The Filipino community has spoken, and they are not entirely impressed with the recent appointment of Vanessa Hudgens as the global Philippine tourism ambassador.
The hashtag #BetterPHAmbassador has been trending on social media, and it’s easy to see why. The people of the Philippines have a wealth of talented and influential individuals who could better represent their beautiful country to the world.
Influencer Bretman Rock, for instance, has been proudly showcasing his Filipino heritage for years, and many believe he would make an excellent ambassador.
I love Vanessa Hudgens, but Bretman Rock would have been a better choice to be the face of Philippine Tourism. Yes, he has violated the law for twerking to the National Anthem, but he has been vocal of his love for the Philippines and has always been proud of being a Filipino. pic.twitter.com/HxPgTBjk1Y
— Dee ♡🌙 (@SuarezDee_) April 1, 2023
Kpop icon Sandara Park, although not of Filipino descent, has always been vocal about her love for the country and has been a strong advocate for Philippine tourism.
Sandara Park could have been the better option. She was so fun to watch when she introduced Filipino cuisine to Koreans. They ate sinigang, bulalo, and tocino! Haha. https://t.co/VfGzGOOcQB pic.twitter.com/vZK0aqIcdF
— ricci (@ricci_richy) March 31, 2023
sandara park isn’t even ethnically filipino and even she deserves this title more lmao https://t.co/i9ILwmypXr
— Asia Jackson (@aasian) March 30, 2023
Others are rooting for Nadine Lustre, who has been actively promoting tourism and environmental causes, making her a great candidate for the role of ambassador.
Nadine Lustre urges younger Filipinos to come to the realization for action to save our planet earlier than she did
“Teach children environmentalism while they are young. Start them early. We are in this together. If the planet gets destroyed, where will we all go?” pic.twitter.com/17wGovekPV
— Philippine TV & Film Updates (@phtvandfilmupd) April 3, 2023
While the controversy around Hudgens rages on, there is reason to celebrate the recent news of Apo Whang Od gracing the cover of Vogue as its oldest cover girl. At 105 years old, she embodies the true essence and beauty of the Philippines, and we can’t wait to see more inspiring Filipino faces taking the world by storm.
Vogue Philippines puts Apo Maria, legendary tribal tattoo artist, on their April 2023 cover. This is deeply important to the culture and representation of Filipinos. What a beautiful cover this is, this makes me sooooooooooooooooo happy! 🇵🇭 pic.twitter.com/nuqccFAX6K
— Jeremy Danté (@jeremydante) March 30, 2023
