BINI's Jhoanna apologizes for 'Sunshine' review 'misunderstanding'
BINI member Jhoanna responded to the criticisms around her review of the sports drama film Sunshine after others chided her for apparently missing the core message of the story.
Through her Instagram Stories, the leader of the Filipino girl group acknowledged the criticisms surrounding her view and highlighted that she "appreciated the constructive feedback."
"If my choice of words and how I posted Sunshine's experience came across differently than I intended, I sincerely apologize po," she wrote.
She went on to shed more light on her thoughts about the film after she had watched it.
"What I hoped to emphasize was the weight of societal pressure, how crucial support systems are, and how access to proper education can empower people to make informed, safe decisions for themselves, whatever those decisions may be," Jhoanna said.
"With that, I do understand po that my initial post didn't quite capture the heart of what the film was trying to convey, especially given how deeply it tackles a much more personal and urgent issue that deserves to be approached with more care and clarity," she added.
Nevertheless, she still underscored how Sunshine is a "good movie" and is definitely worth watching."
"I'm always open to thoughtful discussions and learning from different perspectives. Thank you, everyone," she ended.
Jhoanna posted her review of the film on her Instagram Stories, where she shared some of the most important lessons she took away from the story.
"I love how it tackled mental health na kapag yan na yung tinitira, ang lakas-lakas na ng loob natin gumawa ng mga bagay na ikaрараhamak natin," she wrote.
"You never really know what someone's going through and it's really important to be more understanding of the silence, the sadness, and always try to lift others up with kind words," she added.
She ended her brief review by sharing kind words to young mothers.
"Sa mga katulad ni Sunshine (young moms) you are seen and you are strong. Strength isn't about being tough, it's about choosing to keep going kahit ang bigat-bigat na. Sa mga hindi, mag-isip nang mabuti huwag nating ipagpalit ang future natin sa pansamantalang happiness," she said.
After her post, some social media users criticized her interpretation of the film, arguing that she had misunderstood its central message.
"Kabaliktaran ng message ng film takeaway niya. It isn’t so hard to understand what Sunshine wants to portray and spread. Women should be capable of making choices over their bodies and not be caged because of one mistake," one user said.
However, others defended the singer and said that she did not deserve the backlash she got.
"She shared a heartfelt, vulnerable reflection after watching a powerful film, something that moved her as a 21-year-old. To fairly acknowledge Jhoanna's perspective, her IG story wasn't a policy position or a deep dive analysis. It was [a] personal reflection. She shared what resonated with her emotionally, as someone from the generation that the film clearly aimed to impact," one user said.
"Her words didn't come from a place of judgement or moral high ground, but from empathy. She did not claim to speak for everyone. She didn't ignore the complexity of the topic. She just shared her perspective," they added.
Written and directed by Antoinette Jadaone, Sunshine tells the story of a young gymnast whose preparation for national tryouts is upended after discovering she’s pregnant. It stars Maris Racal in the titular role, along with Elijah Canlas, Xyriel Manabat, Jennica Garcia, Annika Co, and Meryll Soriano.
