Freddie Aguilar Is A Big, Fat Monkey
I knew a statement this ugly could come back at him and bite him in his tail! I am referring to Freddie Aguilar’s preposterous comment belittling international singing stars Charice’s and Arnel Pineda’s successes as mere “monkey” acts. Charice is the 17-year-old singing phenom dubbed by Oprah as “The Most Talented Girl in the World” who is now recording her first US album with David Foster as the producer, while Arnel Pineda is the lead vocalist of the legendary rockband, Journey. Both were discovered on YouTube. Now back to Freddie, referring to both artists’ repertoire of English songs, he quipped:
“E, pinatotohanan lang ang sinabi ni Mariah Carey na tayong mga Filipino ay mga unggoy. Kasi, wala tayong sarili, gaya-gaya lang tayo. Nasa Amerika ka na, binigyan ka na ng pagkakataon na kumanta sa Oprah, bakit kumanta ka pa ng kanta ni Celine Dion? Sinabi ni Mariah na mga unggoy ang Filipino, gaya-gaya lang kayo, e, di napatunayan nga, totoo nga. Kasi, di ba, what monkeys see, monkeys do. Dapat ang kinanta niya, bakit hindi ‘Dahil Sa ‘Yo’ o kaya ay kahit ano, basta kantang Filipino? O kaya Visayan, Ilocano… lalo siyang sisikat sa buong mundo nun.”
Rough translation (mine) : “This validates what Mariah Carey said that we Filipinos are monkeys. Because we don’t have our own, we only mimic others. You’re already in America, and was given a chance to sing on Oprah. Why did you sing Celine Dion’s song? Mariah said Filipinos are monkeys, that you are just copy-cats. They have just proven this to be true. Monkeys see, monkeys do, right? She should have sung, why not ‘Dahil Sa ‘Yo‘ or anything as long as it’s a Filipino song? Could be Visayan, Ilocano… she will be even more popular worldwide with these songs.”
He was refering to the unconfirmed rumor that Mariah Carey called Regine Velasquez, Asia’s Nightingale and another Filipino singing star, a brown monkey.
My take on this? A HA HA HA. Poor, Freddie, or should we start calling him Ferdinand because it is more Pinoy than its Anglicized version, Freddie? Monkey check.
Was that statement given at the opening of his Ka Freddie’s Music Bar and Restaurant? If he was on booze when he made that statement, I can forgive him. If he wasn’t and saw a golden banana of an opportunity to create buzz for his bar, either he’s a slimy marketer or he is a slimy marketer. And he better not allow his musicians to play any non-Filipino song at his bar or I will throw a monkey wrench at them! Big monkey check.
In Craig A. Lockard’s book, Dance of Life, (p. 145) he said , “Modeling himself on Anglo-American folk-rock stars like Cat Stevens and James Taylor, Aguilar began his career with covers of Western hits such as ‘House of the Rising Sun‘…” And from www.freddieaguilar.com : “Prior to the release of ‘Anak,’ Aguilar cut his teeth peforming (sic) cover songs and original material for U.S. military personnel stationed on the Islands.” BIG, FAT Monkey check!
I just can’t believe I invested my time on this crappy issue, but for an icon, and I give him that, to look down on the younger, more popular, and even more talented singers is smack of ignorance and misplaced Pinoy Pride all because they do covers and sing English songs? WTF?! In case you have forgotten what century you’re in, Mr. Aguilar, it’s the 21st century, and here we call everybody a world citizen. And if you are truly adamant in insisting this monkey theory of yours, since it is unverifiable, I expect you to call all those 54 who covered your song, ‘Anak‘, in 26 (?) or so languages as monkeys, too. Perhaps you will be too gracious to return the royalties you’ve earned since they sang your song in their language and not in Tagalog. If you refused $10 million to keep your Filipino pride intact before, I’m sure you won’t have a hard time returning this pocket change.
I’m seriously thinking of getting me a monkey and name him Freddie for real. But that is plain animal cruelty, don’t you think?
Bonus Video!
Who does this monkey remind you of? The way it behaves he’s like Ka Freddie , no?
(Read the full PEP article here.)
