-onAward-winning actress Iyah Mina recently went viral after sharing her candid reaction to a misgendering incident at a popular coffee shop.

In a Facebook post, Mina recounted her experience during a drive-thru visit, calling out the establishment’s staff for repeatedly addressing her as “sir” despite her appearance and clear identity as a woman.

“Kaloka kayo ha! Okay lang naman na magkamali ng tawag! Paulit-ulit lang talaga ‘yung tawag na Sir… kung hindi alam itatawag na pronoun eh ‘wag nang itawag,” Mina wrote. (“You’re unbelievable! It’s fine to make a mistake once, but calling me ‘sir’ over and over again? If you don’t know which pronoun to use, then just don’t say anything.”)

“Tinanong mo pa ako ulit, ‘Sir ba o Ma’am talaga ba?’ Kapal ng blush-on ko! Eto’ng masama pakiramdam ko dai… KAUSAPIN NIYO ‘YUNG D.T.O. at nasa cashier! Ganito itsura ko nag drive-thru oh! Hahahaha,” she added, sharing a photo of herself to show how visibly feminine she appeared at the time. (“You even asked me again, ‘Sir or Ma’am, which is it really?’ My blush-on is thick! I’m not feeling well because of this, sis… Please talk to the drive-thru officer and the cashier! This is what I looked like when I went through the drive-thru! Hahaha.”)

The post quickly gained traction online, sparking mixed reactions from netizens — some offering empathy, while others accused her of overreacting.

Mina, however, didn’t let the criticism slide. In a follow-up post, she addressed negative comments with her trademark humor and sharp wit:

“Ang gagaling niyo naman sa comment section, super husay niyo… pero pag naki-nuod naman kayo ng mga videos namin, nakita sa mga event, tuwang-tuwa kayo. HUWOW NAMAN TALAGA! PERPEK NIYO!” (“You’re all so great in the comment section, so talented… but when you watch our videos or see us at events, you’re all smiles and happy. Wow! You’re all perfect!”)

“Ginamit ko ‘tong platform na ‘to to tell what happened… pero hindi mang-insulto ng sinu man. Kayong mga nag-comment ng walang alam… ay wag na pala, sayang oras para patulan… hahahaha…” (“I used this platform to tell what happened, not to insult anyone. Those of you commenting without knowing the full story… never mind, it’s a waste of time to argue… hahaha…”)

Fans and fellow celebrities praised Mina for standing her ground while handling the situation with humor and composure.

Known for her advocacy for LGBTQIA+ visibility and respect, Mina has consistently used her platform to raise awareness about gender sensitivity and pronouns. Her recent experience underscores that inclusion begins with respect — even in the smallest everyday interactions.