Vlad Bunoan

Article (news)

Maki

Josh Mercado

<div><strong>Trigger warning: This article discusses sexual harassment.</strong></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1754607692490image2 (7).jpeg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"/><span class="fr-inner"><em>GMA Network</em></span></span></span></div><p>Maki, the singer behind the hit songs “Dilaw,” “Namumula,” and “Bughaw,” spoke with television host Boy Abunda on Thursday about how he nearly gave up on his dream of becoming an artist.</p><p>He stated two significant reasons why he almost left the music industry. One was when he released a song and no one was listening to it -- until he spotted his father listening to it one morning and realized that one person&#x27;s support was enough to keep doing music.</p><p>The young singer then shared a story about a verbal sexual harassment incident he had at the age of 15 during a closed-door audition with one person.</p><p>He said his parents had no idea about the incident. “I wanted to surprise them na nag-audition ako sa isang lugar po. Sobra po akong full of passion, full of dreams. I auditioned. I did everything — acting, dancing, singing — in front of one person. Tapos ni-lock niya ‘yung pinto,” Maki recalled. </p><p>“Hala, nanginginig ako,” he told Abunda, then paused. </p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1754607725152image1 (10).jpeg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"/><span class="fr-inner"><em>GMA Network</em></span></span></span></div><p>He continued, “Ayaw ko na po mag-dive into details pero nag-audition po ako to become an artist. After the audition, tinanong niya po ako ng mga (sexually-charged) questions na medyo hindi po siya mga pambata. First time ko pong matanong ng mga ganoong bagay. Sa industry na ito, hindi ko po siya alam kung paano sagutin.”</p><p>The TV host then asked him, “Were you sexually harassed?” He replied, “Hindi ko po alam kung tatawagin ko siyang ganoon.”</p><p>Abunda then told viewers that “sexual harassment comes in many forms,” asking Maki again, “Were you verbally sexually harassed? Because harassment comes in many forms. Naramdaman mo ba na na-violate ang iyong pagkatao?”</p><p>The young artist responded, “Opo. Yes po.”</p><p>He continued, “Hindi ko na rin po alam kung ano ‘yung mga sinabi ko. Sabi po kasi niya, ‘Kailangang alam namin ang mga bagay na ito kasi dapat kilala ka namin as an artist.’ So ako po naniwala po ako at kung anu-ano po ang sinabi ko na mga bagay… na first time ko po. Na-expose ako. Mahiyain po kasi akong bata, eh.”</p><p>He vulnerably shared, “I felt that I was really really exposed.”</p><p>Abunda asked, “Was it close to ‘Pumayag ka lang na gawin ang bagay na ito or maging lover ko or boyfriend ko at pasisikatin kita at 15’? Was he doing that?”</p><p>He answered, “Malapit na po.”</p><p>He said that he went to the restroom, left, got into a public vehicle, and cried.</p><p>“Umalis na lang po ako. Sabi ko po, magsi-CR ako. Hindi na po ako bumalik tapos nag-jeep po ako pauwi tapos umiiyak po ako sa jeep. Hindi ko po alam kung anong ginawa sa’kin. I was thinking about my dream. ‘Yun lang po ang nasa isip ko. Pumunta po ako ng kuwarto na ‘yun for my dream,” he shared. </p><p>Abunda asked again, “Naabuso ka?”</p><p>He replied, “Opo. Hindi po ako umiyak sa ginawa niya. Umiyak po ako kasi akala ko po hindi para sa akin ‘tong industry. Maybe it’s too harsh for me or maybe I’m not ready yet for this dream. If my dream is too big baka I’m not big enough to achieve it.”</p><p>The &quot;Fast Talk&quot; host asked the singer again, “Hindi ka physically hinawakan?”</p><p>He responded, “Hindi po at hindi ko rin po hahayaan.”</p><p>According to the experts, sexual harassment does not need to be physical. It can also appear to be teasing, intimidating, or making improper jokes and comments, and asking sexually charged questions.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS:</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qppVJLgkl98?autoplay=1&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uPMtXvmobMg?autoplay=1&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rgHk7AVQpeo?&amp;pp=0gcJCa0JAYcqIYzvautoplay=1&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ykSWzThulkw?autoplay=1&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Maki spoke with television host Boy Abunda on Thursday about how he nearly gave up on his dream of becoming an artist.</p>

Maki spoke with television host Boy Abunda on Thursday about how he nearly gave up on his dream of becoming an artist.

Maki recalls verbal sexual harassment encounter during audition at 15: ‘Ni-lock niya ‘yung pinto’

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Celebrities

Maki recalls verbal sexual harassment encounter during audition at 15: ‘Ni-lock niya ‘yung pinto’

Josh Mercado

Published August 08, 2025 11:16 AM PHT

Read More:

Maki

Dilaw

music

Boy Abunda

verbal harassment

harassment

ABSnews

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.