If Crazy Freddy really understands his own logic…he should first start making ALL Filipino talents in the Philippines sing ONLY OPM songs. Reprimand them ALL for singing english songs, give them a hard time coz they are not afterall working on an international career like Charice and Arnel. Charice and Arnel has never shown any sign of forgetting their nationality and have always been proud to be pinoy…but their world has now widened and Western composers are the ones making an effort to makes song for them…wishing them success…helping them make it. Is Fred doing anything at all?!? Nada.
Javarush
10 July 2009 at 1:23 AM
Nope. All he wants now is to open a bar where people can drown their sorry asses listening to has-been singers croak some worn-out songs…
Neal Minosa
11 July 2009 at 6:22 AM
Monkey see monkey do. Ang gago mo naman Freddie, may nakita ka na ba na ungoy na kumakanta. Diba sabi nang amo mo, Sabi niyay Freddie, mag aral kang mabuti, pakingan mo ang yung sarili. Para kang bobo tuloy eh.
nate
10 July 2009 at 1:43 PM
what he said was unacceptable and i took offense in his statement as a filipino.
Neal Minosa
11 July 2009 at 6:27 AM
you shouldn’t take the “monkey see monkey do” literally as in a monkey singing. sino mas bobo ngayon?
direct current
14 July 2009 at 9:57 AM
Freddie Aguilar turned out to be a stupid hypocrite after all for making such a self serving comment. He himself did not start as a singer singing only original filipino music. He started singing as a folk singer at folkhouses singing only english songs such as songs by James Taylor and others. He looks more like a monkey during those days because of his long hair trying hard to be a hippie complete with a wide hat like a Mexican loser. He was the one who was tring very hard to be a monkey but never succeeded internationally so he switched to tagalog songs as a last resort.He should not pretend to be too nationalistic because he has been to the U.S. so many times and have probably tried also to be discovered there with his natinalistic songs but not too many americans are interested in watching a ” more monkey looking filipino” singing a song they don’t understand at all.
Robert Evaristo
14 July 2009 at 7:25 AM
amen to that!
thedigitizer
14 July 2009 at 4:46 PM
Ooops sorry for the typographical errors.
Robert Evaristo
14 July 2009 at 7:30 AM
maaaring sobrang sakit ng sinabi ni Freddie, Crazy Freddie, whatever you want to call him. Granted na mali yung sinabi niya na unggoy ang mga Pilipino, hindi ba natin aaminin na most of our artists now starts to imitate singing styles of foreign singers instead of coming up with their own version? O siya sige, sabihin na nating walang gustong magsulat ng original na kanta, like OPM and stuff, pero yung gayahin yung istilo ng pagkanta nung original artist like Celine Dion, hindi na ba kawalan ng originality yun?
yung mga batang singer, pinipilit ng mga magulang nila na pabiritin yung mga anak nila ala Regine, or Sarah Geronimo, or Celine Dion, na walang pakialam kung nakakasira ito sa vocal chords ng bata.
I am sorry, I may be off-topic here, pero let’s stop attacking him indifferently (I am referring to the comments here) and try to think about the habit of the singers nowadays. May mga artists naman na kumakanta ng kanta ng iba, pero iniiba nila yung istilo ng pagkanta nila, at ayun sumisikat sila.
his comment was uncalled for, totoo yun.
sa totoo lang naman, kaya lang naman din nakilala si Charice at Arnel sa ibang bansa, kasi nagaya nila yung istilo ng pagkanta ni Whitney, Celine at ng vocalist ng Journey. Di ba? Gugustuhin ba nating palagi tayong nakikilala abroad just because nagsucceed tayo sa panggagaya ng iba?
direct current
14 July 2009 at 10:08 AM
point well taken… 2 things, though : if you wanna be an artist and known for your originality, you can go the indie way and could care less about ratings, reviews and market response, but will have a niche market and even a cult following. if you wanna go the mass market, you go what the people like or what the market wants, work with the known masters in the business and hopefully work on your style, image… the whole she-bang… i don’t read charice’s and arnel’s minds but this is road they seem to take. in the end, it’s all about marketabilty and the whole machination involved. if people don’t like what they see and hear, they won’t buy their music. simple as that.
thedigitizer
14 July 2009 at 4:51 PM
Ang mga taong inatake mo Ka Freddie, ay yung mga kumakanta sa labas ng bansa na natural lang na ang kakantahin ay yung naiintidihan ng iba lalo pa si Arnel na ang kanta ng sinamahan nyang banda ay talagang ingles lahat ang tema.
