El Mes Español — A List Of Spanish-speaking Celebrities In The Philippines Today
October 18th, 2006
Filed under: Strange Celebrities
Today’s local stardom has its generous share of Spanish-speakers.
In local showbusiness, it’s already a big deal if an actor speaks either fluent or Jimmy Santos English. But strangely, considering the dearth of Spanish-speakers in the Philippines today, Spanish-speaking celebrities don’t even flaunt their superb español.
Here is a list of some Filipino newsmakers who you don’t even know speaks the language of Cervantes (this ain’t a complete list; but you may add local stars who you know are hispanohablantes)…
- Jon Achaval — actor, businessman. Played a bit role in the Marilou Díaz-Abaya 1998 opus “Rizal”. He’s a bit popular nowadays due to his current endorsement of Bulldog Superglue. Atención, Sr. Achaval: el producto que promueve no está funciona. Lo intenté en un papel, pero era un fracaso — ¡no lo funcionó según expectativas! Dentro de unos segundos, ¿eh? Una mentira.
- Gloria Macapagal Arroyo — Spanish is her primary language. Her father, the late President Diosdado Macapagal, was a great poet in Spanish before the latter entered the crazy world of politics. Even her husband, José Miguel “Libel’s-my-game-if-I-ever-hear-a-damn-derogatory-remark-from-you!” Arroyo, speaks the language (I’m not sure if their children do). But despite these impressive Cervantine credentials, the Academia Filipina de la Lengua Española made a terrible mistake in its hallowed history when it accepted the disgusting membership of this succubus of a pseudo-president. This she-devil (who is currently pinning down her political enemies one by one, aside from the killing spree that she enjoys with Satan’s Pinoy bitch Jovito Palparán) has done ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO GUARD, TO SPREAD, AND TO ENNOBLE THE SPANISH LANGUAGE (custodiar, difundir y enaltecer el idioma español). This horrid grotesque freak of Philippine politics is simply too much to hope for. She gives the local hispanohablantes a bad name. Man, I’m running out of fucked-up adjectives for Señora Busñgál. Sorry for the garbage words, but this stinkin’ Malacañang bitch really boils my blood all the time. (Chill down, Mike. It’s not you that I’m berating but your stinkin’ missus. So do yourself a favor and keep your ears focused on Alan Peter Cayetano, OK? Coz’ sooner or later, he’s about to bring you down… @sshole!)
- Dyan Castillejo de García – former tennis sensation, now host of ABS-CBN’s “Sports Unlimited.” Whenever the country’s number one media outfit needs firsthand stories from Latino countries, they tap the Spanish-speaking skills of Ms. Castillejo. Currently, she has been doing interviews with Mexican boxers, particularly with Manny Pacquiáo’s archenemy, the proud Erik “El Terrible” Morales.
- Pilita Corrales — singer, actress. ¡Ay! Do I really have to explain more?
- Doña Mary M. Ejército — mother of PRESIDENT Joseph E. Estrada. I wonder how Erap responds to her 101-year-old mom when the latter speaks to the former in Spanish…
- Federico Espino — writer, polyglot. Philippine literature lost a treasure when this great scribe lost his, well, mind. This multi-awarded writer wrote not only in Spanish (he even won a Premio Ramón Basterra in Spain back in the ’70s, beating native Spaniards!) but in Tagalog, Iloco, Capampañgan, and English as well. The last time I heard, this hapless writer was confined in the National Center for Mental Health in Mandaluyong City. He’s on this list, but to be honest, I’m not even sure if he’s still alive…
- Jaime Fábregas — actor/comedian, musical scorer. Moviegoers only learned that he is un hispanohablante when he starred in the film “Rizal”. He took off from his slapstick image when he played the serious role of Rizal’s lawyer, Luis Taviel de Andrade, in a remarkable and surprising portrayal not usually seen from comedians. It earned him a Best Supporting Actor award from the 1998 Metro Manila Film Festival. I loved his villainous character (Menandro Soriano) in an ABS-CBN soap “Sa Dulo Ng Walang Hanggan” which was shown a few years back. He should be given more roles like that.
- Peque Gallaga — reputedly dubbed as the Philippines’ version of Steven Spielberg. If only the researchers behind Díaz-Abaya’s “Rizal” did their homework carefully, they wouldn’t have had Gallaga act the way he did when the respected director UNJUSTLY brought to life Archbishop Bernardo Nozaleda, OP on the silver screen. Sad.
- Patrick García — matinee idol. Many of his fans (or what’s left of it) know that he is of Spanish descent. But it’s not very well known that he speaks the language as well. If this is true, then his celebrity siblings (Chesca, actress; Pichón, commercial model, jujitsu martial artist) are Spanish-speaking, too.
- José Marí González — former matinee idol turned politician, audio and video engineer, Congress disciplinarian (former House Sgt.-at-Arms Bayani Fávic can tell you more about it). He is the father of former actress and sexy star Cristina González.
