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Pinoy Abroad

Gabby Abshire tells Pinoy kids: Learn Filipino before English language


He has blue eyes, blond hair, and fair skin. Ten-year-old Gabby Abshire seems like a typical American kid...until he speaks.
 
When he does speak, one would get that strange feeling of talking to a fellow Filipino who looks all-American. On May 31, multi-awarded broadcast journalist Jessica Soho interviewed Gabby for her show “Kapuso mo, Jessica Soho”, a GMA Public affairs program.
Soho then told Gabby about the sad fact that some Filipino youngsters do not even know how to speak Tagalog.
 
“Meron akong kilala mayaman, Pilipinong-Pilipino yung anak dito, tatay at nanay niya Pilipino pero po lingguahe niya English,” he said.
 
Gabby had a message for Filipino kids who only speak English rather than Tagalog.
 
“Well, ang masasabi ko lang po sa kanila [ay] ang dapat po ang pinakaunahin nila Tagalog po hindi po English, syempre Pilipino naman po sila di’ba?” Gabby suggested.  
Gabby first captured the hearts of Filipinos when he performed on the noontime variety show “Eat Bulaga” on May 19 with host Vic Sotto and other "Dabarkads," performing songs like:
 
  • “Teach me how to Dougie” by Cali Swag District
  • "Mitulo Na” Visayan novelty song by Max Surban, and
  • “Laklak” by Filipino rock band Teeth.
 
On numbers and health
 
Soho found out that Gabby does not attend regular schooling sessions and asked him where he studies.
 
“Home studies lang naman po ako,” he replied.
 
“Anong paborito mong subject?” Soho asked.
 
“Math po,” Gabby replied. When asked what he hopes to become someday, Gabby said,“Doctor po,” adding that "gusto ko po makatulong po ng tao. Ayun lang po."
 
“Pwede mo din naman gawin yan sa Amerika,” Soho reasoned.
 
“Pero po hindi po, marami po may sakit dito [kaysa sa US],” he replied.  
 
‘More fun in the Philippines’
 
Aside from his fluent Tagalog, Gabby also knows how to cook Filipino dishes such as sinigang and adobo.
 
He also told Soho why he likes it here in the Philippines.
 
“Mukhang mahal na mahal mo ang bansa namin Gabby,” Soho said.
 
“Kasi po mas masaya dito,” he replied.
 
“Bakit mas masaya sa Pilipinas eh ang hirap ng buhay namin?” Soho asked.
 
“Mas masaya dito sa Pilipinas kasi po lahat po ng kaibigan ko, lahat nang pwede kong gawin dito [ay] nandito po,” he explained. - Andrei Medina, VVP, GMA News
 
 
Tags: gabbyabshire, unitedstates
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