Charice Pempengco is an odd teen copycat musician. By analyzing her, Filipino mediocrity can be exposed.
Who is this Charice in the first place? She has no distinct identity as a musician. She has no song of her own despite already having two albums. She keeps singing the same songs already made popular by Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, and Jojo. Charice’s latest single, Note To God, wasn’t eve good enough to be picked by Jojo’s management to be her single. Yet Charice kept singing the same old Diane Warren composed song like her life depended on it.
What makes Charice Pempenco peculiar is how her fame exposes Filipino mediocrity and flaws. First and foremost, I’m generalizing, but I don’t mean to state that all Filipinos are that way. Since getting noticed by some Americans (Elen Degeneres, Oprah, and the Canadian David Foster), some Filipinos have gone batshit insane in supporting Charice. That’s odd because before being noticed, Charice was just a runner-up to some singing show. In short, she was nothing special before being invited to the Elen Degeneres and Oprah shows.
The delayed support of Charice by Filipinos highlights a key flaw of Filipinos. Many Filipinos crave the validation of foreigners. They value and strive for anything foreign whether it’s foreign commodities or a foreign spouse. It’s rather sad that many would rather pay 400 something pesos for a cup of Starbucks Coffee over locally grown Kapeng Barako. It’s rather sad that many would value an imported can of corned beef over something locally made that might be more fresh.
The craving for foreign validation sadly extends to entertainment. Very few were fans of Charice or Arnel Pineda before they were noticed by Americans. After Arnel Pineda was picked to be the lead singer of Journey, many Filipinos became fan of the band to the point that many Filipinos wave the flag of the Philippines at Journey concerts. Charice was told she was ugly and wouldn’t make it in Philippine entertainment, but with Oprah’s support, she now has millions of Filipino fans.
The need to be recognized by Americans highlight a key weakness of the Filipino mind. Indian movies and songs are a joke to many Filipinos. Indians are referred to with offensive names and slurs. Nonetheless, when Americans started to like Slumdog Millionaire ,its song Jai Ho became the hottest thing around. Jai Ho was performed and covered in many Filipino variety shows. The film itself was belatedly shown in theaters after it won many Oscar awards. The trend of copying American entertainment trends could be explained by the colonial history of the country. From 1898 to 1946, the country was a colony of the United States. Nonetheless, the Philippines is not a complete lap-dog of the US entertainment industry. When the Da Vinci Code was making boatloads of money in the US with hardly any sign of an official ban, Philippine society was embarrassing progressives and independent thinkers. The film was banned in Manila, and many Catholic Church officials in the country called for boycotting the film. There were even petitions for the president to do something to prevent the film from being shown. Preseident Macapagal Arroyo, a cunning cheater, made one of her better decisions by sparing the country from being a laughing stock of the world.
Charice’s rise to fame also exposes how superficial Filipinos can be. Here is a singer with no song of her own, but just because she has a recording deal in the US, she is the toast of Filipinos everywhere. Nobody dares to question the artistic capacity of the singer. Nobody demanded original material from a so called “international artist”. Nobody dared to criticize the lack of originality of Charice. What is important to them is that the singer has appeared at the Elen and Oprah shows. Nobody dares to mention that David Foster, Charice’s producer, is a has been . Foster has had very few Top40 hits in this decade.
More worrisome is how Charice’s lack of identity explains the lack of identity of many Filipinos. It has been said that Filipinos are “lesser” Asians than other Asians. It has also been said that Filipinos are little brown Americans. While both are generalizations, there is an element of truth at their cores. International musicians have their own cultural identity even when they try to make it in the US. Hikaru Utada and Ayumi Hamasaki didn’t ditch their Japanese identities. Enrique Iglesias didn’t hide his Spanish roots (and he acknowledges his half Filipino roots as well). Shakira didn’t shed her Latin roots. Even Daddy Yankee didn’t drop the Reggaeton portion of his act. The odd part is when a Filipino musician tries to break through, he or she puts on the best attempt to out Americanize the Americans. Why is that the case?
Through their tacit support for Charice, Filipinos acknowledge that they can never make it in the global stage with a Filipino identity. Charice is mimicking Americans and Canadians. By supporting Charice, Filipinos demonstrate that the key to stardom and success is to try to become anything but themselves.
Worse of all, by supporting Charice, Filipinos demonstrate that it is acceptable na “puwede na lang” mediocrity as long as pupuriin at susuportahan ng mga Kano.
