Angel Locsin becomes the butt of body-shaming jokes after photos of the 35-year-old actress taken in Mauban, Quezon, circulated on social media on Friday, June 19, 2020.
The photos were taken by a photographer named Frederick Viaje.
And fans were quick to comment about her weight gain, seeing Angel in the TV series Imortal (2010) with John Lloyd Cruz and in the movie Unofficially Yours (2012).
This wasn't the first time Angel has been body-shamed.
In an interview with PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) on September 24, 2012, Angel admitted she had neglected her health and weight at that time.
She explained, "Siguro kasi dahil athlete nga ako noon, sanay ako na payat ako.
"So, parang hindi ko na napapansin na 'You're gaining weight,' parang gano'n.
"Kasi happy ka lang, e, hindi ka naman gano'n ka-conscious...
"Kasi nga siguro bata ka pa, hindi ka pa nagma-mature saka hindi ka sanay talaga na nagge-gain ka ng weight.
"'Tapos, parang lately na na-realize ko na, 'Yeah, parang may roles nga na parang mas better tingnan pag parang mas... siguro mas fit ka.'
"So sabi ko, 'Okay, ibalik natin sa ganito.'"
In September 2018, Angel was also body-shamed when she graced the pioneer edition of the ABS-CBN Ball at Shangri-la Hotel in Makati City.
The bashing persisted to the point she even became a subject of pregnancy rumors.
ANGEL SHAMES BODY-SHAMERS
But Angel has always been unbothered by weight issue, the body-shamers least of all.
In fact, she effectively shut down her bashers during her interview in ABS-CBN's late-night talk show Tonight With Boy Abunda, which aired on January 28, 2019.
She told the host Boy Abunda, "Kung iisipin mo, parang maaawa ka na lang sa tao kasi anong klaseng person ka para magawa mo yun?
"Perfect? Perfect ka? Sobrang perfect mo? Hindi mo na lang papatulan. May mga bagay na hindi mo gagawin sa kapwa mo.
"So itong taong 'to, comfortable siya na ginagawa niya iyan, parang ayoko mag-deal sa mga ganung klaseng mga tao. Kasi ang sad, ang sad ng life niya.
"Kasi ako, wala akong problema. Ba't ikaw ang dami mong issue?
"Ako nga walang issue, e. Katawan ko 'to. Ako 'to, sarili ko 'to. E, ikaw, okay ka ba?"
ANGEL'S DEFENDERS
Her followers have been quick to defend Angel against fault-finders.
Angel's fans pointed out that her proactive participation in helping out her fellow countrymen during the crisis, especially now with COVID-19 pandemic, is enough for her to remain as their "Darna."
Some noted that Angel has always been one of the country's sexiest women, a two-time FHM Sexiest Woman at that.
Others took pain to explain the ABS-CBN actress is not allowed to do strenuous physical activities and exercises because of a spine injury caused by intensive physical training for various roles.
It was in late 2015 when Angel revealed she has been suffering from spine condition called "bulging disc injury."
In November 2015, she flew to Singapore and underwent a two-part surgical procedure to treat her spinal injury.
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