It’s sadly a toxic Filipino trait that we’re way too forgiving of problematic public figures.
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One thing about Filipinos is that they can’t resist a good dose of international validation. It’s seemingly a part of our DNA how many of us put a premium on Filipinos getting placed on a global pedestal. And there’s nothing inherently wrong with that as Filipinos can and deserve worldwide recognition. But the problem with this mindset is that it can bleed into the more toxic parts of Pinoy culture, such as our attraction to international celebrities even if they have a problematic past. As they say, “Ang artistang gipit, sa Pilipinas kumapit”.
OH THAT’S NOT
If you’re a frequent flier on social media, then you may have caught the discourse about Korean actor Kim Ji-Soo and his increased presence in the Philippine entertainment industry. Previously, he’s appeared in two GMA shows, Black Rider and Abot-Kamay na Pangarap, and he decided to take the next step in his relationship with the network by signing a contract with Sparkle GMA Artist Center. But the news had a mixed response from netizens who pointed out the actor’s problematic past.
ICYDK, Ji-soo faced school bullying accusations in 2021 just before he began his military service which significantly impacted his career. Since he came back from the military, he hasn’t acted in any major K-drama or movie. You could say he was canceled by the Korean entertainment industry, but he has found a new avenue for his showbiz comeback in the Philippines. The actor has since moved on from the scandal and even addressed his past controversies.
Though that isn’t to say he isn’t the only controversial star to try to find a new life in the Philippines as Lucas held a fanmeet in Manila last June. And if you really want to go there in terms of foreigners taking advantage of Philippine hospitality, Alice Guo says hi.
MAYBE FOREIGN VALIDATION ISN’T ALWAYS THE VIBE
International stars seeing the Philippines as an attractive destination is not a problem in itself. It’s cool whenever our (unproblematic) international faves hold concerts in the country and work with local stars. But there should be a line established as a reminder on whether we’re taking it too far giving foreign celebrities a chance in the Philippines. There’s almost like a magnet inside of us that attracts us to Filipinos in global projects or working with foreign stars or how local projects including an international actor in its cast automatically makes it worthy of discussion.
Now while it’s possible these people made amends for their past actions (and that should be expected regardless), Filipinos are often too quick to forget. All of us, at one point or another, are guilty of this. It’s almost like we’re picking up the trash of other countries, not to mention invalidating their victims’ experiences. This is where the toxic Filipino trait of being too forgiving of celebrities, public figures, and politicians (IYKYK) rears its ugly head.
This also just isn’t about actors or musicians. We all know of foreign vloggers and YouTubers who love to base their content around the Philippines without actually taking the time to appreciate the culture. The Pinoy baiting is real as #PinoyPride can cloud our decision-making. Cultural exploitation mixes with our attraction and even dependency on foreign validation. And this isn’t a new phenomenon that has been happening just now, because it has been going on for years.
Whether we like to admit it or not, this is what happens when you have a society that is still latched onto Western-centric tendencies and sees foreign attention as a flex, regardless of where it comes from. But with so much local talent already available and many more who just need a chance to be seen and heard, let’s not turn the other way on foreign acts when there are clear red flags to watch out for. The Philippines should not be the place for struggling and problematic foreign artists to resuscitate their careers.
The mindset of deeming things good or bad whether or not they get foreign attention leads to giving people attention and clout that they probably don’t deserve it. And while this is a challenge to unlearn, it is possible. So, let’s be more discerning on who should and shouldn’t be given a platform and focus on people who really put in the work to redeem themselves.
Continue Reading: Sometimes, It’s Good To Stand Your Ground And Call Out Bigots In Public
