Kira at Josh, na-bully sa UK

Noong kabataan ay nakaranas ng pambu-bully sina Kira Balinger at Josh Ford habang naninirahan pa sa United Kingdom. Parehong Filipino-British sina Kira at Josh. Bukod sa masasakit na salita na kanilang narinig ay nasaktan din daw nang pisikal ang dalawa.

“We have similar experiences sa UK, with him. The racism and stuff, bullying. When I was younger po kasi I had darker skin nang very slight. My eyes were little more singkit. Mga bata po doon, blue eyes, blonde hair. So, I was very left out all the time,” kwento sa amin ni Kira sa Fast Talk with Boy Abunda.

“Yes po, nangyari before. Same with mine. No’ng lumipat kami from here (Pilipinas) to the UK, accent ko Filipino pa and very Asian looking daw. I got bullied as well in school,” pagbabahagi naman ni Josh.

Magkaiba ng pamamaraan ang dalawa kung paano hinarap ang mga pangbu-bully na kanilang naranasan. Nilabanan daw ni Josh ang mga sumalbahe sa kanya noon habang si Kira naman ay binalewala na lamang ang mga ito. 

“Ako, lalaban talaga. You have to stand up for yourself. Kasi no one’s gonna be there for you. I had to grow up talaga. I had to be confident and to step up,” giit ng aktor.

“I was so, so quiet. I was scared. Takot po ako. Even when I got here, the bullying still continued. Kasi I didn’t fight for myself. Tumatahimik lang po, I would hide it from my parents as well. Kasi ayaw ko rin pong ma-stress sila. I think everything changed when I got into the industry. When I started working na,” paglalahad naman ng dalaga.

Samantala, mapapanood na simula ngayong Miyerkules ang pelikulang Huwag Kang Titingin nina Kira at Josh, kabilang din sa naturang Gen-Z horror movie sina Sofia Pablo, Allen Ansay, Marco Masa, Charlie Fleming, Michael Sager, Sean Lucas, Anthony Constantino at Shuvee Etrata. Nakaranas umano ng kababalaghan ang buong grupo habang ginagawa ang pelikula.

“On the set may nakitang dalawang paa. Naka-paa talaga, tapos two sets of feet. The house is very, sorry, medyo dusty siya. So wala naman pong magpapaa do’n. We were shooting that like 3 a.m.,” pagbabalik-tanaw ni Kira.

“It was a heavy scene na maraming pag-uusapan. May paa just around the person, kitang-kita. So, nag-cut si direk (Frasco Mortiz), and they were like, ‘Bakit may nakatayo do’n?” dagdag naman ni Josh. — Reports from JCC