‘Jejemon talaga ng Pinas. Ganda ganda ng Cordillera eh. Dami pwedeng gawin,’ – Actor John Manalo criticizes Glass Walkway in Benguet

La Trinidad, Benguet – Former child actor John Manalo sparked online debate after criticizing a proposed glass walkway in La Trinidad, Benguet, calling it an example of misplaced priorities despite the Cordillera region’s natural beauty.

In a Facebook post shared by WOW – Cordillera, Manalo reacted to the planned glass-floored walkway, which features a transparent pathway supported by steel frames and large sculpted hands at the end of the structure intended to serve as a visual landmark and photo spot.

“Jejemon talaga ng Pinas. Ganda-ganda ng Cordillera eh. Dami pwedeng gawin,” Manalo wrote in the caption, expressing disappointment over what he sees as poorly thought-out tourism developments in the country.

He also linked the project to broader governance issues, adding, “Kung sino-sino lang kasi nakaupo sa Pinas eh. Sobrang jeje, anlala.”

Various individuals then took to social media to share and discuss the issue. “Private property yan! Not government-owned. It is owned by a private family from hard-earned money. Respect what they want to do on their own land,” one netizen commented.

“If privately owned yung lote and all the necessary permits and licenses were secured, I don't see anything wrong with it. At least La Trinidad has an additional place for tourists to visit,” another commenter said.

As his remarks gained traction online, Manalo issued a follow-up post clarifying that his criticism stemmed from frustration over a recurring pattern in Philippine tourism, where destinations are often developed or marketed as imitations of foreign attractions rather than being celebrated for their own identity.

“The Philippines is undeniably beautiful. But we seem to lack originality and long-term vision. Zambales becomes the ‘New Zealand of the Philippines.’ Marikina is called the ‘Little Singapore.’ It’s always been like this—our places are framed as copies instead of being allowed to stand proudly as themselves,” he said.

Manalo added that his criticism comes from love for the Philippines. He highlighted concerns over unqualified officials and profit-driven tourism projects and called for better leadership and greater respect for Filipino identity.

“This isn’t hate for the Philippines. I love the country—that’s exactly why I’m critical of it. But I stand by what I said: jejemon talaga ang maraming nakaupo sa pwesto. We deserve better—not just better views, but better systems, better leadership, and better respect for our own identity,” he added.

Manalo rose to fame as a child actor and was a pioneer cast member of the long-running gag show Goin’ Bulilit. He is currently a filmmaker, director, and photographer.

The glass walkway project

Following the online backlash, the La Trinidad Tourism Office clarified via its Facebook page that the project is not an official tourism site and was not initiated or developed by the local government unit (LGU).

“In response to the numerous inquiries regarding the ‘viral’ new tourism site in La Trinidad, please be informed that the viral ‘Glassway Attraction’ is NOT owned, developed, or initiated by the Local Government Unit (LGU) of La Trinidad. It is a tourism initiative and private business investment undertaken by local private individuals. It is also NOT yet a registered tourist attraction, as per our records,” the office wrote.

The office added that the municipality does not operate any tourism sites, as all are privately managed, except for the Strawberry Farm located at Benguet State University.