In honor of the United States’ AAPI Heritage month, here are Filipino-blooded stars who thrive in their careers and support meaningful causes.
This May, the United States celebrates the Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage or AAPI month. It is an annual celebration that recognizes the cultural contributions of people of Asian and Pacific Islander descent in the country as per History. This is an opportune time to highlight remarkable Filipino-blooded stars who not only made significant strides in Hollywood, but also leveraged their success to support meaningful causes.
These actors use their platforms to advocate for representation, inclusivity, and philanthropy to inspire future generations of trailblazers. Their stories emphasize the importance of honoring heritage in shaping Hollywood’s cultural landscape.
Here are some of today’s promising Filipino-blooded stars who have positively impacted the world in their own ways.
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Manny Jacinto
The Good Place star Manny Jacinto is of Chinese-Filipino-Canadian descent. He landed his breakout role on the television series as Jason Mendoza alongside Kristen Bell, William Jackson Harper, and Jameela Jamil.
His known projects include Top Gun: Maverick, Nine Perfect Strangers, I Want You Back, and Brand New Cherry Flavor, among others.
Jacinto is not just thriving in the industry, but he also makes it a point to support his chosen causes. In 2019, he stood with American actress and activist Jane Fonda during a #FireDrillFriday as per Greenpeace USA and Philippines. He wanted to draw attention to Filipino communities to take legal action against 47 oil, coal, gas, and cement corporations for human rights violations resulting from climate impacts.
Jacinto revealed in an interview with Michael Darling that a charity near and dear to his heart is from the British Columbia Children’s Hospital. “I have friends and close loved ones who have benefitted from their medical care,” he explained. “It’s one that hits close to home.”
Rob Schneider
Accomplished actor, screenwriter, and director Rob Schneider is of Filipino and Caucasian descent born in San Francisco.
Schneider began his stand-up career in high school and opened for the popular local band Head On, and appeared on the radio, too. He starred in HBO’s 13th Annual Young Comedians special which snagged him a writer role for Saturday Night Live. The actor is also known for his roles in 50 First Dates, European Gigolo, Daddy Daughter Trip, and The Animal, among many others.
He talked about being Filipino in an online interview with film critic and host Manny The Movie Guy. “Filipinos are successful in America because it’s expected of them,” he said. “[Those expectations] help you become successful, that’s why I am grateful to my Asian heritage, my mother, [who] was hard on me when I was a kid.”
Schneider has supported multiple charities as per Look To The Stars, a source for celebrities’ philanthropic efforts. Among these causes include programs advocating for women, human rights, disaster relief, peace, refugees, creative arts, at-risk/disadvantaged youths, and more.
Darren Criss
Actor, singer, and songwriter Darren Criss is a proud Filipino-blooded star. His mother, Cerina, is from Cebu. Criss is popular for the roles he played in Glee, Little White Lie, and A Very Potter Musical.
Criss is also the first Filipino-American celebrity who won a Golden Globe award in 2019. He bagged the prize for Best Actor In A Limited Series Or A Motion Picture For Television when he played Andrew Cunanan in American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace.
A report from People revealed Criss’ sentiments about being biracial and explained what heritage meant to him. “I’ve always been proud of my heritage, of being Filipino. Just because people don’t see it, doesn’t make it any less real to me. I’m closer to my identity than I ever was before.”
The Glee star supports endeavors that champion orphans/adoptions, at-risk/disadvantaged youths, human rights, creative arts, gender equality, and children, among various others.
Vanessa Lachey
Vanessa Lachey, or Vanessa Joy Minnillo, is an American television host and model who was born in the Philippines. Her mom, Helen, is Filipina, while her dad is American and used to be a crew member on an Air Force aircraft.
Lachey is one half of the hosts of reality shows Love is Blind and The Ultimatum with her husband, Nick. She also appeared in several movies and television shows like Dads, How I Met Your Mother, Disaster Movie, and A Twist of Christmas.
E! News revealed in a report that she was abandoned by her mother, as she left her children at Lachey’s father’s doorsteps. However, the unfortunate situation led her to be a good parent to her children. “I’m not going to repeat the cycle. I’m going to break the cycle,” she said.
Aside from joining her husband’s own charitable causes, the host-actress too, has her own advocacies. She became a global ambassador for United Service Organizations, Inc. (USO), a non-profit corporation that provides live entertainment and other programs to members of the US Armed Forces and their families. She also backs Operation Smile and projects revolving around children and health.
Hailee Steinfeld
Actress and singer Hailee Steinfeld has multi-race roots. Her dad is of Ashkenazi Jewish descent and her mother has Filipino, African-American, British Isles, and German blood. She entered the entertainment industry at a young age, landing her first movie role at age 13.
She is known for her roles in Pitch Perfect 2, Pitch Perfect 3, True Grit, The Edge Of Seventeen, Hawkeye, Dickinson, and The Marvels.
Hailee said she is very proud of her Filipino heritage. A report from South China Morning Post said she felt at home when she visited the Philippines in 2016, and again in 2019.
The singer-actress expressed she has always been interested in her Filipino heritage. Steinfeld said she felt right at home when she visited the country. She disclosed that she was aware of how passionate Filipinos could be, and she related to that feeling and easily connected to the culture.
Steinfeld not only blossoms in her career, but she also makes it a point to give back to communities. She and apparel and accessories brand Mission® launched the “What’s Your Mission?” graphic shirt initiative. Every purchase of the tee benefited the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles in 2017.
She frequently supported charities for breast cancer, HIV and AIDS, health, human rights, hunger, and women, among various others.
Nicole Scherzinger
Former Pussycat Dolls lead singer Nicole Scherzinger was born in Honolulu, Hawaii and was raised in Louisville, Kentucky. Her mom is Hawaiian and her dad is Filipino.
She rose to fame on the reality television show Popstars and earned a spot in the girl group, Eden’s Crush. She joined The Pussycat Dolls afterwards and together they produced chart-topping singles like “Don’t Cha,” “Stickwitu,” and “Jai Ho! (You Are My Destiny.)”
She revealed through Us Weekly that if she is not in the entertainment industry, her alternate profession would be working with people with special needs. “I really enjoy it, it feeds my soul and spirit,” she said.
The singer once held her A-list lifestyle back when she went to visit Unicef in the Philippines in 2015. She went to Baseco near Manila’s main port where many lived in overcrowded conditions, struggling with poverty, hunger, and violence. “I’m part Filipina so I have a strong connection with the country,” she explained. “[I] feel I have a responsibility to do what I can and bring awareness to the dangers that Filipino children face everyday.”
She raised funds for Comic Relief: Red Nose Day to aid vulnerable communities all over the world. The singer also supports charities for education, health, grief support, poverty, women, and children.
Banner photo via Instagram @nicolescherzinger.
