Badjao Girl is now trending in social media since she was discovered by a photographer and published her candid pictures online. But now, Rita is further creating a break as she has been included as one of the housemates in Pinoy Big Brother reality show. Technically, Rita is now regarded as a celebrity, not only online but also to the entertainment industry as she is now regularly watched in a television reality series.
Many are now wondering, what is the real identity of this young, effervescent, and attractive young woman. After being discovered by a local photographer, Rita's life changed permanently when her photos went viral on the internet. This is because she was just tagged as "Badjao Girl", which is a term that is now circulating online. Since several mainstream media made an exclusive interview with this young girl, there were several insightful details that were revealed to the public about the life and identity of Rita Gabiola.
 |
| Pinoy Big Brother housemate Rita Gabiola's or Badjao girl's photos |
Topher Quinto posted Rita's photos on his personal social media account and published it in public. This was just an ordinary day for Topher, considering that the photos were meant to partially fulfill their photography documentary. He tagged the photos as "Badjao Girl" since he did not personally communicated with Rita during the time when he captured her photos. Topher was not expecting that the picture of Badjao girl went a phenomenal hit when it became viral all over the place.
The life story of Badjao girl details a simple story. Rita Gabiola was born in Zamboanga City in 2003. She is now 13-years-old. Her father is Danny Gabiola and her mother is Marites Gabiola. Gabiola family was struggling in Zamboanga City due to limited opportunities. The family fled to Manila to search for a better life. But they finally settled in Lucena City. Since then, the Gabiola family is now fulfilling their socio-economic lifestyle in Lucena and its surrounding towns in Quezon province.
When the photo was taken sometime in May, schools are closed for summer vacation. Rita took the advantage of begging in the streets as one of the best ways to earn a living. Through begging, she can earn to help her parents pay for her tuition as well as to help her family sustain their basic needs such as food.
Danny Gabiola is the bread winner of the family. Marites Gabiola is a plain housewife but helps the family to sustain their basic needs by begging and selling anything to gain any financial opportunities that she can get. Being a fisherman is not an easy job to do; however, it is the only thing that Rita's father know to sustain their family's needs. Technically, the family is considered living below the poverty line due to a very low annual income.
Rita was supposed to be enrolling for this school year to continue her studies as a grade 7 student. But things changed when her photos became viral on the internet and then currently became a celebrity in mainstream media.
After Rita's photos went viral, several talent agencies, magazines, and entertainment agencies approached her. Rita initially made a makeover further enhancing her natural beauty by showing her unique bone structure in her photos that were published publicly.
After being noticed when her transformation photos were published, Rita was now given several opportunities in both the entertainment and from public service industries.
Rita is now one of the recipients of scholarships granted by the City government of Lucena under the initiative of the city's Mayor Roderick Alcala. The city government is now assisting Rita's family that will provide employment opportunities to improve their current socio-economic lifestyle.
Rita is also granted with an educational scholarships by several foundation agencies such as the Kapamilya foundation. Rita hopes that she can finish her studies as a future licensed teacher. This is to provide her the opportunity to become an inspiration to other members of Badjao group by instilling the importance of education.
Now, Rita signed several contracts with these talent agencies. One of these contracts is for being an official housemate of Pinoy Big Brother. The public can now take a glimpse of Rita while staying inside Big Brother's house that is televised daily.
Rita Gabiola hopes to further stay in the entertainment industry so that she can earn much that will forever lift her family's socio-economic status.
The term "Badjao" is a group of an ethnic minority in the Philippines that is regarded as sea dwellers. These are indigent tribe who spend most of their time fishing and stay in the seas for most of their lives. Badjao traverses the seas of South China Sea, Philippine Sea, Celebes Sea, Gulf of Thailand, Molucca Sea, Banda Sea, Java Sea, Sulu Sea, and other local seas in Southeast Asia.
When this group visits the land, begging is one of the most prominent ways for them to gain savings as most of them are illiterate. Begging is the easiest way for this group to earn a living because it does not require any skill or educational attainment.
