On May 18, XOXO member Riel Lomadilla recounted receiving insensitive comments about her skin color.
At the media conference for XOXO’s brand-new upbeat song, ‘Go Lang ng Go,’ which LionhearTV covered, XOXO Riel Lomadilla said she received comments about her skin color when she began her music career after the first season of ‘The Clash.’
She narrated, “Noong ako’y nagsisimula pa lamang, mga limang taon na nakakaraan, ano po, may– noong nag-sign po ako sa GMA hindi ko po makakalimutan na may nag-comment po doon, kung sino man siya, sabi niya, ‘Sino ba ‘yang negra na ‘yan. Dapat ‘yung kinuha na lang eh si ganito, si ganyan, kasi maitim naman ‘yan. Eme, eme.’ Wala namang talent ‘yan. Eme-eme.”
She exclaimed, “Ang masasabi ko na lang po sa kaniya ay, five years after, hello, nandito pa ako. Thank you Lord.”
She also related her journey in achieving her dream despite people’s doubts with her comment, “Ako po, ‘yung sa rap part ko po. ‘Wag mong isuko ang pangarap, dito– ikaw ang nararapat.'”
She also highlighted what sets their girl group apart from other Pinoy Pop artists.
“What sets us apart from other PPOP groups is our selling point talaga, which is our ability to sing. Kasi, vocally po, doon po kami nag-eexcel. Alam po namin na hindi po kami magaling sumayaw kaya wag na po natin ipilit.”
She added, “Another thing that sets us apart from the other PPOP na nagbo-boom ngayon is our diversity. Kung nakikita ninyo po, iba-iba po kami ng looks.”
She reiterated that it is fine to not have the same skin tone as everyone else. It’s also good not to have the same little waistline as everyone else. She emphasized the need of training young girls to look a certain way, to pursue their aspirations, to show people what they have, and, most importantly, to share their God-given ability.
XOXO members Riel Lomadilla, Dani Ozaraga, Lyra Micolob, and Mel Caluag release their newest upbeat Filipino single, ‘Go Lang ng Go’ (GLNG), on May 26 via digital streaming platforms, including an iTunes pre-order period from May 19 to 25.
