Filipino topic ... oh my.

Apr 22, 2009 at 5:35 PM
48 comments

i REALLY hope people don't get offended watching smile.
i translated "Filipino yaro!" to "Filipino bastard" bc i thought it would be effective.
and already there are comments that feel offended by it ...
from what i know Filipino people cannot get a visa into japan very easily...
because there are a lot of illegal immigrants.
smile obviously shows that aspect how they are picked on because of this.
not only that it shows how some japanese feel about "foreigners"
this show isn't trying to offend anyone but is trying to make people more aware.
i'm pretty sure it got lower ratings because many japanese people hate to lose face...
and this drama definitely shows that.
so before you jump to conclusion...
remember that SMILE isn't about offending Filipinos or any other foreigners...
but to show japan that this is how it is sometimes...
and that not all people are bad they are just stuck in a bad situation.
i'm very glad that jun took this role rather than just another pretty boy character.
i love that the writer has chosen this topic ...
and when i read how the japanese public are upset it is making japanese "look bad"...
it makes me happy.
there will be discrimination in all cities all over the world...
but if a drama will help even just a few people change their views...
i believe it was well worth it.
i hope SMILE is one of those dramas.

48 comments

Comments

Hallo~

I am a Filipino but I am taking this with an open mind. The dorama. If that is what it should be translated to as it appeared in the dorama then it can't be helped. That is how the story goes. It will open people's mind. Smile. I hope.

I am not the kind who will go on getting upset and be offended right away. I think most Filipinos are level headed anyway. I have my own mind. I would know when it is offending or not. I hope though that Smile would be realistic and not too stereotype to what they think is considered Filipino or not. I was wondering too if smile would go the way the movie 'Go' was tackling discrimination against Korean and Chinese.

Thank you so much for translating this. I am so grateful to you. c",)

same here, im a Filipino too but same with sakurairose, im watching this with open mind..

all i can say is the drama is good.. jun is good. and im so happy that jun took this role, his role to be a half-filipino half-japanese..

thank you for translating..

In all honesty, I got a bit depressed watching the first ep but hey...that's reality. I'm half-Filipino btw. hehehe.. and that means Jun's acting is really effective since we sympathize with his character. as what they've commented, I am watching this with an open mind too. Discrimination happens everywhere anyway.

I am also glad Jun took this role.

Thanks for the subs. ^__^

yes, i hope this drama will make a change

and i think the writer is really smart, he change 180 degrees from HYD to this drama, and he's really good at choosing jun that will fit to the character...

just hoping the best for everyone and the drama....

thank you for subbing this drama, really appreciate it....

[this is good]

Well said, Arashi-chan! On all points!

I hope this drama sparks discussion and makes an impact on those who decide to watch it -- and hopefully it continues to raise awareness about discrimination in Japan. Thank you so very very very much for deciding to sub this series!! ^_^

I am proud of Jun. Taking the risk to take on this role.
And I am hoping, that it would have a more positive effect on everyone's awareness, rather than taking it negatively.
However they decide to portray it, there's really never an accurate portrayal coz, filipinos are people too.. they differ in attitude and personality as much as anyone in the world. So, it really depends upon who is watching these and how they interpret it. I really just hope it would have a more optimistic reactions.

I know some fellow filipino who has been living in Japan since elementary, and by far I haven't heard of any racism from them, but I also heard some accounts. So it's different for any cases...

oh and btw,, I am a filipino too.

i'm not of filipino origin... but is born in the philippines and proud of it... it's kinda sad to know there are discriminations like that happen... well, it happens to a lot of countries not only in japan... it's really nice to see jun acting this challenging role... i think smile will make a lot of difference on the jdramas and how people will think of filipinos... :D

[this is good]

I'm a Filipino and yes it is true. I am watching the show with an open mind just like the rest of the comments and the theme does not happen only in Japan but elsewhere.

I don't take it as an offense and all the more I am proud of Jun because he took a role that is really challenging. Also, the writer did very well in choosing a topic that is very difficult to tackle.

Also, regarding the difficulty of Filipinos getting a visa going to Japan..That is so true, a reality that is very well known fact in my country and all other countries as well.

