"DJing as a Filipino Thing" (Week 1 Entry 1) 4/11/17

“DJing as a Filipino Thing”Antonio Tiongson, Jr.

As a Filipino myself this article really intrigued me. In this article, several thoughts are discussed pertaining to how DJing has in a way become synonymous as a thing that Filipinos partake in. Frankly, although I am aware of this I didn't really know the specifics and thoughts behind this notion until reading this. I mean sure I've heard of Filipino DJs here and there and even on the EDM stage we see Filipinos such as Manila Killa coming to the scene.

Several things are explored by Antonio Tiongson Jr. First, he breaks down how although Filipinos aren't connected to hip-hop in the same manner that African Americans or Puerto Ricans are that they in a sense have made it their "own." He also explores the Filipino identity, and in particular their position and how they are commonly grouped within Asian Americans and the sense of inivisibility that they often face. Lastly, there are some interesting examples and beliefs of how many within this group of Filipino DJs tend to distance themselves from that Filipino "identity." Rather than proudly portraying themselves as Filipino, they want their work and talent to speak for itself.

Through the course of this I certainly felt that there were differing viewpoints especially those that conflict with mine. However, at the same time, I think it's easy to interpret and understand where such viewpoints are coming from. Although hip-hop certainly never originated from Filipinos, I believe that Filipinos have greatly applied themselves and contributed to this hip-hop culture. As Tiongson says, Filipinos gravitate to hip-hop and DJing because its "what we do" its what many Filipinos have grown up listening to or even dancing to. Non-Filipinos may even stop and think "Is this cultural appropriation?" Well it certainly depends how you define that, but at best I certainly think it is a stretch to label this as such. Filipinos, with many having immigrated to the U.S. have very often needed to adapt. For me, and for many this is just another way Filipinos have adapted and assimilated themselves to the culture.