Queen of All Media Kris Aquino admitted that supposed sexual harassment happens in Philippine showbiz. However, the 46-year-old TV host and movie actress said she never experienced it.
“Hindi ko na-experience [I’ve never experienced it],” Kris answered when asked to comment on the issue of sexual harassment in local showbiz during an exclusive roundtable interview with selected reporters at her new home in Quezon City last Friday.
Sexual harassment has been a talk-of-the-town today after the controversial revelation of Hollywood stars of their traumatic encounters with Miramax executive Harvey Weinstein.
“In this country, I feel there is more problem among men than girls,” Kris stressed.
Kris also believes that harassment of Filipina actresses is rare compared to their Hollywood counterparts because most women in the Philippines are empowered.
Kris added that it also helps that the TV and movie industry is “matriarchal,” saying top-caliber directors in the country are mostly either gays or women.
Kris also said while she cannot speak on behalf of all the Filipina actresses, she said sexual harassment among girls was erased by the culture of protectiveness.
She added it is difficult for producers to make sexual advances because some of the country’s biggest female stars have stage moms behind them.
“But for most of the other girls—especially those I’ve gotten close to, even those who went through the talent searches and all—walang mga ganyang experience kasi may mga nanay na nakabantay [there are no experiences like that because there are mothers behind them],” Kris said.
“Especially ‘yung mga katulad nina [the likes of] Sarah Geronimo, Kim Chiu, ‘yung mga [the] young superstars, ‘di pagdadaanan ‘yan [they will never experience it],” she added.
“It’s a very different culture and we also have Catholic culture,” Kris said.
The actress also said the benchmark of an artist’s success is by the numbers of advertisements, saying it pushes actresses to take care of their wholesome image.
Kris further expounded that because they are paying attention of their wholesome image, Filipinas in showbiz typically ensure they stay wholesome even behind cameras.
She added that the Philippine showbiz is a fairly safe industry for women like her who want to continue pursuing their acting career.
Kris highlighted that according to her team’s research, more women stay in the local showbiz industry, with an average of 20 years, than men do.