The first annual “Did you know they were Pinoy?” list (updated)
Does anyone remember the serial killer Andrew Cunanan? If you don’t, then he has been justly punished. Cunanan killed to become famous. Lots of people kill for fame, but he did it literally, murdering several people on a killing spree across the United States to his most famous victim, the designer Gianni Versace.
Here’s the weird part. When Cunanan first hit the news, the American media did not mention his ethnicity. He was an American. If I’m not mistaken it was the Filipinos who came out and declared that he was of Filipino descent, his father being a Bulakeño. From then on he was a Fil-American. Even weirder: various characters in Manila claimed to have been his lover. Oh fame, what we would do to have it, even fake a connection to a serial killer.
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We do that—find an ethnic connection to international celebrities. Even minor celebrities. So we’re coming up with an annual Did You Know They Were Pinoy? list to keep track of all the famous people we’re claiming as our own. Except that we’re limiting the field to persons of Filipino descent who have actually done something extraordinary. (Whether you think they deserve it or have a genius agent is beside the point.) Yes, people who worked for their fame (instead of killing or marrying it).
This being our first annual list we begin with the “classics”. We’re focusing on the entertainment industry to start, but will expand the list to include athletes such as Neil Etheridge in football and Craig Davies in rugby.
Why are Pac-Man and Charice not on this list? Because everyone already knows they’re PInoy.
Photo: Cinematographer Matthew Libatique and director Darren Aronofsky on the set of The Black Swan. Read Matthew Libatique’s interview in American Cinematographer.
Read the list while listening to this. N.E.R.D. & Daft Punk, Hypnotize U (Nero Remix)
10. Rob Schneider
He announces his being Pinoy often enough with gags about “bibingka” and such, and cameos by his Filipino mom in all his movies. Yes he makes dumb movies, but we laughed our heads off at Deuce Bigalow, Male Gigolo and look forward to Rob’s appearances in Adam Sandler movies.
Photo: Kirk Hammett from the Metallica website.
9. Kirk Hammett of Metallica
In the 90s various people swore that when Kirk Hammett was being interviewed by MTV someone in the background clearly said, “Kirk, kumain ka na ba?” We never did catch that clip, but we are happy to claim Kirk as one of our own.
8. Joey Santiago of The Pixies
One of the most influential musicians of the modern era. Without The Pixies there would be no Nirvana.
Photo: Joey Santiago from the Amoeblog.
7. Various performers in Glee and High School Musical
6. Mutya Buena of the former Sugababes
5. Nicole Scherzinger of Pussy Cat Dolls
4. Apl.de.ap of the Black Eyed Peas
Yeah Bebo.
3. Chad Hugo of N.E.R.D.
Photo: Chad Hugo, Pharrell Williams and Shay Haley of N.E.R.D.
2. Bruno Mars
1. Matthew Libatique, cinematographer of Iron Man 1 and 2 and Darren Aronofsky’s movies Pi, Requiem for a Dream and others, and a likely Oscar contender for his brilliant work on The Black Swan.
Before Flip shut down we were planning to give Matthew an Instrument of World Domination Award, and we’d already told him. He thought we were kidding at first. Good show Matthew.
You will let us know if our information is incorrect or if we missed someone.
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The graphic novelist Lynda Barry frequently mentions her Filipino ancestry.
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As expected, everyone who’s ever been within ten meters of a velvet rope is claimed by Pinoys. We’d say “That’s so Pinoy” except that every other nationality does the same thing. Except Americans because they’re all from somewhere else. This was the source of their power. Look what’s happened.
Answers to questions you might be asking, unless you wandered onto this site purely by accident >>>
January 12th, 2011 at 01:06
Lou Diamond Phillips who grew up or was born in Subic is part Filipino, actress Tia Carerre, film producer Dean Devlin (Independence Day) and Rachel Grant from James Bond’s Die Another Day is also part Filipina. Another Fil-Brit or Dutch, Myleen Klass, a virtual unknown here but she’s huge in the UK as I was told. She is now one of the models of Marks & Spencer, a host and singer. Sugar Pie deSanto is Pinay right?
January 12th, 2011 at 01:09
Charlynne Yi, comedian.
January 12th, 2011 at 04:01
Jo Koy. Las Vegas comedian and Chelsea Lately panel regular.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYzuRfcIRAQ
January 12th, 2011 at 04:06
Si Ashley ng Hannah Montana apo ni Sylvia La Torre.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Maria_Perez_de_Tagl%C3%A9
January 12th, 2011 at 08:58
1) Mmmmm, Bruno Mars and Chad Hugo. That’s some globally-recognized pogi, right then and there… or at least in the non-Younghusband category of pogi. ;) And my friends are still kinikilig over the fact that Darren Criss, who plays the gay prep-school dreamboat Blaine on Glee, is proud to be half-Cebuano.