Marami na tayong OPM singers, at limitado lang ang market sa atin na hawak na ng maraming sikat na, bakit di subukan yung hindi na kailangan umamot pa sa iba na makakabawas pa ng hanapbuhay mga ito?
Hindi kaya nais lang nating mapag-usapan tayo ngayong bihira nang mabanggit ang ating pangalan sa dyaryo man, radyo o telebisyon? May kanya-kanyang tayong panahon ka Freddie, ibigay na natin nang maluwag sa ating puso yung sa kapanahunan nila. O baka naman KSP lang tayo?
impassionedJourney
17 July 2009 at 5:37 PM
O….anong say mo Ka Fredo sa kaingetero mo marami tuloy nagalit sa yo kaya kung ako sa yo hwag ka ng lalabas ng bansa at baka langawin ka lang dahil palagay ko wala ng manonod sa yo.Dyan ka na lang sa bar mo kung may papasok pa at makikinig sa mga kanta mo.Pilipino ka ba talaga o nagkukunwari lang?
Grimchicago
25 July 2009 at 4:31 PM
What Freddie Aguilar is suggesting that Charice could have sang a tagalog song at the Oprah show was just his most stupid imagination. Imagine a chinese or an east indian singer singing at the american show their best song in their own language (granted that Oprah’s producers are crazy enough to allow it), maybe the viewers will not appreciate it very much or even make fun of it particularly the filipino viewers who mostly find people in their own country singing visayan songs or ilocano songs or other ethnic language songs as funny and bakya. The old guy is losing his sanity fast and probably wants some attention because he is an old fart already.
Robert Evaristo
15 July 2009 at 6:11 AM
precisely. his pre-YouTube, pre-Google, and pre-WorldTrade thinking is ignorant of these factors. being nationalistic is admirable as long as it is based on realities and not on foolish ideals. thanks for the follow up comments, man!
thedigitizer
16 July 2009 at 6:35 AM
kung babasahin ung interview nya, parang merong impluwensya ng alak si ka freddie. ha ha ha
pero sa totoo lang, hindi naman sa pagsangayon sa ginawa nya. pero hanga ako sa nasyonalismo na pinakita at pinapakita nya. sana yung mga kabataan ngayon, maisip ang kahalagahan ng pagmamahal ng sariling atin.
yun lamang po
akingpahayag
17 July 2009 at 2:00 PM
first, he was ignorant of the fact that it was never confirmed that mariah made that statement. second, his inconsistency and hypocrisy (how he started out copying other foreign artists and singing english songs) negated his stand on nationalism. so yes, he has no moral authority to chastise charice, arnel, gary (and now pacquiao). he even named his daughter, maegan, for pete’s sake! and he uses freddie instead of ferdinand… salamat po sa comment and i respect your opinion. pero ako po ay hindi naniniwala na nasusukat ang nationalismo lamang sa mga batayan na inilahad niya. mas malaki po ang naitulong nina charice at arnel na mapakilala sa buong mundo ang galing ng pinoy at galing ng pilipinas na siyang magbibigay-daan pa sa maraming talents natin na makilala at ma-diskubre. whether they sing in english or in any other language they are simply known to be world-class filipino talents who can really sing!
thedigitizer
17 July 2009 at 4:01 PM
kahit hindi si mariah ung nagsabi nun, hindi natin maipagkakaila na marami sa mga taga ibang bansa na ganyan ang tingin sa mga pilipino. nakakalungkot lang isipin. para saken lang din, kung sisikat ka sana sa ibang bansa, sana dalhin mo hindi lang ang kanta mo at talento mo. sana maipakita mo din na maganda ang pinagmulan mo at ang kultura nio. malaking karangalan nga ang dinala nila charice at iba pa sa atin, pero isipin nio lang kung sumikat sila na pinoy na kanta ang kinakanta nila. na mayroong bakas ng ating kultura, hindi bat mas maganda un.
sa totoo lang, wala naman akong masamang pahayag sa pagkanta nila ng ingles. hindi ko din naman sinasabing tama ang ginawa ni freddie aguilar.
