The Philippines went all agog when Korean idol group Momoland yesterday released their music video for the song Baam — and as teased by a preview video, it has the girls dancing in front of a backdrop filled with images of jeepneys and Philippine flags.
Netizens were ecstatic to see a shot of fan favorite Nancy Mcdonie holding the Philippine flag.
Nancy holding our (Philippine) Flag is a major uwu 💜💜#Momoland #NANCY #BAAM pic.twitter.com/DeQ87YLgC5
— Myoui’s | #DTNA (@MyouiJiminari) June 26, 2018
Wrote @egdaraallanpoe: “[L]ooks like all the times we streamed Bboom Bboom in public finally paid off.”
hey ph looks like all those times we streamed bboom bboom in public finally paid off#MOMOLAND #BAAM pic.twitter.com/t5epAxpx3B
— *⋆☽◌˚ ੈ✩ | #100DaysWithSKZ (@egdarallanpoe) June 26, 2018
User @dexsdexsdexs wrote: “Raising one nation’s flag is such huge of respect! South Korea and Philippines had been good friends for a long time! But this is some next level love & respect! This shows how they also love and appreciate us.”
Raising one nation’s flag is such huge of respect!❤️South Korea and Philippines had been good friends for a long time! But this is some NEXT LEVEL LOVE & RESPECT! This shows how they also love and appreciate us #MOMOLAND #Fun_to_the_World #내마음속으로BAAM #움짤이벤트 #모모랜드 pic.twitter.com/TtG3xcfyN0
— Dexs (@dexsdexdexs) June 26, 2018
Youtube user Ezekiel Tanawag even wrote that when he saw Mcdonie holding the flag he: “[F]elt like she was holding something [sic] part of me.”
But some netizens weren’t as thrilled. Apparently, some are bothered that the use of the flag and its images could be against the law.
@mrgxenarao bluntly said in a mix of Filipino and English: “People are hyping it up, ‘Proud to be Pinoy?’ But you didn’t listen to your Grade 8 teacher! That’s [using the flag] against the law.”
Momoland’s Nancy displayed the Philippine Flag in their new MV. People are hyping it up, “Proud to be Pinoy” ba?
Pero ‘di ba kayo nakinig sa grade 8 teacher niyo?!! That’s against the law
— Margaux 👑 (@mrgxenerao) June 26, 2018
While she may seem like a party pooper, she’s not entirely wrong. The law states that the Philippine flag cannot be used for any advertisements and infomercials — whether or not music videos fall under this is unclear.
But others are just too happy to care.
Defended @ben_10nation in a mix of Filipino and English: “You can just think of it as a free ad for Philippine Tourism. You just want to say something. All you want is for people to see negative things about the Philippines.”
hindi ba pwedeng isipin na free ads nalang yan para sa Tourism ng Pilipinas yan. may mapansin nalang talaga. gusto nyo kasi puro negative ang ipakita sa Pilipinas. Wala naman pinakitang masama laban sa Pilipinas sa MV na yan.
— I.O.I Forever (@ben_10nation) June 26, 2018
With the release of the video, one Reddit user shared this little known fact: many fans steaming Momoland’s songs on Spotify are from the Philippines.
“[A]ccording to Spotify, the cities with the most streams for Boom Boom are mostly in the Philippines,” wrote mariow08. “They know their audience [smiley]. The power of Filipino parents and their toddlers blasting that song on repeat!”
Another user said targetting Filipinos is a sound, strategic move. Wrote user hobiecute: “Our country can make something go trending, keep it for days, a week, or maybe more.”
And it’s true — quite a number of content creators on YouTube produce videos targetted towards Filipinos.
Check out those videos reacting to the performance of Filipino singers, or those countless mukbangs where they eat Filipino food or Jollibee. Or have you heard about these American guys who can speak fluent Bisaya? They even managed to produce their own Bisaya song.
Targetting Filipinos is an easy way for something to get online traction.
As of today, Baam‘s new music video has more than 4.5 million views, no doubt many of those came from their Filipino fans.
As they say, Pinoy pride all the way.