Thanks for translating and I share your view in saying that I hope Smile will be the drama that will be an eye opener for the rest.

its alright... its what the scripts says... even though I haven't watched it, I think it'll be good... because other people will see how equality isn't always present

thanks for translating!
I'll DL it later ^_^

i'm so agree with you *-*

ahh this cut off u__ú, well I was saying that i think Jun has courgae to play this character i think is one of the more real character he play o.o and about racism well that exist everywhere i hope that anybody feel offense with this drama however i think Smile will have people get conscience in this topics

[this is good]

Racism is such a sensitive topic and it will always stir people's emotions.

I am a Filipino, and i admit i was a bit apprehensive the first time i heard Jun will be portraying that role. I kinda expected that we're gonna be put on a bad light at first, but still, i hold on to that faith that as the drama progresses, people's perception about us or other race in general, will change for the better.

Racial slurs are expected. It can be offending but if this is what it'll take to open up (japanese) people's minds, stir their emotions and make them realize that people from diff race shouldn't be treated as such, then i am totally ok with it.

anyway, thank you very much for subbing Smile. I'm loving the drama to bits.

I am Filipino but I want to think I have an open mind regarding the topic. I admire Jun for taking on this role, because it is not princely and pretty but reality. It happens even in any part of the world and even to other races. It is in awareness and getting the message across that we can have understanding and tolerance I think. So must commend TBS and the writers for taking on this topic too. Japanese tend to have a habit of sweeping things they think as not polite/good/ reality under the rug (that's just my opinion) If in the end of this drama people are more aware and recognize that there is another facet to the story then it would have achieved change. That is my hope.
ANd wish the best for this drama! Always! Good acting from Jun tops it all!

thank you for the translation. i like your writings above. i think we all need to be patient with the storyline and appreciate what the drama is trying to express. it is just the first episode, we shall grow with it slowly until the end. it could be a worthwhile journey after all.

my reply to this is long..i had to write my own blog post

sumairu

Noticed that as I watched the drama. I am a Filipino :) But I already thought that this would be the possible topic of the drama and I still watched it. It didn't matter if it mostly talked about this since I understand what they are trying to convey. And, no offense in Smile. It's a drama after all and possibly true, ne? I completely agree with what you had said. I hope it would be one of the dramas that would inspire people to change their point of view. :D

i'm filipino, and i'm not offended. so worry not! watching this made me cry though, because i had idea how strong the stigma of racism is. i mean i do know racism against us filipinos exist but putting myself in bito's shoes, i felt really sad. so i cried. but i wasn't offended at all. most of the time, i keep an open mind when it comes to watching all sorts of things... well aside from that, i'm glad that this topic was put out in the open because it is a very sensitive topic to even put in a drama. i'll think about it more soon enough but this is it for now. thanks so much for subbing this! and don't worry, i think the filipinos who visit your site often will understand. :)

Likewise. I'm also Filipino and I believe that that statement was in the context of the dorama. No need to worry! I'm quite sure that no one will be offended. Thanks for taking the time out to blog about this just to ensure that no one will misunderstand. :) How considerate of you! Gambatte and thanks for subbing this. I'm also looking forward to Sho's quiz show! Go Arashi!

[this is good]

Thank you very much for translating it. It was super fast!!

I'm an english-spanish translator and I know how it's like when you have to translate something you don't agree with. You made a great job!

It's kind of interesting, I haven't watched it fully but it

Japan needs to take a step back and look at themselves. All the hidden anti-foreigner is insane. Of course not everyone is like that, but I meet so many people that hate Koreans and Filipinos "just because" they have no reason. Which I don't get. They don't see and/or learn in school what their country did to those countries. They are only taught "good things" they did for them....Has anyone seen what the government wants to put in new children's text books? It's insane. They completely overlook when they occupied Korea.

i hope this drama will open the minds of many japanese and filipino people as well. here in the philippines, the japanese people here are claiming that we have a harmonius relationship i hope it will be the same as well in Japan..

It really is sad that people are not open minded...thats how it is everywhere, u ll find open minded ppl as well as ppl who are not as open minded and can get offended easily. I also hope that Smile will change the view of Japanese people >< and that one day discrimination won't be an issue in Japan :) Lets all hope for the best~
Now i get why it got such a low rating! =O I was really surprised when TQS got a higer rating than Smile, and no offense to any Sho fans, i love Sho as well!
OMG! I didn't know that you subbed it already, YATTA! THANK YOU SO MUCH! I have been waiting for someone to sub it since it aired XD Thank you :) <3

hmm..
i am a filipino.
and i know that it is really offending on how some people show that kind of attitude towards my co-filipinos..i know it is not right and everything..i am kind of offended too..
but thinking about it..filipinos are to be blamed too..some of them did something which is not right that is why some nationaities,not only japanese,are acting like that towards us..
its not that i hate them for doing that..i know they have reasons too..and i am proud to be a filipino. :p

and yea,jun is so great accepting the role..

http://prututot.livejournal.com

I am a Filipino and proud to be one at that. Am not offended by the drama, in fact it opens mind to racism that happens up to now, i know for a fact that this happens everywhere not in Japan alone.

