“Exploring, growing and trusting the music will always find the people its meant to reach. — Hindi lang tayo basta sumasabay sa global stage, dahil tayo mismo ang tunog na hinahanap ng mundo.” It’s never been about Western validation. It’s about reaching new audiences and sharing their music with the world kasi THEY TRUST FILIPINO TALENTS TO STAND ON THE SAME STAGE AS INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS. Ganun sila ka-proud sa fellow artists and fellow Filipinos nila. They believe that our talents deserve to be in those spaces, too. Sana makita niyo rin ’yon. 🫩 Kasi to be honest, there are different perspectives and nuances to consider, and this isn’t just a black-and-white issue. Wanting global recognition doesn’t automatically mean seeking Western validation. Both things can coexist: being proud of where you come from while wanting to share your art with the rest of the world. And just because they’re choosing to participate in an that Asian Pop category doesn’t mean they’re agreeing to be defined or confined by it. They’re not necessarily accepting the idea that Filipino artists belong in that space and nowhere else. They’re taking the opportunity on their own terms, making use of the platform available to them, and creating room for Filipino talent to be recognized on a global stage. There’s a difference between conforming to a system and navigating it to create opportunities for yourself and others. I hope we can look beyond the surface and understand that.