Parents Who Attend Concert With Baby Explain Their Side; ‘Core Memory Namin ‘Yun As Parents’

Musician JK Labajo’s recent March 2024 gig in Paniqui, Tarlac made news for an unexpected reason: because an edited video of the artist spotting a baby in the crowd went viral. Smart Parenting spoke to the child’s father, Niel Patrick Tubino who had a message for netizens who gave comments about the incident as well as for the musician.

Their daughter, who was seen in the viral edited video, is almost eight months old, not two as was understood by the viewers of the video. “Sabi ng netizens, 2 months lang yung baby namin," Niel said to GMA News Online. He consented to use their quotes from the said article. "Hindi siya 2 months. Mag-8 months na siya."

Niel shouted “2 months pa lang, kasama ka na nito!” at Labajo, which is what caused the latter to say on the mic “2 months?!”

Fyan, Niel's wife, explained that it was their pediatrician who taught them that music can help calm and soothe babies. “Kasi si baby namin, very iyakin," she said.

“Naalala ko iyong sinabi ng pedia sa akin na ‘music can soothe babies, music can calm them, can make them relax.’ So 'di ko naman in-expect na doon sa song na ‘yon ni JK, doon siya ma-re-relax,” Fyan said. “Every time na mag-pe-play ‘yon, napapansin kong tumatahimik siya.”

The song is JK Labajo’s ‘Ere’. "So noong pinagtugtog ko ‘yong 'Ere,' bigla siyang tumahimik tapos hinehele ko, nakatulog. Noong paulit-ulit na ‘nong narinig namin, ginawa ko na siyang pampatulog. Nakita namin na tumatahimik siya once iyon na ‘yong song,” she said.

Fyan added, “Nakikita namin na kapag iyon ang tumutugtog, tumatahimik siya, na-re-relax talaga siya."

'Inappropriate' song for a baby

The young family was subject to criticism due to an edited video that quickly went viral. The video showed Labajo seeing their baby in the crowd during his gig, carrying her, and the artist sharing about children’s hearing sensitivity.

The first-time mom admitted that she’s received comments that ‘Ere’ is inappropriate for children due to its lyrics, but she explained that its melody is the only song that ‘calms’ her daughter best. “Siyempre alam naman natin na yung mga baby 'di pa nila alam yung words,” she said, also explaining that she would not allow her daughter to listen to the song if she could understand its meaning.

Their daughter also enjoys listening to other OPM artists like December Avenue, Ben&Ben, and Lola Amour.

 'Ok lang po yun kung ang main reason naman is dahil concerned sila sa baby namin. Very thankful po ako dun, but don’t worry po alam po namin ang ginagawa namin.' -Niel Patrick Tubino

Fyan said, “Si Fiyana kasi, the louder the music, the better she sleeps, so ‘nung naririnig niyang may tumutugtog na, unti-unti na siyang nakakatulog.”

She explained why her daughter was seen crying in the edited video, her husband lifted their baby up and was surprised by the people surrounding her. “Kaya sabi ni JK umiiyak si baby kasi si mister ko tinataas niya bigla si baby, tapos nagugulat siya sa mga tili ng tao sa paligid, kaya umiiyak. Hindi dahil hindi siya komportable or naiingayan,” she said.

It was also the couples’ request to have Labajo carry their child, and according to Fyan the artist was hesitant to do so. “Kaya niya kinarga si baby kasi ni-request namin na makarga niya. Hindi dahil sa gusto nya. Hesitant kasi siya talaga."

Their baby stopped crying when Labajo carried her. “Sabi ko, kahit isang karga lang. Tas nung binuhat na niya, dun tumigil si baby." He also signed their daughter’s feeding bottle and invited them backstage.

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'Okay lang na concerned kayo sa baby namin'

Niel shared on his Facebook account that he did not want to respond to netizen’s criticism of him and his wife, even when his friends and relatives were sending them messages.

“There are 3 sides to every story, their side, our side and the truth. Actually wala naman ako pakilam sa opinion ng iba, as long masaya ang anak ko OK nako dun!” he wrote on March 28, 2024.

He continued, “Kung hindi lang dahil sa momie [sic] ng daughter ko hindi tlaga [sic] ako makikipag usap regarding sa mga kumakalat na fake news against samen [sic] dahil sa music fest.”

Smart Parenting spoke to Niel on March 29, and he had two messages he wanted to relay. To JK, he expressed his gratitude. “Kay JK naman very thankful na binigyan niya ng oras yung baby namin and pinag-bigyan yung request namin. Core memory yun para samin as parents, then sobrang galing niya, proud ako na as a Filipino may ganyan tayong kagaling na singer/performer.

He added, “Siyempre ganun rin sa December Avenue, and hoping na maging pround rin si JK sa mga bata like sa daughter namin na sa edad na 7 months na appreciate na ang OPM. Sana mag-meet ulit sila ng idol niya.”

For netizens who were quick to give comments, he said “Para naman po doon sa mga taong nag-bash samin, ok lang po yun kung ang main reason naman is dahil concerned sila sa baby namin. Very thankful po ako dun, but don’t worry po alam po namin ang ginagawa namin. Sana rin po maintindihan ng netizen hindi nila pwede i-compare ang ugali ng baby namin sa kanila or sa mga anak nila, iba iba po kasi yan.”

Niel continued, “Si baby po kasi namin, the louder the music, the more she sleeps well. Sana rin po mas maging concern po tayo sa mga mahal natin sa buhay bago sa ibang tao. Dagdag ko na rin po na sana wag lang tayo mag base sa isang angle lang, life has a lot of angles kung mag focus lang po tayo sa isang angle, paano po tayo makakasigurado na ‘yun ang tama and paano po tayo mag tatagumpay sa gusto natin sa buhay kung isang angle lang ang basehan natin di ba? Lastly, ‘wag po nating kalimutang rumespeto sa kapwa.”

Read about the Philippine law that mandates a newborn’s hearing test here.