I really apreciate the writer for deciding to tackle a very sensitive issue. Kudos to the whole staff. Even if it's just the first episode, I'm tottaly into Jun's character, he's doing a good job.

Thanks for subbing this, looking forward for more episode.

hello,

i am a filipino also... ..

dont worry, just like most of the comments here, i didnt feel any offensive about your subs..... it is what the script says and i believe in your subbed/translation..

i just wanna say kudos to all the cast who have joined in this drama!!!

hountoni arigato for subbing!!!!

I just finished watching the 1st episode (thanks to you:)) and gosh Matsumoto made me cry. When I read the plot of SMILE I never thought that Bito being half-Filipino will portray a part in the drama. BTW I'm Filipino and I’m not offended in any way, discrimination happens everywhere in the world, it’s up to the person discriminated how he or she will deal with it. And I’ve never been to Japan nor have Japanese friends so I really don’t know what the usual relationship between Filipinos and Japanese is.

I’m so proud of Matsumoto accepting this challenging character; I hope more people will get to watch this interesting drama.

Thanks for subbing=)

I agree with you 100%. Good on you for putting it into words.

You're my hero!

i'm a Filipino too. honestly i got bored watching the first half of the drama when i watched it in KH. it was difficult to understand what they were talking about. but i loved jun's acting during his crying scene. now since i was able to watch it w/ subs i cried bec it was a very heartwarming drama. this is reality and racism is everywhere. i didn't get offended at all. i'm hoping that this drama will be an eye opener for others and that they fully understand the meaning of equality. we are all humans after all.

i applaud Jun, TBS and all the staff & crew for taking this project.

i'm now looking forward for the next episodes.

thank you so much for subbing this... :)

I am yet to watch Smile but I got pretty interested when I found out that Matsujun will be playing a half-Filipino role. Of course my first thought was that he might be speaking Tagalog and that got me excited and apprehensive at the same time because being a Filipino, I have high regard for this aspect of my country's culture. But I'm keeping an open mind to Matsujun's portrayal of a half-Filipino.

About the 'being offended issue', I say that most Filipinos get offended so easily to the point of exaggeration. No matter the situation or the context, you will always find Filipinos crying "Discrimination!" or "Racism!" because this is basically part of my country's "I'm always the victim!" mentality. I will not be surprised if they see Smile as an attack against being a Filipino instead of a mind-opener to the current situation. Of course there's always two sides to an issue (the Japanese reaction to foreigners or the issue of illegal immigrants and the Filipino [for this drama] or foreigners' response to the Japanese) but I think (and regrettably at that) that most Filipinos will always see only one side of it.

It's sad but it's the truth.

Glad that Smile is sparking discussions such as this. My only wish is that when Filipinos watch this, they will look into themselves and accept that not everything is to be blamed on the Japanese. There may be (valid) grievances against them, but nobody's perfect and I'm sure there are a couple of things that Filipinos must realize they should change too.

That's the way it is. I'm a Filipino too. And I was denied 2 times when i applied for a visa in japan. And on the third try i was granted a 30 day visit visa- with my uncle harrassing the consul here.

[this is good]

I approve of this message. I think you explained your point well, in addition to me agreeing with it.

Thank you for subbing this.

I'm also a Filipino. And was thrilled to know that Matsujun will play the role of a half-Filipino. I already knew that the theme wold have to be about discrimination, and got really apprehensive about how we would be portrayed in the drama. I watched the preview of Smile, and did see the words "Filipino Bastard!", my brother saw it, too. Hmmm... I didn't get offended, because I know that not all Filipinos are treated this way in Japan. I also watched from the Smile Preview that Matsujun was not at all aware that such discrimination against Filipinos existed, which is good to hear. I'll be open-minded in watching this drama, and hope that all who watches it will do the same.

arashi!! [:

APPLAUSE!!!
you've said it right!!!