tapos ung pagpangalan nya sa sarili nya at anak nya. hmm, marami naman kasing nakaimplumensya satin. kastila, amerikano etc. hindi naman natin maaaring sabihin na dahil ang pangalan mo ay ‘michael’ ay hindi ka na makabayan. o pinangalanan mo ang anak mo ng ‘john’ o ‘juan’.
akingpahayag
18 July 2009 at 1:48 AM
Anung magagawa nila Charice, ingles ang wika ng mga taong nakapaligid sa kanila.. Kaya nga sila nasa ibang bansa gawa ng banyaga ang mga kakantahan nila. Di naman pilipino. Kumbaga bonus lang ang pagkanta nila d2 sa pinas.
Tpos gagamitin nya pa si Mariah. Wala naman syang sinabi na unggoy ang mga pilipino. San ba nakuha ni ka-freddie yung ideya na iyan?
Tsaka di naman song writer si charice eh…
anoni
17 July 2009 at 6:05 PM
eto na lang…noong sina charice ba ay naandito sa pilipinas at nagbuhos ng buong puso at kaluluwa sa pagkanta pinansin ba sila? pinasalamatan ba ni ka freddie sila sa kanilang pagiging makabayan sa pagkanta ng filipino songs? ni hindi nga sila halos pansinin dito. buti pa yung ibang mga lahi marunong mag-appreciate ng tunay na talent at galing ng pinoy. ni hindi nga nila tinitingnan ang height, hitsura o diction nila (dahil di naman talaga sila natural english speakers which they didn’t see as a hindrance at all). these artists are pure talents that they can market, plain and simple. ngayong mga sikat na sila, napansin ni ka freddie at baka sakaling makabangon siya sa pagkalaos niya at mapansin ang bagong bukas niyang club. ano nga uli ang tawag dito? talangka? manggagamit?
thedigitizer
18 July 2009 at 3:41 PM
charice or arnel wouldn’t have made it in the international scene had they sung tagalog or visayan because they simply won’t be understood by the audience. plus, i don’t think they are in a position right now to dictate, let’s say in arnel’s case, to Journey that he will sing tagalog.
on a side note. does freddie appreciate these irritating tagalized songs (clumsy, bleeding love, to name a few) proliferating the airwaves????? i sure hope not.
jumbledcoffeethoughts
18 July 2009 at 4:59 AM
exactly! whatever happened to freedom of expression and artistry? anyway, he can say whatever he wants. however, if you wanna make a stand– actually a standard of nationalism for filipino artists– make sure you don’t have a double standard lest you come out as irresponsible, inconsistent, a hypocrite. that’s where freddie failed. you can’t blame people if they think he’s gone bunkers or a publicity hog or a shameless promoter of his club.
thedigitizer
18 July 2009 at 3:29 PM
suriin muna nating mabuti kung anong klaseng patriyotiko itong si Ka Freddie. Kapag nasa stage yan, ang suot nyang pantalon ay Levi’s. Kailangang sa McDonald’s kumain kasi bakya ang puto at kutsinta. Ang karsonsilyo ay Hanes, kasi makating isuot ang katsa (tela ng supot ng arina). Ang T-shirt ay Hang Ten, corny kasi ang barong tagalog. Ang gitara nya ay imported, di pwede ang yaring Cebu lang…tapos me gana pang magsalita na tangkilikin ang sariling atin!!!. Mamundok ka na Ka Freddie, at muling makisalamuha sa mga kapatid mong unggoy!! Di namin kailangang ang isang ipokritong katulad mo!!
