Isang kandidata ng Miss World Philippines ang emosyonal na itinanggi ang bintang sa kanya ng kapwa kandidata na siya umano ang nagpakalat ng tsismis na ilang contestant sa pageant ang gumagamit ng ipinagbabawal na gamot.
“I was really hurt. Iba yung effect sa akin na lahat ng nasa environment mo ay galit sa’yo. Parang I just want to go home,” pahayag ni Joy Barcoma, sa isang Zoom interview with entertainment press nitong Hulyo 28.
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Giit pa ni Joy: “I want a public apology and clear my name. I was bullied at some point hindi ako pinapansin. Hindi talaga maganda. Hindi ako ang gumawa nun.”
Nais din niyang may managot dito, upang wala nang ibang kandidata na mabiktima ng ganitong maling impormasyon.
“I want to take action kasi ayoko ng maulit ito sa ibang candidate,” ani Joy.
“I am here to tell my experience and alleviate my situation. I’m not here to attract attention,” dagdag pa niya.
Samantala, sa kanyang Instagram ibinahagi rin ni Joy ang kanyang pinag-daanan: “These past days, I was subjected to a false character assassination— my persona was tested, derogated, and defamed.”
Nakaapekto na rin, aniya, sa kanyang mental health ang situwasyon niya.
“Being in a position where you have gotten no chance to defend yourself took a heavy toll on me. My mental health declined, my chances were put at risk, and my love for pageantry almost died.”
“It was never an easy path to walk through— being in a room full of people only to talk to none, hearing echoes of laughters outside the walls of your room while you’re all alone, and having to force yourself to sleep in hopes that tomorrow you will no longer be frowned upon.”
Dagdag pa niya, “But as you can see, wisdom breaks through the cracks of our hearts, that the shattered pieces that you thought would wound you are images of people that make you whole. Power comes not from any title or fame, it comes from the system that supports and believes in you. And courage sprouts from fear— fear of losing the chance to tell the truth, fear of losing oneself, and fear of losing a dream.”
Kung dati, aniya, ay pinalalampas lang niya ang mga bintang na ito, ngayon ay handa na siyang tumindig at magsalita para maipagtanggol ang sarili.
“I have sat and watched everything fade away in front of me, I have listened to a long deafening silence of exile, and I have felt how the world turned its back on me.”
“But today, I decided to not just sit and watch. I decided to stand up.”
“Today, I decided to not listen to silence. I decided to speak up.”
“Today, I decided to woman up.”
“Pasaring niya sa mga gumawa nito, “To be a defender of others, you must be at the forefront of your battles. To pick up the sword is not the start of the war but the screams of our verities will always be the start of a revolution. Also, what kingdom do I rule if I can’t even fight for my crown— crown of truth, fairness, and justice?”
“Our principles and how we stand up for them is what truly makes a queen, and today I will reclaim my throne,” pagtapos ni Joy.
Matatandaang muling naudlot ang coronation night ng Miss World Philippines 2021 pageant dahil sa tumataas na kaso ng COVID-19, na gaganapin na sa Aug. 8.
