Freddie Aguilar wins Korean Asia Star Award 

By Boy Villasanta, January 22, 2008

Internationally renowned Filipino folk singer Freddie Aguilar added yet another award to the countless ones he has already received; the latest is the Asia Star Award from the prestigious Korean Modeling Association (KMA) last Friday (January 18).

The KMA gave Aguilar the award Friday (January 18) for his achievements in bringing Philippine music not only in Asia but throughout the world.

The award was a huge surprise for Freddie who went to Korea thinking that he was just booked to perform with actress Iza Calzado and another Filipino, male model Robby Mananquil.

Unknown to him, his presence was requested by a group of civic-oriented Korean businessmen and culturati not only to sing for their fellow Koreans but also so that he could receive an award.

"I was told by a production staff from the Philippines, Jenny Donato, to prepare a three-minute speech and I asked her what for.

She just smiled and just told me to do what she said. So I prepared a speech for whatever," Aguilar told abs-cbnnews.com.

Aguilar proceeded to prepare for his numbers, the world famous song "Anak" and "Larawan," a cut from his latest record album "Love Songs by Freddie Aguilar."

After finishing his performance, Aguilar was called upon to receive a trophy for his invaluable contribution to world music, especially for his signature composition and interpretation of "Anak" which has been translated into various languages around the world.

"Nagulat ako nang tawagin ako sa stage para bigyan ng award. Ang ganda ng trophy kaya lang, hindi ko mabasa ang nakasulat dahil Korean. Alam mo na naman ang mga Korean, napaka-nationalistic ng mga ‘yan. Hindi sila nagsusulat ng Ingles sa trophy o plaque of appreciation. Hindi tulad natin na napaka-colonial," Aguilar said with a chuckle.

(I was shocked when I was called again onstage to receive an award. The trophy was nice except that I couldn’t understand the inscription because it's in Korean. You know how Koreans are, they’re very nationalistic. They don’t write English on trophies or plaques of appreciation. They aren’t like us who are very colonial.)

In return, he gave the Koreans a dose of their own medicine. He delivered his acceptance speech in Filipino.

Calzado and Mananquil also received awards. Calzado was awarded the Model Star prize while Mananquil accepted the Male Model Star award.

The remaining awardees were Koreans who understandably ventilated their thank you speeches in their native tongue.

"Nainggit nga sa akin si Iza dahil siya ay nag-Ingles. Sabi niya, sana, nag-Tagalog din siya. Ang suot ko, Filipinong-Filipino rin. Naka-Muslim-inspired suit ako, V-shaped ang neck at ang fabric ay galing sa Davao. Gustung-gusto rin ni Iza ang suot ko. Siya kasi, naka-gown," said the singer.

(Iza regretted not giving her acceptance speech in Tagalog when she received her trophy. My attire was very Filipino: a Muslim-inspired suit with a V-shaped neck. The fabric came from Davao. Iza liked it so much she also regretted not donning a Filipino dress.)

Everyone was proud of the new international recognition for Aguilar, who has forgotten how many awards he's received due to the sheer number of them. He has given up on counting them.

"Ang natatandaan ko lang, ‘yong mga bagong bigay (I only remember the recent ones.)."