Where have you been all our lives? They asked the man who seemed to know every nook and cranny of the Bible. But he belonged to a third-world country, one that is known for extreme poverty – material or moral - that racial slurs for the Filipino appear deserved and called for.

Although Filipino is one of the many races that are often victimized by racial slur of many countries that are economically superior, Filipinos abroad are continually creating phenomenal scenes and remarkable stories that challenge such claims from other races.

A very recent case of pinoy-bashing is courtesy of Chip Tsao, an editor of Hong Kong Magazine. He labeled the Philippines as “nation of servants”. Tsao, being self-claimed patriotic, explained in his column that the comment he made was due to his anger as he stumbled upon the news of Philippines claiming sovereignty over Spratly Islands.

In his article he stated: There are more than 130,000 Filipina maids working at US$3,580-a-month cheap labor in Hong Kong. As a nation of servants, you don't flex your muscles at your master, from whom you earn most of your bread and butter.

Tsao only saw a certain phase of facts about the country regarding the statistics of Filipinos working abroad as domestic helpers. The reason to work overseas could be attributed to the unsatisfying local wages of the workers in the country.

It can be remembered that early quarter of 2008, a Hollywood actress Teri Hatcher cited a line with racial slur against Filipino Doctors in a TV drama in which she starred. This too became a news sensation. These are just the most recent ones, not yet including other high and low profile cases of racial slur against Filipinos in the past.

But it seems that Filipinos would not easily yield to this pinoy-bashing trend as some Filipinos are making it successful in the international scene with their exceptional gifts, not to mention the fact that 8.6% in 1.515 million Filipinos abroad are professional and highly skilled workers, according to Philippines Today. This one, Tsao might have failed to see.

If many of Pinoys have reacted in such sore manner, others are showing swiftly how different Filipinos are and don’t deserve such disparaging remarks.

Early this year, The New York Times featured Cristeta Comerford, a Filipina executive chef in the White House who is highly-recommended by former First Lady Sophia Bush to the Obamas and thus retained her position.

“The Bushs just loved her. There’s no need for making a change,’’ stated by the transition official of White House.

Another example and the most notable in fact is the Internet-singing sensation, Charice Pempengco. She was discovered in YouTube video by a Hollywood talk show host Ellen Degeneres. Her talent, along with her significant appearance in Ellen’s show, caught the ear of the legendary composer David Foster. Oprah Winfrey took part of staging her career in US as her manager. At her young age of 17, she already performed with Celine Dion, Josh Groban,
Andrea Boccelli and earned praises from Jay Leno, Muhammad Ali and many big names in the entertainment industry.

Charice came from a pool of musical performers in the country through one of the big networks. Comments in YouTube by fellow Filipinos express their pride and victory whenever Charice is singing and wowing the international audience. She is a reminder of the fellow Philippine pride’s success, Ms. Lea Salonga.

Ms. Lea Salonga is already an institution, not just because of her numerous international music achievements but her disciplined lifestyle as well. Showbiz’s nasty rumors and scandals never had listed Lea’s name in it.

In a similar story, Filipino vocalist, Arnel Pineda, was discovered and hailed to be the new vocalist of renowned US band, The Journey, whose hit single includes “Open Arms”. He was discovered in YouTube as well and since then Arnel continually wowed not just the international audience but also The Journey’s original band members. His presence in the band helps them to
revive their remarkable decades-long music.

This international popularity came as well in religious form. Homegrown preacher Eliseo Soriano or famously known as Bro. Eli via his popular program Ang Dating Daan (The Old Path) is gaining fame among different nationalities. This is being aired in the Church’s video documentary.

If Charice wowed the world with her phenomenal vocal flair, Bro. Eli amazes them with his gift in citing the Bible which he has memorized of by heart and the unparalleled reasoning strictly based on the Bible.

Just like Charice, Bro. Eli gained popularity as well in the Internet. His official blog esoriano.wordpress.com has been declared The Most Popular Website of 2009 by the Philippine Web Awards. This is regarded as extraordinary achievement for a newbie as his blog only joined the competition this year. This too won the hearts of many readers as it also bagged People’s Choice Award in Blog category.

The blog surpassed the popularity of the former winner who holds the title for six consecutive years in the same award-giving body, which is angdatingdaan.org, the official website of the congregation that Bro. Eli, himself, is leading.

However, angdatingdaan.org bagged once again the People’s Choice Award for organization’s category. In other words, his presence in the Internet is very much known and in demand, thus the message of his websites’ consecutive achievements.

News of Bro. Eli’s fame abroad may be scarce but the Internet helps to spread the word. “The Old Path” channel in YouTube gives the public an access to the happenings abroad of how well appreciated the preacher from the Philippines is by the natives of different countries.

“I think he sets the standard in a lot of ways . . . we’ve learned that people can really live and beliving examples of the truth,” testified by the couple who were natives of Leeds, England. They were describing the Bible Exposition held in the place that was hosted by Bro. Eli.

Just like Charice, whose presence is being requested from Asia to America, Bro. Eli is very much in demand from Eastern to Western countries.

Names like Charice Pempengco, Cristeta Comerford and Eli Soriano are few of the local names enough to make Filipinos proud with their roots.