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An Open Letter to Charice's Filipino Haters

on Friday, March 11, 2011
By: Aeon Jelsey


Charice Pempengco sings at US Philippine expo ...Image via Wikipedia
I am not into celebrities until I saw and heard Charice sings. It was a curiosity at first when I heard news about this young and petite singer whose belting (BTW “belting” is different from “shouting”) difficult songs. I opened my browser turned to Youtube, search “Charice” and voila! That was the start of my never ending thirst for her performances.

I’ve been using twitter for a very long time now to promote my blog and my followers are mostly writers and poets and to avoid alienating them with my tweets about Charice, I decided to make another twitter account to tweet only about Charice. That’s when I began to see these hate tweets about her. It saddens me that while other nationals praise and rave about Charice, there are some Filipinos that keep on bashing a person who has done nothing but to work hard to realize her dreams. It’s a depressing reality that most of Charice’s haters are Filipinos bashing her looks and scrutinizing her to find even trivial things so they can just say something bad about her.

When I have the time, I analyze twitter profiles of those that are “defaming” Charice. Most are accounts that are just created to tweet nothing but hate towards her, some are students or graduates of some of the expensive private schools in the Philippines which I assume belong to the higher strata of Philippine society. Some are those with Filipino lineage living in other countries.

I am trying to understand those who “trash tweet” Ms. Pempengco because they are fans of some local celebrities but come to think of it they are not helping to promote their idols rather they unconsciously dragging them down.

In the Philippines, some of the students or graduates of “esteemed” universities which are mostly for the privileged few tend to see themselves as above the rest. To speak with them in “lame” English would mean it’s either they’ll laugh at you or ignore you. And so they bash Charice’s accent, the fillers and pronunciations as if she has done a great crime. Why would laugh at someone who can express herself with a foreign language? She may not be as good as the “set standards” made by some elitists, what matter is she’s slowly becoming more articulate. Let me quote myself below.

“ Filipinos are one of the most critical people when it comes to English grammar and sometimes fluency in it is being used a gauge of an individual’s intelligence which is so perverse, when it’s not even their native tongue after all. But when a Filipino stayed in America and would probably adopt the American accent, speaking in English with a foreign accent would invite criticism that this “fella” has forgotten about his/her roots.”

There is a figure of speech use in the Philippines “Sala sa init, sala sa lamig” which means that no matter how you will try to please everyone, they will keep on looking for faults. Charice came to America knowing only basic conversational English but she needs to learn and be fluent with it as it is required for her International career, then she learned fast adopting the accent, what does she got from Filipinos? “Lumaki na raw ang ulo, yumabang na” (she’s a swell-head and conceited) How some Filipinos can be so narrow-minded?

When it comes to musicality it’s hard to find flaws on Charice so the haters went low by criticizing her looks. The Filipino definition of beautiful is so screwed up and kinda shallow. What are the standards of beauty anyway? Is it lighter skin? Then why westerners developed tanning machine? Is it pointed nose? If it is, then majority of Filipinos are ugly. Is it the height? Then most Filipinos can never be beautiful. Charice is the epitome of a pure Filipina beauty but Filipinos are so into western kind of beauty which made them despise their own. I guess TV programs and magazines have changed the perception of the majority of Pinoys towards beauty.

Why can’t they just be happy and be proud of Charice? They don’t have to like her but they can respect her the way they want others to respect them. The problem is most of them are more updated about Charice and are always ahead on every articles and videos about her even beating the “Chasters” (collective term for Charice’s fans). They seem to have made their mission to leave defamatory comments on every articles and youtube videos of Charice. That is so pathetic!

Compilation of my tweets that lead me to write this article:

As long as there are people who love "Real Music" Charice will be in the music industry for a very long time.

All these negativities from some Pinoys are dragging me down, Wise yet ignorant, aware yet blind, critical yet dumb.

Some Filipinos are so dumb that they cannot appreciate their own beauty and the uniqueness of their own heritage. And it saddens me.

I could care less, but the thing is they're not hurting Charice, it's the image of us as a people that's being tarnished.

All things taboo before are becoming way of life these days. And kids are so wise yet ignorant.

You don't have to like her, just respect her, is that hard to do? She’s just a kid living her dreams.

There is a difference between opinion and insult. I may not like everybody but I refrain from insulting anyone.

