When Hate Reaches a Whole New Level

I am writing this post to stand up for myself once and for all. People have told me to keep quiet for the longest time. But in times like this, being quiet is no longer an easy option.

I am well aware of the people who hate my guts. Both strangers and people from the same industry as I am alike. I tried my hardest to just stay away. But all these demons just keep running back. Once and for all, I wanna say my piece. Not because I owe it to anyone reading this right now, but because I owe it to myself.

I love my job very much. I love it too much that nothing can make me stop whatever I’m doing right now.

I am a graduate of Marketing at UST. I chose to work by myself after college because I think self-employment is right for me. It has been barely 7 months since my graduation and I am able to keep myself alive with all the things I call “work”.

I make vlogs and beauty videos on Youtube—yes, I am paid for that. I admit I am not the best Michelle Phan out there, but at least I don’t try to be. I make videos which feature affordable makeup products that Filipinas can try. I review products that can be found locally. When I do make makeup videos, I just do what I can. I have not and will never claim to be a professional makeup artist because I’m not. What I am is a beauty enthusiast. In addition to those, I also make vlogs to share my life to the public, think reality TV. Yes, I know this is putting myself out there, I still chose to do it because I find joy in recording my life and perhaps one day look back at them. It’s a personal choice. A lot of people in the US do it but that doesn’t mean I am copying them. There are millions of vloggers worldwide. Such a thought won’t even cross anyone’s mind if one knows that fact.

Aside from my videos, I hold makeup workshops monthly to give interested participants a starter guide on applying makeup (basics). I am new to this as I only started July 2013 with my first 5 students. Months passed and more and more opportunities came. I now hold these workshops monthly and document them on my Youtube channel and even my blog (all my social sites actually) Just like anything else in this world, you have to start at the lowest. And I did—with my workshops. I bought affordable yet still usable mirrors for all my students to use. NONE of them complained about it. I laid out all the makeup brushes and products I own for them to be able to try them all out without hesitance. I keep my workshops fun and informal because I don’t want my students to feel any kind of intimidation. That’s just my style. Little by little I was able to upgrade my mirrors into stand mirrors which I bought from Japan Home Center (last October 12, very recently, too, I must say)—clearly much better than my former mirrors (those mirrors traveled to Davao for a makeup workshop, too, so I can’t say they didn’t help, they truly did) I am now able to afford offering free makeup brushes and meals at my own expense for my students. After finishing 6 batches of my makeup workshop I thought of giving out a promotion—celebrating the “half-year” success of my classes—and that was my PHP1,500.00 makeup classes! That ended really well yesterday. Everyone was a delight to be with.

What I’m trying to say here is, I did start at a low point but that doesn’t give anyone the right to use that against me. I am building my workshops. I am not the richest person in the world to start at the GREATEST but I did try to give the best I could. There will be more and more people holding workshops in their own right and with their own reasons. Reasons we don’t have control over. And that’s perfectly fine. Some people just need to realize and accept that.

Aside from my makeup workshops, I hold mini bazaars/selling events in cooperation with Chedelyn’s Cosmetics Collection to bring it closer to people who want it. I did this after receiving a lot of requests from my online viewers. You see, Chedelyn’s is based in Cebu City. The idea of bringing them to Manila and other cities through these mini bazaars came to mind while I was in the shower. I even tweeted about how the best business ideas come into mind when I’m in the shower about a few weeks ago. I never intended it to be a big bazaar like that of the Supersale, or the Rockwell Bazaar—what I wanted was just bring it closer to the people. Some people took it the wrong way--claiming this idea was something I stole. Yes I did steal it…from my brain cells. That’s where it came from, in the first place. My intentions were pure and clean. And it was to bring Chedelyn’s closer to those who requested it. Nothing more, nothing less. Trabaho lang, walang personalan.

The topic of working with other people in the industry—they say I’m the one with the problem, I’m the one that every other guru hates, being the reason why I don’t work with them, why I’m not included in “groups”. If you know me in real life, you will know and understand why I wholeheartedly choose to work by myself. It’s my prerogative to accept or decline projects. Just because I’m not in a particular project doesn’t mean I was kicked out. Perhaps the idea of me backing out should enter your mind. Conclusions without concrete basis are just pure crap. It’s difficult to trust people. Especially after everything I’ve been through. No one can blame me if I prefer to work alone. This isn’t a high school team-up anyway. This is real life. No one ever died choosing working alone. It’s the way some things really go. Why that is an issue for some people? I will never understand.

Who knew Instagram could be so vicious? Sure, anyone can make accounts and bash anyone if they wanted to—but only up to a certain level. You see there is a “maka-tao” and “pwede pang pagpasensyahan” level and there is also a below the belt level. I won’t be speaking out if this wasn’t about the latter.

A lot of you have already seen it by this time. And all I can say is--What kind of sick person can do all of this? Only God knows. I received hate before, but not to this extent. I somehow have the idea who is behind all of this but then again, conclusion without concrete basis is just pure crap.

I can take everything they post against me—I have people who keep my head up and my spirit strong. But don’t you dare drag my partner or anyone else especially in my family because I can’t promise I won’t take serious actions.

Keep throwing stones at me.

My Vindicator is BIGGER than any of you.

Thank you to all the people who defended me. I smile at the thought that many of my readers can go out of their way to do all that for me. I am deeply touched and will forever be thankful. I will never stop doing all the things I can—because I know in my heart that I am not dragging anyone down nor stepping on anybody.

At the end of every day, there are only a few people you can really, really trust. I am watching my back.