Bea Borres remembers how she was sexually exploited by her brother

Bea Borres. Images: Screenshots from YouTube/Toni Gonzaga Studio

(Trigger warning: mention of sexual exploitation)

Star of “Kadenang Ginto” Bea Borres was emotional as she recalled the time her older brother took a video of her taking a bath in her teens. Despite this, she ultimately chose to forgive him.

Borres recalled the heartbreaking incident in an interview with Toni Gonzaga on Sunday, August 25. She said her older brother took on the role of parental figure because they did not have a positive relationship with their now deceased parents.

“Laging may away, laging may kulang, lagi silang wala (There were always fights. I always felt like something was missing. They weren’t there for me),” she began, recounting that her mother was diagnosed with “bipolar depression” sometime in 2018 or 2019.

While talking about her relationship with her older brother, Borres said he recorded a video of her taking a bath when she was “13 or 14” years old.

“Ngayon talaga, sobrang love ko si Kuya… pero growing up, hindi naging ok ang relationship namin kasi paano ba sasabihin? (Sexual abuse) po ba ‘yun? So vinideohan niya ako while bathing, naked. I think I was 13 or 14,” she said.

Borres said she didn’t know she was being recorded at the time, and the video was even sent to his friends. “He took the video and sent it to his friends for, I don’t know, for money. Hindi ko alam, eh.”

“Nakita ko na habang kinakalikot ko yung phone niya. Sabi ko, “Kuya, borrow phone,” she continued. ‘Then open a message on Messenger ta’s nakita ko (‘yung video), ayaw ko pa po maniwala pero CR namin ‘to eh. Sabi ko, ‘My God, katawan ko! Kuya, what is this?’ Tapos hindi siya makasalita.”

Despite her older brother’s initial apology, the actress and internet personality said she was shocked when she complained about the incident to her parents and uncle.

“Nagwawala na po ako… tapos (si Kuya) hindi na po siya makaimik kasi parang siguro na-realize niya na mali in ginawa niya. Then, umalis siya to the point where she worried, she could baka kung anong gawin niya (sa sarili niya),” she recalled. “Kasi si Kuya in po, bipolar in this case. Ang hirap kasi yung kuya ko bipolar and mama ko rin bipolar.”

Borres said her parents initially asked her if she wanted to file a police report against him, but she chose to seek treatment for him. But before the incident, she recalled having been touched inappropriately by her older brother on multiple occasions in the past.

“Parang ayun na ‘yung last. Before that, I saw the signs na dine-deny ko lang and my mother knew,” she said. “She did not tolerate kasi pinapalayo na niya ako kay Kuya. Parang sinasabi (ng mama ko) na, ‘Huwag kang mag shorts, huwag kang mag skirt.’ So, every time you use a maikli, pinipiktyuran ni Kuya pakunwari. Tapos kapag tulog ako, hinahawakan niya ako (inappropriate).”

Forgiveness

Despite the “traumatizing” incident, Borres said she chose to forgive her older brother while understanding where he was coming from.

‘Ngayon, okay na ako. Kasi sobrang nangingibabaw yung love and forgiveness ko… Si Kuya kasi, when he was growing up, he was lonely. He was depressed. Parang lalaki, huh. Longing for a female validation-siguro. So, when you feel ko, nilalabas niya sa akin ‘yun,’ she said.

The actress and internet personality then responded to her interview on Facebook on Monday, August 26, in which she called on the public to stop “bullying” her older brother.

“Maybe I shared too much, but my past experiences have shaped me into the person I am today. All is well and forgiven, so I felt comfortable sharing my story,” she said. “I’ve had so many backlashes… but I hope we can stop tormenting my brother.”

Borres reiterated that her older brother “has learned a lot” since the incident and said her family has seen his growth over the years.

“He has received professional help and has learned a lot. We have seen his change and growth. I love him and have forgiven him long ago… Put your prejudices aside and look at the whole thing. Mabuting tao ang kuya ko, he has done his part and helped himself,” she said.