MANILA, Philippines — Event styling firm Party Magic has issued a formal apology to actress Jennylyn Mercado, her husband Dennis Trillo, and their family after using an old newspaper clipping detailing Mercado’s childhood abuse as a decorative prop at a 1990s-themed event.
The controversy erupted after Trillo publicly called out the company on social media on November 5, stating that management had ignored his repeated phone calls and messages requesting the removal of the post featuring the display.
“Hindi ko lang mapigilang mag-react dito, tutal ayaw n’yo sumagot sa tawag ko… sige, dito tayo mag-usap,” Trillo wrote, expressing his frustration.
The actor questioned the decision to prominently feature the historical artifact within a sari-sari store setup.
“Sa mga hindi nakakaalam, yung naka-headline na batang binugbog ay yung asawa ko. Tama ba naman na yun pa ang ilagay niyo?” he added.
The featured clipping, dated March 4, 1991, reported on the severe abuse Mercado suffered at three years old—an ordeal the actress later recounted in a 2014 interview detailing physical trauma she endured during her early childhood.
Following the public backlash and the removal of the contentious social media post, Party Magic released an apology statement on November 6. The company explained that the newspaper page had been unintentionally included among a batch of vintage materials used for set decoration.
However, management admitted that the item had no place in a celebratory setting.
“We recognize that regardless of the circumstances, such a painful and personal story should never have been used in a celebratory setting,” the company stated.
While denying any malicious intent to target, ridicule, or disrespect the couple, Party Magic accepted full responsibility for the administrative oversight.
“We take full responsibility for this oversight and deeply regret the hurt and distress it has caused,” the statement read.
The firm also strongly condemned all forms of child abuse and pledged to overhaul its internal screening protocols to ensure sensitive historical materials are never repurposed for future events. Concluding its statement, the company acknowledged the limits of its apology:
“We understand that an apology cannot undo the hurt this incident has caused. Nevertheless, we offer ours with genuine remorse, humility, and respect. To Ms. Mercado, Mr. Trillo, and their family, we are deeply sorry.”