Journey frontman Arnel Pineda has downplayed singer Freddie Aguilar’s comment that he [Arnel], Charice Pempengco and Gary Valenciano are proofs of Filipinos being “monkeys.”

“If he's not proud of what we have achieved ay desisyon na niya iyan,” said Pineda in an interview. “I believe na kahit ang kinakanta ko man ay puro English - at hindi iyong [mga kanta] sa sarili nating salita - I still make Filipinos proud of what I have achieved.” he said.

Aguilar was alluding to an alleged statement American singer Mariah Carey made about Filipino entertainers’ tendency to “ape” other musicians.

Although Carey’s rumored racial slur was not proven, Aguilar went on to comment about it, saying, “[Pineda and Pempengco] only proved her assertions.”

“Sana next time ay maging tactful siya doon sa pagsabi niya ng ‘unggoy.’ He should not forget na Filipino din siya,” said Pineda.

Aguilar zeroed in on Pempengco’s performance in “Oprah.”

“Nasa Amerika ka na [so] bakit kumanta ka pa ng kanta ni Celine Dion? Sinabi ni Mariah na mga unggoy ang Filipino, gaya-gaya lang kayo, e, di napatunayan nga…totoo nga.

"Kasi, di ba, monkey see, monkey do?,” Aguilar said.

Another artist who did not earn Aguilar’s approval is Gary Valenciano..

“Hindi siya sisikat kung gagayahin niya lang si Michael Jackson,” Aguilar said. “Kung gusto niyang sumikat sa buong mundo, iyong energy niya, iyon ang ilagay niya sa plaka niya.”

Valenciano was as diplomatic as Arnel on the matter.

“I don’t agree [with Freddie] but hayaan mo na. They could say anything they want. I’ll just use their statements as fuel when I go out there to perform,” he said.

Valenciano added that performing other people’s music aside from one’s own is not a bad thing. He defended Pempengco.

“I think Charice is just inspired with these artists’ music. And it has helped her because nowadays, Charice is singing her own songs.”

Apart from the three musicians, Aguilar chided Optical Media Board Chairman Edu Manzano for being “toothless” against music piracy.

“Kahit itanong mo sa kanya, aaminin niya na wala silang ngipin.”