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- It turned out that a lot of netizens misread the headlines and mistook Venezuela the country for Valenzuela the city.
- Gatchalian took it to Facebook and Twitter to explain that it did not happen in Valenzuela City.
Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian posted an amusing yet frustrating explanation for the sudden appearance of his name in Twitter’s trending topics.
It was due to people misreading the news about Venezuela holding a procession for the Nazarene despite the dangers of spreading the coronavirus. Apparently some netizens thought it was Valenzuela the city, not Venezuela the country.
The mayor posted a screenshot on his Facebook page, showing a netizen named Sandra Mimi Flores questioning his “decision” to hold a procession amid the enhanced community quarantine.
So ang daming nagagalit sa akin dahil dito. Hindi ko alam na ako na din pala ang pinuno ng bansa na Venezuela.Mga…
Posted by REX Gatchalian on Wednesday, April 8, 2020
He also uploaded a screenshot of Twitter’s top trends with the caption “Trending for the wrong reason, wrong location.”
Gatchalian also explained himself on Twitter.
Pero seriously…our city is called VALENZUELA not VENEzuela…our great city is named after one of our revolutionary HEROS, Dr. Pio VALENZUELA….who's zeal and love for our country is what we strive for everyday in this great city of ours.
— Rex (@rex_gatchalian) April 9, 2020
This “epic fail” has amused other netizens and has become the subject of their jokes.
When Venezuela becomes Valenzuela
Trolls don't blame ABS-CBN for being idiots. pic.twitter.com/GmxXWlH6nx— Robi No (@RobiLito_No) April 9, 2020
VENEZUELA (what is stated)
VALENZUELA (what they've read)
and take note: nagiging aggressive na naman silaMayor Rex Gatchalian: pic.twitter.com/z8MG0h0DOP
— poondah (@arraine__) April 9, 2020
Valenzuela City and Venezuela when there is an article about them: pic.twitter.com/NJwMCgzDMH
— Mica #OustDuterte (@SpongyMica) April 9, 2020
https://twitter.com/kaeofficial/status/1248134107189645312
Others also informed everyone that Valenzuela and Venezuela are indeed different.
FRIENDLY REMINDER: Venezuela is different from Valenzuela!
Valenzuela is a city in Metro Manila and the one headed by Mayor @rex_gatchalian. Meanwhile, Venezuela is a COUNTRY located in South America that is about 17,000 kilometers away. #GEOGRAPHY101 pic.twitter.com/2v1joVljWO
— EarthShakerPH (@earthshakerph) April 9, 2020
Among 79 participating countries, the Philippines scored the lowest in reading comprehension in the 2018 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). PISA is a worldwide study by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.
This Venezuela and Valenzuela issue proved why our country ranked lowest in reading comprehension in the 2018 Programme for International Student Assessment among 79 countries.
Read. Make this ECQ productive people! pic.twitter.com/93Ec1ioNXz— Kulaygray (@kulaygray) April 9, 2020
https://twitter.com/andiebasa/status/1248129276798324736
https://twitter.com/justineltchua/status/1248123134072381442
Mass testing for COVID-19 will start in Valenzuela City on April 11.
