Former GirlTrend member Dawn Chang on Wednesday, May 4, considered coming out as a supporter of Vice President and presidential bet Leni Robredo a “life-changing” moment.
In the virtual press conference of Maalaala Mo Kaya (MMK), Chang admitted that supporting Robredo had her gain both supporters and bashers. However, what is important to her is the number of people who backs her.
“Yung totoo, mas malaki yung value ng additional support kesa sa additional bashers. Madami, parehas madami. Pero alam mo, nanganak yung mga taong malapit sa akin,” she said.
The reality TV star pointed out that acquaintances have become her friends.
“Lalo na yung mga nakatrabaho ko lang dati sa ABS na normal lang, hindi naman kami close, acquainted lang. Alam mo, mine-message talaga nila ako and nagpapasalamat.”
Chang, a product of Pinoy Big Brother, also had staff from the show directly thank her for being vocal with her political stance.
“Once lang kami nagka-work which is yung nasa PBB ako. Talagang minessage niya ako.
“Sabi niya, ‘Dawn, salamat sa pagtindig at sa pagsabi ng mga bagay na hindi namin kayang sabihin na mga ordinaryong tao.’ Yun ang sinabi niya sa akin,” she narrated.
Even a Kapamilya executive told her, “I love you” for being a Kakampink.
Without naming the ABS-CBN big wig, she shared, “Kausap ko rin si Direk Lauren. Sabi ko, ‘Direk, I took one for the team.’ And kahit yung isa kong boss sa ABS—sa PBB din actually, which magte-text lang naman iyon sa akin kapag may work. Sabi niya lang sa akin, ‘Girl, I love you.’
“Ano ‘to ha? Out of nowhere. Mind you, babae ‘tong boss ko na ito okay?”
It made her realize that she did make a huge impact on people despite bashers slamming her for being a “nobody.”
“Ganoon pala kalaki yung impact na ginawa ko. Eh ‘di ba parang sinasabi ng mga bashers, ‘hindi ka naman sikat, hindi ka naman kilala.’ So but then why are you reacting this way? Eh hindi naman pala eh. So bakit kayo apektadung-apektado sa akin? Eh di hayaan niyo lang ako.”
This achievement, being able to reach out to people just by supporting Robredo, had her thinking that she had matured as a celebrity.
“So sobrang saya ko. Feeling ko nag-mature ako, feeling ko… alam mo ‘yon, ang dami kong… isa ito sa mga dadalhin ko na reflection sa buhay ko: na this is what happens when you stand up for what you believe in and when you stand up for what is right.”
A target of fake news
Chang made enemies after declaring her support for Robredo. She was involved in a rumor that she used to “date” Kapamilya executives to enjoy tenure in ABS-CBN.
“Talagang mayroon at mayroon na huhusga sa’yo, na meron at merong gagawa ng fake news sa’yo,” she said.
Recalling a conversation with Star Magic head Laurenti Dyogi, she expressed, “Eto ang sinabi ko kay Direk Lauren, ‘Direk akala ko ang recipe lang for a successful career was to be a good team player and magtrabaho ka ng maayos, at ayusin ang ugali sa pagtatrabaho. Nalimutan ko na showbiz nga pala ito, nahahaluan ng pulitika, p’wede ka palang gawan ng fake news.'”
But spreading false claims only added fuel to Chang’s fire.
“Pero it only means one thing: I’m making a difference and I’m fired up.”
In the meantime, she will portray social media star and former Pinoy Big Brother Kumunity Season 10 celebrity housemate Daisy “Madam Inutz” Lopez in the upcoming two-part episode of MMK.
Catch it this coming Saturday at 8:45 p.m.