Mayroon akong hula na si “Nicole” ay masaya na despite what allegdly happened basta bigyan siya ng pera at papeles. I realize that my “Nicole” comment is below the belt and ugly. The “Nicole” case demonstrates how much Filipino mediocrity and kowtowing will support the big dogs of this world even if that big dog is heavily in debt to some country full of people that Filipinos routinely call “Intsik beho”.
Note how this person and commenters missed the point of constructive criticism here.
yey you deleted my comment.. again…
Charice and Celine’s Duet…
if Charice mimics celine.. then she should sound like Celine..
for the readers.. watch the video…
@mr jscshnjejne
dont reply about her other public performances coz i already explained it
(see blog about filipinos spitting whatever charice and arnel)
Who’s mr jscshnjejne?
jstuf 29, this is what I can say, you need to go back to school and relearn everything. And when you are done, I’m sure you’ll be able to write a more worthy article, faithful to truth and justice. It was obvious you are not a macro thinker nor are you update with globalization. Just do your homeork first!
Mila
I disagree. Point out the flaws of what I presented instead.
dude…i dont mean to disagree but… i think i cant see your point of view. i like charice because she had the guts to go out there and face the things that’s holding her back from stardom. she’s not a copycat, dude. she’s a talented girl. i challenge you. sing in Oprah. man you dont have the right to criticize her because you’re not like her. you cat do the thing she did to reach her dreams. im sorry.
She’s not a copycat? What do you call piggybacking on the hard work of others by simply covering their songs to make yourself known. Isn’t that glorified karaoke?
Accually i think the original sog writers like it because hey its free advertising
Mila, I think this article was very well written and very informative. I think it is you who should go back and learn about what is going on in the world!! There is so much truth in what jstuff29 had said, you just can’t accept it.
i agree @ luke we pinoys cant accept it
and look @ the charice photo
shes imitatiing sandara park jeeez
… she s so ugly though
as if you’re that pretty.
ung film industry din ntn gawan mo wlang kwnta kc e
puro bano mga artista
Anon
The vacuous mainstream Filipino film industry will get its own scathing blog entry someday. My next one will be about Angel Locsin and her stupidity!
How about blogs on wannabee actors/singers like Anne Curtis and hypocrites like Kris Aquino and Boy Abunda. These are some of the people that exploit the ignorance and weakness of the masses for fame and fortune.
Btw, great blogs jstuff29. I admire your courage to inform us Filipinos of what’s REALLY going on with our country.
oh nice one just update me if u already done it
that fact that you have a blog named Philippines Suck has automatically thumbed you down as an idiot
Lily
Can you read or is your attention span too short? Before calling someone an idiot, I suggest your read the blog entries. You’ve obviously missed the point of the blog
a big criticizing idiot with lots of idiot FILIPINO friends who agrees on him and makes fun on THEMSELVES.
HONESTLY… INSTEAD OF JUDGING THE PHILIPPINES, WHY DONT YOU JUST HELP THE COUNTRY IMPROVE? YOURE DOING NOTHING BUT TO MAKE IT WORSE.
I’m actually helping the country by pointing out the problems. How can others fix a problem if they don’t know it exists?
TRUE. let the truth be known,
Marvelous point
I hate you guys that like this copycat artist. Why WOULD you defend her as if she ever really does anything great at all?? This girl should have stayed poor and starveed for all I care. And there is just too much influence accepted nowadays from these people that they cant accept this blog is the TRUTH!
I am half-Filipino/half-Salvadorean from America and after reading this I am somewhat shocked that ‘some’ (you say) Filipinos from the Philippines seem/appear to be as you described. How sad that is.
So, basically, you’re saying that Charice is “mediocre” and “unoriginal” and you’re annoyed that millions of Filipinos became fans only after she got ‘foreign support and validation’. Am I right?
Also, are you saying that Filipinos should not support her because it makes the Filipinos look bad (lack of identity and mediocrity) in the eyes of the world??
So, what do you think of this solution?
Charice should leave your sucky country and become an American citizen…BE an “American”(establish identity) so she can sing original American songs written and produced by American songwriters and producers … what do you think? Sound pretty good?
I am half-Filipino/half-Salvadorean from America and after reading this I am somewhat shocked that ’some’ (you say) Filipinos from the Philippines seem/appear to be as you described. How sad that is.
Why are you shocked?
So, basically, you’re saying that Charice is “mediocre” and “unoriginal” and you’re annoyed that millions of Filipinos became fans only after she got ‘foreign support and validation’. Am I right?
Correct.
