Olivia Rodrigo says she 'can't wait' to return to the Philippines
Will Filipino Livies be treated to another visit from Olivia Rodrigo?
In an interview with Elle Magazine, the Fil-Am singer reflected on her October 2024 homecoming trip to the Philippines when she held her GUTS concert at the Philippine Arena.
"That trip was so special. Just from a creative career standpoint I suppose, it was really cool to get to play for this city. And we got to donate all of my proceeds to this organization called [Jhpiego], which provides healthcare for women and girls in the Philippines, which was really, really special for me," she said.
Under her "Fund 4 Good" global initiative, Rodrigo had donated over $2 million (P118 million) to 10 nonprofits globally that champion women's and girls’ health and equity.
Aside from fulfilling her noble goal, the singer also had the chance to reconnect to her roots.
"I had just never been to the Philippines and I wasn’t born there. I don’t speak Tagalog very well. I kind of had a chip on my shoulder like, 'Oh gosh, I hope that they accept me and they see me as a Filipino and I’m a source of pride for them,'" she shared.
"I always wanted that to be the case. And then being able to go there and visit and just see how warmly they embraced me and welcomed me, it really meant so much to me," she continued.
Rodrigo then teased that she may return sooner than expected to explore the best of what the Philippines has to offer.
"I love the Philippines so much and I can’t wait to go back. And I’m just so grateful to everyone for just welcoming me with open arms. It meant so much," she said.
"I think next year, I really want to go. I went to Manila, but I really want to go to some of the islands next year and swim in the beautiful oceans and see all the beaches. That’s on the agenda," she added.
Rodrigo is known for her songs Drivers License, Good 4 U, Deja Vu, Traitor, Brutal, among others. Prior to her singing career, she started out as an actress, having risen to prominence in Disney's Bizaardvark and High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.