PERSONAL
Who do you think you are?
As a Filipino, I have never been a fan.
Disclaimer: this is not a “hate” writeup. This is snagged out of my own perspectives, personal encounters, and observations long before internet citizens and especially the “SEAblings” have erupted and risen up. I do not intend to jump into the chaos. I just thought this would have to be a good time for me to lay down all the cards that had been buried in my chest since the first hype of K-Drama in the Philippines. So here’s my hot sauce on South Korea and its “K” pop culture.
- Your conceit reaches up to hell level. Your skin isn’t special. Fix your hygiene first.
- The audacity to call other South East Asians names when you can’t even blast them out in English.
- Your TV drama series are unrealistic and inauthentic. Your stories are formulaic and boring. You make any scene look emotional when it’s like watching dramatic cartoon characters in slow motion.
- You live and study English in the Philippines and yet you demean Filipinos behind their backs. (Yes, I overhead you. And no, I am not flattered that you always mistake me for being Korean as well.)
- Also, you live and study English in the Philippines because it’s a lot cheaper than hauling your life over to the US, Canada, England, and perhaps even Australia and New Zealand.
- As soon as you find out I’m Filipino, I can feel the shift of ‘human’ treatment in an instant. Your ignorance tells me how damaged your character is and how low your education level is.
- Give us a break with your Pop Music already! You have never invented a genre at all. Black People created all these genres that the world has been consuming all these years. They’re the “real idols” and the “Kings and Queens” of R&B, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Rap, Pop, Blues, any fusions. The argument must end here now.
- If you got nothing nice to say about other races, shut your mouth. Or has your mouth gone under the knife, too?
- Your beauty standards cannot be categorized as anything remotely “human”. Would you rather look like cartoon princes and princesses or what?
- The truth is your economy will tank without the support of South East Asia and you’re too goddamn proud to admit it.
- You will never understand the concept of “exotic beauty” because your arrogance limits your mind.
- You have a toxic pop culture that worsens mental health crises in your very own corners.
- You’re not a “high-end” society and culture. You’re a cartoon show with constant publicity stunts to alert the world of your “vain” existence.
Needless to say, these are only meant for bullies and pricks. And you know who you are.
Mic drop.