Filipino-American rapper Apl.de.ap reacted to the tweet of journalist Raissa Robles after the latter called him not Filipino.
On Sunday, Apl used laughing emoji as a reaction after a netizen informed him about Robles’ tweet on his nationality.
“According to @raissawriter you’re not Pinoy. Ang bigat sa dibdib na lulubog ng ganitong kababa ang isang tao ng dahil lang sa pulitika. Yaan mo na. Sa bayan naman’y Pinoy ka pa rin! Maybe nxt time pag LP na uli ang nakaupo, Pinoy ka na uli para sa kanila,” VJ Alipon, a fan of Apl told the rapper.
????
— apl.de.ap (@apldeap) December 1, 2019
On another tweet, Apl.De.Ap reacted to another fan who told him about Robles’ comments, saying that the journalist can continue what she’s doing.
“Let the haters continue to hate, we’re here as a country to motivate and elevate,” Apl remarked.
Let the haters continue to hate, we’re here as a country to motivate and elevate.
— apl.de.ap (@apldeap) December 1, 2019
Yesterday, Raissa Robles mentioned Apl.De.Ap on her series of tweets while criticizing the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games opening and compared it to a carnival show in some provinces in the country.
Apl is one of the performers during that night.
Pilipino ba si Apl di Ap? ? https://t.co/Uczxy18xL3
— Raissa Robles (@raissawriter) November 30, 2019
“Pilipino ba si Apl di Ap?” Robles asked a netizen who told her that ballet is not a native Filipino dance.
She then pointed out that not all the artists performed at the opening ceremony and the songs they sang are not a native in the Philippines.
Hindi Pinoy si Apl de Ap. Amerikano na sya. Pinoy pop – yung kinanta na Kay Ganda ng Lahing Pilipino – hindi native yan. Ginaya sa Amerika. Gaya ng ballet, banyaga pero nilagyan ng mga Pinoy elements. I've seen very good ballet dances w Phil. native dance movements. #JustSaying https://t.co/JzhiLR0Zoa
— Raissa Robles (@raissawriter) November 30, 2019
“Hindi Pinoy si Apl de Ap. Amerikano na sya. Pinoy pop – yung kinanta na Kay Ganda ng Lahing Pilipino – hindi native yan. Ginaya sa Amerika. Gaya ng ballet, banyaga pero nilagyan ng mga Pinoy elements. I’ve seen very good ballet dances w Phil. native dance movements,” she said.
Apl became a popular artist after joining the group Black Eyed Peas, he also wrote some songs using the Filipino language to show that he didn’t forget where he came from.