Comedienne-host Herlene Budol on March 16, recounted how bullying led to her creating her monicker, Hipon Girl.
During the media conference for Ang Babae sa Likod ng Face Mask, Budol admitted she had self-doubts because of bullying.
“Para sa akin naman po noong nawalan ako ng confidence, zero, noong binubully po talaga ako, tapos tinatanong ko sarili ko, pangit ba ako? Ganon, kausap ko ‘yung sarili ko sa salamin.
“Tinatanong ko, ‘Pangit ko ba? Maganda naman nanay ko, may itsura naman tatay ko.’ Parang sinisisi ko ‘yung–ako, sarili ko parang bakit parang ampon ako sa pamilya ganon.”
She recalled that the bullying incidents resulted in her creating her persona as Hipon Girl.
“Tapos dumating ako sa point na pati ako sa sarili ko pangit, na pangit na, kaya ayun nabuo din si Hipon Girl. Kasi naniwala ako sa mga sinasabi ng iba.”
Now, she’s undergoing training in the beauty pageant camp, Kagandahang Flores. Budol said her training is helping her overcome her self-doubts.
“Pero ngayon nagte-training po ako di ba sa KF. Sabi nila, ‘yung mga taong nangbu-bully daw po, wag ko nalang daw, wag ko na lang daw sabihin ‘yung kung anong mayroon ako, ipakita ko na lang daw po.”
She also detailed some of the training regimens she’s going through in the beauty pageant camp.
“Magsalita ng dahan-dahan kasi sobrang bilis ko po magsalita. Na wala nang naiintindihan. Tapos ‘yun ‘yung kung kaya ko daw po, kasi medyo bobo po talaga ako sa pag-English, sabi po sa akin kahit ‘yung mga normal behavior lang, ‘yung kahit sa bahay lang.
“Kung paano ko kausapin ‘yung magulang ko, kung paano ko kausapin ‘yung mga aso ko. In English way daw po, para matuto talaga ako.”
Budol gained popularity because of her candid comebacks during her appearance in Willie Revillame’s Wowowin.
She now has her starring role in the digital series Ang Babae sa Likod ng Face Mask. The Puregold Channel production also stars Joseph Marco, Kiray Celis, Mickey Ferriols, and Hasna Cabral.
The digital series is available on YouTube via Puregold Channel free beginning March 26, 2022, and streams every Saturday at 6 PM.