P-pop girl group BINI has found themselves at the center of controversy after their recent appearance on a Youtube channel where they were seen trying and rating a variety of Filipino snacks.
The video, intended as a light-hearted taste test with the US-based YouTube channel “People Vs Food”, featured all eight members of the group reacting to popular local treats such as taho, balut, isaw, and kwek-kwek.
Reactions varied, with the girls giving scores between 1 and 10, and in some cases, even negative ratings—prompting a wave of mixed responses from netizens.
While many fans found the content entertaining, others expressed disappointment, accusing some members of appearing disgusted or disrespectful toward the food.
“There’s a big difference between being honest and being disrespectful. Hindi ka naman pinipilit na kainin lahat – not every Filipino even likes dinuguan, isaw, or hopia. But if you’re on a platform meant to showcase Filipino food, lalo na kung ikaw mismo ay Pinoy, the least you can do is show some respect,” one viewer commented on the video.
“Yung nagkikimkim ng reaction, okay pa, pero kung puro pamimilipit, pandidiri, at pagtawa ang peg niyo, it’s not just about personal taste anymore. It gives the impression na nakakahiya ang sariling pagkain nating pinoy. Representation matters, and when you’re in front of a camera, your attitude speaks louder than your words. Hindi lang panlasa ang pinapakita mo kundi kung gaano ka ka-proud sa sarili mong culture,” they added.
“I think the real issue here is how they reacted to the Filipino food that was served. Sure, not everyone likes Filipino food, that’s totally fine but the way they acted, like it was something gross hits differently,” another user commented. “The food showed culture, their reaction showed ignorance.”
Some viewers even began to question question the sincerity of the group’s previous displays of appreciation over older clips of the members enjoying local street food in the past.
Meanwhile, a Facebook post mocking the idols’ comments featuring a video compilation from the vlog went viral, garnering over 300,000 reactions and 12,000 comments mostly from netizens expressing irritation over the members’ reactions.
Amidst the criticisms, other online users defended the girls, emphasizing that food preferences are subjective and should be respected.
A lengthy post on X clarified that the video was produced by an American team, with BINI serving only as guest participants without “creative control”.
The use of English was to accommodate the host and broader international audience. It also noted that the snacks may not have been prepared authentically, which could have affected their taste and appearance.
Former child star Sharlene San Pedro also weighed in on the issue through a post on X on Sunday, calling out those who quickly judged videos based on spliced or trimmed-down clips without watching the full content first.
She further emphasized that not all Filipinos enjoy every local delicacy and that differences in taste should be respected, seemingly addressing the trending topic involving BINI, particularly since one of its members, Gwen, is known to be her close friend.
“Bakit kaya ang daming taong nagrereact at humuhusga sa naka trim down na video? Kahit ‘di niyo pa naman napanuod yung buong video sa [YouTube] 😶,” Sharlene wrote. She concluded, “‘Saka hello, ‘di talaga lahat ng Pinoy ay trip ang lahat ng Filipino food. 😌”
As of writing, neither BINI nor their management has released a statement regarding the backlash. The group recently concluded their world tour with a successful homecoming concert in the Philippines.
