SASABAK sa Binibining Pilipinas pageant ang dating Ang Probinsyano star na si Stacey Gabriel. Gagawin niya ito para maipagpatuloy ang kanyang advocacy sa mental health na naranasan niya during elementary and high school days.
“I was bullied in elementary and in high school. Siguro po dinala ko po yon sa pagtanda ko. Kaya don nag-start yung aking insecurities. Yeah, I’m in therapy and also as women we are subjected to a certain beauty standards at nagsisimula po yung conditioning from a very young age,” simulang kuwento ng 24-year-old aspiring beauty queen sa amin na first time pa lamang sasali sa isang national pageant.
Lumabas bilang isa sa mga bampira si Stacey sa La Luna Sangre pero ang itinuturing niyang malaking break sa showbiz ay ang pagpasok niy sa FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano noong 2019 bilang isa sa mga sundalong kapanalig ng karakter ni Coco Martin na si Cardo.
“Nakakataba po ng puso siyempre na pinili ako ni Direk Coco at nakatrabaho ko si Direk. Kasi po matagal ko nang naririnig sa mga kaibigan, sa mga kapwa artista na iba po siya magbigay as an actor. That generosity of spirit shines through, so I was so thrilled to be able to work with him.
“And all the rumors are true, napakabait niyang tao. Napaka-mapagbigay. Napaka-maunawa and of course, sobrang talented. He is often times the first to arrive and the last to leave or if not the person one of the first. His commitment and his work ethic are something to marvel at and something that I carry with me too. It’s the lesson that I carried with me,” pagbabahagi pa ni Stacey.
Kapag nanalo ba siya sa Binibining Pilipinas at makakuha ng korona ay iiwanan na niya ang nasimulang karera sa pag-arte?
“Acting has always been my passion. Lahat po ng gusto kong gawin sa buhay ko, lahat ng desisyon ko mapa sa kaibigan o sa personal na buhay at sa pamilya, it has all lead to acting. Because that is my dream, it’s my passion and it gives me joy to become an instrument to another person’s story.
“So no matter what happens on July 31 I know that acting will always be my end game. I will always return to this world because this a job of connections. We are connecting human beings. We are giving them something to talk about, something to uplift them perhaps especially in this tumultuous season.
“It is also could be a form of escapism. I know that I find escapism in the shows, movies that I watched, so to be able to provide that relief and happiness and that cathartic experience is an honor,” katwiran ni Stacey.
Patuloy niya, “If I win, of course, I will give Binibining Pilipinas my mind, body and soul at siyempre gusto ko po talaga na palawakin pa yung reach ng mental health advocacy ko because we needed that mre than ever. I dream of a Philippines were mental health care is democratize, accessible and affordable for all.
“But if I don’t win I rest assured I will continue my work that I do with the mental health space and of course return to my love – acting.”
Goodluck Stacey sa iyong pageant journey!
