Celeb couple ‘Jamich’ in hot water over ‘ipon para sa iPhone 6’ plug

Yikes! Celebrity couple Jamvhille ‘Jam’ Sebastian and Paolinne Michelle ‘Mich’ Liggayu a.k.a. “Jamich” are in hot water with some of their fans over an update they posted on their hugely popular Facebook page

Excited na ako mga pareee!! iPhone 6 plus! Tagal ko na hinhintay na maglabas ang Apple ng malaking screen ng iPhone. Ayaw ko kasi mag Samsung. Loyal iPhone user!! Sa wakas! Malapit lapit na! Astig din ung Apple Watch, parang cool kapag naka ganun ka pero di naman necessity. Sept. 19 lalabas sa US, dito sa Pinas, ewan lang. iPon para sa iPhone! Ikaw? Ano masasabi mo sa new iPhone? – Jam

Jam Sebastian and Michelle Liggayu a.k.a. 'Jamich' taking one of their many selfies

Jam Sebastian and Michelle Liggayu a.k.a. ‘Jamich’ taking one of their many selfies

Translated: “I’m all excited folks! The iPhone 6 Plus is out! I’ve been waiting for so long for Apple to come out with an iPhone with a large screen. That’s because I didn’t want to go Samsung. I’m a loyal iPhone user!! At last! It’s coming! The Apple Watch is cool too but really not a necessity. The iPhone 6 comes out in the United States on September 19 though I don’t know yet when in the Philippines. Start saving for the iPhone! How about you, what can you say about the new iPhone?”

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The couple are an internet sensation thanks to all the mushy videos they post on YouTube that Filipino teenagers are going ga-ga about. Their Facebook page has more than 2.6 million ‘Likes’ so they are bon a fide social media superstars. Unforuntately the guy, Jam Sebastian, was diagnosed with lung cancer early this year. Other than an admitted addiction to gambling, Sebastian says he does not smoke and has no other vices. But cancer treatment does not come cheap. According to Sebastian, he will be requiring at least 20,000 pesos per day over 4 months to complete the treament.

I heard over the grapevine that the couple had some time ago appealed to their followers for financial support (presumably in the form of donations) to help fund the treatment, although, short of trawling through their Facebook and Twitter timelines, so far I haven’t found solid evidence of this. Just the same, the post about the iPhone 6 had disillusioned some of their fans, some of whom are disappointed that the couple would encourage their impressionable followers to save their hard-earned money to buy such a luxurious device considering their own personal circumstances. Sebastian’s older brother Yexel Sebastian had reportedly assured him that he would go as far as selling his prized toy collection to contribute to the treatment. This was after Jam said “I don’t know where I would get that kind of money.”

Sebastian’s mother, Maricar Fernando Sebastian, had confirmed in a comment she posted somewhere on the Jamich Facebook page that Globe Telecoms is a sponsor of the Jamich social media “brand”. This, therefore, explains that “ipon para sa iPhone” post which, presumably, was meant to create media buzz for the much-anticipated entry of the gadget in the Philippine market. I guess that is the trouble with laying out your life before the public like an open book, hitting it big, and then making money off that social capital. Somewhere down the line, a conflict in principles between what your sponsors espouse and the principles you preach will emerge.

Popular social media 'activist' Noemi Dado regularly pitches Samsung products in between her social awareness tweets.

Popular social media ‘activist’ Noemi Dado regularly pitches Samsung products in between her social awareness tweets.

Selling their audience to corporate sponsors is a common practice among social media practitioners who have large numbers of followers. One of social media’s top political “activists” Noemi Dado a.k.a. “MomBlogger” is an active promoter of good governance, voter education, and various poverty alleviation initiatives. Yet she seems to also be in the payroll of high-end smartphone manufacturer Samsung which also happens to be Apple’s biggest competitor. She occassionally gets into tweeting frenzies around Samsung products.

In the cases of both Noemi Dado and Jam Sebastian, the principle at stake is the issue around why poverty and neediness is a widespread problem in the Philippines which we all know is quite the brand-conscious society. On one hand, you have people who are engaged in the worthwhile pursuit of getting Filipinos to save more money and not blow an obscene amount of their supposedly “disposable” income on frivolous stuff. And, on the other hand, you have people who use their social media clout to create an unhealthy appetite for money-sucking luxury brands.

I’m not really out to issue a wake up call to this fascinating social phenomenon that pulls Filipinos in two diametrically-opposed directions. I’m just saying.

