Vanessa’s paradise
Fil-Am star shares an intimate look at her experience in the Philippines
FILIPINO- American actress and singer Vanessa Hudgens recently visited the Philippines for the first time and expressed her admiration for the country, calling it a “paradise.”
In her interview with Boy Adunda during a special media engagement, she shared her excitement about her first experience visiting her mother’s home country. She described her time in the Philippines as an intimate experience where she was able to discover the beauty of the land and the wonderful people who inhabit it.
Vanessa was so mesmerized by the Philippines to the point that during a “Fast Talk” interview with the King of Talk, she answered without skipping a beat that “I’m already in a place where I wanted to be.”
“I was definitely raised very American except for all the rice and the adobo and
pancit,” she said in jest.
The actress revealed that her connection to the Philippines has always existed within her, as she is half-Filipino and half- American, but it was not until her trip that she was able to truly get in touch with that part of herself.
By sharing these thoughts, Vanessa is showing her appreciation and admiration for the country and its culture, and her gratitude for the opportunity to explore her own heritage.
“It’s a little bit of everything. It’s got paradise, it’s got a metropolitan city. It’s got kindness, everybody is so warm, so friendly. The people here are unique. Everyone is just so warm. The hospitality is unmatched. It’s just a little magical place,” she said.
The 34-year-old star, best known for her roles in High School Musical and The
Princess Switch, will soon be sharing her travel experiences and adventures through a documentary directed by Paul Soriano. It will showcase the beauty of the country and its rich culture.
Explaining her decision to explore the Philippines for the first time, she said that visiting the country has always been on her list, “but it never happened.”
“I get to come here with my mom and sister. This is a hub for my family and I get to be here with my family. I’m 30 now. I’m thinking about raising a family and I want to be able to know my heritage so that I can bring that forth. So that my kids can know their backgrounds. They can know more about their own blood,” Vanessa stated.
She also expressed her excitement about returning to the Philippines saying that she needs more time to explore the “incredible country.”
“The country is so big and has so much to offer. I’m a big nature girl, big beach girl. There are so many beautiful beaches here that I still have to go to. I wanna go hang out with the tribes. There’s just so much to do. I haven’t even gone shopping,” she said.
Aside from visiting Palawan, Vanessa hopes to visit Cebu and Mindanao in her next trip to the country.