Respect is the key.
At the height of the campaign period, political discourse in the Philippines became increasingly intense, sometimes affecting personal relationships and friendships, including those of Toni Gonzaga, Mariel Rodriguez, and Bianca Gonzalez.
In a podcast interview with DJ Chacha, Bianca shared how respect and empathy helped her maintain close relationships with friends who hold different beliefs.
Bianca opened up about navigating friendships across political divides, addressing a topic many associate with her friendship circle.
“So when it comes to this topic, what will come to people’s minds is me, Toni, and Mariel. We are still able to be friends now because even when the noise was very noisy, we never said anything bad about each other. And why would we?” she said.
Choosing grace over the grind
Despite publicly identifying with opposing political views, their friendship has remained intact because of mutual respect and the conscious decision to avoid speaking negatively about one another.
“Ang natutunan ko is kapag merong ibang tao na mahal na mahal natin, na may sinusuportahang tao na hindi talaga gusto or alam nating may ginawang mali, or hindi talaga tayo agree, they see them in a different lens. They see them in a human lens. Iba ang pagkakakilala nila. Iba ang experience nila sa tao na ’to,” she explained.
Seeing through a human lens
Her remarks come in the context of the highly polarized 2022 Philippine presidential election, where Bianca publicly supported Leni Robredo, while Toni Gonzaga and Mariel Padilla expressed support for the tandem of Bongbong Marcos and Sara Duterte.
“Meron silang empathy and compassion toward that person so that kapag may hindi nagawa ‘yong tao na ‘yon, they are able to extend grace na, ‘Hindi, tao lang siya.’ And that goes for all political figures.”
Still, Bianca emphasized that differences in opinion do not have to destroy meaningful relationships. For her, respect, empathy, and choosing kindness over conflict made it possible to preserve their friendship despite political differences.
When it comes to this topic, what will come to people’s minds is me, Toni, and Mariel. We are still able to be friends now because even when the noise was very noisy, we never said anything bad about each other. And why would we?
Bianca Gonzales
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