(SPOT.ph) The premiere of Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil's latest fantasy teleserye, Bagani, is still on March 5, but it's already being talked about nonstop. The teaser for the new show was released on January 31, and while fans were excited for the love team's TV comeback (their last teleserye, Dolce Amore concluded in 2016), some Internet users had a few things to say about the show's casting choices.
lizquen, w their pointy nose, white skin, foreign look, and their filipino accent as the main cast of bagani, a philippine mythology set in pre-colonial times ??? it doesnt add up! pic.twitter.com/EXXmUu7vof
— LOVE LINE (@twicetrash) February 10, 2018
Don't brown face to serve majority of a population that are naturally brown skinned.
— Chai Fonacier (@rrrabidcat) February 10, 2018
To condescend on your own kind this way and scream PiNoy PriDE in your station IDs AND call them "family" is blatantly stupid and insulting.
: Eto na lang. I think "demonizing and shaming mestizos" is a reach. Nobody's saying it's their fault they're halfies, or that they're ugly. But the reality of the matter is that mestizos and mestizas get more career opportunities in front of the camera. That's how it works.
— PERCY THE DAGANG COSTA (@NotdahelMarcel) February 10, 2018
According to a report by ABS-CBN, Gil describes the show as a "story about how the Philippines, 'di ba archipelagic tayo, how the Philippines was born. It’s about our culture." Internet users expressed their disagreement with the show's choice to cast leads with prominently foreign features. They also critiqued the show's use of makeup to make the actors look darker than they are.
Your whole argument is based on the assumption that Bagani is a historical fiction about pre-colonial Filipinos. It’s not. It’s a fantasy universe inspired by Philippine mythology. Much like LoTR with roots from Norse & Old English myths or GoT inspired by Celtic & Greek myths.
— mark duane angos (@markangos) February 10, 2018
One of the writers of the show, Mark Duane Angos, defended the show, saying that the show is set in a fantasy world and is only inspired by Philippine mythology.
The only resemblance i can see is the cuteness. https://t.co/SQQWsSQTDn
— Liza Soberano (@lizasoberano) February 12, 2018
Soberano herself finally acknowledged the debate online, and commented on a post that made a jab about Gil's makeup on February 13.
And who says were not pinoy? My Father is full filipino. I was raised by two filipinos since the age of 4. I looooove sinigang i think thats as pinoy as pinoy can get.
— Liza Soberano (@lizasoberano) February 16, 2018
On February 14, Soberano replied to another tweet (from an account that now no longer exists) that says, "Not against Enrique and Liza, pero kasi...gets. Hindi naman sila Pinoy." In her reply, Soberano brings up her Filipino lineage and love for sinigang, prompting the Internet to say that she's missing the point about proper representation in media.
This is about representation. U & other mestisos/as have been fortunate to be represented in PH media since the beginning. Please learn from this; ur r at a place in ur career where u can influence and inspire change in our culture. Know ur place lang and acknowledge ur privilege
— ? mandy ? (@pocahontascruz) February 18, 2018
Other Internet users also added to the discussion and started making their own versions and memes based on Soberano's statement about being Filipino because of her love for sinigang.
Make sure you have enough valid IDs guys.. pic.twitter.com/YtSpUqeWyI
— PG-13 Seña (@Sentastic) February 18, 2018
'pag naunahan ka sa huling order ng sinigang sa carinderia pic.twitter.com/867aTc05KI
— jared vincent (@jaredlacaran) February 18, 2018
It’s as pinoy as pinoy can get
— KADYOS BABOY LANGKA (@rearidinghood) February 18, 2018
It’s true, it’s in the 1987 Constitution pic.twitter.com/lZQJFzPtdB
wow twitter really went in on liza... you could say we siniganged-up on her ????
— blackpanther in your area (@AtomSiraullo) February 18, 2018
The eight rays of the sun stand for the eight main ingredients of sinigang charot
— h (@hjoldr) February 18, 2018
i looooooooove sinigang pic.twitter.com/u84W54202R
— ?Legendarcy.com loooooves sinigang? (@Legendarcy1) February 18, 2018
3 kinds of philippine citizenships:
— keiko (@cakeoreooo) February 18, 2018
Jus soli
Jus sanguinis
Jus sinigang
Condolences to the Filipinos who don't love sinigang that much.. Guess you ain't Filipino enough... This is LAW
— ???????? ???????????????????????? (@jltjavier) February 18, 2018
favorite ni liza soberano ilysb bc it stands for i love you sinigang na baboy
— january danielle (@warysanchhh) February 18, 2018
sam smith is half-pinoy https://t.co/MOhY8kukjB
— blackpanther in your area (@AtomSiraullo) February 18, 2018
Meanwhile, Angos once again defended the premise of the show with another tweet, saying, "Bagani is set in a fictional world called 'Sansinukob'—isang alternatibong mundo na may mga elemento ng mitolohiyang Pilipino. It is not PRECOLONIAL. It is not HISTORICAL. Hence, it is not a portrayal of sinaunang tao or a particular historical period or event."