Image: Instagram/@solenn
Solenn Heussaff was quick to defend herself when a netizen told her that being a Filipino is not about race, but a concept and identity. The exchange happened on Twitter two days ago, May 22, when a certain Jose Alas shared a quote of an interview of Heussaff recently, saying she is still Filipino despite only being half Filipino.
Heussaff is born to a Filipino mother and a French national father who is of Breton descent. Heussaff grew up here in the Philippines, although she studied and lived in Paris, France for a few years.
“This is wrong @solennheussaff. I won’t make similarities with other nationalities or races because our case is unique, but being Filipino is not about blood or nationality,” wrote the netizen last Tuesday. “Being Filipino is beyond that… Filipino is not a race. It’s a concept, an identity.”
The netizen further wrote that anyone can say one is a Filipino by nationality, or say one is a Filipino by just a drop of blood. “But to be an authentic Filipino? One has to immerse himself in its identity to find out. One has to learn and understand its history.”
This is wrong, @solennheussaff. I won’t make similarities with other nationalities or races because our case is unique, but being Filipino is not about blood or nationality. Being Filipino is beyond that…
Filipino is not a race. It’s a concept, an identity.
— Pepe Alas (@JoseMarioAlas) May 22, 2018
Anybody can claim to be a Filipino by nationality, @solennheussaff. Or one can say he’s Filipino even by a drop of blood. But to be an authentic Filipino? One has to immerse himself in its Identity to find out. One has to learn and understand its history. 😊
— Pepe Alas (@JoseMarioAlas) May 22, 2018
Heussaff, on her end, did not let the netizen’s words go unanswered as she replied to him in defense. “I am Filipino. I grew up here. I am by blood. I am by heart and I do know Filipino culture. Does everything have to be a battle in this time and age?”
I am filipino. I grew up here. I am by blood. I am by heart and i do know filipino culture. I does everything always have to be a battle in this time and age?
— Solenn Heussaff (@solennheussaff) May 23, 2018
The netizen replied saying he was not contesting Heussaff’s claims of being a “Filipino,” just correcting her notion of race and blood. “Being a Filiipino/Filipina is beyond that. Filipino is not a race. It is a concept.”
“I’m a Filipino,” Heussaff wrote again, posting a screenshot of Wikipedia definition of Filipino. “Just focus on living and helping our country and spreading positive vibes. Tc (take care).”
“Nice, Wikipedia,” the netizen wrote back in sarcasm. “I hope you understand that me correcting your erroneous notion of what a Filipino is doesn’t mean that I no longer love nor want to help my country, nor am I spreading negative vibes. Correcting you is not tantamount to bashing you, my dear.”
It seems though that Heussaff realized the futility of trying to exchange in a conversation that only goes in circles, as she no longer replied to the netizen anymore.
Not many may know, but apart from modeling, hosting and acting, Heussaff is also involved in various causes, such as a collective called #WeCreateHope that tours around schools to educate students about the creative power of cooperation across ages, races and cultures.
As for her artwork, her paintings on her Instagram show that Heussaff often takes inspiration from ordinary people. Her paintings often depict the mundane more than the glamorous, such as workers, vagrants, markets and provincial life. JB
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