Aiko on posting ‘edited’ photos: I’m too old for that

Aiko Melendez

There’s just no winning against bashers.

Aiko Melendez recently hit back at her body shamers, who always have something negative to say about her physique, no matter the weight she’s in.

The 44-year-old actress has been proudly posting photos of her slimmer figure on Instagram. But the critics weren’t convinced and insinuated that the images she had been sharing with her followers were edited.

“When I was fat, you told me ‘mukha akong nanay.’ Now you say I edit [my photos]. Have it ever occurred to you that maybe I worked hard for it? That I had gone through pain and sacrifices just to achieve my weight now? Come on, give me a break,” she wrote.

Aiko, who has lost about 13.5 kilograms since embarking on her weight-loss journey, has never denied the fact she underwent a body-enhancement procedure. And she couples that with dieting, calorie counting and supplements.

“I told you … I went as low as 500 calories [per day] in my first month to maintain the procedure the doctor did to me. Is that still bad? This is my body! I’m accountable to myself and no one else,” pointed out Aiko, who plays a contravida role in the GMA 7 series “Prima Donnas.”

Aiko finds the photo-editing accusations ridiculous because she herself is against the practice.

“Where are the edits here?” she said of her post’s accompanying photo that shows her wearing a shoulder-baring red dress.

“Now, I’m posting a raw pic without edit, because I’m against editing ones pictures. Who would I be fooling? Myself. I’m too old for that,” she said. “I’m posting to inspire people who are struggling with their weight—that there are ways and hope for all of them. If that’s a sin then I don’t know what else is right.”

Aiko also urged everyone to just be happy for other people’s successes. “I really don’t understand anymore why some people can’t be happy when someone has just achieved her goal. Just be happy. I’m happy,” she said.

“And to my bashers, thank you!” Aiko jested. “At least you’re following me and taking notice of me.” —ALLAN POLICARPIO