Solenn, Erwan Heussaff bashed over Bicol Express

MANILA, Philippines — Like Kapamilya stars Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil who were bashed when they were cast in “Bagani” for allegedly “not looking Pinoy enough,” Kapuso actress Solenn Heussaff admitted that she and brother Erwan also had a similar experience.

During a press interview following a Watsons Hair Goals event at SM Mall of Asia on May 17, Solenn told the press, including Philstar.com, that while she does not know anything about the anomalous "Buhay Carinderia" project in which Erwan was a content creator, she knows that her restaurateur brother has received negative comments attacking their nationality.

“I know nag-receive s’ya (Erwan) ng mga hate messages na ano, hindi daw kami Pinoy, blah, blah, blah,” Solenn said.

The attacks came after she and Erwan came out with a video of their version of the traditional Filipino dish Bicol Express.

“We did also a video before na Bicol Express but our version, hindi ‘yung classical Pinoy. We got bashed for that eh.”

Solenn and Erwan are half-Filipinos. Their mom, Cynthia Adea, is a Filipina, while their dad is Louis Paul Heussaff, a French national of British descent.

Although Solenn and Erwan are only half Filipinos, they are very proud of their Filipino heritage.

 “You can’t please everyone and for me, this is about being proud of your roots. Kahit one-fourth Pinoy ako, I’m still Filipino. Half-Filipino, I’m still Filipino. You being pure as a Filipino 100 percent by blood, does not make you less of Filipino if you only have 50 percent. I think we could know more about the Philippines than a lot of Filipinos in general,” Solenn said.

Since they know in their hearts that they are proud to be Pinoy, Solenn said she and her brother just ignore bashers.

“‘Yung mga haters parati naman sila nandun. Wala na tayong magagawa,” she enthused.

“It’s a small minority of the population that thinks like that. The others understand naman that we really have to move forward as a country, we have certain ways of doing things like traditional ways, you know we need to also have to move forward with all the other countries. If we can help to push the Philippines, then we’re gonna do it,” she added.