2) Matthew Libatique is a brilliant cinematographer. His work on Requiem for a Dream is one of the reasons why that movie – or at least the last half of it – continues to give me nightmares.
3) @Juan: Anna Maria Perez de Tagle is my first choice to play me in my life story.
Which reminds me: If there’s going to be an all-athlete Did You Know They Were Pinoy? list, I’d like to put in my votes for Tim Lincecum, J.R. Celski, and Tai Babilonia.
January 12th, 2011 at 09:19
This list is helpful, though it included Reynaldo Lapuz of American Idol (We Are Brothers Forever) infamy.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Filipino_Americans
@Brewhuh–I love Mylene Klaas, though I’ve only seen her on her CNN program. Didn’t know she was part-Pinoy.
January 12th, 2011 at 09:24
The Fil-Am R&B group Legaci was Justin Bieber’s back-up last year and appeared on SNL, The View and Ellen:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/20/arts/music/20legaci.html
January 12th, 2011 at 09:35
Nine-year-old Kim who’s part-Pinoy made it to the finals of last year’s Holland’s got talent.
In this clip, he discusses his Filipino background. Also check the Philippine flag being waved by the audience.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3bj1bN833s
World domination na ito!
January 12th, 2011 at 10:23
Off the top of my head… :)
Kira Clavell from Jamie Kennedy’s 2007 film “Kickin It Old Skool”.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0165413/
:P
January 12th, 2011 at 11:18
Oy, Jessica, you might find this app useful – http://www.math.ohio-state.edu/~fowler/software/cat-nip/. I just downloaded it for my Mac. It “detects cat-like typing and locks the keyboard, usually in under a half second.”
Had to download it as my cat once replied to my former boss’ email saying “assssssss”. They really have super powers do they? I’ve since resigned and now working as an F-word (freelancer).
Sorry had to post this here. I can’t find an email me or contact me link here in your site. Or maybe I just missed it as I’ve been awake for more than 24 hours (hence the rambling, my apologies).
Oh well on a related note to your post, I knew it Bruno Mars is Pinoy. He looks like a tricycle driver. His songs are sooo cheesy it’s a giveaway he’s one of ours. I hate those formulated, pa-cute crap. I wanna gouge my eyes when I hear Just The Way You Are or Marry You. I wanna beat the hell out of him like i wanna pull off a peruvian necktie on Quinito Henson.
January 12th, 2011 at 12:23
@Cornholio: Are you implying that Filipino music is inferior and sub-par by virtue of its corniness? If so, please read the list again.
January 12th, 2011 at 13:13
bruno’s nose is so pinoy.
Darren Criss – his version of teenage dream in glee made everyone see a whole new side of the song and knew what glee has been missing all season long–MUSIC.
January 12th, 2011 at 14:25
@cornhorlio — Bakit mo naman nasabing mukhang magta-tricycle si Bruno Mars? :)
Remember Marnie from Ang TV? She’s now kind of huge Off-Broadway as Marie-France Arcilla and has appeared on Cashmere Mafia and Law & Order: SVU.
http://broadwayworld.com/people/?personid=11955
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2118877/
January 12th, 2011 at 15:03
Kaye— re: Myleen Klass: Marie Claire Philippines did a feature on her before the magazine folded. I was pleasantly surprised as well when I learned about it.
Here are several other actors in Hollywood who have Filipino blood:
Phoebe Cates (80’s star)
Shannon Sossamon (40 days, 40 nights with Josh Hartnett, The Holiday) Sharon Leal (played Effie’s replacement in Dream girls the movie)
Rex Lee (from Entourage- uyyy Jake’s favorite!- as Ari Gold’s assistant Lloyd)
And of course there’s this urban legend going around about hip-hop mogul Jay-Z being part Filipino. I have yet to trace his lineage and it has already taken me years (2 on and off) researching on this hehe.
January 12th, 2011 at 15:53
There are hot tricycle drivers.
January 12th, 2011 at 16:30
Rin on the Rox
Vanessa Minilo
Enrique Iglesias
Rico Hizon (BBC)
Marie Ramos (CNN)
the demon from Constantine ?
January 12th, 2011 at 18:11
The indie band from New York, Versus is 3/4 Filipino.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBu7L5kfdGo&feature=related
January 12th, 2011 at 19:31
Good call on Vanessa Minnillo and Phoebe Cates! (And, um, hot tricycle drivers. Not that I’ve seen them in my subdivision, though.)