- Marra Lánot — acclaimed writer. She is still being haunted by the “Spanish Muse” from time to time.
- Tony Mabesa — actor, director. This septuagenarian wonder appeared in last year’s ABS-CBN soap “Vietnam Rose” (top-billed by Diamond Star Maricel Soriano). He was also a cast of “Rizal” (as Governador General Camilo de Polavieja).
- Edu Manzano — actor, former Makati City Vice Mayor. He was on the same stage the day that Arroyo STOLE the presidency from Erap. In 2001, he ran for the mayoralty of Makati City against Jejomar Binay (currently embattled against the true enemies of the state), but lost (thank goodness). He once headed the controversial Optical Media Board. He was born in San Francisco, California, where there is a large concentration of Spanish speakers. But I’m not sure if that’s where he learned his Spanish. Hmmm. How fluent is he, by the way?
- Imee Marcos — representative of Ilocos Norte (2nd District). Aside from Spanish, Iloco, and Tagalog, I read in some magazine (I forgot the title) that she speaks five other languages. So that would be a total of eight! But how true is this? Anyway, I just hope that she’s not fluent in her mom’s language — the language of filthy lucre.
- César Montano — award-winning actor. He learned his Spanish from Instituto Cervantes when he was about to play the National Hero in Díaz-Abaya’s Rizal. But since the language lesson was a crash course, I doubt if he’s still fluent with the language. Pues, si Ud. lee esto ¿sigue me entiende, Sr. Montano?
- Germán Moreno – Actor, TV talk show host, former “star maker” (That’s Entertainment). Mr. Moreno’s a very humble gentlemen; despite his superstar status (uh, years ago?), he doesn’t brag that he can speak Spanish even in his sleep.
- Ambeth Ocampo — historian. He studied the language in order to aid himself in his historical researches.
- Niñez Cacho de Olivares — editor-in-chief of today’s only champion newspaper against the mafia government of the Philippines — The Daily Tribune.
- Maggie de la Riva — actress, flamenco dancer. The country knows her story very well. She was sexually abused by motherless punks (who are now waiting for Arroyo and Palparán to join them in hell). But like a phoenix, she has come out from the ashes of defeat and crushed her tormentors as well as her dark and painful past.
- Alejandro Roces — National Artist for Literature, former chairman of the controversial College Assurance Plan (CAP). In my opinion, perhaps the controversy over at CAP was what made him look much older than his age.
- Loretta “Etta” Rosales — party-list representative of Akbayan. She used to teach Spanish at the Jose Rizal College before taking the fight for social justice out to the streets. Her political adventures eventually landed her to a congressional seat. (NOTE: If anything bloody ever happens to her –heaven forbid–, please refer to number 2 of this list).
- Domingo Siázon — Philippine Ambassador to Japan. Siázon was also a former secretary of Foreign Affairs and Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).
- Máximo Soliven — editor-in-chief of The Philippine Star, I Shall Prevail. He learned his Spanish from his Ilocano grandparents.
- April “Boy” Regino – singer, actor, Philippine idol. No. Just kidding.
But is there anyone else you know?
Stumble it!
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Jomar, how can you forget Hispanofilipino’ s very own Gemma Cruz Araneta - Miss International 1964?
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¡Ay, caramba! ¡Qué tonterías! Perdón, Sra. Gemma. Lo siento mucho…
October 20th, 2006 at 4:37 am
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October 24th, 2006 at 8:24 pm
I would like to submit Gloria Diaz (Miss Universe 196-?) as an hispanohablante.
October 25th, 2006 at 1:09 am
Wow! I didn’t even know that she speaks the language. Interesting! Thanks for the info!
October 25th, 2006 at 5:51 am
I was brought up in a Spanish speaking household, of which she (Tita Glori) was a frequent guest, and she was one of the very few of my parents’ friends that spoke to me and my siblings in Spanish.
October 26th, 2006 at 11:10 pm
That’s a revelation. By the way, if I’m not mistaken, Sra. Díaz won the Miss Universe crown in 1969.
December 17th, 2006 at 6:24 am
To the one who comment with Bulldog endorsed by Jon Achaval… I’ve been using this product all this time with leathers, plastic wares, wooden products and Papers.I could assure it to you that it works. Maybe you don’t read and follow the instructions on it… Don’t use it like a rugby.
December 18th, 2006 at 6:37 pm
Don’t use it like a rugby? Don’t worry! I didn’t even sniff it. =)
January 29th, 2008 at 6:55 am
Why do Filipinos insist on speaking Tagalog?
We American born Filipinos are so embarassed of Tagalog speakers, especially when they start speaking English.
What is worse is that speaking Spanish in the U.S. means one has no education, no legal documentation, uncircumcised men, lack of innovation and intellectual capacity and Spanish is a second-class and inferior language to English. It is opposite in the Philippines, right?
