Badjao Girl slams ‘Koolpals’ Nonong over ‘insensitive’ Bajau joke on podcast

‘Ano’ng tingin niyo sa’min, basura?’ the ‘Badjao Girl’ asks after the comedian’s remarks sparked backlash.

Ex-“Pinoy Big Brother” housemate Rita Gaviola, widely known as “Badjao Girl,” took to social media to express her frustration over recent comments made by comedian Nonong Ballinan on “The KoolPals” podcast.

In the August 7 episode of the popular comedy podcast, where Ballinan and his co-hosts were joking with Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon, the hosts engaged in banter about the Bajau community’s resilience to floods.

Ballinan asked Sec. Dizon why the Indigenous group is never reported as flood casualties, asking, “Bakit wala pa po akong nakikita sa news na nasalantang Bajau?” 

The jokes escalated when fellow host GB Labrador added, “Pero ‘pag lumusong ka sa baha, pwede makatapak ka ng Bajau eh,” referring to urban poor IPs in the metro, 

Fellow host James Caraan even chimed in to suggest that the drums Bajaus ruse in the streets act as floating devices, to which Ballinan replied to comedian Ryan Rems: “Kaya pala gawa sa PVC pipe.”

Gaviola did not hold back in her response video. Audibly agitated, she called out the comedian, who is also a former PBB housemate, for his lack of empathy. “Shout out sa’yo Nonong. PBB ka before pero sana bago ka magsalita ng mga ganyan, sana inisip mo muna,” she stated firmly.

She heavily condemned the remarks that likened her people to obstacles in floodwaters, asking, “Ang utak mo pabaligtad eh. ‘Yong sinasabi ni’yo na ‘pag lumusong ka pwede ka makatapak ng mga Badjau, anong tingin niyo sa’min, basura?”

Defending her community’s livelihood and dignity, Gaviola emphasized that the Bajau people are just trying to survive without harming anyone or begging for government handouts.

She lamented the sheer unfairness of being the butt of a joke made by educated individuals. “Wala kaming natatanggap na tulong, nagreklamo kami? Hindi,” Gaviola expressed. “Pare-pareho tayong mga Pilipino… Bakit sobrang liit ng tingin niyo sa aming mga katutubong Bajau na walang ginagawa sa inyo?”

She also defended their use of drums to earn money, pointing out that their only alternative would be a life of crime, asking, “Anong gugustuhin niyo, magnakaw kami?”

As of writing, Ballinan and the creators of “The KoolPals” have yet to issue an official statement regarding Gaviola’s video and the ensuing social media backlash.

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