Manny Jacinto—living proof that a Filipino can make it. I admire him so much for many reasons, but one of the biggest reasons is his roots. No, it’s not because he was born in the Philippines. No, it’s not because he immigrated to Canada and then to America (though that journey is a common one among now Filipino-Americans, a journey invisible and a story untold in American media, but that’s a whole ‘nother topic). His stardom didn’t come from an early, privileged career of childhood acting. He did not grow up around theatre, or dance, or the arts. He did not attend some glamorous, overpriced dramatic arts university. Guess what? He got his bachelor’s in civil engineering. It’s raw, it’s authentic, it’s relatable—especially among Asian-American kids who are often bombarded with familial pressures to get into medical or engineering.
“To the asian kid that can’t get an ‘A’ to save her/his life, that wants to play sports or make believe, that sees a different path,” as Jacinto says in my favorite Instagram post of all time, it’s possible. Take action. Seize your own future. If you want your spot in the entertainment industry, take it. This applies to any industry, for that matter, but seeing as film and television represent less of us, I’m especially targeting entertainment. It’s the place I’m working toward, so I’m here with you in this fight, in this journey, which is our journey.
Look at the beautiful faces in this photo. Know we can be up there too.