For my point of view (i'm not Filipino), this drama more like offend the Japanese than the Filipino. This drama represent very much about what Japanese thought about Filipino and most of the people in the drama hate Filipino. if there's any Filipino who felt offended, please consider to look this in the Japanese perspective. Cause most of the time they show how bad japanese to foreigner and how nice is the foreigner

i was all for Smile and proud of the japanese people who put this drama into production and such. THEN the next day, I read this: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/23/business/global/23immigrant.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=japan&st=cse

:O(

[this is good]

The protagonist in the drama is half-Filipino; THAT should explain everything. The drama has just started airing, I think anyone who is offended should just wait and see or, heck, even watch it. Personally, I don't think that the drama will intentionally offend anyone. I am a Filipino too, but I don't think that you should be worried about anything at all. If people keep on sending you hate mail, I think that reasonable fans will continue to support your good work and look out for you. Cheers!

LOL
meh, no one should be offended by that. Really now,

x) ive only seen the first 2 parts so far though xDD
uy, I didnt even know it was about racism.
Maybe because I live in Canada, and having different races or being mixed is quite common. (multi-cultural to a great extreme)
I mean, yeah there is racism and stereotypes,
but i had no idea that racism was what the drama was trying to express. (thought it was focused more on the girl who cant talk LOOL)
-smacks self-
keep up your awesome subs BTW :D :D

i wasn't able to watch the first ep. I tried, but after seeing Jun in pain... well... I just thought, I'll watch it once it ended... I'm a Filipino, btw... I didn't get offended... its more of being disappointed with how society works... its like you want to do something about it but nothing ever works. Sigh... Reality does hurt, right? Anyway, before watching Smile, I've watched an English movie about a girl being discriminated in her school because of how she looks and its kinda depressing for me too, so I'll let Smile finish first before watching it! :p

thanks btw, for sharing it!!!

thank you for the explanation. i think your right in that the whole purpose of smile is to show people how the world in general is, no matter what nationality and ethnic background a person is. i hope this show somehow touches some people and opens up their eyes to be able to accept people for who they are no matter what and where they come from.

[this is good]

i'm also a Filipino and like what other Filipinos said, we should understand and see the story in a positive view.maybe the writers and the staffs didn't intended to hurt or offend anyone. we should all look forward to the success of that movie. and i'm sure we could all learn a lesson from that movie! ganbatte MatsuJun! ^_^ i'm so excited to watch this SMILE!! :D

I (a Filipino) am not totally offended with this drama. It actually made me curious how is it really to be a half-Japanese half-foreigner in Japan.

It actually has a nice concept. Though we can't really prevent some to give violent reactions and stuff.

[this is good]

Interesting.. The show as a whole, the idea of it, shows just how much of an impact (positive or negative) the Filipinos are making on korea and koreans..Filipinos are becoming an important factor in Korean society enough to make a show out of....

I just wonder if the producers have any Filipinos on their set to back or negate any concepts they may have. This is a very touchy show because any mistake they make will be countered immediately by Filipinos. This is the first show, I think that has a Filipino (or at least half) as a central character. It will be extremely interesting to see how they depict Filipinos.

I just hope Filipinos take this with an open mind. All countries, and people are entitled to their thoughts and how they depict Filipinos - the same way we depict foreigners. We should at least try to understand why other people think what they do about us.

(I hope I'm right in assuming this show is korean??)

Hi.
I am a Filipino and I got your point. You are right, maybe that is the way it is.
Thank you for sharing your point of view.
Don't worry. I know not all Filipinos (who are watching it) are not that offended. Every person has his/her own opinion so that is why I am saying "not all".
I admitted at first, when I watch the drama, I got offended. But later on, I realized the situation and story.

Erm, it's actually a Japanese dorama...

don't worry. the way you translated it is perfectly fine.
(thanks for the subs btw!

I know my post is a bit late cuz its only now i've stumble in our post.
Well, i think at first it might be an offender in such a way but If you could get the whole pictures theres really nothing to be offend of in the first place.

RACISM is a worldwide issue and it happen everyday not only to filipinos but also to other nationality. So dont worry about it well, Im not saying that everyone will understand right away but one thing I know for sure Filipinos are people that are very easy to talk with.
for sure they'll understand that issue easily......

thanks for the subs..
i'll be looking forward for the whole series...

Filipino topic ... oh my.

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