Imelda Schweighart gets heat for slamming Filipinos’ love for K-pop
Imelda Schweighart, a budding singer, recently ranted against K-pop. Image: Instagram/@imelda_schweighart
Beauty queen Imelda Schweighart drew flak after claiming that “Filipinos are losing their identity” in their appreciation for K-pop.
The Filipino-German model took to Facebook yesterday, Nov. 23, to rant against Korean music in a series of posts. Her page appears to have been taken down after her statements received criticism.
It is unclear what prompted Schweighart’s remarks. The ex-Miss Earth Philippines is a budding singer who goes by the artist name Imelda; her songs are all in English.
“I hate K-pop,” she said on Facebook.
“Filipinos are losing their identity trying to be like [Koreans]. Konting (Have a bit of) pride, please?”
“[‘Di hamak] na mas magaling naman [mag-English] mga [Pinoy kaysa Korean],” she argued.
(No doubt Filipinos are better at speaking English than Koreans.)
“Kala ko ba Chinese nananakop? I think we’re getting it wrong. Lagi [na lang] tayo sinasakop.”
(I thought the Chinese were our conquerors? I think we’re getting it wrong. We are always getting conquered.)
“Pinoy Big Brother” alum Richard Juan called out “double standards” made against K-pop compared with Western culture.
“So our deep-rooted American influence is fine, but when it’s Korean, hindi na pwede (it isn’t allowed)?”
Juan suggested, “[Why don’t] you celebrate the fact that us ASIANS are finally making a name for ourselves at the global stage?”
“Oh wait, or is it [because] you think white is better?”
So our deep-rooted American influence is fine, but when it's Korean, hindi na pwede? NKKLK.
Y dont you celebrate the fact that us ASIANS are finally making a name for ourselves at the global stage. Oh wait, or is it cus you think white is better?
F*cking double standards.
— 范鴻志 RICHARD JUAN 홍지 (@richardjuan) November 23, 2020
“Pinoy Pride is championing Pinoy talent, products, and culture, without degrading others,” said actress Mela Habijan after Schweighart’s statements went viral.
She also said there was nothing wrong in appreciating other cultures, explaining that they can be sources of inspiration.
Habijan noted too that speaking English “is never a measure of one’s intellect and greatness.” She cited “Parasite,” the first film in non-English language to win best picture at the Oscars.
And please let’s stop using: “Mas magaling tayo mag-English sa kanila.” The English language is never a measure of one’s intellect and greatness.
Hindi man sila magaling mag-English, may KPop, KDrama, Samsung, at Parasite sila.
— Mela Franco Habijan (@missmelahabijan) November 23, 2020
The impact of K-pop and K-dramas have been sources of discussion, especially in relation to what the local entertainment industry is offering. Director Jose Javier Reyes recently praised K-dramas for their variety of storylines compared with those of Filipino shows, which he observed have been recycling plotlines like kidnappings and being switched at birth. /ra
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