GMA Reporter Saleema Refran was doing a story about the newest weight policy of Angkas, when she unexpectedly humiliated by an Angkas Rider due to her body weight.
According to Refran, the rider kept on calling her nicknames such as mataba, overweight, and obese, to the extent he even wanted to use Refran as a sample that smaller bikes cannot handle passengers like her.
Refran narrated. “While doing the story on Angkas’ weight policy, I was repeatedly body-shamed by one of their riders. He called me mataba, overweight, and obese. Pinakyaw na halos lahat ni kuya, He even wanted to use me as ‘sample’ on how smaller bikes cannot handle bigger passengers.”
While she was offended, she tried to reply calmly.
“Tawa pa siya nang tawa. Hindi ko na natiis. Sinagot ko. Opo, mataba ako pero hindi ako dapat pagtawanan. I have no issue with the policy as it is meant to partner passengers with riders using bigger bikes. I have for the longest time struggled with my weight. Pero hindi ko nga naman pwede sabihin kay kuya na I lost nearly 50lbs in the last 2 years. Only eating twice even once a day. Limiting my carbs. Going to the gym every week.”
Refran ended her statement in a Facebook post with a piece of friendly advice to other Angkas riders.
“Wag nyo naman po kutyain or alipustahin. Wag nyo naman po pagtawanan. Tao rin po kami. Di ko na ininterview yung Kuya. Mababait at matitino po yung mga rider na na-interview ko after.”
As of this writing, Refran’s post has been shared 140 times and garnered over 69 supportive and enlightening comments about her experience with impolite Angkas rider.
Angkas has yet to release a statement regarding the issue. But here’s the explanation about its new feature on the application, emphasizing that everything we’ll be treated as sensitive data with the utmost care, as per the management.
