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Vanessa Hudgens Spills All Her Favorite Filipino Things

Apart from “it’s all about family,” the Hollywood actress shares other things she loves about the Philippines during the press conference for her upcoming documenta

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Mariel Abanes

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/45808706-986b-41be-9174-3ff8099ef176_cv_vanessahudgens-19.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Vanessa Hudgens"/></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p><a href="https://metro.style/search?q=vanessa%20hudgens" target="_blank">Vanessa Hudgens</a> has always been special to all of us. Apart from being one of our youth heroines as Gabriella Montez in <em><strong>High School Musical</strong></em>, the actress also represents Filipinos in the global stage. She credits her Filipina mom Gina Guangco for all the things she knows about our country. Although she admits being raised as “very American,” the 34-year-old also has favorite things about the Philippines.</p><div><br/></div><p>We got to know all this and more during the press interview with<a href="https://metro.style/people/inspiring-stories/boy-abunda-who-are-you-when-no-ones-watching-2/31788" target="_blank"> Boy Abunda</a> for her upcoming travel documentary directed by <a href="https://metro.style/search?q=paul%20soriano" target="_blank">Paul Soriano</a>. She is also the first Hollywood star to become the Philippines’ global tourism advisor</p><div><br/></div><div> </div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/24414863-ba80-447d-af00-677e9232ba60_cv_06207.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt=""/></span></span></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>Beautiful beaches in the Philippines</strong></div><p>Her long-overdue visit to our pristine beaches has now become a reality. Taking her first step in our wonderful seas in Pangulasian Island in El Nido, Palawan, Vanessa can’t help but fall in love with this piece of paradise, as she calls it. </p><div><br/></div><p>“I&#x27;m a big nature and beach girl. There are so many beautiful beaches here that I still have to go to,” she points out. Part of her travel bucket list? The offerings down south in Cebu and Mindanao! </p><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CqZSPGAP_jE/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background:#FFF;border:0;border-radius:3px;box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15);margin:1px;max-width:540px;min-width:326px;padding:0;width:calc(100% - 2px)"><div style="padding:16px"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CqZSPGAP_jE/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="background:#FFFFFF;line-height:0;padding:0 0;text-align:center;text-decoration:none;width:100%" target="_blank"> <div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;align-items:center"> <div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;flex-grow:0;height:40px;margin-right:14px;width:40px"><br/></div> <div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex-grow:1;justify-content:center"> <div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;margin-bottom:6px;width:100px"><br/></div> <div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;width:60px"><br/></div></div></div><div style="padding:19% 0"><br/></div> <div style="display:block;height:50px;margin:0 auto 12px;width:50px"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 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translateY(1px);width:12.5px;flex-grow:0;margin-right:14px;margin-left:2px"><br/></div> <div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;height:12.5px;width:12.5px;transform:translateX(9px) translateY(-18px)"><br/></div></div><div style="margin-left:8px"> <div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;flex-grow:0;height:20px;width:20px"><br/></div> <div style="width:0;height:0;border-top:2px solid transparent;border-left:6px solid #f4f4f4;border-bottom:2px solid transparent;transform:translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"><br/></div></div><div style="margin-left:auto"> <div style="width:0px;border-top:8px solid #F4F4F4;border-right:8px solid transparent;transform:translateY(16px)"><br/></div> <div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;flex-grow:0;height:12px;width:16px;transform:translateY(-4px)"><br/></div> <div style="width:0;height:0;border-top:8px solid #F4F4F4;border-left:8px solid transparent;transform:translateY(-4px) translateX(8px)"><br/></div></div></div> <div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex-grow:1;justify-content:center;margin-bottom:24px"> <div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;margin-bottom:6px;width:224px"><br/></div> <div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;width:144px"><br/></div></div></a><div style="color:#c9c8cd;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:17px;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:8px;overflow:hidden;padding:8px 0 7px;text-align:center;text-overflow:ellipsis;white-space:nowrap"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CqZSPGAP_jE/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="color:#c9c8cd;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:17px;text-decoration:none" target="_blank">A post shared by 🔮Vanessa Hudgens🔮 (@vanessahudgens)</a></div></div></blockquote> </div><div><br/></div><div><strong>From food to tropical accessories</strong></div><p>And of course, Filipino food is big in Vanessa’s list of favorites. She recalls how her mom would prepare local favorites like <em>adobo </em>and <em>pancit</em> – and servings of rice!