Marlisa Punzalan’s “I’m Proud to be Australian” Comment Provokes Many Filipino Activists
10/21/2014, Manila | Hundreds of jobless and less-educated young Filipino activists swarmed in front of Australian Embassy along Ayala Avenue in Makati following Marlisa Punzalan’s comment “I’m proud to be Australian”.
Marlisa Punzalan is a 14 year old Australian singer who was born in Australia to Filipino parents. Punzalan is the youngest ever winner of the Australian TV Show that concluded yesterday, October 20, 2014.
Marlisa Punzlan during X factor Australia audition
The group headed by several dropped-out and expelled students from top universities, and calling themselves “Proud to be Pinoy Advocacy” demands apology from Australian Embassy, claiming that Punzalan has insulted her ancestors. Charity Lugui, a dropped-out student activist from a prestigious university told reporters that Punzalan should have commented in favor of the Philippines and not for Australia because her parents are both Filipino natives.
A commotion ensued when one of the group leaders engaged in a heated argument with Bandera reporter. The unidentified reporter asked the group why they are picketing in front of Australian Embassy instead of Malacañang if they believe Punzalan is pure Filipino. “Kung naniniwala kayo na si Punzalan ay isang Pinoy, bakit dito kayo nag-rarally? Anong kinalaman ng Australian Government?”,Bandera reporter questioned the group and instead of giving sensible response, the group started throwing iced water and raw eggs to the pitiful reporter.
Makati Police arrived an hour later and dispersed the group like garbage because they didn’t have necessary protest permits.
Typical activists and other street opportunists
In a related interview by Tiktik Tabloid later, Charity Lugui, who is also a member of Diyan Muna, Anakhapis Youth, and other annoying radical groups, admits that after she was expelled from school, she lost her life and dreams and is doing her best to make a living by joining rallies even if the cause is contrary to her personal principle.
“Proud to be Pinoy” is a broad term and is always used improperly. This is one of the results of failed Philippine culture and it needs to be eliminated from every one’s mind. No one has the right to tell Miss Punzalan what to do about her nationality and ethnicity. She has Filipino blood but born in Australia and whatever she thinks, it’s her decision as a legal citizen of another country. She has no responsibility to anyone in Philippines. The correct statement should be (She’s a Filipino and I’m proud of her. Not I’m proud to be Pinoy)”, Chairman Enrico Pillon Sr of National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) commented about the incident.
/Bibi Opato/ Assisted Press, Manila
