Filipinos are true masters when it comes to internet stardom. Even before the term influencer was coined, many Filipino content producers already rose to the top of the game, and some are being recognized around the globe. One of them is Bretman Rock. In 2015, he started recording himself talking about makeup and all other vanities. In return, he captured the hearts of people everywhere, turning him into the icon that he is today. After becoming an award-winning influencer, reality star, business mogul, activist, and a *scientist*, Bretman adds another feather to his hat as he releases his book.
'You're That B\*tch: And Other Cute Lessons About Being Unapologetically Yourself' book
This month, the newly minted author is back in Manila as he invites Filipinos to discover the other side of Bretman Rock through his book “You're That B*tch: And Other Cute Lessons About Being Unapologetically Yourself.” Think of it as your dependable friend, the best friend we all deserve because it will leave you gagging and help you learn what it “means to love yourself and your community.”
The idea of doing a book started when he was 18 years old. But the process of doing it went on a roll after his visit to the Philippines for his father’s funeral. After sharing his experiences, with a few laughs and tears on the side, that was the time he got the courage to do the book.
“[The hardest part was] just seating there with my writer, being vulnerable with myself, and kind of digesting the things I want to write about because it is so hard for me to be serious,” Bretman said.
“You're That B*tch” features many entries from his journals in the past years. It chronicles his life growing up in the Philippines, coming to the US as an immigrant, and his journey as an online personality. In many pages of the book, he gives everyone a glimpse of his family and the love he has for them.
Of course, it would not be a Bretman Rock book if it doesn’t have many of his adventures—from losing his virginity in Disneyland (Chapter 11) to cute crushes when he was Bretman Pebble.” As for the time when he discovered that he is “that b*tch,” trust that our homegirl is still having his foot on the ground.
“I don’t think it was a very specific moment. I feel like even now, I still have those moments. Like I’m in the Philippines promoting my book—I’m that b*tch,” Bretman said. “But looking back, I think the pandemic made me really feel like that b*tch because it forced me to be creative with my work. That was around the time when I removed myself from the beauty community and I started doing the ‘Of The Day’ series [on Youtube]. That’s when I realized that I can just literally post me reviewing cereal and you all would watch it…It made me realize that I’m not just a beauty girl. I’m more than what meets the eye. I realized that I can do anything. It opened a floodgate for me.”
As for aspiring content creators who want to make it big, his advice is to just post it. “I know there are so many funny videos in your camera roll that are waiting for the world to see. But because people’s insecurity eats them up, they won’t post it. Just post it, especially with the internet, it is so random,” he said. “On Tiktok, anything goes viral. The more you post, as long as you’re not hurting anybody, obviously, and it comes from a good light and it is Filipino AF, I think it is bound to go viral.”
This weekend, fans will get the chance to meet their idol at his book-signing events happening on March 4 in SM Megamall and on March 5 in SM Mall of Asia.
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