Denise Julia defends filming music video in Tondo: ‘I was born, raised there’

Singer-songwriter Denise Julia defended her decision to film her latest performance video in Tondo after some social media users questioned her connection to the Manila district.

The artist addressed the criticism in a series of posts on X after the release of her “From the Block” performance.

The video captured Denise performing her new song “Speechless,” against the backdrop of Tondo. She was joined by local residents who jammed and danced with her.

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Following questions about her background and accusations of her showing “poverty porn,” Denise asked netizens to verify her roots with residents from her previous home.

“You can go to Barangay 16 Sto. Niño Street and ask about me. I was born and raised in Tondo and ran away at 20 because of abuse. What makes you say I never lived this life?” she wrote.

“People seem to know me so well to be able to speak this freely on my name when really, this is a prime example of you all projecting what u want my story and history to be without facts,” the singer continued.

Denise underscored that suggesting someone could not have come from Tondo because of how they looked or spoke was “quite classist.”

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“What exactly are people from Tondo only supposed to look and sound like for them to be believable? The idea that someone cannot carry themself a certain way, or go to certain schools or dream beyond where she grew up I believe is quite classist,” she explained.

“At the end of the day, I will always represent where I come from because I know what it took for a girl from Tondo to accomplish the things she once thought were impossible,” she added.

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In a separate post, Denise explained that “From the Block” is an American platform where artists perform in the neighborhoods where they grew up.

“‘From the Block’ is an American platform built around artists showing the block they’re from. I’m from Tondo. So I simply filmed in Tondo, brought my people out, and worked with a Filipino director, crew, and designer, to show the place and culture that made me,” she wrote.

The online personality added that the project marked the first time a Filipino artist brought the “From the Block” platform to the Philippines.

“And the Filipino team behind it got to see their work on a Times Square billboard in NYC. As my audience grows globally, I’m making sure people know where I come from and what I represent… and I’m only be louder about that the bigger I get!” she expressed.

Denise previously made headlines for her past rifts with celebrity fashion photographer B.J. Pascual and content creator Killa Kush. /edv