Kyle Jennermann, the Canadian vlogger behind the YouTube channel and Facebook page Becoming Filipino, may just become one soon after the House of Representatives passed a bill that would grant him Filipino citizenship.
House Speaker Martin Romualdez shared the news on social media.
“We recognize Kyle’s large contribution in introducing the Philippines to the world through his YouTube channel, ‘Becoming Filipino.’ Thank you very much, Kulas, and it is my honor to call you my fellowman,” Romualdez said, referring to the Filipino nickname Kyle has adopted here.
“I [woke] up this morning filled with so many emotions. Over the years, I have become so confident and comfortable sharing my thoughts and feelings here with this #BecomingFilipino community. But here I am, almost crying, shaking with inspiration, belief, love, gratefulness, excitement,” Jennermann wrote in a lengthy post.
In his post, Jennermann shared that when the opportunity to acquire citizenship opened up, he questioned whether it was something he deserved.
“Truth is, I used to believe that wasn’t for me to answer. But [in] the past months I’ve also realized something… I have to believe in myself. I have to believe that I can be the best Filipino I can be,” he said.
“Kyle Jennermann’s contributions to the promotion of Filipino culture and identity to the rest of the world make him deserving to be a naturalized Filipino,” Biñan Rep. Marlyn Alonte, the bill’s author, wrote in her opening statement.
Jennermann has been staying in the Philippines since 2013. His Becoming Filipino Facebook page has 1.5 million followers, and his YouTube channel has over 1 million subscribers, where he posts videos about exploring the various provinces in the country and their people.
The bill is set to be transmitted to the Senate, with Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri expressing that he will be sponsoring the bill in the Upper House.
Although having lawmakers file a bill to grant citizenship is one way to do it, Philippine law allows foreigners living in the Philippines to go through the naturalization process — they must have lived in the country for at least 10 years, demonstrate proficiency in English or Spanish as well as a Philippine language, and must demonstrate good moral character, criteria that Jennermann meets.
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