Eva Darren | Image: Screengrab from YouTube/TicTALK with Aster Amoyo
Veteran actress Eva Darren turned emotional as she recalled the events attending the FAMAS fiasco last May that left her heartbroken and embarrassed.In a recent interview with host and entertainment writer Aster Amoyo, Darren gave an update on how she has been doing since the controversial FAMAS incident, where she was supposed to present an award but got replaced by somebody else at the last minute.
“Maganda naman na ngayon ang paghinga ko na pagkatapos ng nerbyos dahil sa pagkapahiya na hindi ko maintindihan bakit nangyari ‘yon. Ngayon medyo okay-okay na. Dati nga gusto ko magtago, parang ang liit-liit ko na gusto ko magtago sa ilalim na lamesa,” she expressed.
Darren recalled that she was sitting in front of the stage together with fellow actresses Marissa Delgado, and Divina Valencia, and her three grandchildren, and the floor directors walked past her multiple times before they went on to call Tirso Cruz III on stage, with whom he was supposed to present an award with. Cruz then proceeded onstage, but with singer Sheena Palad, instead of Darren.
“‘Yung sinasabi nung partner niya (Palad) dialogue ko ‘yon, binasa ko ‘yon nasa script na pinadala sakin, memoryado ko. Hindi pako kumikibo, sabi ko, ‘Baka nagkamali lang,’ Mamayang unti, ‘Aba ‘yung pangalawang dialogue ko ‘yon ah,’ Sabi ko, ‘Pambira naman ‘to, nenerbyos na ako,’ Pangatlo, sabi ko, ‘Wala na pinalitan na ako ng tuluyan,’” she detailed.
The seasoned actress said that she asked her companions to go home and decided not to finish the ceremony because she felt utterly embarrassed.
“Kasi parang gusto ko na maglupasay doon, kasi nahihiya ako. Maraming nakakaalam, mga kamag-anak nag-aabang, pinapanood ‘yung FAMAS. Sabi ko, ‘Mare, pasensya na, nanginginig na ako, aalis na ako kasi nahihiya ako,’” she said.
“Napahiya ako. Ang sakit,” she tearfully expressed. “Sa bahay (umiyak). Ewan ko nanginig talaga ako,” adding that she couldn’t blame her children, especially her son, Fernando, who lamented on social media about what happened to her.
Darren underscored that she got overwhelmed with the people’s reactions after her son’s Facebook post went viral, as she saw the comments of the public sympathizing with what happened: “Hindi ko akalain. Hindi ko alam. Grabe. Ganon pala ang social media.”
Despite the controversy, the award-winning actress reiterated that they have accepted FAMAS’ apology and was grateful for the positive things that took place after the incident.
Last June, Darren starred in GMA Network’s wish-granting program, “Wish Ko Lang.” She also guessed in “Family Feud Philippines” and has a TV series that is soon to air.