Joke? I don't consider phrases defaming someone as jokes. Better say nothing at all if you have nothing good to say.


I never imagine this article will be this long and I haven’t said enough. I just wish that these Filipino haters will realize that they are not hurting Charice’s career but blatantly staining the image of Filipinos as a people. When asked by non-Filipino fans why some Filipinos are are so harsh on Charice? I fumble and I’m lost for words because I am asking the same question myself.

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26 comments:

Anonymous said...

great article my friend , my sentiments exactly , some just have miserable lives and were never hugged or loved.

elrem123 said...

very well said ron... i also ask the same question myself, why?

Anonymous said...

The answer is the Filipinos just don't like themselves....And the world outside laughs at them. That's why the Philippines is in such a sad sorry state of affairs.

Unknown said...

Why??? all the hate? i don't get it, what is wrong with those people? I'm a Belgian Chaster 44 y old (a white one)No matter what those morons tell me i like this girl so match i could easily drink her bathwater.
This girl is destined for greatness!!!!

Anonymous said...

Charice shld be treated as pride of the country just like Manny P. > I think we shld get a comment from the haters so we would know why?

Aeon Jelsey said...

Please at least use the Name/Url. you can put your twitter profile url or opt to at least put a name to make your comments more credible.

Unknown said...

This is well said, I am sadened why most Pilipino people are so jealous they even pretend to be a religious people but all they have is hatred in their heart. They could not accept the fact that Charice is going somewhere and they are not..even they have the looks. I felt bad whenever I read those harsh comment, I ignore it because this people don't look at the mirror and ask what is their purpose why they are here in this world, and I don't think this people are not happy about themseves or their family or just don't have anything to do..and just want to irritate people and need attention, that their parents never give them, they are not love..so they cannot love their country and Charice and that is too bad they will die a very sad people..

rv said...

This is just great! It was so spot on. I so very agree that these people really go low by criticising her looks as it is impossible for them to find flaws on her talent. Thanks and more success for charice

Eliza Manalo said...

First and foremost, NOT all Filipinos hate Charice or indulge in bashing Charice. A few however are very loud and crass about their hatred that, yes, they foolishly can find the time to follow her and research on her just to be able to put a negative and very false comment in every article there is about Charice. If they could only see how ridiculous they appear i dont think they can even laugh at themselves. It is indeed a shame that they would even create multiple accounts to make it seem that many hate Charice. Sadly a lot more just became fans and see thru the crap they spew. Charice's kindness towards her insensitive cruel haters just turns the tide in her favor and all the gain the haters get are those dumb enough to believe and shallow minded too like them. Bottomline, i pity more and laugh hard at the same time at these moronic haters. Charice is so above it all and i commend her mom for raising her kids to be sensible, God loving and down to earth. To the haters, my pity and derision. To Charice my admiration and heartfelt wish that she be blessed always and may she continue to be successful and very very famous :-)

Aeon Jelsey said...

Eliza I made it a point that I won't generalize. That's why "some" is all - over the article. They are only few compare to those who love Charice.

Anonymous said...

Nice article Aeon Jelsey. The crab mentality of Filipinos is so deeply entrenched.
----
Jas 3:16 Whenever people are JEALOUS or SELFISH, they cause trouble and do all sorts of cruel things.

Pro 14:30 A sound heart is the life of the flesh, but ENVY the rottenness of the bones

Anonymous said...

this so called haters are just few, it could only run by a few person... technology is fast progressing..if you know what i mean... those person have a corrupt mind. it's their works.. but good thing charice is one of the million who captured the hearts of every person. undeniable? Yes, thanks for the article.........

nokies said...

Great blog Bro!
The answer may lie in the history books. I think it's a deep and complicated mixture of how Filipinos are being raised up as a nation.

kb117 said...

Aeon, you're right. You haven't said enough on this topic. This hate roots from envy and leads to crab mentality.
Ever wonder why we do not have FilpinoTowns in other lands?
For a new idea or paradigm to be the norm, the old thinkers must die off first.

Aeon Jelsey said...

Don't worry guys, I'm just merely starting. I may not be able to wake up a million but even 1 or 2 is an accomplishment already.