Also, are you saying that Filipinos should not support her because it makes the Filipinos look bad (lack of identity and mediocrity) in the eyes of the world??
That’s not what I meant. If you’ve been reading my blog entries, you would know that I’m all for Filipinos to support her for her talent. Nonetheless, people only started to support her when some in the American entertainment sector paid attention to her. I’m sure you know about bandwagon jumping. This blog entry should give you a glimpse of where I stand on regarding that matter.
So, what do you think of this solution?
Charice should leave your sucky country and become an American citizen…BE an “American”(establish identity) so she can sing original American songs written and produced by American songwriters and producers … what do you think? Sound pretty good?
I find that portion to be full of faulty logic. First, she can get original songs in the Philippines. There’s no law or trend that states that original songs can’t be produced in the Philippines by Filipinos. Second, why do you assume that the Philippines suck? Have you been swayed by the Philippines bashing coming from Filipinos that are easily found on the internet without looking up the facts and letting that sway your opinion? Third, why do you assume that I live in the Philippines when I haven’t revealed my “country”? Shouldn’t you do more analysis and lessen your assumptions making before making that statement.
Finally, it’s not my call and I am neutral over whether Charice’s residency or nationality status. Her residency and type of passport has no bearing on my assessment of her as a musician I’m not a pakailamero, and in general, I don’t judge individual Filipinos or any people in general on their decision regarding such matters. If you were to bring up the ever growing Filipino diaspora as a whole, then I’m game and willing to dissect such matters with no reservation as to who I offend.
Why am I shocked? I am shocked at some Filipinos going “batshit insane” over supporting Charice, many Filipinos “valuing and striving for anything foreign”, how “superficial Filipinos can be”…I mean, really? Many are like that? I need to get out more…
“If you’ve been reading my blog entries, you would know that I’m all for Filipinos to support her for her talent.”
I haven’t read the rest of your blog entries, but I will. Promise. So you’re all for Filipinos to support her for her talent? Can I kiss you for that? lol… Ah yes, bandwagon jumping. Got it.
“First, she can get original songs in the Philippines. There’s no law or trend that states that original songs can’t be produced in the Philippines by Filipinos.”
That’s what I was thinking. Why couldn’t her Philippines record company give her an original Tagalog song? Why the covers? Why did they rush her first and second album? What’s up with that?
“Second, why do you assume that the Philippines suck? Have you been swayed by the Philippines bashing coming from Filipinos that are easily found on the internet without looking up the facts and letting that sway your opinion? ”
Yes, I’ve been swayed…especially by your big “Philippines Sucks” title on top of this page. Guilty as charged.
“Third, why do you assume that I live in the Philippines when I haven’t revealed my “country”? ”
That thought did cross my mind.
“Shouldn’t you do more analysis and lessen your assumptions making before making that statement. ”
I was not in an analytical mode. Bitch-slap me, I deserve it.
“Finally, it’s not my call and I am neutral over whether Charice’s residency or nationality status. Her residency and type of passport has no bearing on my assessment of her as a musician I’m not a pakailamero, and in general, I don’t judge individual Filipinos or any people in general on their decision regarding such matters. If you were to bring up the ever growing Filipino diaspora as a whole, then I’m game and willing to dissect such matters with no reservation as to who I offend.”
Damn, that got me all hot. Intelligence is so sexy. Are you a guy or a girl?
Why am I shocked? I am shocked at some Filipinos going “batshit insane” over supporting Charice, many Filipinos “valuing and striving for anything foreign”, how “superficial Filipinos can be”…I mean, really? Many are like that? I need to get out more…
You might need to hang around with Fil-Ams more. Hang around long enough and you’ll notice superficial behavior and colonial mentality (the ones in the Philippines demonstrate it far more often). As for going batshit insane over supporting Charice, I’ll point out how many were ready to throw a music icon under the bus for some flawed, but much needed criticism.
“First, she can get original songs in the Philippines. There’s no law or trend that states that original songs can’t be produced in the Philippines by Filipinos.”
That’s what I was thinking. Why couldn’t her Philippines record company give her an original Tagalog song? Why the covers? Why did they rush her first and second album? What’s up with that?
The (music and film as well) marketplace just doesn’t value originality. There are many musicians that succeed by merely recording cover tracks. As for Charice’s local recording label, they must be desperate to strike while the iron is hot.
