Why Joy Barcoma is not afraid to speak her mind
MANILA, Philippines — From the pageant world, Joy Barcoma has strutted and made her way to mainstream TV. The Miss Philippines Earth 2025 and Miss Earth runner-up is part of “Unang Hirit” as a host-mate and “The People Have Spoken” as a celebri-peep.
Her fun personality, wit and gift of gab are showcased in the weekday morning and weekend game show programs. And her energy is contagious.
“It’s still surreal for me. I still can’t believe that I am here because way back (in) 2021, I just tweeted, ‘Someday magiging TV host ako (I’ll be a TV host),’ and here I am now,” said Joy, a Broadcast Communication graduate from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), in a recent chat facilitated by the Kapuso network’s publicity team. “I still give it all back to the Lord kasi this (hosting) is a God-given talent to me, and I’m able to utilize it to do greater good. Sobrang saya ko for all the opportunities, and I’m just so thankful for all the people who have helped me to be here. Kasi alam kong hindi madaling makarating kung nasaan kami ngayon (because I know it was not easy to be where I am now). Hindi madaling makuha ‘yung pangarap mo (it’s not easy to reach your dream), but with perseverance, grit and talent, you can do it.”
Aside from the pulchritude, personality and brains that make her a standout, Joy is confident and comfortable being herself.
“Confidence, perhaps, is innate in me, kasi makapal talaga ang face ko ever since I was a kid,” shared she, laughing. “Siguro din factor na hindi naman ako pinalaki ng mga magulang ko na parang restricted sa mga sasabihin ko. I’m very, very much free to say what I want to say. Pero siyempre, pinalaki din kasi ako ng mga magulang ko na that I have to be accountable for whatever I do and say.”
In “The People Have Spoken” with Heart Evangelista and Sean Lucas as game show hosts, Joy is among the celebri-peeps, who join the 100 studio audience members and somehow help the celebrity contestants guess the most popular opinions.
Speaking of the latter, Joy was asked about her reaction when people quote her opinion shared on the show.
“Minsan nagugulat ako na naniniwala kayo sa akin (Sometimes, I’m surprised that they believe me),” said she. “Bakit?... pero, of course, parang ang saya lang niya kasi ang daming nakaka-relate sa’yo (it’s fun since many can relate to you), meaning that they find relatability in me… it gives you validation na, ‘Ah, may mga bagay pala akong ginagawa na normal na pinagdadaanan ng ibang tao.’”
“Kasi sometimes, we find ourselves at a crossroads of unique experiences, pero not knowing that we also share those same stories in just a different context with other people. So, ang saya na na-ko-quote kami minsan, pero please, huwag niyo pong paniniwalaan lahat,” added she.
As for her current hot take, Joy said: “Ang current hot take ko is that a lot of people want accountability online, pero hindi nila kayang panindigan sa totoong buhay. So, if we want to find accountability, siyempre, kailangan natin siyang gawin muna sa sarili natin, ‘no? The things we do, the things we say. Kung ano ‘yung mga pamumuhay natin sa araw-araw, dapat nagta-translate siya.”
Joy, on the other hand, is an ally of the LGBT community, which supports her. The Pambansang Jusa graced the “Love Laban Pride PH Festival” at UP Diliman and had her farewell walk as Miss Philippines Earth. Available information online, including her Facebook post, said she would not have that traditional walk of a reigning-outgoing queen during the pageant’s coronation night. She had another opportunity to do so on “Unang Hirit.”
“Pride is freedom, and freedom means having the rights to enjoy the life that you deserve, the rights that the other genders have in our society,” said she of the meaning of pride. “Masayang-masaya ako dahil ipinagdiriwang natin ang (Pride Month). Happy Pride to everybody. Maraming, maraming salamat for your love and support. At lagi ninyo pong tatandaan na kaisa ninyo po ako, kaalyado ninyo po ako pagdating sa pakikibaka at paglaban para po sa pagpasa ng SOGIE bill, para magkaroon na po ng pantay na karapatan at oportunidad ang mga miyembro ng LGBTQIA+ community.”
Please watch Joy weekdays and Saturday nights at 6:15 on “Unang Hirit” and “The People Have Spoken,” respectively.
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