For the past few days, Metro Manila and neighboring provinces have been experiencing heavy rains and devastating floods due to Typhoon Crising and Dante, which have entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). While TV, radio, and online news constantly feature weather updates and monitor the statuses of the average Filipino as we face this disastrous event, social media is filled with personal opinions that may or may not be helpful to our fellow countrymen.

Trending now is a (now deleted) post from Zac Alviz, a digital creator based in Sydney, Australia. On his Facebook and Threads status update, he said: “In moments like this, dun mo masasabi na worth it yung condo investments mo. Ang daming binabaha, may tulo sa kisame, lumilipad yung bubong. Pero pag high-quality condo, in most cases, sara mo lang bintana mo, okay ka na. Resume Netflix na ulit.”

(Translation to English: “In moments like this, you can tell that your condo investments are worth it. There are a lot of people being flooded, there are leaks in the ceiling, and the roof is flying off. But when it comes to high-quality condos, in most cases, you just close your windows, and you’re okay. Resume Netflix again.”)

This post had sparked a lot of negative comments from netizens, saying the online user who posted this update was very insensitive and lacked empathy. Let’s look at some of the top responses we’ve gathered about this issue:

1. Isa kang ehemplo ng Pilipinong pansarili lang nag iniisip.

2. Hindi nila afford and condo—just saying!

3. Sa lupa ka pa rin babalik.

4. Huwag mo na isabay and kayabangan mo sa bagyo.

5. A little empathy goes a long way.

6. Sana matuto rin tayong imaging sensitive sa mga ganitong situation.

7. Check on your privileges.

8. Stay kind and be humble.

9. Instead of flexing comfort, why not use your platform to help during calamities?

10. Yung iba, lumalangoy na sa baha.

11. Now is not the time to talk about investments on condo.

12. Medyo insensitive lang talaga at nagcompare pa.

13. This isn’t the time or place for that flex.

14. A little delicadeza and empathy would have been far better.

15. Not everyone wants to hear about your condo.

As of this writing, Zac has posted a public apology about the issue.

I guess the lesson we can all learn from this is that during times of calamity, people value security, empathy, and shared struggles more than subtle flexes or tone-deaf bragging. While the intention behind the post may have been to highlight the advantages of condo living, it struck a nerve with many who are facing real challenges.

In the end, true investment isn’t just in property; it’s in community, compassion, and knowing when to speak, and when to listen. If you have anything else to add, feel free to post your comment below.