(From left) Miel Pangilinan, Sharon Cuneta, Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, and Cristy Fermin. Images: FILE PHOTOS
Miel Pangilinan spoke up in defense of her parents, Sharon Cuneta and former Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, weeks after they filed a cyberlibel complaint against showbiz columnist Cristy Fermin, saying their complaint was justified.
The Pangilinans filed the criminal complaint against Fermin before the Makati City Prosecutor’s Office last May, saying the claims made by the columnist deeply affected their family.
Weeks later, in a sit-down interview with MJ Felipe via ABS-CBN News’ YouTube channel on Monday, June 3, Miel said Fermin’s reports “led to a cesspool of negative comments” against their family.
“A lot of the things spread around by the person my mom filed a case against led to a cesspool of negative comments against me, my siblings, and my family. They rarely show us in a good light,” she said when asked about the reason behind her parents’ complaint.
“So it kind of boils over. And the audience that watches this person ended up coming to me or my sister, blaming us, or just sending hate or harassing us,” she continued.
According to Miel, she and her siblings ended up getting entangled in Fermin’s reports as well, saying the topics involving their family “are very personal.”
“Dinamay pa kami (We’re involved in it too). We’re not even a part of it originally. My mom is always going to do everything to defend her kids. That was her tipping point,” she said. “The topics these people are covering are very personal. It’s hard to let it just sit there for people to criticize and comment on. I understand [why] my mom got upset.”
When asked what comment affected her the most, Miel said she was accused of being a “waste of her parents’ genes,” although she learned to eventually “block the noise.”
“There are a lot… This might get dark but I’ve been told a lot that I was a waste of genes, which is a lot for people [to say]. A lot of times, it’s weird that I get those comments and a lot of it come from people who don’t know me,” she said.
Despite this, she said being the recipient of negative comments “for years” taught her how to “block” them, reaching the point where it doesn’t affect her as much as before.
“It comes down to my mantra that there’s nothing other people can dictate how I live my life. Unless my family is telling me, I won’t listen to them. The opinions that matter, other than my own, and the people who are closest to me, the rest is noise,” she said.
Citing their strong bond, Miel also shared that she and her family have been “working together” in coming to terms with the hate they received on social media. “My mom and dad are two strong individuals — and they raised very strong children. I don’t say I’m necessarily strong but I’m getting there.”
“I learned from my time online and my parents that we all work together to support each other,” she continued. “That’s why I was able to withstand the harassment I got. I have a strong support system at home… We’re not the perfect family but we always have each other’s backs.”
In a May 10 report, Cuneta said her complaint against Fermin is only her second time in her 40-year career to file a lawsuit. This, among other reasons, is due to her children “suffering” from the columnist’s statements.
Fermin responded to the couple’s complaint on the same day, urging Cuneta and Pangilinan to “understand” her job as a reporter.
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