Protester speaks out on viral Sept. 21 rally photo: 'Ang kagandahan ng babae ay hindi nagtatapos sa pisikal na anyo'
Nathalie Geralde, the woman behind the viral Sept. 21 rally photo, shut down body shamers, stressing that body hair and discoloration are normal. She also urged the public to focus on real injustices like government corruption and systemic oppression.
In her Sept. 26 post, Geralde, who was among the protesters who joined the "Baha sa Luneta" protest last Sunday, addressed the viral photo, saying that, like other protesters, she went on stage to call for accountability on corruption.
"Pagtungtong namin ng Sining Lila sa entablado, malinaw ang mensaheng gusto naming ipanawagan: ipanagot ang mga korap at tuldukin ang opresyon at pananamatala dala ng kasulukuyang administrasyon. Itinanghalal namin ang jingle na Gising Na sa layunin na pukawin ang lahat na makiisa laban sa bulok at baluktot na sistema na nagpapahirap sa sambayanang Pilipino," she wrote.
She added that she didn’t think her underarm would be an issue, emphasizing that the stigma around discoloration and body hair is a harmful perception rooted in a misogynistic and patriarchal society.
"Ito lamang ay bunga ng misogynistic at patriarchal na lipunan na linilihis ang ating pokus sa tunay na isyu," she said.
Geralde stressed, "Ang kagandahan ng babae ay hindi nagtatapos sa pisikal na anyo at lalong hindi nasusukat sa iisang panukat lamang. Kayang-kaya ng babae na lumikha, mag-isip, magquestion, magalit at higit sa lahat, ipanagot ang nagnanakaw sa kaban ng bayan!"
She reiterated that women are the only ones entitled to their bodies, and that they should not be shamed or criticized.
"Ang katawan ng babae ay tanging pagmamay-ari niya. Hindi ito dapat ginagamit para pagkakakitaan ng mga whitening products. Hindi ito dapat iniinsulto o tinatawanan, dahilan kung bakit narerepackage ang insecurities at 'flaws' ng babae bilang negosyo," she said.
"Salungat man sa ating paniniwala, pero hindi likas sa atin ang mangbody-shame ng kapwa tao. Ang pag-iisip na ito ay bunga lang din ng mahabang kasaysayan ng kolonyalismo mula sa mga naghaharing uri at imperyalistang bansa. Ang paglilinlang sa kabataan, manggawawa o taumbayan na itulak ang sarili sa kanilang beauty standards ay nagsilbing armas para lalong pagsamantalahan ang kababaihan. Hayaan niyo kaming magpasya sa anyo ng kagandahan na tunay na magpapalaya sa amin," she stressed.
She went on to thank people who stood up for her during the backlash.
"Tama kayo. Hindi dapat ang bagay na napakanormal katulad ng buhok at diskolarasyon ang pinapakealaman natin. Ang dapat nating kalampagin ay ang mga buwayang opisyal na imbis magserbisyo, nagpapakalunod sa luxurious items na galing naman sa pera ng taxpayers!" she added.
"Sa lipunang kinakahon ang kababaihan sa unrealistic beauty standards, wag na wag mong ibaba ang iyong kamao! Hindi nakakahiya ang katawan na nakikibaka para sa patas at anti-korap na kinabukasan," she stressed. "Ang buhok at diskolarasyon sa kili-kili ay katiting lamang kung ikukumpara sa suliranin na kinakaharap natin."
On Sept. 21—the 53rd anniversary of martial law under Ferdinand Marcos Sr.—thousands of people flock to Luneta Park and EDSA People Power Monument to call for accountability from government officials involved in the alleged anomalous flood projects and demand the return of ill-gotten wealth.
Many Filipino celebrities and public figures also joined and spoke out at the rallies themselves, including Vice Ganda, Elijah Canlas, Jodi Sta. Maria, Angel Aquino, Anne Curtis, and more.
Geralde joined as a youth protester and went viral, not for her cause, but for her underarm hair. Social media users immediately began criticizing her appearance, with one influencer suggesting she try waxing. "Para kahit makibaka, di chaka."
Sining Lila, a cultural group consisting of women and LGBTQ+ artists and advocates, had earlier denounced the backlash.
"We urge the public not to be distracted by superficial attacks meant to silence dissent and derail critical discourse. Let us center the call made by Nath and countless others: hold Marcos accountable as the thief chief of today’s corruption, and demand justice for the crimes and betrayal committed by Duterte," they wrote.
"It is not armpit hair that should offend us—it is the theft of public wealth, the silencing of voices, and the continued suffering of the Filipino people under a rotten, unjust system," they added. "No to body shaming. Yes to accountability. End corruption. End bureaucrat Capitalism System."
