JOY BARCOMA is candidate number 3 in the coming Miss World Philippines whose finals will be shown on GMA-7 on August 8.
She’s currently in the eye of the storm after she got involved in a controversy with other candidates in the pageant.
“This is the very first pageant that I joined,” she says.
“At the start I was close with everyone, then surprisingly biglang hindi na lang nila ko pinapansin.
"We all live in the same hotel then, noong July 20, I notice after the press presentation, hindi nila ako kinikibo. I thought pagod lang ang lahat kasi andami naming activities.”
The next few days, they continue to give her the cold shoulder.
“Ang saya nila lahat, hindi ako kasama. Kumakain ako alone. Mag-isa lang ako sa isang sulok. What did I do? May ginawa ba kong masama? Candidates 4 & 5 are my friends, so I asked, may problema ba?
"I reached out to my friend na dating roommate ko and inamin niyang she heard a rumor that I’m the source of the chismis that there are several candidates who are doing drugs.
“Akala nila, ako ang nagkakalat noon. Sobrang bigat na allegation for me. I said, hindi ko alam yan. Talk of the town na pala ako, di ko pa alam.
"I reached out to the organizers, kasi may nag-comment na sa youtube. I had to defend myself that it’s not true.
“Sabi ko, if it’s true na akong nagpakalat, I won’t even have the courage to be in front of you. At that point, I don’t want to continue with the competition anymore.
"Gusto kong umuwi na lang ako. I felt my name is already tainted kahit wala naman akong ginagawa. I didn’t join the pageant to ruin anyone’s reputation.
“I’m working for Congresswoman Nina Taduran, tapos pati siya, madadamay pa. It took a toll on my health, my mental health, kasi grabe anxiety ko, lahat parang may galit sa’kin.
"So I wrote a demand letter to the candidate na siya talagang nagkalat ng tsismis na mag-public apology siya para ma-contain ang issue. But no response up to now, e kumalat na sa social media.
"So I decided to call the press to clear the issue. I’m so saddened by the situation. I might lose the chance sa crown.
“We’re waiting for the decision of Miss World before we decide if we’d elevate it in court. Pwede namang pag-usapan at ayoko ring umabot sa ganon.
"We should foster friendship in the pageant, but I was bullied at some point, so I had to speak up. I want to continue with my journey, but I want to take action as I don’t want it to happen to other candidates and other pageants.”
Joy is 22 years old. She stands 5’6” and measures 33-22.5-36. She’s the breadwinner in their family where she has five siblings.
“My parents separated when I was only 11. I started working at 15 as a model. I became my family’s foundation, their rock.
"I come from a poor family but I pursued my college education and finished masscom in 2018 sa PUP, where I intend to take up law later on.
"During my internship, napasok ako sa ‘Tulfo in Action’ where I met Ms. Taduran in 2017. I’ve been working for her since then. Now, I’m her executive assistant so she knows my character and reputation.
"Alam niya I live a simple, peaceful life and I’ve never been involved in questionable issues like this
Does she have a boyfriend?
“Yes, four years na kami. He’s very supportive. Concerned nga siya kung okay ba talaga sa’kin to speak about this issue in public. I felt I have to, para maiwasan na rin yung pambu-bully sa ibang candidates in the future.”
Joy is very articulate and she expressed herself well in the presscon. If ever she’d win in Miss World Philippines, she wants to get the Miss Eco International title.
“Kasi you become an international ambassador and I can push my advocacy, which is mental health."
