Aira Bermudez, Jopay Paguia share emotional cost of early career; blast misconceptions of dancers

· Former S3xbomb Dancers Aira Bermudez and Jopay Paguia criticized the common misconception that all dancers are "wild" or promiscuous

· Jopay shared that older people often associated dancers with harsh labels, forcing them to defend their character

· Aira revealed she started dancing young to feed her family, not for "flirting," and even brought her mother to contests

· The dancers noted that the judgment eased significantly after they achieved massive success and fame as S3xbomb

Former members of the iconic Filipino dance group S3xbomb, Aira Bermudez and Jopay Paguia, are pushing back against long-held, unfair stereotypes, using their recent appearance on the vodcast "Your Honor" to debunk the pervasive myth that all dancers are inherently "wild" or promiscuous.

The candid conversation exposed the emotional toll of the constant judgment and baseless accusations they faced, particularly early in their careers.

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Jopay Paguia articulated the painful reality that many dancers encounter. "Actually, what we hear, especially from parents or older people, is that when you’re a dancer, that’s the perception of us—that 'they’re flirty, they’re loose.' Sorry for the word, 'they’re prostitutes,'" Jopay revealed, expressing disappointment at the generalizations.

"Of course, for those of us who are decent, it feels like, ‘Wow, you’re lumping everyone together,’" she continued, voicing the frustration of being judged based on their profession rather than their character.

Aira Bermudez shared her personal story, illustrating how such damaging assumptions started at a young age. Aira began dancing in local competitions to help her family financially, a necessity many artists face.

“We weren't raised wealthy. So, I myself worked even when I was young. The money we earned from dance contests, I used to feed my family,” Aira recounted.

She remembers how neighbors would quickly judge her movements and late hours: “When our neighbors saw me, of course, I wasn't famous yet, they would say, 'Oh, she’s so flirty,' because I was out until morning.”

To counter the neighborhood gossip, Aira made the heartfelt decision to bring her mother along to dance contests.

While this helped quell the suspicion, it also exposed her mother to the rough environment of the dance scene, including late nights and, sometimes, dangerous street riots.

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"And what’s intense, it’s pitiful. Because sometimes in contests, there are brawls. Riots. It’s scary. My mother would be running with me," Aira recalled with a nervous laugh.

Aira vehemently defended their motives: “So, just to clear people’s thinking about us: We were not flirting. We needed to earn money to have food or to get through hunger.”

Jopay also recalled the constant struggle of being judged, especially when surrounded by male co-dancers or colleagues.

"Yes, especially if, for example, your companions are all men. ‘Oh look, that’s her boyfriend.’ You’re immediately judged. It’s difficult being a dancer in that world. You just want to showcase your talent, but you are judged," she reflected.

However, the tide turned dramatically when they achieved massive success as the S3xbomb dancers. Aira noted the profound shift in her neighborhood’s attitude.

"When I became part of S3xbomb, my whole barangay became proud of me. Very proud. Every day they wanted me there," she said, realizing that visibility and mainstream success finally granted them the respect they deserved.

The conversation serves as a powerful testament to the hard work, sacrifice, and deep commitment artists make to their craft, often fighting against unwarranted moral scrutiny.

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This message of resilience is especially timely as the group prepares for their highly anticipated reunion concert, with Rochelle Pangilinan hinting at a possible second day due to the massive ticket sellout for the December 4 show at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Jopay Paguia is a Filipina singer, dancer and actress. She is also a member of Sexbomb Singers, together with Rochelle Pangilinan. She is also a cousin of singer-actress Nadine Lustre.

Two years ago, Jopay Paguia-Zamora and all members of the band Mayonnaise, which popularized the song "Jopay" finally met. According to GMA, Jopay and the band met during a concert in Lucena. On IG, Jopay also posted about the concert and captioned it with just one word - "FINALLY." "Jopay" was actually written in 2003 by the band's vocalist Monty Macalinao.

Later on in the same year, Jopay shared her sentiments on the dispute between TAPE Inc. and TVJ concerning the “Eat Bulaga” trademark. The former S3xbomb Girl revealed her deep emotional connection to "Eat Bulaga," referring to the show as her second family for almost 20 years. According to Jopay, she felt sorrow upon learning about TVJ’s temporary loss of the "Eat Bulaga" name and trademark. However, she feels hopeful that TVJ will soon get the "Eat Bulaga" trademark.

Source: KAMI.com.gh