Vanessa Hudgens Is Proud To Be Filipino Amid Tourism Issue

Vanessa Hudgens said that she is proud of her Filipino roots

Hollywood actress Vanessa Hudgens is proud to be a Filipino amid the criticism she received for being the Philippines’ tourism ambassador.

Early this year, Vanessa visited the Philippines with her sister and her Filipino mom. This is because she became the tourism ambassador of the country. This became controversial.

For some Filipinos, she does not deserve to be the tourism ambassador because she was raised as an American and she barely knows the Philippine culture. Korean star Sandara Parks trended on Twitter during the ceremony for Vanessa as she officially received the tourism ambassador title.

Many Filipinos said that the Pambansang Krung-Krung is more deserving than Vanessa Hudgens. It is also known to many that issues surfaced surrounding this matter. It was alleged that director Paul Soriano, who was named Presidential Adviser on Creative Communications, allegedly “nagwala” during the press conference for Vanessa.

In a recent interview, based on the article in PEP, Vanessa said that she was brought up the American way. “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,” she said.

She also shared that it is empowering that she is able to represent her heritage. The Hollywood actress mentioned that everyone she met when she visited the Philippines looked 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,” she shared.

Vanessa also shared that people often mistook her as a Latina, just like her role in High School Musical. This is the reason why people were shocked when she told them that she is a Filipina.

“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,” the actress said.

Vanessa Hudgens stressed that it is something that makes her happy as well when people would come up to her and say “You were the first person that I saw that looks like me on TV.’ I want to cry.”

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