Some eight years after being crowned first runner-up in the 2009 Binibining Pilipinas pageant, Rich Asuncion never expected that she would be bullied for her performance.
The “Ika-6 na Utos” actress related her experience dealing with bullies on her Instagram account on Thursday.
“I never ever thought I’d get bullied in my entire life,” she said. “About a month ago, I’ve encountered a bunch of coward gay bullies in McDo[nald’s]. As soon as I sat on our table, these bullies who were seated right next to us started murmuring to each other and laughing.”
Later on, she found out that the gay customers were gossiping about her “poor” performance during the pageant’s question-and-answer portion.
“I froze and literally didn’t know what to do. I know I could’ve talked to them but I just didn’t know what to say. I felt so helpless, I just started crying,” Asuncion recounted the woeful incident.
In a split second, her bullies disappeared when her boyfriend, Fil-Aussie rugby player Benjamin Mudie, approached her. “Ben got so curious about it and told me he wants to watch the pageant but I also have to watch it with him. At first, I was hesitant because I’m so embarrassed by it. He then held my hand and told me this is the only way to get over it,” she said.
In the end, the actress, 27, hit back at her bullies with a tough message. “To my bullies, you can eat sh**! I am not perfect and so are you,” she exclaimed. “I’m sure you are just jealous because you can never ever join Binibini[ng Pilipinas]. I am sharing this story because I want you all to realize, that you are stronger than you think. You shouldn’t let anyone put you down.” Gianna Francesca Catolico