Monika Afable, viral teenage beauty queen selling 'biribid', chooses to ignore bashers
Teen beauty Monika Afable, who recently went viral after being photographed selling "biribid," shared how she handles her online bashers and what opportunities have been presented to her after skyrocketing to fame.
Monika Afable after winning the crown | Source: Monika Afable
For those who don't know yet, Monika is the reigning Miss Borongan City and Miss Sinulog 2020, making her the official representative of Cebu in the Miss Millennial 2020 pageant of 'Eat Bulaga.'
Although Monika is set to represent Cebu in the Miss Millennial 2020 pageant, she is actually from Borongan, Samar, where she was spotted selling 'biribid'.
Monika carrying a box of 'biribid' | Source: Monika Afable
When her photo went viral, many commended her for not having reservations about peddling food under the scorching heat of the sun, and despite the fact that she is a reigning beauty queen of their city.
But along with the overflowing admiration Monika has received, there were also bashers who made unnecessary and hurtful remarks.
“Dito sa village namin, wala naman, kasi supportive sila sa akin.
"Pero doon sa internet, nakita ko yung mga comments -okay lang naman po kasi free naman sila mag-comment kung ano man gusto nila-pero may nakita rin po kasi akong comment na matutuwa lang daw sila sa akin if anak daw ako ng presidente or mga artista at naglalako ako.
“Sabi nila hindi naman special na yung beauty queen magbenta ng kakanin or what, kasi hindi naman po ako anak ng mayaman," Monika told GMANetwork in an exclusive interview recently.
Nevertheless, Monika has chosen to take the high road and focus on her supporters.
“Okay lang naman po sakin kasi sabi naman ng tita ko na dapat hindi ako magpaapekto doon.
“Parang sinabihan ko na lang sarili ko na not everybody ay tatanggapin ka.
“And nag-focus na lang ako sa mga taong sumusuporta sa akin and 'yon po.
“Okay na lang po sakin kung anuman po sabihin nila. Hindi ko na lang po iniintindi.
“Doon na lang po ako nakatuon sa mga taong sumusuporta sa akin at nandito naman po yung family ko para i-guide ako.”
Monika is vying for the crown of Miss Millennial 2020 | Source: @mmph2019_twt (Twitter/Eat Bulaga)
Aside from earning plaudits for selling "biribid" despite being a teen beauty queen, Monika has also been flooded with offers to become a model.
However, Monika had to politely decline these offers for now.
“Marami pong nag-o-offer. Yung pagmo-modeling kasi is medyo time-consuming and hindi pa po kasi ako [sanay] mag-Tagalog, kasi Waray talaga yung language namin dito.
“Hindi pa po kasi ako 'tinutuyangan'. Here sa Borongan yung 'tinutuyangan' parang 'pinahihintulutan.'
“Hindi pa po ako pinahihintulutan ni nanay mag-join ng modeling kasi medyo bata pa raw ako, minor pa talaga ako, 'yon po.”
So, it seems like a modeling or showbiz career would have to wait as Monika prioritizes other things for the time being, including her studies and vying for the crown of Miss Millennial 2020.
With all of the positive attention and opportunities coming Monika's way, there's clearly no need to mind her bashers.