Bb. Pilipinas candidate Julia Mendoza mula Roxas City, Capiz/ARMIN P. ADINA
BINIGYAN ni Nanette Medved ng bagong buhay ang Pinay comicbook superheroine na si “Darna” noong dekada ’90, ang unang aktres na sa halip na skullcap ay tiara ang sinuot, at nagtrabaho pa bilang mamamahayag tulad ng Clark Kent ni “Superman.” At ngayong lumabas na rin ng pinilakang-tabing ang kadakilaan niya, isa namang dilag na sinasabi ng marami ay kamukha niya ang gumagawa ng kabayanihan sa tunay na buhay.
Sinabi ng pageant veteran na si Julia Mendoza, kandidata ng 2023 Binibining Pilipinas pageant mula Roxas City, Capiz, na iniligpit na niya ang kaniyang balabal mula sa pagpa-pageant. Ngunit isang trahedya sa pamilya ang nagtulak sa kanyang muling isuot ang heels niya upang maipalaganap ang mensahe at kuwento niya sa mas nakararaming tao.
“The main reason I joined Binibini is because my advocacy is in line with the Bb. Pilipinas Charities Inc. (BPCI) which is HIV/AIDS awareness. And it’s really something close to my heart, because six months ago my sister passed away because of it,” sinabi ni Mendoza sa Inquirer sa isang panayam.
“It’s easy for people to judge something they don’t understand, that is why I really want to break the stigma and the discrimination. And I know that Binibini will really help me to reach out, and promote awareness about it. If people get educated about it, the people living with HIV can live a normal life. I really also want to tell them that there’s life after HIV. You’re life will not stop,” pagpapatuloy ng 27-taong-gulang na negosyante.
Bb. Pilipinas candidate Julia Mendoza mula Roxas City, Capiz/ARMIN P. ADINA
Ngunit kung itinatag ni Medved ang mga social enterprise na GenerationHOPE Inc. at Friends of HOPE Inc., hinay-hinay lang si Mendoza at naghanap na muna ng isang nongovernment organization na matutulungan. “I partnered with the Association of Positive Women Advocates Inc. (APWAI), and we are supporting women, including trans women, and children who are positive with HIV. We give small business opportunities for them to continue their lives, and provide accessible but inexpensive education to the children,” ibinahagi niya.
Nagkita ang dalawa nang personal nang maupo ang dating aktres sa panel of judges ng 2022 Century Superbods competition kung saan nakausad sa Top 8 si Mendoza. Hindi sila nakapag-usap doon, ngunit sinabi ng kontesera na marami nga ang tumukoy sa pagkakahawig nila. “I feel kilig naman,” aniya.
Sinabi ni Mendoza na tulad ni Medved, isa rin siyang Darna sa tunay na buhay sapagkat, “I am a strong independent woman. I don’t need a man to support me. I can be my own kind of boss.” Kaya sa susunod na magkita sila, tatanungin siya ng Capizeña kung saan ito humugot ng lakas upang tumindig. “I know there was a lot of judgment, even before when she played Darna. I want her to inspire me about her journey,” anang kontesera.
Sinabi ng kalahok ng Bb. Pilipinas na nais niyang tularan si Medved, “to really inspire and really motivate a lot of people, and to reach out and help communities one at a time.”
Kabilang si Mendoza sa 40 kandidata ng 2023 Bb. Pilipinas pageant, na magtatapos sa isang grand coronation program sa Smart Araneta Coliseum sa Araneta City sa Quezon City sa Mayo 28. Hindi pa sinasabi ng BPCI kung ilang korona ang igagawad ngayong taon.