated on social media through Cansino’s shares.
In the video footage, Lopez was observed attempting to remove the mask of the unnamed employee during a horror train ride, prompting negative reactions from netizens who expressed concerns about the perceived danger associated with Lopez’s actions.
To address the situation and demonstrate their commitment to making amends, Lopez and Cansino met with Subic Fiesta Carnival owner Gloria Quiros and officials from the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), including Armie Llamas, the Officer-in-Charge of Corporate Affairs.
Quiros, in a statement, commended the two UP Fighting Maroons members for being respectful guests, expressing appreciation for their return to address the issue.
Furthermore, as a gesture of goodwill during the holiday season, Lopez presented the carnival worker with a signed jersey and a UP Fighting Maroons team shirt.