Who is the most famous living Filipino… outside the Philippines (redux)

After 4 years of blogging, this seems to be one of the most viewed entries I’ve had. Read my old entry. Now I feel like updating it because Tita Cory is already with dead.

What’s my criteria?

1. That person has to be a Filipino nationality and NOT a person who just has Pinoy roots. So this means Rob Schneider, who originally was on my list, is now disqualified. Well, also because he’s actually not been very visible in the last few years.
2. I’m talking about famous Filipinos who are famous outside the country. So already we know that Lea Salonga is actually more famous than say, Sharon Cuneta just because Lea is more recognizable outside than her.
3. This is all based on perception and is not based on any actual data.

Let’s choose five.

IMELDA MARCOS. Her name’s in the limelight again, with news of the $1,000 settlement for the victims of martial law. There have been movies, musicals and plays she inspired. One of the many fantastic lunatics that help run the country. How she won for congress boggles the mind. Btw, where’s the $800 million you promised to give to the Filipino people?

CHARICE. The Youtube sensation turned apple of Oprah’s eye is The Success Story of success stories. She was once poor, abandoned by father, with a face that you wouldn’t think is showbiz material but despite the odds imposed by our Pinoy standards…she won the hearts of those Americans. And I say, anybody who can sing-off with Lea Michele in Glee is the shiznit.

ARNEL PINEDA. I’m not sure if people actually know his name but I’m assuming Journey fans know him as that Asian who replaced Steve Perry; although technically he didn’t because he actually replaced someone else but everyone only remembers Steve Perry and then…that Asian guy who replaced Perry. This guy i think, unlike Charice, is not an overnight success. This guy paid his dues and well eventually got lucky…also in youtube.

CHRISTIAN BAUTISTA. It’s amazing how big this guy is in Indonesia. And even if that’s just one country, where talking about a population of 230+ million people compared to our almost 100 million! He’s a super frikkin star in that country.

and MANNY PACQUIAO. This guy will be famous in countless years to come. He’s at the top of his game and he’s already history. There is NO ONE IN THE ENTIRE WORLD who is a Congressman AND has 8 world titles, you know? He is not only the MOST FAMOUS living Filipino but he is probably one of the most famous if not the most famous active living boxer in the planet.

Wow. Everyone’s a singer! I mean Charice, Arnel and Christian are all professional singers. Imelda partly won for Marcos his re-election bid because of her crooning (particularly Dahil Sa’Yo) and Manny has been staging actual concerts after his fights (yes! he sings after a fight. wtf. he’s got superpowers).

But then again, so what? All Pinoys are microphone whores.