Hindi lang ang beauty pageant community ang nagbigay ng kanilang matinding reaksyon sa naging mga pahayag ng dalawang “halfies” o mga pinoy na may dugong banyaga at lumaki abroad na sina Brandon Espiritu at Jether Palomo.
Sa nag-viral na post na nagbunsod sa mga netizen at iba pang tanyag na celebrities na magbigay ng kanilang pahayag, nagmistulang “durog na durog” na mga “wannabes” ang dalawang kontesero na minsan ng ni-represent ang bansa sa magkakaibang international pageant.
Naging representative ng bansa si Brandon Espiritu noong 2024 para sa Mr. Supranational contest na ginanap noon sa Poland. Nanalo bilang second runner-up si Espiritu, habang sa Mr. Global pageant naman sumabak si Jether Palomo noong 2025 na ginanap sa Thailand at nakapasok ito sa top 11.
Nitong Wednesday ay hindi halos magkandaugaga sa pagbibigay ng pahayag at paghingi ng “apology” ang dalawang “halfies” sa mga pinoy at iba pang mga tao na kanilang na-offend dahil sa naging mga posts nila sa kanilang socmed accounts.
Ang pinag-uusapang isyu ay nagsimula sa reel na pinost ni Espiritu kung saan siya at ang ibang pageant kings mula sa ibang bansa ay nagkakasiyahan at nagsimulang kumanta ng kanilang national anthem or at least ay umawit sa kanilang native language.
Imbes na kumanta ng Tagalog o Pinoy song si Espiritu, umawit ito sa “Chamorro” language, habang si Palomo ay kumanta ng “Happy BIrthday.”
Sa Guam, USA ipinanganak at lumaki si Espiritu at parehong pinoy ang mga magulang nito.
Si Palomo naman ay sa USA din isinilang at lumaki at minsan ng naging first runner-up sa 2023 Mister Tourism World, representing Philippines.
Nang tila punahin sila ng isang beaucon fan kung bakit hindi pinoy ang kanilang kinanta, sumagot nga si Palomo na, “Because we aren’t from the Philippines. Why would we lie?,” sabay pagmamalaki pang “raise that flag brother (US flag)” comment kay Espiritu.
“Then you should have represented your country,” ganting tugon ng nasabing fan na hiniritan naman ni Espiritu ng sagot na, “Tell that to all the frontrunners for [sic] the Philippines. This country wouldn’t have a chance on the national [sic] stage without us ‘halfies.’”
Dahil sa naturang palitan ng mga comments/reactions agad silang kinuyog ng pinoy netizen na tinawag silang “mayayabang, sobrang entitled, walang utang na loob, users, mga ordinary looking hunks lang naman, mukhang kargador, nagkaroon lang ng career sa bansa dahil sa pag-represent nila, bumalik na lang sa USA at doon mag-work, etc, etc,” hanggang sa may mga famous celebrities nang nagsalita..
Isa na nga rito ang famous international fashion designer na si Michael Cinco na agad nagpahayag ng kanyang pagka-dismaya.
Post ni Cinco sa kanyang IG account, ““The nerve of these ordinary-looking guys acting superior when they don’t even look like they have any foreign ancestry… They only come to the Philippines to build a career and gain followers.… DUHHH.”
Turan naman ni Miss Universe Philippines 2019 Gazini Ganados na ang pagiging isang Filipino at hindi masusukat sa kanyang pinanggalingang angkan.
Pahayag ni Gazini, “Proud Pinay. Halfies or not, no one can dictate what it means to be Filipino. My love for the Philippines is not measured by blood quantum, but by the pride, respect, and service I give to my country.”
Si Mister Pilipinas-Cosmo 2026 titleholder Enzo Bonoan ay nagbahagi ding ang identity ng isang pinoy ay goes beyond bloodlines, language or birthplace.
Susog nito, “Being Filipino was never a percentage. It isn’t something you earn by blood, by accent, or by how cleanly you can sing in Tagalog. No one is ‘more’ Filipino because of where they happened to grow up.”
Kaibigan daw ni Bonoan ang dalawang nagsasabing “halfies” pero ipinagdiinan niyang, “undoubtedly wrong” at sobrang masakit na salita ang sinabi ng mga ito laban sa mga pinoy.
Ang nanalong Mister World Philippines at 2025 Mr. International na si Kirk Bondad, na half-pinoy half German ay nagbigay din ng kanyang opinyon.
Pahayag Bondad, “I understand why people feel strongly about identity, culture, and representation. I relate to that. I want to be clear that I don’t agree with the comment that was made, and I would have approached the conversation differently. At the same time, I don’t believe a single moment should define a person’s character. We all say things we wish we had phrased differently. Once these situations become about punishment and pride, nobody really wins.”
Isa din si Stacey Gabriel, ang 2024 Miss Universe-Phils, first runner-up na half-pinoy, half Spanish sa nagbigay ng pahayag at nagsabing, sobrang deregatory at negative ang pagkakagamit ng term na “halfies” nina Espiritu at Palomo.
Sey ng beauty queen, “Disgraceful. You either embrace your Filipino heritage fully when you represent us, or you don’t at all. This term, ‘halfies,’ is a destructive, racially motivated word designed to needlessly segregate us.”
Wala na ngayon ang naturang convo nina Espiritu at Palomo at naglabas na din sila ng kanilang paumanhin, apology at pagsisisi sa kanilang nagawa at mga taong nasaktan.
“I responded impulsively and made a remark that came across as disrespectful to many Filipinos. That was not my intention, but I understand why people were upset. I am proud to represent the Philippines and proud of my Filipino heritage. The last thing I would ever want is to diminish the accomplishments of Filipinos, whether they are full Filipino, mixed Filipino, or anyone who has had the honor of carrying our flag on the international stage,” bahagi ng statement ni Espiritu .
May pakiusap din itong huwag naman sana daw idamay ang mga negosyo at sponsor na nagtitiwala sa kanya.
Si Palomo ay nagpahayag din ng pagsisisi at nag-post ng, “To the claims that I am a ‘halfie,’ I am fully Filipino and a dual citizen. Both of my parents are Filipino, I was born in the United States, and my heritage is something I have always been proud of and embraced as a core part of who I am.”
Dagdag pa niya na tinatanggap niya ang buong accountability at responsibility sa mga nagawang pagkakamali.