A clip of Filipino actor Pia Jasmine Hamilton singing “Happy Birthday” in Tagalog on classic children’s TV series “Barney & Friends” three decades ago has gone viral after resurfacing on Twitter.
The clip, which is from an episode that premiered on April 21, 1992, features then 9-year-old Hamilton singing “Maligayang Bati,” the Tagalog version of “Happy Birthday to You.”
During the celebration, the characters “Min,” played by Hamilton, and “Tina,” played by Jessica Zucha, explain how birthdays are celebrated in their respective home countries: the Philippines and Mexico.
Subscribe to
NextShark’s Newsletter
A daily dose of Asian America’s essential stories, in under 5 minutes.
Get our collection of Asian America’s most essential stories to your inbox daily for free.
Unsure? Check out our Newsletter Archive.
In an interview with NextShark, Hamilton, now 40, shared joy for the viral clip and recalled her experience on the children’s television series.
“I didn’t know that it was going viral! But it brings me so much joy to know that others found happiness in the Filipino representation I was able to bring to the show,” Hamilton said.
I just remember feeling very proud that I was able to sing something from my heritage on the show. I also remember that the music…
Read the full article here
