At the Governor and Vice Governor’s Night in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, tensions flared as Kapamilya actress Francine Diaz unexpectedly took the stage, disrupting the performance preparations of OPM band Orange & Lemons. Videos of the incident quickly circulated online, igniting a debate over who was to blame.
What Happened?
Orange & Lemons were all set to perform when Diaz unexpectedly showed up, throwing off their performance and causing frustration. The band was visibly annoyed as Francine Diaz started her act, leading to a clash that caught the attention of netizens and fans.
Both sides had something to say. Orange & Lemons were upset about the interruption, saying they were ready to perform on time. Francine Diaz was seen looking back to the organizers, checking if she should continue her performance. The incident was said to be because Francine’s manager wanted her to perform earlier. Her manager then talked to the organizer to put her ahead in the schedule flow so she could perform before the band.
However, it was unfair and humiliating for the band as they were already doing sound checks on the stage. Diaz then awkwardly performed acapella because the sound system department was already prepared to assist the band. She was singing “Love Story” by Taylor Swift with a low minus one sound while Clem is still strumming his guitar. The band then walked off the stage to let Francine Diaz finish her performance.
After Francine Diaz’s performance, Orange & Lemons came back up the stage. Lead vocalist Clementine Castro, couldn’t hide his dismay and talked to the fans, saying that they were already there ahead of their planned performance (since 11 pm) and that it’s not right to disrupt the schedule order.
Online discussions debated whether the event organizers messed up or if Diaz was just following instructions as a guest.
Who’s at Fault?
The general public is divided by this situation. Some are blaming the unprofessionalism of Orange & Lemons because of the lead vocalist’s rant during the incident, while others are saying that it shouldn’t have happened in the first place if the organizers were to follow the said schedule. It is still unclear whether Francine Diaz came late to the event, hence the disrupted schedule flow.
Francine Diaz’s manager’s alleged talk with the organizer requesting an earlier performance may have started the confusion for both artists.
It is the event organizers’ job to strictly follow the scheduled time of the event regardless of the artists’ popularity. Both guests/artists deserve respect, and neither can be blamed for the situation. Both likely had prior commitments they needed to attend to, so they both wanted to perform on time.
Who is Orange & Lemons
Orange & Lemons formed in 1999, relatively unknown to younger audiences, gained prominence through their song “Pinoy Ako,” the theme song for the popular TV show Pinoy Big Brother (PBB).
Band members:
- Mcoy Fundales (Former Vocalist)
- Clementine Castro (Guitars / Vocals)
- Ace Del Mundo (Drums)
- JM Del Mundo (Bass)
Seth Fedelin, recognized as the love team partner of Francine Diaz, also emerged as a rising star in the Philippine entertainment industry through his participation on PBB, where the show’s theme song, “Pinoy Ako,” was composed by Orange & Lemons.
