Photo from Xyriel Manabat's Instagram account.

MANILA — Former child star Xyriel Manabat was not surprised when viewers were shocked when they saw her as a comebacking young actress in "Dirty Linen."

"For me sobrang naintindihan ko po sila kasi mahirap po talagang mag-transition. Kasi po kahit tayong celebrities, mayroon po tayong pinapanood na Hollywood or local celebrities nung bata, 'pag nakita natin sila 'hala, siya na ba 'yan?'" she said in an interview with ABS-CBN News' digital show "On Cue."

"Naiintindihan ko po kung saan sila nanggagaling and nakaka-relate po ako sa kanila kaya sobrang naiintindihan ko po kung paano nila ako tinanggap sa change or sa transformation ko from being young and or a little kid to being a lady or being a teen," she added.

Despite this, Manabat couldn't help but note the seeming double standard when it comes to her body.

"'Pag sinuot ko 'yung sinuot ng isang kaedad ko, 'pag sa kanya fashionista, 'pag sa kanya, 'wow, elegant.' Pero 'pag sa akin 'hala ano'ng nangyari sa bata na 'yan, hala ba't ganyan na siya manamit.' Parang may double standard just because magkakaiba kami ng body, eh we're wearing the exact same thing," she told Gretchen Fullido.

"Exact same brand, color, fit pero dahil lang iba 'yung pagkalapat sa katawan ko, bigla na lang kasalanan ko na, bakit 'yun 'yung pinili kong suotin when I just want to be confident with my own skin," she added.

Asked why she was not afraid to speak up and reply to critics, Manabat said she knows this is the right thing to do.

"For me, nahirapan po ako doon sa mga close-minded people. I don't even have to correct them kasi dapat wala akong ino-owe sa kanila, I don't owe them anything. I owe myself, the clarity and the peace of mind that I deserve. So if pwede ko namang i-voice out, if pwede ko namang ipagtanggol 'yung sarili ko, why not? Why be silenced if I'm fighting for the right thing," she said.

"Hindi ako natakot na mag-call out, hindi ako natakot na sumagot kasi unang-una, wala po akong sinabing masama. Pangalawa, hindi po ako bastos sumagot, I am replying with facts, with polite words, and with things na alam kong kailangan ng sarili ko to defend myself," she added.

For Manabat, it's important for her to use her platform to stop body shaming.

"Hindi ako 'yung mag-aadjust just because they're there kasi magiging rampant lalo 'yung ganoong mindset if hindi natin sila iko-call out. Lalo siyang mano-normalize, lalo lang nilang mapi-feel na 'eh, dati pa naman may ganyan eh' kasi wala pong nagbo-voice out, wala pong nagko-call out. So, if we can try to stop them and if we have the voice and the platform, we can use it to call them out and tell them that it's wrong, that it's not right to do that," Manabat said.

"Just because we're public figures doesn't mean we're public property. Hindi nila kami pagmamay-ari.

"I hate being silenced especially when I have done nothing wrong... Gusto ko po talaga na hangga't tama ako, hindi ako magpapa-silence," she added.

"May times na gusto ko naka-long sleeves ako, may times na gusto ko, naka-t-shirt, gusto ko sleeveless or tube. It's because 'yun 'yung nasa mood ko ngayon, hindi dahil 'hala baka may sasabihin sila, hala masyado na akong naka-ganito for the past few weeks.' No, hindi ako magdadamit dahil sa iniisip nila. Magdadamit ako kung saan ko nakikita 'yung sarili ko, confidently and happy."