danzky
18 July 2009 at 10:24 PM
i really can’t blame Ka freddie dun sa pahayag nya. kasi sobra natabunan na ng outside influence yun kultura natin. below the belt talaga yun mga binitawan na salita ni Ka Freddie, pero nabasa nyo ba yun buong interview? try to look that up, dahil medyo di sya ganun kasakit as implied by this thread. masakit talaga matawag na UNGGOY but thats the truth for the most of us. Siguro gusto lang patamaan ni Ka Freddie yun mga taong “trying hard, wanna be’s” sa pahayag nya na ito. marami pa sana akong insights kaso kelangan ko ng umuwe. ehehehhe. i’ll get back on this later
bok
19 July 2009 at 3:56 AM
Due respect to Ka Freddie, I know where he’s coming from and what he said may have been taken out of context. The term ‘monkey’ means ‘to copy’ pero parang may malisya ang pagkasabi ni Mariah nun, although she could have said just ‘copycats.’ (I have not read/heard/seen any news about her comments though so I don’t know this for a fact.) First of all why blame Arnel and Charice? These guys where just in it for the money. FA should’ve considered that they were once so poor then that given this big break, they now have a chance for international stardom and at the same time finally earn a decent living. Paano dito sa Pinas, magugutom ka if you just sing OPM songs. Not many can be that lucky like FA who has an international hit song ‘Anak’ kaya maybe may K sya to say what he did. Ok lang, that’s his opinion. In the US one big song hit and you’re made, instant millionaire ka pa minsan. You have to realize that Arnel and Charice now have their own original music launched in the US (Revelation album for Arnel and ‘Note to God’ single for Charice.) So its not in Tagalog pero ano ngayon? You’re market is the US and world so you think OPM music will sell in the US, Europe? Many of us grew up and are influenced by American and international music so in my opinion, hindi rin uunlad ang musika natin kung puro local lang ang tatangkilin natin lalo na ang kabataan. So who’s to blame for this influx of foreign music influence? Kanya-kanya perpective lang yan kaya hindi umuunlad ang Pinoy kasi puro crab mentality tayo about what we do at eto na naman uli.
Dinofb
20 July 2009 at 9:22 PM
charice and arnel made me proud of being a filipino more than freddie!
charice and arnel are both good natured with pure unadulterated talent and inspite of their success abroad, they remain unassuming, humble and grounded.
on the other side, here’s an overbearing, narcissistic bigot who suddenly burst onto the scene and instead of defending a fellow citizen from a so called derogatory remarks (which was proven untrue by donita rose)attacked charice and arnel like they have committed a crime against the state!!! and you call that a patriot and a true filipino?
it’s not about the language or dialects, but the words you used
it’s not about the choice of songs, but the kind of behavior you show that makes a person a true filipino or patriot!
truly, a small amount of knowledge can cause people to think they are more expert than they really are.
MEAN PEOPLE SUCK!!!!!!
noel
22 July 2009 at 4:13 AM
In this drama of chimpanzees Freddie’s the monkey!
suburbandude
22 July 2009 at 7:47 AM
I don`t agree with this guy. Arnel and Charice sing foreign artist music but we shouldn`t branded/call them “monkey” esp they are our own countryman. Lets give and show respect to these Filipino pride. Is this guy calling them this monkey because they are singing foreign song, then whats the difference if you sing Filipino song that not your original music. Shall he call you also monkey? This guy also sing foreign music, why didn`t he call himself monkey then. Why this time we have these two Fil artist now known worldwide he bring this dumb issue. Just a crabby attitude. I bet you this guy wears imported clothes, in his bar, he sells imported wines. Trying to tie-up singing Fil songs with being nationalistic, but what about him.
Arnel is part of Journey who have their own music, so it just natural for Arnel to sing their music. He has to continue the legacy of the band Journey that`s why he was hired.
Charice, the most talented girl in the world, like any other Filipino artist whose dream of making big in the international scene is beginning to have her own music. Its natural for a start to sing other artist music.
These two singers want to sing Filipino music if they can, but sometimes they are being invited, thus special request on want song they will sing will be ask.