😉

27 Replies to “Celeb couple ‘Jamich’ in hot water over ‘ipon para sa iPhone 6’ plug”

    1. What is the point of this blog? So what kung mag “ipon para sa iphone?” Ipon naman eh! Walang masama dun. May sakit na nga yung tao eh. Porket may naghihirap eh dapat maghirap na lahat? Labo mo.

  1. Their idiotic chatter reveals every corner of their shallow minds. I have no idea who they are, but just reading about them makes my stomach turn. They represent everything absurd, imbecilic and feeble-minded in the world today. Before I get even remotely interested about what they have to say I have to get a lobotomy.

    1. I tend to think that lovers and couples have a right to name themselves whatever they want to. However, with the way the media simply churns out people like these like cheap candy, it just becomes sickening.

      I am also impressed by good love stories, but I tend to feel more “kilig” when I see an old couple than kids like these. To see an old man and old woman together even after so many years of hardship is a sign of true love.

      I don’t see any truth to the love of these two, if you ask me…

  2. Posts in this website has a main purpose of defaming individuals. Subjectively criticizing figures based on made up facts. You all suck, frustrated journalists.

    1. Awww. Poor thing. You probably should even think that this website should instead glorify or praise those individuals… and promote their idiotic antics for everyone to follow?

      Hahaha!

      Your comment really shows you’re a celebrity suck-up. 😀

  3. i think there’s nothing wrong about promoting a product sometimes. it’s like a prize for yourself… for your handwork. my blogs got ads in it. just like this getrealphilippines.comn site has ads. i’m sure there’s money in it.

  4. Why aren’t young people involved in politics and service to their communities instead of this vapid materialism? I guess it is just another manifestation of the “me first” mentality. I find it disgusting.

  5. Normally, people getting butthurt over the most trivial stuff annoys the heck out of me, but this time, people have a REASON to be mad. First off, Jamvhille ASKED for donations from their fans because of his lung cancer and yet, when the fans heard that he’s getting an iPhone 6, they got mad. They have a good reason to be. Imagine, me asking people for money, only to spend it on something unimportant. So, Jam can’t afford his chemotherapy medications but has NO problem whatsoever with buying a new iPhone 6? It was a slap on the face.

    Honestly, if I were in Jam’s position, I would REWARD those whoever donated money to me. This shows how Filipinos beg for money and spend it on the most ridiculous stuff. An iPhone is fucking expensive. Why the fuck would he need it for? I’m not a Jamich hater nor a fan, because I don’t pay attention to them but get a grip. If I donated money to him and he didn’t spend it on his chemotherapy, then I’ll be pissed too. People worked hard for their money. It doesn’t fall off from a tree.

    Sorry for rambling, but Jam posted this at an inappropriate time. He should’ve been more careful next time. I don’t see the appeal of these two. I see Jamich on TFC and their presence alone makes me feel stupid. Is this what the Filipino youth are into nowadays?

    1. Did we forget that they are online celebrities who use technology to create and upload their work? So what’s wrong with buying expensive technology if you would really put this in to good use…like entertaining millions of pinoy teens with your cute selfies or videos…We do forget sometimes that iPhone is pricey because of its advanced easy to use features..

      1. Did you even read what I wrote? How could an iPhone 6 cure Jamvhille of his lung cancer? He should’ve used that money for his chemotherapy because his health is more important and that the chemo medications would actually treat him. Would an iPhone do that? Of course not.

        An iPhone isn’t that great anyway.

        Look, the point here is that, Jam USED the money that were donated to him on his iPhone.

    1. Showbiz, I think, is part of every culture and there’s not much we can do about it. However it’s crap like this that really pisses me off.

      Just what are they trying to put into the heads of the youth? There’s nothing positive or constructive about what they’re trying to do. They waste precious air time that could be better used to inform the public about important issues.

  6. It’s essentially viral marketing 101. It’s the same as with people spamming “MAKE MONEY ONLINE BY JOINING MY MLM GROUP!” in Facebook. It’s also the same with those who are posting 8Share links to get money.

    It’s up to the people if they want to sell themselves out to corporate big-bucks and be their latest mouthpiece.

  7. the usual crap..young,DUMB, NUMB and herded like a stupid sheep.
    they reach many people, instead of doing something important and contributing to this fucked up “pinoy” society….they rather uphold their endorcements.

  8. Just be thankful that you are not fighting with your LIFE.. be thankful that you are in a good place… Do not bash them because you does not know what they are going through…

  9. Hey do not bash them. Just be thankful. Your insecurities will do nothing but ruin you and hold you back. Stop justifying them and start trying to make them your strengths.

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