Marami ang nagulat nang muling magpakita sa publiko ang aspiring beauty queen na si Roxanne Cabañero bilang isa sa official candidates ng Miss World Philippines 2014.
Kabilang ang dalagang tubong-Cebu sa 21 kandidata ng prestihiyosong patimpalak ng kagandahan, kung saan si Miss World 2013 Megan Young ang kasalukuyang may hawak ng korona.
Naging kontrobersiyal ang pangalan ni Roxanne dahil sa pag-aakusa niya ng panggagahasa sa actor-dancer na si Vhong Navarro, na naganap diumano noong April 2010.
Read: Roxanne Cabañero stands firm on her rape allegation against Vhong Navarro: "Ni-rape niya ako."
“TO RECLAIM MY CONFIDENCE…” Kaninang tanghali, September 11, eksklusibong nakausap ng PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) si Roxanne sa pamamagitan ng telepono.
Pumayag ang 24-year-old aspiring beauty queen na magpa-interview basta huwag na raw pag-usapan ang reklamong inihain niya laban kay Vhong.
Inusisa ng PEP kay Roxanne kung bakit siya nagdesisyong lumabas na sa publiko, matapos ang halos pitong buwang pagtatago, sa pamamagitan ng pagsali sa Miss World Philippines.
Paliwanag niya, "It was a decision made by me and my boyfriend and my family din."
Ang boyfriend ni Roxanne ay si Arnold Aninion, miyembro ng Philippine Volcanoes (rugby team) at naging castaway sa Survivor Philippines Celebrity Doubles Showdown.
Patuloy ni Roxanne, “Kasi, there was a psychological battle after nung sa case last seven months ago, so I have this... parang alam mo yung feeling na you don’t want to go out sa bahay.
“And then, sabi nga ng psychologist ko na, ‘You have to go out there and reclaim your confidence again ‘coz talo ka 'pag hindi ka lumabas.’
“And ever since naman, when I was teenager pa, gustung-gusto ko talagang maging… alam mo na, beauty queen.
"And isa sa mga pangarap ko talaga is to get one of the crowns kung papalarin, 'di ba?”
Noong nag-sign up siya para sa Miss World Philippines, hindi ba siya nailang? Yung tipong baka pinag-uusapan siya ng mga tao?
Sagot ni Roxanne, “Of course, of course I have that feeling.
“Medyo naninibago ako.
"Alam mo kasi, I’ve been hiding for seven months sa bahay. And it’s not healthy anymore.
“One of the reasons I wanted to join the pageant, I wanted to reclaim my confidence again that I’ve lost seven months ago because I was publicly humiliated.
“Parang life must go on, I should live my dream and, you know, parang I deserve this naman.”
HOPE TO BECOME THE NEXT MEGAN YOUNG. Mula sa maraming aplikante, napabilang si Roxanne sa 21 napiling kandidata.
Ano ang pakiramdam na nakasama siya sa finalists ngayong taon?
Saad niya, “Of course, very blessed, very thankful that this pageant organization gives chance to a person like me who went through a lot.
“I’m very proud to be part of it, kasi the people there support you.
"They did not judge you, past is past.”
Ano ang pinaka-wish niya sa sarili ngayon?
Sagot niya, “Well, of course, one of my greatest wish is, you know, manalo.
“That’s the reason why na sumali ako kasi gusto kong maging Miss World Philippines.
"And baka susunod kay Megan Young, 'di ba?"
Bukod sa pag-uwi ng korona bilang Miss World Philippines noong isang taon, si Megan din ang kauna-unahang Pinay na nanalong Miss World.
Patuloy ni Roxanne, “And second, I wanted to raise an advocacy na parang to really promote an advocacy against abused women, women who went through sexual violations... parang ganun.
“I also wanted to seek that opportunity to raise that awareness.”
“TO FORGIVE PEOPLE…” Hindi maiiwasang may kumukutya pa rin sa kanya. Ano ang opinyon niya tungkol sa bashers?
Tugon ni Roxanne, “Well, again, they are entitled to their own opinion.
“Thankful ako kasi siyempre kung wala sila, hindi ako… parang they don’t really care, parang ganun.
“If they wanted to bash, kung gusto nilang manakit through their words, nasa sa kanila yun.
“Pero ako, I have nothing against them, kasi iba-ibang opinion naman yun, nirerespeto ko rin yun.
“At siyempre, honestly, deep inside, masakit para pagsabihan nang ganung masasakit na salita.
"Pero this is part of life na I have to deal with it, at tanggapin na hindi maiiwasan."
Sa huli, inamin nitong kahit masasabing nalagpasan na niya ang kontrobersiyang kinasangkutan, patuloy pa rin daw siyang nagmu-move on emotionally.
“Well, physically, I am back 100 percent.
"Parang I’m not like before na parang takot talaga akong lumabas, ‘di ba?
“Kasi, I’m getting a lot of death threats and bashings, parang ganun, ‘O, 'pag lumabas ka, aanuhan kita ng asido, ganyan-ganyan, papatayin kita.’
“Of course, it’s a bit scary, ‘no, but then I have to be strong for myself.
“Physically, active again.
"Emotionally, nasa 70 percent pa ako.
"Kasi siyempre, it's hard for me to go through that kind of situation and experience.
“But, okay na ako ngayon.
"I’m really waiting for that stage na mag-heal na yung pain na dinanas ko and to forgive.
“Yun ang inaantay ko, e, na mag-open na yung heart ko to forgive the people that nanakit sa akin, especially dun sa you-know-him,” pagtukoy ni Roxanne kay Vhong.