Jennylyn Mercado wants a stop to ‘toxic Filipino trait’ of commenting on physical looks

Jennylyn Mercado. Image: Instagram/@mercadojenny

Ever went to a family reunion and been told by a relative you’ve gained weight?

Jennylyn Mercado isn’t so much a fan of such comments and believes it’s a “toxic Filipino trait” that needs to stop — and for good reason.

“Can we discontinue this toxic Filipino trait na tuwing nagkikita ang hilig mag komento tungkol sa physical looks ng iba tulad ng — ‘uy tumaba ka,’” Mercado tweeted on Dec. 27. (Can we discontinue this toxic Filipino trait wherein every time you get together, someone comments about the physical looks of others, like ‘Oh, you got fat.’)

She explained that this is rude and may trigger some of those who have eating disorders.

Can we discontinue this toxic Filipino trait na tuwing nagkikita ang hilig mag komento tungkol sa physical looks ng iba tulad ng –
“uy tumaba ka”
It’s not okay. First of all it’s rude, second it may trigger some people na may Ed.
Maling mali.

— jennylyn mercado (@MercadoJen) December 27, 2020

The actress held her ground after a netizen, one Emmanuel Torres, responded to Mercado and told her, in Filipino, “If you don’t want to be criticized, take care of yourself, that’s it.”

Mercado, however, told the netizen this was the wrong mentality.

“Maling mentality Emmanuel. Unang una, bakit kailangan may mapuna? Hindi ba dapat wala to begin with?” she said in another tweet, Dec. 28. (Wrong mentality, Emmanuel. In the first place, why should there be something to criticize? Shouldn’t there be none, to begin with?)

“Unless someone asks you a question, don’t give unsolicited advice. Hindi ba natin kaya makipagusap sa isa’t isa na walang punahan o [judgment]?” (Can’t we talk to each other without criticism or judgment?)

Maling mentality Emmanuel.
Unang una, bakit kailangan may mapuna?
Hindi ba dapat wala to begin with?
Unless someone asks you a question, don’t give unsolicited advice.
Hindi ba natin kaya makipagusap sa isa’t isa na walang punahan o judgement?

— jennylyn mercado (@MercadoJen) December 27, 2020

In succeeding tweets, she shared that not everyone wants to hear comments about their physical appearance, adding it saddens her to read on social media of people’s self-esteem getting affected.

She also acknowledged that the issue of equating one’s worth to one’s physical appearance entails a deeper discussion.

“It should stop,” she said. “Physical appearance has nothing to do with the quality of the person.” JB

RELATED STORIES: 

Jennylyn Mercado to fellow single moms: ‘We’re more powerful than they think we are’

Jennylyn Mercado pokes fun at Harry Roque’s photo with dolphins