Nagpaliwanag si Vanessa Hudgens kasunod ng batikos na natatanggap niya pagdating sa kanyang pagiging Filipino.
Si Vanessa, 34, ay Filipino-American Hollywood actress na nagsimulang sumikat sa High School Musical film series noong early 2000.
Noong March 2023, bumisita sa Pilipinas si Vanessa matapos mapiling global tourism ambassador ng Pilipinas.
Ito rin ang kauna-unahang pagbisita ni Vanessa sa bansa, ang home country ng kanyang Filipino mom na si Gina Guangco.
Subalit umani ng batikos si Vanessa sa pagkakapiling tourism ambassador dahil pinalaki siya sa American culture.
Sa sariling salita ni Vanessa, pinalaki siyang, “super, super American.”
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Inamin ito ng actress-singer sa interview ni Marie Lodi para sa Allure, na lumabas noong September 14, 2023.
Hindi rin daw nagsasalita ng Tagalog ang kanyang ina sa bahay.
Ani Vanessa, “Yes, I had rice with every meal, but I didn’t necessarily feel like I was super separated from the other kids in school, just because my upbringing was so extremely American.”
Mula nang makapunta sa Amerika, muli lamang nakabalik sa Pilipinas ang ina ni Vanessa nang may mamatay na kapamilya noong 2019.
Nang mapisil bilang tourism ambassador ng Pilipinas, nagpunta si Vanessa sa Pilipinas nito lamang Marso 2023, kasama ang kapatid at ina.
Sinabi ni Vanessa na isa sa mga rason kaya niya tinanggap ang tourism project ay dahil nais niyang alamin ang kanyang pinanggalingan.
Bago pa raw tanggapin ang proyekto ay nakakaramdam siya ng “missing piece” dahil wala siyang alam sa kanyang Filipino background.
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RECONNECTING with her FILIPINO HERITAGE
Nang makapunta sa Pilipinas, binalikan daw ni Vanessa ang kanyang pinagmulan.
“It felt so empowering to know where you’re from, and be able to represent your heritage,” aniya sa Allure.
Sabi naman niya tungkol sa kanyang karanasan sa Pilipinas: “It was such a beautiful experience.
“I feel like I didn’t meet a single person that felt like they were having a bad day, everyone was just like, so happy.
“I think the secret to life is community; it doesn’t matter how much you have what you have, it’s about the people you choose to fill your life with.”
Paliwanag ng Fil-Am actress, marami raw ang nalilito sa kanyang ethnicity at may epekto rito ang kanyang pagganap sa High School Musical bilang si Gabriella Montez na isang Latina.
“And when I tell them I’m Filipino, they’re like, ‘What?’
“But I am doing everything that I can do to let people know because I am proud.”
MORE FILIPINO REPRESENTATION
Masaya raw si Vanessa na nagkakaroon na ng mas maraming nagre-represent ng mga Pinoy sa Hollywood, tulad nina Lea Salonga at Olivia Rodrigo.
Gusto raw tiyakin ni Vanessa na proud siyang i-represent ang dugong Pinoy sa beauty at entertainment industry.
“The most incredible thing is when I have these girls come up to me, and they’re like, ‘You were the first person that I saw that looks like me on TV.’ I want to cry.
“It’s just really beautiful to be able to be an identifying person that helps allow others to feel seen.”