Social media influencer Zeinab Harake once again found herself at the center of online chatter following her appearance at the GMA Gala 2025 — not because of her stunning look or sweet moments with husband Ray Parks Jr., but due to a brief grammar slip during an interview.
In a short conversation with Spot.ph on the red carpet, Zeinab and Ray were asked about their dream honeymoon destination. Zeinab confidently responded, “The honeymoon trip we really want is from Europe.” Ray quickly chimed in with, “Yep, we want to go to Europe.”
While it was clear what she meant, the phrase “from Europe” sparked a wave of criticism online, with netizens pointing out the grammatical inaccuracy. Some comments were merciless:
- “Sana ‘di na lang nag-English.”
- “Pwede namang mag-Tagalog, di naman nakakasosyal ‘yan.”
- “Palagi siya wrong grammar.”
Others took to mocking her delivery, suggesting that she should stick to Tagalog to avoid public embarrassment.
However, many supporters quickly came to Zeinab’s defense. One commenter wrote, “In the Philippines, English grammar is always a big issue. What if English isn’t her strong suit? It’s discouraging to even try.” Another added, “At least she’s making an effort — that already puts her ahead of many who are too afraid to speak English at all.”
Zeinab, who has long been open about her challenges with speaking English fluently, once revealed that she asked fellow influencer Donnalyn Bartolome to help her write her wedding vows to make sure everything came out just right.
For her part, Zeinab explained in the same interview that Europe, particularly Greece, has always been her dream destination since she was 17 — thanks to the K-drama Descendants of the Sun.
Despite the online noise, Zeinab has remained unfazed. Her confidence to speak, even in a language she admits she’s not perfect in, resonates with fans who value authenticity over perfection.
In an online world where everyone’s a critic, Zeinab’s fans are reminding people: it’s better to try and learn than to stay silent out of fear.