“Finally, it’s not my call and I am neutral over whether Charice’s residency or nationality status. Her residency and type of passport has no bearing on my assessment of her as a musician I’m not a pakailamero, and in general, I don’t judge individual Filipinos or any people in general on their decision regarding such matters. If you were to bring up the ever growing Filipino diaspora as a whole, then I’m game and willing to dissect such matters with no reservation as to who I offend.”
Damn, that got me all hot. Intelligence is so sexy. Are you a guy or a girl?
Due to the highly inflammatory blog entries I’ve been writing, I can’t reveal much information. Filipinos don’t take kindly to criticism, and “Philippines Suck” is a secret undertaking of mine that must be hidden even from close friends. They just won’t understand. Assuming I live in the Philippines, even karaoke can be deadly. It’s just the way things are.
INSIDE OF EVERY GOOK, THERE IS AN AMERICAN TRYIN TOGET OUT!
CHARICE SUCKS!
Welcome, Charice critic. Just remember that this place is open to Charice fans as well, and I’m sure you know about their behavior.
but really the girl can sing. she got her dreams not by pure luck, but because she really likes singing very much. and she just wanted to help her mother.
i too think the way you think, jstuff29. i’m a cynic and a skeptic, an atheist. but sometimes you just have to just enjoy life. you know, just be happy for the girl. life is that way, especially when you really work hard and love what you do. i don’t believe in luck or the supernatural. she was prepared when the opportunity came. and boy! was she prepared. so jstuff29, give it a rest or just stuff it for now.
charice sucks..
i dont like her singing..sounds too disrespectful.
WHY THE FUCK DID YOU CUNT AMERICANS, INVADE THE COUNTRY FLOOD IT WITH YOUR TERRIBLE AMERICAN ENGLISH AND STANDARDS JUST TO THROW IT BACK IN THEIR FACES.
I MEAN THEY SING ON KARAOKE TO PRACTICE, THEY CLEARLY IMITATE A SONG BECAUSE THAT’S HOW YOU SING A SONG FROM ANOTHER ARTIST.
ORIGINALITY DIED A LONG TIME AGO. THE PHILIPPINES HAS WAY BETTER SINGERS THAN AMERICA SO SUCK IT.
JUST BECAUSE USA WRITE THE SONGS DOESNT MEAN THEY SING THEM BETTER.
AMERICAN IGNORANCE FLOODING THE WORLD EVER SINCE FOREVER.
BOO HOO, SHE IMITATES, THATS A TALENT IN ITSELF.
yeah!
you guys are funny
But she imitates them…
That’s why it’s mediocre, can’t you see?
It’s great that Charice is Filipino (Hooray :D) but
why can’t she write and sing her own songs?
If you think about it, it’s like she doesn’t have her own true identity…
It’s a reflection of how our country’s culture is dying because
we’re getting into everybody else’s (America, namely) culture and we’re not cultivating our own.
FILIPINNO PEOPLE CANT SING, DANCE, COOK, WASH, OR DO ANYTHING UNLESS THEY COPYCAT IT FROM AN AMERICAN!
Im sorry but not everyone is to blame because lets face it Americans copy too just saying no hate friend.trying to make peace here
this website are lots of people filty mouth means evil word coming from thier mouth. ashame to those people disgraceful attacking filipinos. look at yourself first before you judging people. are you rich? people are just trying to work earn money for living so dont judge someone else because we are same human in this world making money for a living. so shut up those filty mouth. you got it. be nice to anyone . you never know what gonna happen to you or your family on day. you might get curse or karma. or bad luck later in your life.
“the philippines has has way better singers than america so suck it”……haaaaaaaahhahahahahahahah…..that’s why there are so many international renowned filipino singers….hahaha….how often its possible to see pinoids saying bullshit like this about just about anything not just singing….the really sad thing is that they believe themselves….nothing as jingoistic thin skin and narcissistic as a flip
i dont have anything against charice it’s just that i dont like the way she sings, and the way she tries to copy the original versions of the song, and to me she’s kinda conceited, hearing that she’s going to be on glee kinda sucks
if IT sucks, then why don’t YOU sing in glee.? show us what you’ve got rather than criticizing!
weak
Yes quite similar to yourself,a weak fool
I don’t like Charice at all.I never did went along with the media hype for this girl.Now Lea Salonga I like her very much.She’s a real talent and not just media hype.She’s a real singer while Charice is a Kareoke queen.Lea won a Tony award Charice met Oprah.So what if she met Oprah?what does Oprah know about music?nothing.
Lea has classical singing/voice training from a real pro not from her mom.
SUMMARY ..
