“Why hide it?”

Online Filipinos expressed disappointment after Fil-Canadian actress Shay Mitchell did not mention her Filipino heritage in her reality show, “Thirst.”

“Thirst”, a talk show which premiered on HBO Max last May, feature drink experts, a variety of cocktails and bars in the West.

In her show, Shay shared that her father is Irish, while her mother is Spanish, which would suggest a high tolerance for alcoholic beverages.

“You know what my background is? My dad’s Irish, my mom’s Spanish,” she said.

However, many recalled that her mother, Precious Garcia is from Pampanga, making Shay half-Filipino. During her visit to the Philippines in 2013, she explained her difficulties coming to terms with her Pinoy background. She also previously said how this was a big part of her which makes her unique.

Additionally, Broadway singer and performer Lea Salonga is Shay’s aunt. Lea and Shay’s mom, Precious, are first cousin. This was reported in 2014 and was once again brought up when Lea landed a role in the hit television show “Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin”.

“Pretty Little Liars” was released in 2010 starring Shay, while the continuation series, “Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin”, aired in 2022 with a set of new characters and stories.

“What are the odds of two people from the same family in this same universe? It just doesn’t happen and it’s happened to our family, it’s crazy.” Lea said in an interview.

“Shay Mitchell said that she is Irish and Spanish when in fact she is half Filipino. Her mom is full blooded Filipina, a Kapampangan to be exact… Kinda like Vanessa Hudgens, are they too ashamed to be Filipino?” an online user said on X (formerly Twitter).

Another X user related Shay’s claim to actress Vanessa Hudgens who previously denied her Filipino roots in the past.

“Why do Filipino women married to white men love to identify as Spanish when they don’t even look it? No you're not. You're indio af. Katutubo. Native. Own it,” the online user said.

Vanessa was first known for her role as Gabriella Montez, a Latina character in the Disney movie series, “High School Musical”. She eventually acknowledged her true identity as a Filipino, which later made her become the Philippines’ global tourism ambassador in 2023, appointed by the Marcos administration.