Jerald Napoles recalls receiving ‘harsh’ comments about his looks growing up

Tall, dark… and funny. Meet the new face of “pogi.”

That’s how Jerald Napoles was introduced during the presscon for  Daryl Yap’s comeback film “Love, Ngo.” After appearing in “Ang Babaeng Walang Pakiramdam,” he reprises his role as Ngongo in the VIVA film “Love, Ngo,” now showing in cinemas nationwide.

As someone who grew up in Tondo, Jerald admitted that he’s not used to being labeled as “pogi.”

“Tawagan lang namin yung pogi (in Tondo). We don’t take it seriously. It’s like saying, ‘Halika ka dito, pogi,’” the actor shared.

Still, he appreciates being called as such. “If someone doesn’t agree, I understand. But I appreciate the title that was given to me. What’s more important is that people appreciate me.”

In relation to his character as Ngongo who gets “bullied” in the film, he was asked whether he had experienced bullying in real life. He recalled receiving “harsh” comments from his teacher and relative when he was a kid because of his skin color and looks.

“While I was biking around a plaza in Tondo, right in front of our school, I saw one of my teachers. I greeted her, saying, ‘Hello po,’ and waved at some other students. It was around 1 p.m. and the weather was extremely hot. One of my schoolmates later told me that na dun sa section na yun, my teacher told the students, ‘Wag niyong gayahin si Jerald, nagba-bike ng tanghaling tapat. Kita niyo ang itim itim. Mukhang uling pa. Alam niya na maitim siya, hindi siya nag-iingat.

“I mean, she cared for her section because I’m not part of the section but ‘di ba hindi mo sinasabi yun ‘di ba,” Jerald recalled with a laugh. “But during those times, they are like that. That’s why medyo vain ako ngayon mag- porma kasi parang dati ayokong humarap sa section na yun.”

Jerald also couldn’t forget how his own grandmother would call him “ugly” when he was a child. “But I love her so much. But of course, she’s my lola. She said,  ‘Ang arte arte mo… Hindi ka pogi ah. Pangit ka ha.’ Ganun. Lola mo. Pwede namang sa hindi ka pogi ha. ‘Wag mo ng idugtong na pangit ka, Haha!

“That’s why siguro in connection with (this ‘pogi’ title), hindi naman sa hindi ko tanggap, but it’s up to you. It’s new to me. I’m not used to it. Hence, as I grew older, I tried my best to cling on to any strength that I have. Kung may talino, dun ako. Kung yayaman ako, dahil masipag ako at matalino ako, (dun ako).”

Jerald said his grandmother was very proud of him when she saw him acting on television and in movies before she passed away.

“She didn’t mean it, na mangutya. Ang para sa kanya lang is kailangan makita ang nasa likod kung bakit sinabi niya yun eh,” he explained.

“She just wanted to tell me, and from my understanding, that the world can be harsh. ‘Wag mong ilagay sa utak mo na itong bagay na ikaw lang ang makakaintindi. Lagi mong iisipin ang sasabihin ng mundo. Kaya ngayon pa lang, maganda na sa akin mo marinig kesa marinig mo sa iba. That’s what I learned from her and she was very proud of me.”

Nevertheless, Jerald feels most handsome when he has nothing to prove, doesn’t feel pressured, and doesn’t have to please other people. “Yung confidence ko kasi yun yung humihila sa akin,” he added.

Besides, his wife Kim Molina would often remind him how handsome he is. As he told The STAR, “Every day, randomly, bigla siyang magsasabi, ‘Ang pogi pogi mo.’”

Jerald also took the opportunity to apologize to Kim for not fully appreciating her compliments. “I don’t know, parang nage-gets ko naman na na-appreciate niya ako pero hindi ko talaga kaagad naa-appreciate. ‘Oo na, oo na,’ gumaganun lang ako. But thank you, Kim.”

Joining Jerald in “Love, Ngo” are Gina Alajar, Candy Pangilinan and Malupiton. It tells the story of Ngongo’s journey through life as he discovers the true meaning of love.