Robin regrets nothing over remarks on PGT contestant

What irked Robin was the fact that Jiwan, in spite of his foreign roots, stayed in the Philippine for ten years but has not learned the Filipino language (Photo: Robin Padilla/Facebook)

After days of being roasted online by netizens offended by his behavior in a Pilipinas Got Talent (PGT) episode, Robin Padilla stays firm with his views and gains a foreign supporter.

Online users have been feasting on Robin ever since the PGT episode about a Korean contestant named Kim Jiwan aired on their television screens.

Jiwan’s audition in front of the four PGT judges Vice Ganda, Robin, Angel Locsin, and Freddie M. Garcia (FMG) and the crowd was a controversial sequence as the action star was visibly irritated.

Before his performance, Jiwan revealed in the short interview with the judges that he has been living in the Philippines for ten years. “I’m from Korea but I haven’t stayed there very long. In fact, I just stayed there the first three months after I was born,” he said.

Jiwan also has a Filipina girlfriend, and mentioned that he may be Korean but he is a “Filipino by heart.”

What irked Robin was the fact that Jiwan, in spite of his foreign roots, stayed in the Philippines for ten years but has not learned the Filipino language.

Though the contestant explained that he was unable to learn Filipino because he attended an international school, it was not an excuse for Robin.

“I’m very sorry, you cannot use me. Can you see that?” Robin said pointing to the PGT logo then adding, “Firstly, mag-Tagalog ka muna bago mo ako kausapin (speak in Tagalog before you talk to me).” He was replying to Jiwan’s request of “using” him for his magic tricks.

As tensions arise, co-judge Angel helped Jiwan in speaking Tagalog to ask Robin again, which had the renowned actor say yes to the sample trick. However, as Jiwan continued using English, Robin was filmed making irritated remarks. The Korean contestant went to Angel to perform his tricks instead, but went back to Robin after, vowing to speak in Filipino.

Robin chose to explain to Jiwan the importance of the “lesson” he was teaching him. “Pasensya ka na, anak, nadisiplina ka lang ng tatay mo. ‘Yun lang isipin mo. Nadisiplina ka lang ng tatay mong Pilipino (Forgive me son, you are just disciplined by your father. Think of it this way. You are being disciplined by your Filipino father),” Robin told Jiwan.

The star was also thanking Jiwan for loving the Philippines and its people.

Jiwan got three yeses from Vice, Robin, and Angel. FMG, on the other hand, said that in his seven years judging in PGT, he did not see anything new from the Korean magician. However, Jiwan still made it to round two with his three yeses.

While it ended happily for Jiwan, online users are unhappy with Robin’s way of ‘discipline’ even calling his actions ‘racist.’

In an interview with the media, Robin, however, said that he does not regret anything.

“Wala akong pinagsisisishan kasi ako pumupunta rin ako sa ibang bansa. At ‘pag pumunta ko sa ibang bansa, pinipilit kong malaman kung ano ung salita dun kasi bisita ka dun eh. Ikaw ang makikibagay (I have no regrets because when I go to other countries as well. And when I do, I really try to learn what language they speak there because I am a visitor there. I should be the one to adjust),” he said.

He also emphasized that this is different from the lady who cannot speak in Tagalog in the previous season of PGT, as Jiwan has stayed in the Philippines for ten years. He emphasized that staying in a foreign country for ten years and claiming love for and not knowing even a word of its language just do not match.

Despite standing firm and explaining his side, a lot still find his actions offensive, but a foreigner sends an open letter to the actor, siding by him.

“Dear sir, I just thought I would write to you personally to congratulate you on the patriotism and love that you have shown for your country,” British citizen Malcolm Conlan started.

“The contestant explained that he had grown up in the Philippines but had not learnt Tagalog as he attended an international school. To me, this is not really an excuse. If you have grown up in the Philippines and clearly called the Philippines your home, you should at least make some effort to learn the language. When the Korean national got into his act, clearly he can in fact understand and speak a little Tagalog,” Conlan supported.

Conlan virtually saluted to Robin’s “patriotism” and wrote that he was not being racist. As a foreigner, he understands and agrees with Robin’s point.