@brewhuh23: The urban legend that I heard was Prince – yes, THAT Prince – being part-Filipino. I’d believe that, since it would explain Prince’s height.
More:
– Travie McCoy (lead singer for Gym Class Heroes; dueted with Bruno Mars on “Billionaire”; also, ex-boyfriend of Katy Perry)
– Christopher Guanlao (drummer for indie band Silversun Pickups – I had to look this one up, though: http://goodnewspilipinas.com/?p=942)
– Braxton Olita (session guitarist and keyboardist, currently touring with Jared Leto’s band 30 Seconds to Mars; also, ex-boyfriend of Ashlee Simpson)
– Victoria Recano (former co-host for The Insider)
– Dante “Rufio” Basco… and his brothers Dion Basco and Derek Basco
– Cheryl Burke (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheryl_Burke – professional ballroom dancer and two-time champion on the US version of Dancing With the Stars)
January 12th, 2011 at 19:33
T.V. Carpio (Prudence in Across the Universe)
January 12th, 2011 at 19:41
OMG, I forgot about Alec Mapa, too! He played Suzuki St. Pierre on Ugly Betty… and is often mistaken for Rex Lee, who is of Korean descent: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0544568/bio
January 12th, 2011 at 21:02
College band Moonpools & Caterpillars are pinoy. Or at least half of them are. They even cover Juan dela Cruz: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzD2yZ1m0v4
LA indie band Silversun Pickups’ drummer Chris Guanlao is Pinoy. Watch this performance on Letterman that blew Dave away. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfUJIpJV25g
January 12th, 2011 at 21:03
JPop music fans should remember Leah Dizon. Mid-noughties siya sumikat sa Japan, kaya lang nabuntis at nagpakasal, ngayon separated.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leah_Dizon
January 12th, 2011 at 21:18
Rachel Bilson. I think I read it from Cosmo mag that her father is a Filipino.
January 12th, 2011 at 21:18
“Like a G6, like a G6. Now I’m feeling so fly like a G6…” Repeat ad nauseam.
Would that song sound less annoying and more tolerable if you knew that one member of Far East Movement is Pinoy?
January 12th, 2011 at 22:53
@stellalehua – obviously not. your reply does not make any sense no?
January 12th, 2011 at 23:28
Mark Dacascos, the “Chairman” of Iron Chef America and Iron Chef Australia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Dacascos
was surprised to see Bruno Mars on this list so I looked him up. found out that he was arrested last year for cocaine. that was quick.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20017098-504083.html
January 12th, 2011 at 23:31
btw, in the article, Bruno Mars was found in possession of cocaine in a bathroom at Hard Rock hotel Las Vegas.
“After taking what seemed like an unusually long time, the bathroom attendant alerted a security guard who confronted Hernandez as he exited the stall, says the report.”
damn! what if you just needed to take a dump and the presence of a bathroom attendant beyond your cubicle door makes you bashful?
January 13th, 2011 at 01:17
“stellalehua: . . . I had to look this one up, though: http://goodnewspilipinas.com/?p=942) ”
Whoa! Agustana are Pinoy???!?!
January 13th, 2011 at 07:46
Speaking of Pinoy celebrities with drug-related arrests, Lalaine – who used to be Hilary Duff’s sidekick on Lizzie McGuire – was arrested for possession of crystal meth three years ago (http://www.tmz.com/2008/04/25/mr-toads-wild-meth-ride/), but it looks like she’s done with rehab and performing in a new band. Good for her.
@Juan: Yep. I didn’t know about the Pinoys in Augustana either. Then again, the only Augustana song I know and like is “Boston,” so I’m not exactly as cool as I used to be. ;)
Also, the best way for me to deal with “Like a G6” is to tell myself that the annoying girl who sings the hook (who also looks annoying in the video) is not part of Far East Movement. Nice to hear that one of them is Pinoy, though.
January 13th, 2011 at 09:30
Cornholio! Hell yeah! Ahaha!
“I am the Great Cornholio! I need TP for my bunghole!”
Ahaha, thanks greatcornholio for refreshing that darling Beavis!
January 13th, 2011 at 12:14
Ah, let’s not forget about Dave “the animal” Batista:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batista_(wrestler)
and Jasmine Trias:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jasmine_Trias
January 13th, 2011 at 14:01
Shay Mitchell of Pretty Little Liars is Lea Salonga’s niece.
January 13th, 2011 at 14:03
NATALIE COUGHLIN, who won 11 Olympic medals in swimming representing the United States is 1/4 Pinoy.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natalie_Coughlin
JR CELSKI, who won bronze in the speed skating at the 2010 Winter Olympics and also five-time world medalist, is half Pinoy.
BATISTA, of course, of WWE.
