By Junex Doronio
MANILA — “Mistakes are always forgivable if one dares to admit them,” this quote from the late martial arts superstar Bruce Lee has unwittingly prodded Tourism Undersecretary Elaine Bathan to apologize for flexing on social media how she taught a friend the basics of using Google while in the middle of a meeting on airport privatization.
Bathan was criticized for her Facebook post about helping Mandaue City Treasurer Regal Oliva learn Google Translate while she was in a meeting.
Her caption that drew flak read: “When your best friend calls you because she needed help on Google Translate so she can eat and thrive in Japan, all else will have to stop. Even if it’s about the airport takeover and privatization.”
Bathan said in a Facebook post on Friday (5 April 2024,) said her social media activity “never intends to disrespect the office I represent, my colleagues in government, or the purpose of my work.”
“I ask for your kind understanding and sincerely apologize to the Secretary, my colleagues, and the public. Moving forward, I will practice more discernment in my use of any social media platform to ensure that this will not happen again,” Bathan vowed.
(el Amigo/MNM)