CHARICE SUCKS
charice popularity is not from her talent but from media
i dont like her
she sucks
woow . cowardly attack.grow up.
i like Lea too
You my friend…. have your own ideas… and I respect your opinion… but for a country that has been branded for its crab mentality culture…. I for myself can’t find anything wrong of supporting Charice… When I can see that in just a little way my people are united in supporting such national treasure like arnel pineda, manny pacquiao and charice… You just cant blame us!!! We are now a proud country!!! For me that’s what matter’s most right now! World recognition! and I will steal some niel armstrong words “It may be a small step for Charice but it is a one giant step for us Filipinos!!! Why cant we just have peace and get along! I am asking you please… why cant you just be human and just love the girl…. WHAT THE FUCK IS YOUR PROBLEM!!!!
So peace and get(ting) along in your view is the absence of criticism? Well then, what is problem with respect to criticism of Filipinos?
how is it a giant step for filipino? so you can all sit on your asses and live in the reflected glow of someone else’s hard work…..that’s how…you underachievers
@noodled
why filipinos are so proud of themselves when someone make something international ??
its her acheivement not yours..
its so funny when the flips have done something wrong like the hostage incident they detach themselves as a failipino..
but when talentless people like charice get recognize in some media hype..
PROUD TO BE FLIP
WTF
racial pride is = RACISM
Good point on Filipino being proud of somebody’s achievement while disassociating themselves with “bad” Pinoys
EngGit Lng ung ng post nito =P
I am a filipina and this site sucks!!! Why are ya makin fun of filipinos anyways get a life dude!!!
THE TRUTH HURTS TO A FLIP, IF THEY CANT STEAL IT, THEY DONT WANT IT.
@jstuff29. You are card crusher aren’t you. Talk about sock puppetry
@Leona: There’s a fine line between making fun of people and telling the truth, and the author was clearly doing the latter. And it’s also not the author’s fault of the truth hurts.
@jstuff29
This is a bit off-topic though still relevant. Another thing I find funny about Filipino behavior is how they over-celebrate themselves even with the most menial of international achievements. They’re quick to point out that Vanessa Hudgens is half-Filipina, that Batista is half-Filipino, that Jasmine Trias is Filipina even if she states again and again that she considers Hawaii her home and not the Philippines.
Also the chants that go, “OMG!! Manny Pacquiao, Arnel Pineda and Charice are all international stars! Filipinos are world-class. I’m proud to be Filipino! MAGALING ANG PINOY!!”
On the other hand, do you hear other countries like Italy go, “Lady Gaga and Madonna are half-Italian! Pavarotti is Italian, and so are De Niro, Pacino, Mario and Luigi! Viva Italia! ITALIANS ARE THE BEST.”
Again the sudden support of Charice and Arnel from Filipinos is just another display of their freeloader mentality. They just LOVE to ride on their fame when in fact nobody in the FAILippines gave a shit about Charice after she lost in Little Big Star nor did Arnel Pineda gain a decent fandom when he was just doing minor stints in Zoo Band.
And I’d also like to share this very relevant article. http://antipinoy.com/world-class-filipinos/ =)
only stupid people are the ones who are PROUD to be FAILIPINO..normally people who got brains ARE ASHAMED TO BE FILIPINO..
Somewhat agreeable because I don’t feel proud about the Philippines since there’s nothing really worth being proud of and not really ashamed since it wasn’t my fault to be a Filipino from the first place.
One of the main reasons why people are starting to hate charice is not because of her. It is because of rude overly excited uneducated charice fans. They let their emotions run their mouths before thinking about what they are going to write! Stop attacking people with other opinions of charice, you are contributing to more hatred towards her!
Go Charice!!
jstuff29, I am impressed of your writing and post. I love how you expressed out every single fact about “us” Pinoys. I’d like to make a proposition. I would like to buy an official domain and hosting for your blog. Please do email me if you’re interested.
i agree with this blog…sad but true
I was so inspired on your blog. We think alike! This is 95% true! I like the part where filipinos choose american brand rather than the satisfaction of a cheaper local brand. Some of the people i know even takes picture of their own holding a cup of starbucks coffee with 100 pictures in just one album.
And my reaction on your blog about charice.
Charice didn’t won in a so called singing contest in abs cbn because of how she looks. So if filipinos really believe in her talent, why didnt they vote for her?
why didnt she won? its a question that I basically cant answer.
If filipinos fully supported on her talent then why is it that she didnt make it when she wasnt yet discovered by oprah? or ellen?
Its really pathetic!
Blah blah blah. Nonsense blog that’s full of crap inside.
