Lawmaker's Dance Number Sparks Outrage Amid Parañaque Flooding

Parañaque City Rep. Eric Olivarez is facing online backlash after allegedly being seen dancing at a youth event while some of his constituents were experiencing flooding in their homes. Videos circulated online showing the lawmaker performing a dance number at the city’s Grand Youth Night 2026, held on August 28 as part of the “Linggo ng Kabataan” (Youth Week) celebration. The event aligns with International Youth Day on August 12. The videos drew criticism from various Filipinos online, with many expressing dismay over the politician's performance while some residents of Parañaque were reportedly dealing with flooded homes. Comments on social media platforms like Threads included sentiments such as, "Parañaque is battered by rain and floods. And their congressman..." and "If he wants to be an entertainer, why did he run for congressman? He's useless." Some users called for accountability, stating, "Let's always shame them for being insensitive and corrupt." Another commented, "He knows how to dance, but doesn't know how to be ashamed." A question was also raised: "Did the flooding in Parañaque get solved by dancing?" Barangay Kagawad Romy Abad of Parañaque, however, stated that the Grand Youth Night successfully brought young people together for a night of fun and talent, highlighting the youth's role in community building. Meanwhile, the Parañaque City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office reported that no flooding occurred along the city's major thoroughfares on August 28. However, on August 29, gutter-deep and knee-deep flooding was reported on some roads. Earlier this month, some Parañaque residents called for long-term solutions to persistent flooding issues in their homes, which were severely affected by heavy rains from the southwest monsoon (habagat). Residents described navigating floodwaters using ropes, attributing the problem to a nearby creek that quickly overflowed. "To those who are corrupt, I hope you watch this. Because what we are experiencing is not a joke. It's so difficult, the flood is almost chest-deep. We experience this every year. Even without a typhoon, the flood still rises here," one resident lamented. Metro Manila and much of Luzon have experienced widespread flooding amid prolonged rains from the habagat, exacerbated by recent tropical cyclones. The state weather bureau PAGASA noted that the ongoing El Niño phenomenon is intensifying the habagat season, leading to increased rainfall across the country. Source: Interaksyon Politics