Oops, if Filipinos speak Spanish, like they speak English, don’t ever expect the country to be “anything” important, but a waste of space on earth.
January 29th, 2008 at 6:56 am
p.s.
Those of you who speak Tagalog? In a global perspective, what the Hell is that?
How embarassing ! ! Tagalog? YUK!!!!
January 29th, 2008 at 7:06 am
All I know is this,
Japan…..innovation, powerful economy
Korea…..growing economy, soon to be Japan’s equal
China…..economic giant, future superpower
Philippines….? selling guavas and mangos? leads the region in corruption and crooks? terrible English speakers? forcing a barbaric tribal language ofTagalog/Filipino as a “national” language and not Spanish?
You Filipinos have no right to even exist in Asia. You are an embarassment to China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia and India. You definitely are the Mexicans and blacks of Asia. Shame on you!
January 29th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
What’s the matter, Yellow Race? Did a Filipina girl turn you down? Don’t take it out on Filipinos, you moron.
January 30th, 2008 at 10:54 am
Apparently, Yellow Race can’t accept the fact that the demonym Asian also applies not just to chink-eyed, yellow-skinned chingchongchangs, but also to Hispano-influenced crossbreeds called Filipinos.
We’re in the same boat. Deal with it.
February 10th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
Yeah what’s up with yellow race?
March 17th, 2008 at 12:50 am
I absolutely disagree with your assertions that american-born filipinos do not like or respect tagalog. i am a filipino-american born and raised in new york and i have a high respect for the language of my family. in fact, i speak tagalog as much as i can and wish that it was spoken more widely! what i am ashamed of is that filipino-americans here do not appreciate their heritage enough to stand up and defend our country and language.
as for ‘yellowrace’, you disgust me. not only do you abide and utilize the demeaning racial term for asians, but you also belittle and grossely underestimate the philippines. for your information, the philippines is one of the most populated countries in the world, and is also one of the most beautiful ones. as well as this, we have many products coming out of our country and our culture continues to spread throughout the world (ever wonder where the word ‘boondocks’ in english comes from?). our government and economy may not be at its greatest state right now, but who can blame us what with the colonizing assholes of the western hemisphere?
there were so many politically incorrect and out right racist comments in your statement that it makes me ashamed that someone like you even exists on this earth. how dare you abhere to out-dated, enraging, and extremely hurtful theories that mexicans and african-americans are inferior to the caucasians of the united states? do you even know how much other races have contributed to the u.s.? futhermore, i am assuming that you are asian, as you have taken the liberty to represent the whole of asia, and with that in mind who are you to even SAY that other races are inferior to caucasians? don’t you see that you are simply supporting and reitterating issues that have caused this world such turmoil in the past? you are belittling YOURSELF when you say that any race is superior to another.
my last response is to your claim that tagalog is a ‘barbaric’ and ‘tribal’ language. this has to be one of the most idiotic things that you’ve said. have you not bothered to realize that many filipino dialects (tagalog included) show extremely evident similarities to the languages spoken in indonesia, thailand, and malaysia? southeast asia, just like any other land mass, has had a history of migrating peoples and thus lingual influences. if you are criticizing the language(s) of the philippines, then you might as well be criticizing the languages of two of the countries that you said we are an embarassment to (thialand and indonesia).
in all, you are a shame to the asian race for saying such cruel and undeducated things. i can’t even begin to understand how someone could think such things and be so blatantly racist.
March 17th, 2008 at 12:52 am
P.S. my comment was also directed at angela. shame on you, too.
March 23rd, 2008 at 4:34 pm
Alex, you are mostly correct, except in that Thais are not Austronesian, which is what Pinoys, Malays, Indonesians, Maoris, Samoans, Malagasy, Chamorros, Hawaiians, etc. are.
March 24th, 2008 at 3:01 am
Hi Dis5dain - it should be noted that in the Pattani region of Thailand - the region bordering Malaysia - are Malay inhabitants who have sought to establish an Islamic and Malay State.
August 10th, 2008 at 8:32 am
fuck you ANGELA! You’re a certified asswhole bitch which is rampant in US. FUCk YOURself! IDIOT!!
August 31st, 2008 at 3:37 am
Fritz Ynfante, Margie Moran, CJ Artemio Panganiban (ret), Cory Aquino, Cory Quirino, Imelda Marcos, Jackie Lou Blanco, Richard Gomez, Eddie Mesa, Mark Gil, Ralph Eigenman aka Mark Gil, Cherry Gil, Rosemarie Gil, Eddie Gutierrez, Manoling Morato, yes ERAP speaks a little Spanish but not as good as his English.
October 20th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
YellowRace, you are definitely crap personified. Even you shithead will agree that Angela who is your lost twin is a certified asshole.