You are.
I know you definately are!
I have to say this again. I love you. Keep it up. I’m not even kidding. Don’t be discouraged by the mindless posts of your critics. This message needs to be out there even if most Filipinos simply dismiss it; your message is vital if we want to make any change in the foreign-pleasing, bandwagon-riding, and false modest culture of the Philippines today.
Hi jstuff29!
I find your article interesting. Aside from personal experience,
what are your sources of information that lead you to the idea
that Filipinos are afflicted with the disease of mediocrity?
I’m a Filipino (the mixed variety) and I wanted to write about how my
country cultivates mediocrity, in hopes that it will become
clearer to what problems in society need to be addressed.
I need solid references and I can’t rely on blogs, no matter
how intelligently they were written. Thanks.
2009, 2010, 2011 and soon to be 2012, Charice will be named the No. 1 Flop Queen internationally four years in a row!!
perhaps some day soon she will be a sought after GRO
Wonder they didn’t praise the maker of Happy Tree Friends, it’s been made by a “Fil-Am” right? It’s famous and that’s it.. You know naman Filipino’s if it’s made by a person that is even 0.000000000000000000000000000001% Filipino…. They’ll take pride of it as if it is their own making and shove to it your face..
FYI: she’s not the only one who cover songs just to become famous,..
Generally, art imitates life in the Philippines. Most overseas Filipinos do not want to buy goods made in the Philippines. Filipinos going home to their country fill up their balikbayan boxes with foreign-purchased goods to bring to the Philippines. Japanese and Chinese people do not buy that much goods in foreign country then take them to Japan or China. Charice Pempemco also do not hire Filipino songwriters. She would rather recycle songs written by foreigners and owned by foreigners. In any case, she is free to do that.
A real activist doesn’t scream that the river is dirty. He cleans it.
hi! ilove u charice pans frm oroquieta city
Great Article …
sad but true…
This guy is saying everything that’s in my mind… I am a filipino, and I am not against my country, I’m against of what this country is doing…
Ahh, your words are gold. Keep on truckin!!!!
True Charice is a copycat…even her own so called infinity concert she sang mostly songs from Other artist…Poor girl cant even get a local tagalog album and its almost 2013….
Yep she sucks, like all mainstream artists…
hey bastard who the hell are you to judge someone. what youve got anyway. hope you get karma.
I dont think that you need to be a stereotypical moaning bitch to Fillipinos because they are just trying to make a living just as you and everyone else on the fce of the earth so next time think abot what your going to fucking say you dumb motherfucking asshole.
excuse me iam a filipino you nasty, coward, disgrace attitude, who the hell are you? at least charice making money for living. you bastard wasting time cooment on people life. what ate disgrcefull you are you need some counselling for yourself. charice is poor but she earning big money for her family and now shes rich and famous. got big house and rich and lots of money. iam proud of her. good on you charice. so better shut up to people got nothing but nasty, and evil on the mouth.
this website is nasty people, and all evil people have bad mouth. hope all you lips get diseases and your hand frozen from typing nasty word about filipino. or karma
Hey i love your blog :))
Surprised to not see Jessica Sanchez mentioned here. The latest claim by the mediocre flips to prove their world beating creativity and bottomless well of talent. Only the other day one of the non asian asian cousins said to me we have many great singer like JS. Really I said. She is filipina? yes her mother is filipina. Oh yeh. but her father is mexican. Maybe the mexicans say she is mexican. Looks of consternation. However, says I, she was born in US and raised in US. If you asked her I’m fairly sure she would say she is american. Ohhhh??? hahahah…Shhh just don’t tell the flips though…JS and her management would know this…might as well use some of that false national pride to sell some concert tickets.
I have been thinking a lot about this lately as a Filipino who has lived in Canada for most of my life. Despite a booming Filipino population here, you see very few Filipino restaurants, big cultural celebrations (beyond family gatherings) that share what our culture is to the rest of the community, Filipino artists who are visible in the community, etc.. Despite the Filipino community here, most other Canadians don’t really know what we’re about. In comparison, the Indian population is just about as big as the Filipino population here yet they are very visible in the community in terms of their arts & culture. The African community (and the distinct cultures coming from various countries is tiny compared to both the Indian and Filipino communities, but again, far more visible than the Filipino community). I believe the huge American/Western/post-colonial mentality and this strong desire to assimilate is the driving force behind why Filipinos lack the urge/fail to cultivate their own culture. You really nailed it. Nationality (and national pride) is more important than artistic merit or the individual.