I'm still proud of my roots but that pride is beginning to be shaken, but I won't let it fade away. Instead of wallowing I'll just try to do something about it...in my own little ways.

myinkheart4 said...

There are many reasons why the Philippines continues to be a poor country and one of these is that whenever someone starts achieving his/her dreams and rises "above" her "equals", there will always be those who are not able to accept being left behind, frustrated in their own attempts at success. So what they do to maintain the "equality" is pull the successful person down - this is the infamous crab mentality. Crabs find it hard to appreciate someone else's achievements bec they compare it with their own failures which they can't accept. It's a sad reality indeed. Fortunately, though, persons like Charice are made stronger by their faith in God and love of their family and friends - in the end Charice and others like her will continue to shine while the crabs/haters will wallow in their own misery.

Anonymous said...

AEON,,let there hate drowned them...they're few only....CHAMELS always support CHARICE all da way...nice blog bro,,keep it up...

anvil

Anonymous said...

Well written. Thank you so much for taking your time to write this article. I hope that all Filipino haters will read this for them to learn. Yes, it saddens me that most of the haters are Filipinos. How I wish they stop bashing Charice. Sometimes I'd comment on articles or videos just to defend her but it's not just enough to stop the haters.

Thank you for loving and supporting Charice. God bless you always.

Anonymous said...

for me i have no worries about these haters , just give charice more time and their hatred will turn to pride.

yyeah said...

good point. it's all about post-colonial mentality and a bit of cultural inferiority complex. those "haters" feel that beauty is defined by the media, and rightfully so the Filipino media is somewhat biased towards "mestizos" nowadays. a deep rooted dislike about one's self and community will take a while to get erased from the culture.

deadlysweet said...

There are just some who loves to hate for the heck of it. Believe me it's more their lost than anything else, wasting precious time hating. When they could be having more time basking in the glory of this magnificent talent.
For their sake, lets just hope they realize the error of their ways soon enough.

Anonymous said...

hello guys, im a filipino, "Hindi ko talaga maintindihan kung bakit mraming inggetero at inggetera s pinas, pero isa lang masasabi ko dyan, hindi umaasenso ang mga taong sakim at puro inggit lang ang alam".. personally i envy celebs BUT not at the point that i would HATE them besides i take them as inspiration to be successful in my own way..

Unknown said...

it's not about dragging her down, or because of jealousy why "some" despise Charice. Since she changed her looks to a "bolder" style, with all the blonde hair and contact lenses and the fake accent, it only shows this what her success brought her, she would act as if she's been in the business longer than anyone else, if you notice on the pilot episode of XFACTOR, PHILS. she over exaggerated herself, she'd do SO while her co-judges remained humble. She would talk in tagalog as if it wasn't her language and would display difficulty in speaking, she changed how she pronounced her name from Charice to Sharice. I am also a fan until she became different. I'd rather watch the girl with long hair and pretty face who speaks really good tagalog.

gershrez said...

WHY?? its human nature. some of us really have evil inside us that if we lose control, we release the hate. WHY do many people hate justin beiber ??? both charice and JB are now famous.. being famous, you will have fans who are very dedicated and haters that are unexplainable. its human nature. we could never change that nature. we should accept it and choose our path wisely...im a filipino and love manny paquiao

Droidfroyo said...

People are being like this to her so that she would realize that they don't like what they see now, They wanted the old charice, and for me, I don't want her gone from the limelight which in fact is what happening right now. I don't see her anymore in shows, both local and international. I love her and still do but if she keeps on continuing to be like this. This ain't a good sign... I hope she get her old looks back...

Anonymous said...

I agree with Vanity Fair, except that I was never a Charice fan. Not all so-called haters based their reactions through their emotions. That make us conclude that these people are "inggitero," "inggitera" or just because we had imbibed "colonial mentality." If we'll check some or maybe most of the comments against Charice, these are all real and factual. Being compared to Martin Nievera, who's known for speaking English well, is a master yet his feet stays firmly on the ground. And yes, she's commenting in XFactor, Phils as if she's been in the business for a very long time. Compared to me, of course, she's better. But compared to the masters she's not. The existence of the so-called haters is just a wake up call to Charice. They will not exist and grow in number if there's no change in her character. As my professor told us, "It's not the knowledge and skills that will bring you up, it is the character." I don't think so that checking our own attitude will harm us.

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