How bullying inspired Jeremiah Tiangco's weight loss journey
Around GMA
Around GMA
PH pushes AI hub proposal to support MSMEs Marian Rivera launches Vida Essentials line via six-hour live selling session Riding-in-tandem, binaril ang asong humabol sa kanila sa Ramon, Isabela | One North Central LuzonArticle Inside Page
Showbiz News
Jeremiah Tiangco admits to being turned down many times by singing competitions because he's overweight. He said, "Parang may body shaming na agad..."
The Clash season two grand champion Jeremiah Tiangco related to GMANetwork.com how bullying changed his life after being body shamed because of his heavy weight.
The Cavite singer recalled that he had received hateful comments as a child because of his physique.
"When I was in gradeschool po, sobrang binu-bully ako kasi sobrang taba ko po talaga. As in 'yung isang padyak pa lang sa bike, matutumba ka na," he said in an exclusive interview.
Weight-related bullying is common in elementary school and it has to stop.
According to the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2018 survey published by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), "students were more likely to express sadness when they were bullied more frequently."
Jeremiah carried the idea that being fat as a kid is unacceptable until he grew older.
The double standards in singing competitions did not help in rebuilding his self-esteem either.
"Matagal na po akong nag-o-audition and sa mga audition po na 'yon, sinasabi po talaga nila straightforwardly na, 'ayoko kasi [mataba] ka.'
"Parang may body shaming na agad, may gano'n na agad. Hindi pa nila naririnig 'yung talent, ayaw na nila agad," he sadly recounted.
This led Jeremiah to develop a mad respect for The Clash as the GMA competition focuses on the talent rather than on the physical appearance of the contestants.
"Kaya sobrang tuwang-tuwa po ako no'ng nabigyan po ako ng break sa The Clash kasi hindi po sila sa [physical apperance] tumitingin, mas more on talent po talaga sila, kung ano 'yung skills, kung ano 'yung character mo sa stage, kung sino ka sa stage.
"Hindi magma-matter 'yung [panlabas mong anyo.]"
Jeremiah may have felt hopeless at first, but eventually he learned to become mindful of his physical well-being by eating healthy and working out intensely, which made him lose 30 kilos.
From 95 kilos, he now weighs 65 kilos.
"Sobrang strenuous po ['yung ginagawa kong workout]. Abs workout, full body workout kasi naaala ko po dati no'ng bata po ako, mataba po talaga ko.
"95 kilos po ako, over 200 pounds.
"Masaya rin pong maging fit kasi alam mong malayo ka sa sakit."
As someone who has interest in fashion, Jeremiah also got motivated to lose weight to wear the clothes he wants.
"Actually, naging motivation ko rin po 'yung mga damit kasi mahilig po akong pumorma.
"Sabi ko, someday, gusto ko suotin 'yung mga ganyan, gusto ko makaporma ng ganyan kasi, siyempre, parang chubby-chubby po ako.
"Ang hirap pong pumili ng babagay, or kung bagay man sa 'yo, parang ang hirap i-convience ng sarili mo.
"Parang may gano'n po akong instinct dahil nabu-bully po ako no'ng childhood ko."
Even though he has already reached his weight goal, Jeremiah ensures that he gets to maintain it during the COVID-19 quarantine.
"Hanggang ngayon nagme-maintain pa rin ako. Actually, madaling magpapayat, ang mahirap po is 'yung mag-maintain.
"Tinututukan ko po ang pagwo-workout kasi this quarantine ang hirap maging fit.
"At the same time, 'pag puyat, 'pag bored ka, siyempre, dala ng quarantine, may stress eating.
"Kaya tinututukan ko po na maging fit para after ng quarantine, maintained lang po 'yung katawan. Mahirap na po."
Change in lifestyle is a good thing.
However, Jeremiah reminded individuals, who are also victims of body shaming, to put attention on their fitness for their own benefit and not to please anyone.
"Gusto kong i-advice sa kanila na huwag nilang tingnan 'yung rule ng mundo kasi, siyempre, ang rule ng mundo is kung paano mo sila ipi-please.
"Lord created us differently pero, siyempre, sa kawangis niya. Kung ano ang binigay sa 'yo ni Lord, 'yun ka, and best 'yun para sa 'yo.
"Kung gusto man nilang maging fit, gawin nila para sa sarili nila, huwag nilang gawin para sa ibang tao," he ended.
Watch GMANetwork.com's exclusive interview here:
How Ricardo Cepeda lost weight in three weeks
Stef Prescott shares amazing before and after pics from weight loss journey
Aiko Melendez shares secret behind weight loss during quarantine
