“I Am Part Filipino”: How Modeling Helped Two Men Embrace Their Mixed Heritage
Two models, half-Filipino and half-something-else, meet in Manila, drink gulaman in the afternoon heat, and begin to understand what it means to belong
The multicultural models rediscovering their Filipino roots
On a warm Manila afternoon, amidst hanging laundry and potted plants in a modest concrete yard, Christian Bootle, a Filipino-British model, spotted a street vendor selling gulaman—a refreshing drink made from agar jelly and sweet pandan leaf extract—after their exhausting VMEN shoot.
Without hesitation, he bought a glass and offered it to his fellow model and friend, Aidan Palis.
“It’s super sweet, but you’ve got to try this,” Christian said with a smile, sharing a simple moment that exemplified the unexpected brotherhood they’d found in the modeling industry.
This scene captures the essence of how two half-Filipino models from different parts of the world—Christian from London and Aidan from Florida—are discovering their Filipino heritage through the lens of modeling and friendship in their ancestral homeland.
Growing up between two worlds
Both models share similar stories of growing up disconnected from their Filipino roots.
Christian, who modeled in London for nine years before recently expanding to the Philippines, reveals that his Filipino culture was somewhat suppressed during his upbringing. With a British mother and a Filipino father, his connection there remained unexplored for many years.
“I grew up not really invested in my culture,” Christian admits, noting that it was a personal decision later in life to explore his Filipino heritage that led him to pursue modeling opportunities in the country.
Similarly, Aidan, who worked at a fast food joint in Florida before embarking on his modeling journey, describes himself as “super American” and initially felt disconnected from his Filipino side.
Despite this, Aidan’s curiosity about his heritage was always simmering beneath the surface. Growing up, he often overheard stories from his grandparents about life in the Philippines—the festivals, the close-knit family gatherings, and the delicious home-cooked meals.
It wasn’t until he stepped into the modeling industry that he started to piece together those fragments of culture and a desire to connect to his roots.
A path to cultural reconnection
The modeling industry has provided both men with an unexpected platform for cultural reconnection. The community they’ve found has helped them navigate their complex identities as half-Filipinos.
Christian notes that the local modeling scene offers a unique sense of belonging that he couldn’t find elsewhere.
“You’re normally too Asian in [London] and too English in the Philippines. So you never really fit into a perfect category. But meeting other models kind of solidified that you don’t have to be anything specific to be accepted.”
For Aidan, the journey of cultural discovery has been equally transformative. Through interactions with fellow models and immersion in the local scene, he’s grown more comfortable with his dual identity.
“I am Filipino-American. I am both. I am part Filipino.”
The modeling community’s welcoming nature has played a crucial role in their adaptation.
Aidan emphasizes how everyone is “super kind, not very judgy, and very open,” while Christian describes the Philippines as feeling like home, despite never having lived there before.
Their shared experiences extend to their culinary discoveries as well, with Aidan developing a love for pork menudo (a hearty stew of diced pork in tomato sauce), though adobo (meat braised in vinegar and soy sauce) remains a childhood favorite.
Christian, on the other hand, expresses his enthusiasm for sinigang (a sour tamarind-based soup) and bulalo (beef bone marrow soup).
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In these moments of discovery, both Christian and Aidan find joy in the simple pleasures, such as street food and local markets, fueling their enthusiasm for the Filipino lifestyle.
They’ve come to cherish not just their heritage but also the friendships forged along the way, proving that the bonds of brotherhood can indeed transcend borders and cultures.
Read the story in the pages of VMAN SEA 02: now available for purchase!
Photography Jharwin Castaneda
Art direction Mike Miguel
Fashion Corven Uy
Grooming Angeline Dela Cruz
Hair Bryan Eusebio
Fashion assistant Summer Untalan
Special thanks MONARQ Agency