</p><div><br/></div><p>Vanessa also giddily shares her amusement for the folk dance tinikling. “I’m literally going to buy bamboo sticks to make my friends do it!” she quips. </p><div><br/></div><p>The Hollywood actress also realized how her love for tropical accents – like natural elements, wicker, rattan, and mother-of-pearl – stems from her heritage. “I&#x27;m so obsessed with the <a href="https://metro.style/search?q=filipino%20furniture" target="_blank">Filipino furniture</a> and <a href="https://metro.style/search?q=filipino%20lighting" target="_blank">lighting</a>!” she gushes. </p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/8a6fa7e9-ae68-41ab-ab39-86ee447fab00_cv_vanessahudgens-13.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt=""/></span></span></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>Family first</strong></div><p>But above all, it’s the tightness as a family and warmth that Vanessa relates to most. Growing up, she reveals, she’s always had a close relationship with her mom and sister Stella. &#x27;I feel like just the family aspect of the Philippines is something that is so prominent and so strong,” the actress points out.</p><div style="text-align:left"><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CqjYFxSMYpz/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background:#FFF;border:0;border-radius:3px;box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15);margin:1px;max-width:540px;min-width:326px;padding:0;width:calc(100% - 2px)"><div style="padding:16px"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CqjYFxSMYpz/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="background:#FFFFFF;line-height:0;padding:0 0;text-align:center;text-decoration:none;width:100%" target="_blank"> <div 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style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;height:12.5px;width:12.5px;transform:translateX(0px) translateY(7px)"><br/></div> <div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;height:12.5px;transform:rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px);width:12.5px;flex-grow:0;margin-right:14px;margin-left:2px"><br/></div> <div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;height:12.5px;width:12.5px;transform:translateX(9px) translateY(-18px)"><br/></div></div><div style="margin-left:8px"> <div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;flex-grow:0;height:20px;width:20px"><br/></div> <div style="width:0;height:0;border-top:2px solid transparent;border-left:6px solid #f4f4f4;border-bottom:2px solid transparent;transform:translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"><br/></div></div><div style="margin-left:auto"> <div style="width:0px;border-top:8px solid #F4F4F4;border-right:8px solid transparent;transform:translateY(16px)"><br/></div> <div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;flex-grow:0;height:12px;width:16px;transform:translateY(-4px)"><br/></div> <div style="width:0;height:0;border-top:8px solid #F4F4F4;border-left:8px solid transparent;transform:translateY(-4px) translateX(8px)"><br/></div></div></div> <div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex-grow:1;justify-content:center;margin-bottom:24px"> <div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;margin-bottom:6px;width:224px"><br/></div> <div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;width:144px"><br/></div></div></a><div style="color:#c9c8cd;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:17px;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:8px;overflow:hidden;padding:8px 0 7px;text-align:center;text-overflow:ellipsis;white-space:nowrap"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CqjYFxSMYpz/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="color:#c9c8cd;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:17px;text-decoration:none" target="_blank">A post shared by 🔮Vanessa Hudgens🔮 (@vanessahudgens)</a></div></div></blockquote> </div><div><br/></div>She also expressed her delight in meeting strangers who treat her like one of them. “Everybody is so warm and so friendly. The people here are very unique. Everyone is just so warm,” Vanessa muses. &#x27;The hospitality is unmatched. It&#x27;s just a really magical place.&#x27;<div style="text-align:left"><br/></div><p style="text-align:left">And we think she’ll be able to discover more about the Philippines, our paradise – her hometown – when Vanessa turns up the second time around. We can’t wait to see where her adventures will take us on the screen!</p><div><br/></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>

Apart from “it’s all about family,” the Hollywood actress shares other things she loves about the Philippines during the press conference for her upcoming documentary about the Philippines