The Chismis — Read Editorials

Filipino Excellence in Sports and The Struggle to Succeeding in its Industry

The Philippines made history in this year’s Tokyo Olympics with a presence so impactful it made the country’s flag the #1 most used emoji on Facebook! But that’s not the only impressive reason because for the first time ever, the country earned a gold medal thanks to its representative weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz. This was the event that proved Filipinos were no longer just the underdogs of the competition based on performances that catapulted professional skater Margielyn Didal to the finals and three of our boxers winning silvers and a bronze. The Philippines was able to put on a thrilling show for all and it is merely the beginning for our athletes as they break records and international barriers.

Should Filipinos Win More American Awards?

And the award goes to… Not a Filipino! It is truly baffling to know that Filipinos often snag accomplishments at international film festivals yet movies, directors, writers and actors from our community rarely win at major award shows in the west. It’s been recorded that since 1953, the Philippines have submitted 32 films for consideration to the Academy Awards under the “Foreign Film” category. And while the entertainment industry is slowly shifting from it’s racist past and attempting to be more inclusive for minority groups, Filipinos for some reason are still undermined or given little to no recognition at all.

Is Mixed Filipino Better for TV?

Do Mixed-Filipinos have a better chance in Hollywood than pure-blooded Filipinos? The entertainment industry in America has a long racist past and honestly they still struggle to shake this off. This is proven by the fact that today’s executives often cast a Filipino only if they can pass as something else (more about this here!). From our crowned Miss Universes to the Filipino-American celebrities we know, a majority of them are actually either multiracial or ethnically ambiguous. Just take Bruno Mars, Hailee Steinfeld, Oliva Rodrigo and Jo Koy as testimonies. Mixed-Filipinos are most often given the chance to represent us before any others. And while we are proud of them, is this the kind of representation we are asking for? Or can we evolve more from here?

Colorism in the Filipino Community

“Maganda ka sana, kung maputi ka’- many Filipinos grew up hearing this and other criticism about their dark skin from their households to their schools or workplaces. Due to our colonization histories, Filipinos have grown to associate beauty and even social status with fairness which lead the Philippines to become an active manufacturer of whitening products. For most of the Filipino immigrants in the U.S, they too are constantly facing discrimination for their physical attributes. But now, more than ever, the topic of colorism within the community needs to be addressed in order to prevent the next generations from experiencing this toxic mindset.

Did Filipinos Hijack Hip-Hop?

One of the many things Filipinos are great at and arguably known for is dancing! At any Filipino party, you see titas line dancing or your cousins busting out moves to the Otso-Otso as if their lives depended on it. Through the years, dancing has merged into a billion-dollar industry and a legitimate profession even. However, Filipinos and other POCs in the industry do not get the full credit for their work. America’s various reality dance competitions continue to profit off of Filipino talents yet because of our participation in these, Hip-Hop has become more acceptable to the masses in comparison to the 1990s when this genre of dance originating from Black people, was criminalized. But are Filipinos actually helping or are we contributing to the erasure of Hip-Hop to its origins in Black culture?

Are Filipinos Marketable in Music?

Filipinos have an immense love for music. Go to any family gathering and you’ll find either a videoke machine or a tito strumming passionately on his guitar. But music itself has and always will be part of our cultural identity. And while most of us have continuously attempted to make a career out of it, plus the fact that a whole Asian-lead genre known as K-POP is currently succeeding, the music industry in America still doesn't seem to want to back us up. Why are we worth a viral 4-chair turning audition video but not worth promoting a debut album? Does this mean Filipinos can’t sell music or are we just not given the opportunity to?

Why We Need More Filipino Cartoons

Every Filipino becomes a nurse or an animator and no, these two options aren’t as far off from each other as they sound. Because just like healthcare education, there are a number of western animation studios and schools in the Philippines that train talented Filipino artists and designers and bring them into the film and TV industry. From Inside Out to Finding Nemo, The Incredibles to other Disney and Pixar classics, Filipinos helped write, direct and animate these iconic films. But while our people and our culture are active contributors to the production of cartoons, we don’t really get to see animated characters that explicitly represent our community. Why do Filipinos get to create stories for other communities but have little to no opportunity for their own?

Filipino Representation in Reality TV

In terms of reality TV, we commonly see Filipinos as participants on televised competitions and we are without a doubt, excellent at it! We however, have a long history of being perceived as reserved and lacking in personality, but we know well enough that just like the Kardashians our community is also capable of being entertaining while remaining genuine. It seems that our representation in reality TV remains an issue considering how we have other shows that highlight Filipino culture. It’s about time we too are recognized outside our competitive vocal and dance abilities and more on our chaotic Titas, our diverse cuisine and our many languages!

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