romi
24 July 2009 at 2:51 PM
Napanood ko ang ibang interview kay Freddie “mas mukhang unggoy” Aguilar at talaga namang napakayabang ng kanyang pagsasalita. Parang siya na ang pinakamagaling na mang-aawit ng pilipinas at pinakamakabayan. Para pa siyang naghahamon dahil ipinagmamalaki niya ang kanyang mga naabot. Okey sana siya noong hindi pa siya nagyayabang dahil marami ngang Pilipino ang nagkagusto ng ilang kanta niya at madalas pa ngang kinakanta dito sa Canada sa mga Karaoke bar at sa mga bahay-bahay ng mga matatagal nang nandito ang ilang kanta niyang parang pare-pareho ang estilo,kaya madaling gayahin. Pero nang ipinakita niya ang sobrang kayabangan niya sa pamamagitan ng paninira sa kapwa niya Pilipino ay parang siya talagang unggoy na walang pinag-aralan at gusto lang sumikat uli kahit laos na. At saan ba niya kinopya ang mahaba niyang buhok na ayaw niyang ipaputol kahit malapit na siyang mapanot. Hindi naman mahahaba ang buhok ng mga tunay na Pilipino lalo na ang ating mga bayani. Pati na ang mga makabayan nating mga manganganta na tulad nila Ruben Tagalog, Ric Manrique, Cenon Lagman at marami pang iba na puro mukhang disenteng tao ang itsura ay hindi mahahaba ang mga buhok. Halatang nanggagaya din sa ibang bansa itong si yabang para magmukhang hipping bato. Hindi ko kahit minsan na nakitang naka barong tagalog habang kumakanta siya dahil siguro mas kursunada niya ang mga suot niyang nagmumukha siyang banyaga. Kaya and masasabi ko lang kay Alfredo, lumabas din ang natural niya, na talagang napakayabang pala. Tingnan ko lang ang kayabangan mo pag talagang napanot ka na.
Robert Evaristo
24 July 2009 at 11:05 PM
im only 14 but i can understand this issue. if mr.aguilar talks about nationalism against charice, he should think deep once again.becoz im sure one of the reason why charice sang on Oprah’s show was to prove that Filipinos were really talented! And mr.aguilar,we belong to a third-world country its time to show we’re smart para naman tumaas ang tingin nila sa atin..the fact that charice sang an english song. she just showed that Filipinos are English Proficient..and yeah we’re all imitators.mariah just dont have manners.just accept that we imitate.you mr.agular.dont you copy some1’s work?im sure u do..
bong igOy[14]
2 November 2009 at 12:04 PM
if you read the other comments, most of them share your view. freddie’s breed of narrow-minded, makabayan-kuno bigots is vanishing. okay lang sana kung opinion niya lang yon at di niya ginawa noong siya’y nagsisimula pa lang. i think people react to his hypocrisy rather than his statement. yun ang mali sa kanyang ginawa o sinabi.
the digitizer
3 November 2009 at 11:52 AM
that’s true.he’s just a hypocrite!damn those lame statement.thank you for replying, im appetized to share my view..thank you very BIG.haha..im only 14
kUlit kOh nOh???)
bong igOy[14]
3 November 2009 at 12:35 PM
im only 14 but i can understand this issue. if mr.aguilar talks about nationalism against charice, he should think deep once again.becoz im sure one of the reason why charice sang on Oprah’s show was to prove that Filipinos were really talented! And mr.aguilar,we belong to a third-world country its time to show we’re smart para naman tumaas ang tingin nila sa atin..the fact that charice sang an english song. she just showed that Filipinos are English Proficient..and yeah we’re all imitators.mariah just dont have manners.just accept that we imitate.you mr.aguilar .dont you copy some1’s work?im sure u do..
bong igOy[14]
2 November 2009 at 12:06 PM
@akingpahayag — may punto ka. pwedeng gawin nina charice at arnel yan kapag talagang sikat na sila…meaning, talagang established na mga singers na sila na kahit na ano pa ang kantahin nila ay ipa-patronize ng kanilang mga fans. subali’t if you wanna appeal to a wider audience if you’re a starter you gotta be able to sing songs they can either relate to or are familiar with. tungkol naman doon sa pangalan ng anak niya, wala namang masama doon kahit ano pa ang ipangalan niya. ang sabi ko lang, kung nangangaral ka sa ibang tao kung papano maging tunay na makabayan ayon sa sarili mong criteria or definition, dapat ipakita mo sa isip, salita at sa gawa, sa lahat ng bagay. o di tayo magkaaway ha? peace, bro!
salamat sa mga comments mo.
thedigitizer
18 July 2009 at 3:35 PM
it’s cool that you get to voice out your opinion at such a young age, bong. you should start blogging, too. if you have one, i’d love to read it. keep it up and always follow your heart for it will lead you to your true self. thanks, uli.
the digitizer
3 November 2009 at 12:40 PM
i must be the 1 thanking you..!
bong igOy[14]
9 November 2009 at 11:22 AM