Sigrid Bernardo hits back at those questioning ‘I’mPerfect’ actors’ achievements

“I’mPerfect” director Sigrid Bernardo came to the defense of her actors with Down syndrome amid criticism questioning their acting awards and nominations.

The filmmaker spoke about this through her Facebook page on Thursday, Sept. 3, admitting that she is “scared to celebrate” her own actors because of the hurtful remarks they receive whenever “I’mPerfect” earns recognition.

Citing the film’s 2025 Metro Manila Film Festival best picture and best ensemble accolades as well as the best actress win of lead star Krystel Go, Bernardo said, “I was so proud of her, of everyone. After carrying this film since 2009, I thought, finally. They’re being seen the way they deserve to be seen.”

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“But no. Tapos mababasa mo mga comments na ganito: ‘Bakit mananalo ang isang mongoloid kaysa sa beteranang aktres?’; ‘Sarili lang naman niya ang ginagampanan niya’; ‘PITY vote,’; ‘Puro retarded naman ang pelikulang ’yan,’ Nakaka-pu*******.”

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“Because I was there. The entire team was there. Krystel and Earl [Jonathan Amaba] didn’t have years of film experience. They had two months,” she stressed.

Bernardo noted that aside from acting, the two lead stars along with the other cast members had to learn filmmaking within that short period.

“We had other actors with Down syndrome, and extras with autism, cerebral palsy, and other disabilities. We wanted them to represent themselves to show their abilities, not their disabilities,” she underscored.

Just recently, “I’mPerfect” was announced as one of the films shortlisted as contenders to become the Philippines’ official entry to the 2027 Oscars Best International Feature Film category. Go and Amaba, meanwhile, were nominated for the top acting honors at the 49th Gawad Urian Awards.

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“I should be celebrating. Pero ang hirap hirap lang talaga because I’m still seeing the same comments,” Bernardo lamented. “They can work twice as hard, prove themselves again and again, and still be reduced to their disability.”

“How much more do they have to prove before it’s enough? Kailan ba magiging sapat?” she asked.

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She also lamented how she was more affected by the criticism than the actors, because they had already grown accustomed to such cruel remarks.

“What mattered to them was finally seeing themselves on the big screen. Not as a diagnosis. Not as someone people should feel sorry for,” Bernardo said.

“They were Krystel playing Jessica and Earl playing Jiro. So criticize the film, my direction, the script, their performances. That’s part of the job. But they did not ‘just play themselves,'” she stressed. “Hindi awa ang pinaghirapan nila. Trabaho. Tapang. Talento.”

Bernardo continued, “I didn’t cast them out of pity. I cast them because I saw actors. I believed they could do the job. And they f****** did.”

Concluding her post, Bernardo reminded the public, “So the next time you see an actor with a disability on screen, see the actor first. Watch the performance. Judge the work. Applaud the talent. Don’t give them pity. Give them the same respect you give every other actor.”

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“I’mPerfect” follows the love story of Go’s Jessica and Amaba’s Jiro, who defy the odds to prove that their love is real. /ra