SHANNYN SOSSAMON, Heath Ledge’s partner at A Knight’s Tale.
January 13th, 2011 at 21:25
Here’s a new one – Heilee Steinfeld, that girl who played Mattie Ross in the Coen Brothers’ True Grit is said to be 1/4 Filipino. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hailee_Steinfeld
January 14th, 2011 at 08:33
@jeffwar314 CNN weather presenter Mari Ramos is from Nicaragua, so definitely not Pinay even if she might look like one
But don’t forget Veronica Pedrosa now with AlJazeera English (after stints at CNN and BBC) and Cher Calvin, Jessica’s former co-host at Point of View
Efren Reyes almost stole the thunder from the Rock in one of his films, after appearing in Ninja Turtles
January 14th, 2011 at 11:23
Efren Reyes, the karate kid.
January 14th, 2011 at 14:24
The US indie rock scene crawls with Pinoys.
There was (the late lamented) Denver-based group Hot IQs with drummer Elaine Acosta
http://www.myspace.com/hotiqs
There’s David Pajo of the seminal midwestern math rock group Slint, who was also part of Billy Corgan’s Zwan and was recently a touring member of The Yeah Yeah Yeahs
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_pajo
Then there also is Jerome Fontamillas of Switchfoot
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerome_Fontamillas
January 14th, 2011 at 14:52
Andrew Cunanan was briefly mentioned in Criminal Minds Season 1 by one of the BAU agents Dr. Spencer Reid.
Interestingly, your question in Twisted, if there’s a serial killers in the Philippines could also be answered in the same season. It’s called, Chikinilya (I’m not sure about the spelling, it’s supposed to be after a killer in Ukraine, one of the most prolific) syndrome. (the belief that serial killers are uniquely an American phenomena tied to capitalism.)
Anyway, I think it’s more explained by the episode itself, which is set in Mexico and has a very similar culture to RP. There’s a correlation between broken families and serial killer. Statistically, Countries with high incidence of broken families have more serial killers, US vs. Mexico.
Yes, I’m watching too much DVDs.
January 14th, 2011 at 18:54
@ stellahua — Thanks for the correction about the Alec Mapa/Rex Lee mix up hehe :D I think I got too excited :D
January 15th, 2011 at 03:54
Porn star and adult model Michelle Maylene. Her father is of French ancestry, and her mother is Filipino and Hawaiian (Wikipedia). I first saw her in Jenna Jameson’s American Sex Star. She was so young back then, only 18 or something. She looks so much different now in her photos. She’s also in Co-ed Confidential, a tv series. I didn’t know about that. Just saw it @ Wikipedia. hehe
January 17th, 2011 at 00:15
I suddenly remembered Ken Paves, Hollywood hairstylist to Jennifer Lopez, Eva Longoria and Jessica Simpson is also a half-Filipino and Mally Roncal (Beyonce’s make up artist and released her own make up line in the US as well) is also a Filipino.
January 19th, 2011 at 12:05
There’s a Filipino contestant in the current edition of Operacion Triunfo (Spain’s version of Idol/Star Academy). Her name is Alexandra Masangkay, born in Barcelona to Filipio parents. Based on online polls, she’s quite popular. But then again, with the polls being online, I’m suspecting lots of Filipino support. Seems she’s not hiding her Filipino ancestry.
http://alexandra.otlive.es/
January 28th, 2011 at 09:54
The honor of being called the most famous sports figure of Filipino-American blood belongs to Roman Gabriel, the first Asian-American NFL quarterback (1962-1977). He was named the National Football league MVP in 1969 and in 1973 was NFL’s Comeback Player of The year.
Born Roman Ildonzo Gabriel, Jr., he is the son of Roman Gabriel, an Ilocano immigrant and his Irish-American wife.
He was the first Asian-American to start as an NFL quarterback and is considered by many to have been one of the best quarterbacks during the late 1960s and early 70s.
After his pro career, Gabriel worked in some movies, playing a prison guard in Otto Preminger’s 1968 spoof Skidoo and an American Indian named “Blue Boy” in the 1969 John Wayne film The Undefeated. As a result it gave rise to a popular belief that he may really be a Native American instead of a half-Filipino.
February 3rd, 2011 at 19:25
Here’s some that i know but they are Fil-Canadians
Lexa Doig – actress on Stargate SG-1 and Gene Roddenberry’s Andromeda
Emm Gryner – Toronto-based singer/songwriter of mixed Filipino ancestry
Cassie Steele – actress on Degrassi: The Next Generation
Natalie Mendoza – is half Filipino and half British; she starred on the BBC tv series Hotel Babylon and the movie The Descent (Part 1&2)