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Panelo defends 'wake up early' remark after commute challenge

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Arianne Merez, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/news/10/14/20191011-panelo-commute-motorcycle-jc.jpg"/><figcaption>A rider gives Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo a free motorcycle ride along J.P. Laurel going to Malacañang Palace on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA- Telling Filipino commuters to wake up early to arrive at their destinations on time was meant as praise for travelers&#x27; &quot;creativity,&quot; Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo reiterated Monday after drawing flak for the remark.</p><p>Panelo, who went jeepney-hopping and hitchhiking last Friday, defended his statement as a non-offensive one and stood by his position that there is no transport crisis plaguing the metro.</p><p>&quot;We people, as a people, as a nation, are a very creative people. When we are confronted with a hostile situation, gumagawa tayo ng paraan (we find a way),&quot; he said in an ANC interview. </p><p>&quot;It was not an offensive statement, it was, in fact, praising the creativity of Filipinos,&quot; he added.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vWAjqG2bCMU?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/11/19/after-long-commute-panelo-insists-no-transport-crisis-just-traffic-crisis">After long commute, Panelo insists no transport crisis, just &#x27;traffic crisis&#x27;</a></li></ul><p>Panelo mentioned the need for commuters to wake up early to avoid being late when he denied the existence of a transport crisis, explaining that what travelers are experiencing is a traffic problem.</p><p>&quot;Nakakarating pa naman ang mga dapat makarating sa kanilang dapat papuntahan. May solusyon naman dun, if you want to arrive early (at) your destination, then you go there earlier,&quot; he said last Wednesday.</p><p>(People still reach their destinations. There&#x27;s a solution, if you want to arrive early at your destination, then you go there earlier.)</p><p>The Duterte spokesman went on a nearly 4-hour commute challenge last Friday, a “<a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/10/19/its-a-silly-acceptance-panelo-says-of-his-commute-challenge">silly acceptance</a>” of left-leaning groups&#x27; challenge for him to take public transportation.</p><p>Asked on the experience, Panelo said taking public transportation for him is no longer new since he used to commute during his college days.</p><p>&quot;Nothing has changed kasi (because) I grew into riding buses, jeepneys and tricycles,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;Ordinaryo, kaya nga sabi ko nagkamali kayo ng hinamon, ordinaryo sa akin &#x27;yan,&quot; he added.</p><p>(It&#x27;s ordinary for me that&#x27;s why I said they challenged the wrong person.)</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/11/19/panelo-rides-jeepney-as-he-takes-commute-challenge">Panelo’s 4-hour Metro commute: jeepney and motorcycle rides</a></li></ul>

<p>"It was not an offensive statement, it was, in fact, praising the creativity of Filipinos."</p>

"It was not an offensive statement, it was, in fact, praising the creativity of Filipinos."

Panelo defends 'wake up early' remark after commute challenge

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Panelo defends 'wake up early' remark after commute challenge

Arianne Merez,

ABS-CBN News

Published Oct 14, 2019 09:56 AM PHT

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Updated Oct 14, 2019 11:45 AM PHT

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Salvador Panelo

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