He’s Into Her stars speak out against bullying

The cast members of the upcoming teen series He’s Into Her shared their experiences of being bullied while growing up and how they used their struggles as motivations to stand up against bullying.

During a virtual press conference for the Star Cinema production last Thursday, Rhys Miguel, who starred as Yakiro Tobi Yanai, looked back on his encounter in the United States, where he was the only Asian boy in a school in Kentucky and the students would say “bad stuff” about him and called him “Asian.” “Ginamit ko (ito) as motivation to be proud of who I am as a Filipino…for me, it’s like sticking up for yourself and being proud of who you are, no matter what anyone says.”

Lead star Donny Pangilinan (who played Deib Lohr “Sensui” Enrile), son of Maricel Laxa and Anthony Pangilinan, also opened up that at one point in his life, when he moved to a new school before Brent International School, he was being picked on for being the youngest in the class, “short,” and “super thin.”

The squad of He’s Into Her, including the series director, writer, author and host, during the virtual press confere

He remembered this particular guy during his high school days who would eat alone in the school’s bathroom. Donny came up to him one day and invited him to sit with them and he became part of their group. “For the next four years, he ‘graduated with us,’ took group photos, nasa yearbook namin siya, kunwari part siya ng batch namin even if he wasn’t.”

And up to now, he remains one of his closest friends in life. “One of the best decisions I made… a simple thing makes the biggest difference.”

The young actors and actresses’ personal stories on bullying related to the series’ themes, as it unfolds a narrative about a simple, naïve yet feisty girl (Belle Mariano as the character of Max del Valle) who transfers to a private school where she adapts to her new life and tries to fit in. She meets the campus bully Deib Lohr (Donny) and the two become enemies yet the chemistry between them is undeniable.

He’s Into Her, directed by Chad Vidanes, is based on the books by Maxine Lat.

Vivoree Esclito (Melissa Baylon in the series) also shared she was bullied when she was younger because of her looks. Some people would call her, “mga iba below the belt na at dinadamay na family ko,” she said.

She believed that the issue about bullying needs to be addressed and that people should be kind.

The bullying incidents, however, made her much stronger now. “That’s the thing about bullying, you have to rise above it. You have to overcome everything na sinasabi nila sa’yo. You just want to inspire others and educate them about bullying kasi people think they have power over you and that they are in control.”

Also in the series is another rising star Melizza Jimenez (as Elle Luna), who claimed that she had some unpleasant experiences from grade school to high school. “I would always have lunch in the bathroom alone. Not a lot of people really liked me. They didn’t say a word but I felt it in my head.”

“I just feel like it’s definitely a heavy thing to experience. But siyempre, it also makes us stronger as a person, it molds us,” Melizza added. If ever someone encounters such an incident, she advised the person to seek help from the school’s guidance counselor. “I think it would have a better result instead of keeping it inside.”

Criza Taa (as Zarnaih Marchessa) also remembered how she felt “left out” when she transferred to a school. She was hurt because some people made her feel she didn’t belong, “to the point na ayoko nang pumasok kasi pina-feel nila na left out ako, parang ayaw po nila sakin, palagi nilang sinasabi na hindi ako dapat doon kasi Tagalog ako.”

But she turned the negativity to positivity. “Nasasaktan ako pero dapat ko siyang tatagan. Nahirapan po talaga ako pero huwag niyo pong hayaan na i-limit kayo ng mga tao kung ano yung kaya niyong gawin, prove them na mali sila.”

Jeremiah Lisbo (as Randall Echavez) told the press he was labeled as “lanky” and “soft” way back in grade school. The attention was all on him because he was the new guy in class. He was forced to move to another section since his original department was already full in capacity. There was this guy who would belittle him. He said, “Hindi lang words, talagang sinasapak niya ako. Nakatingin lang talaga ako sa kanya. Wala akong sinabi, tinitingnan ko lang siya ng masama. Gigil na gigil ako.”

According to him, he used the pain as a motivation to work harder, pursue his goal. “’Pag binabalikan ko yun, nagagamit ko yung pain as a motivation. Example, kapag nag-wo-work out ako, iniisip ko yun. Talagang mas na-e-execute ko yung goal ko, yung set ko.”

Lastly, Gello Marquez (as Lorde Dawatap) confessed that there was a group of boys in high school that would mock him being a newbie in showbiz. “Kunwari lolokohin ka nila, lalapit sila lahat, ‘Pa-picture naman.’ Parang nag-ti-trip lang talaga sila.” Until there came a time that he no longer wanted to attend his class due to the circumstance, “Sabi ko sa nanay ko, umiiyak ako, ma, ayoko na pumasok. Tapusin ko na lang ‘to na nasa bahay lang.”

In the end, he chose to fight and overcome the challenge, “I said, ‘I needed to fight this.’ Sa buhay naman talaga hindi nawawala ang ganitong mga bagay. That’s why I said, sige laban lang…Itutuloy ko ‘tong pangarap ko. Nakaka-proud sa sarili na na-o-overcome yung ganung bagay.”

The romance-comedy series also stars Joao Constancia, Ashley del Mundo, Kaori Oinuma, Sophie Reyes and Limer Veloso.

He’s Into Her will premiere on May 28 on iWantTFC and on May 30 on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live and A2Z Channel 11.