Carla777 wrote:About Arnel Pineda Statue..i think i can understand a little why pinoys make this; ***snip** Saludos
Hi, Carla...
This is totally different from Filipinos feeling proud of Arnel's overseas exposure, and wishing to honor Arnel...
and frankly I think forums like MR unintentionally inflate Arnel's popularity here in the Philippines.
Here, he is liked
by those who know of him for his good fortune. Knowing of his down-to-earth attitude
only increases the regard in which he is held. I don't know of anyone who doesn't wish him well.
A fair number actually know his voice and his work...but with so many other Filipino recording artists (in bands or not),
it's doubtful he's anything like a national favorite.
The statue is clearly not about Arnel's charity work, and IMO it's not even about honoring his musical "achievements".
It is all about local politicians trying to ride on Arnel's perceived popularity.
...and Arnel is undeniably popular in Gapó (short for Olongapo), stomping ground of th best rock bands.
Still, Olongapo is just one municipality on one large island out of the 7,100 that make up the Philippines.
Local elections are still a ways off, in May of 2010... and THAT is why I deem this statue business to be "overkill".
AFAICT, Arnel was cornered into participating in this gimmick.
He's too sweet to have said no to it, even if it struck him as weird.
-wech