(From left) Barbie Forteza and Herlene Budol. Images: Instagram/@herlene_budol
Herlene Budol went out of her way to thank Barbie Forteza for rescuing her when she stumbled onstage and fell face-flat while modeling during the 2024 GMA Gala night last July 20, Saturday.
In a video posted on her Instagram on Wednesday, July 24, Budol visited Forteza on the set of her new show, saying she needed to personally extend her gratitude. She said she wasn’t able to properly thank the “Pulang Araw” in the heat of the moment following her runway mishap.
“Noong nadapa ako, hindi ko na napansin kung sino ‘yung mga tumulong. Nakita ko na lang sa video na nand’un [si Barbie] to the rescue. Nagpapasalamat ako kay Ate Barbie kasi to the rescue ‘yung little princess. Ang laki-laki ng gown niya [pero tinulungan niya pa rin ako],” Budol said.
(When I fell, I didn’t notice anyone helping me. I only saw in the video that Barbie came to the rescue. I want to thank Ate Barbie because she came to my rescue. She wore a big gown at that time, but she managed to still help me.)
In the video, Forteza seemed surprised when the “Magandang Dilag” showed up at the door and they hugged tight. She then asked Budol how she was feeling after the accident, and the latter showed her the bruises she sustained.
The beauty queen thanked Forteza for her selfless act of even running to her side, despite her own precarious situation owing to her voluminous ballgown and heels. For her part, Forteza said she was glad Budol was feeling much better after the incident.
“Basta okay ka, ‘yun ang importante. Nabalitaan kong nag-after party ka pa raw,” she said. “Ang OA din kasi ng reaction ko. Okay naman siya. ‘Di ko rin maintindihan paano ko nagawa ‘yun nang hindi nadadapa… Noong nakita ko siya, gusto kong matulungan siya at ma-awra niya nang maayos ang damit niya.”
(As long as you’re okay, that’s what matters. I even heard that you attended the afterparty. My reaction was too much. She was fine. I didn’t understand how I was able to rush over to her without falling. When I saw her, I wanted to help her so she could show more of her ensemble.)
In the video, Budol also revealed that even before her viral accident, she had already tripped on her gown, which she considered as a “warm-up.”
“Bago pa ako makaakyat ng stage, ilang beses na akong nadapa. May pre-game, nag-warm up kami ng gown,” she said. “Ang cute lang na may Barbie na malaki ang gown na tumulong at ang bilis niyang tumakbo. Mas mabilis pa sa iba.”
(Before I went onstage, I already tripped several times. It was like a pre-game and warm-up with my gown. It was cute that there was someone like Barbie — despite her big gown — who helped me. And she ran fast. She ran faster than some of the guests.)
A smiling Forteza told Budol that they will always “look out for each other.”
The GMA Gala 2024, which took place at the Marriott Hotel last July 20, witnessed the gathering of the Kapuso network’s stars, “It’s Showtime” hosts, ABS-CBN executives, and other guests.