As a public figure, actress Angel Locsin said she can tolerate all the mean comments people make regarding her physique, knowing better than to take them personally as a woman who knows her worth.
It's when critics start linking her to the communist movement for just trying to help during times of crisis, that she refuses to back down.
"Red-tagging" could cost her own life, the TV and real-life Darna says, reminding those in the public who criticize her that they are not enemies.
"Kung ibabash mo ako about my physique, then that's fine. Hindi 'yun ang nirereklamo ko. Sa red-tagging aaray ako kasi buhay ko 'yun diba? Pero 'yung mga about my political views kasi hindi naman tayo magkaka-away dito, kasi isa kayo sa mga ipinaglalaban ko," she said on entertainment reporter Ogie Diaz's vlog.
Among celebrities red-tagged by a general in 2020, Locsin had painted her lips red in protest, spawning the "#NoToRedTagging #YesToRedLipstick" campaign that was all over social media.
Locsin said that throughout years in the entertainment industry, she rarely took offense when people questionned her intentions when it comes to giving help. But there had been moments that she felt tired, she admitted.
"Hindi ako naiinis. Wala akong karapatan mainis, and kasama rin naman sila sa mga concerns ko eh. May mga moments lang na napapagod ako," she said, recalling an instance a decade ago, when she was voluneering for the Philippine Red Cross in the aftermath of a typhoon.
"Naalala ko, nagbuhat ako ng bigas sa Red Cross, Pasig, simula second floor hanggang pababa ng hagdaanan, paakyat ng truck, tas inulit ko ulit. Ang sakit sakit talaga ng katawan ko noon kasi isang sakong bigas 'yung binuhat ko eh. As in isang sakong bigas, 50 kilos," Locsin said, recalling the mix of exhaustion and fulfillment she felt at the end of that day when she was in her car on the way home.
"Pagod na pagod ako pero masaya. Masayang-masaya ''yung puso ko kasi alam kong tama 'yung ginawa ko 'di ba? Tas pag on ko ng radyo, 'yung pinag uusapan is 'yung pinang dodonate ko daw, is galing sa Chinese na DOM ko, tas may amount pa," she said, sharing how this accusation of how her hard-earned donations came from a sexual partner made her cry.
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"Siguro kung di ako pagod, baka matawa pa ako. Pero nu'ng time na 'yun pagod na pagod na pagod talaga ako. 'Yun umiyak ako, huminga ako, the next day, bumalik ako ng Red Cross, nag-impake ulit ako. Iniyak ko lang tapos okay na sa akin yun," she said.
The actress said she could only wonder how people could say all these baseless narratives about her personal life. "Pero wala, hininga ko lang. Hinga mo lang, tapos laban ka ulit the next day," she said.
In her efforts to help, Locsin said goal is really not to uplift her own image, but to inspire people to do something for others as well, especially those who need it most.
"Wag nating sabihin nauuna ako lagi kasi mas marami nauuna sakin siguro una lang akong nababalita dahil artista ako. Sinugalan ako ng tao. sinuportahan ako ng tao. so parang give back ko lang 'yun," Locsin said.
"Hindi ako yung bida dito.. Ang pinag-uusapan natin lang natin siguro dito is 'yung act of volunteerism, 'yung act na meron tayong malasakit sa kapwa. Kasi kung meron kang siguro isang tao na pinakitaan mo ng maganda sa araw na yun tapos yung taong yun ay nainspire, nagpakita rin ng kindness sa isang tao, it creates a ripple effect di ba?," she added.
Recalling an advice she learned from her own father, the actress said she's long made herself believe that she's the least important person in this world no matter how the glitzy her profession has made her out to be.
"Sa industriya kasi natin madali kang mabulag. May nagsasapatos sa'yo may nagmemedyas sa'yo may naghe-hair and make up sayo diba? So madali kang mabulag na lahat umiikot sayo," she said.
"Kailangan tandaan mo lang na hindi ikaw ang pinakaimportanteng tao dito. Ikaw ang least important dito, mas importante ang iba," she added.
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