Leah Salterio

G Toengi talks to Filipino-Americans who supported Trump

January 28, 2025 Leah C. Salterio 302 views
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Actress-TV host G Toengi
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Filipino-Americans Nonie Belarmino and Rachel Gunther

ACTRESS-TV host Giselle Toengi Walters, fondly called G, is a familiar and respected figure in the Filipino-American community in the US for more than two decades now, since she uprooted to the US West Coast.

G has long been active in the entertainment industry for nearly three decades now. She has been recognized for her award-winning work in film, TV and theater.

With US President Donald Trump’s recent inauguration and return to power, G recently interviewed Filipino-Americans in the US who proudly rooted for Trump, to understand the reasoning and rationale on why they are excited for Trump.

He is not the friendliest to migrants, yet many Filipino-Americans voted for him and supported him anew.

The inauguration of the 47th president of the United States happened on January 20. Speaking in Long Beach, California, G spoke with two Filipino-Americans, Rachel Gunther and Antonio “Nonie” Belarmino, who shared their perspective about Trump.

“We understand the reasoning, the rationale on why they were excited for that event,” G said. “California is a blue state. Their voices are minority in that state, but obviously, not around the nation.”

G talked to Rachel Gunther and Nonie Belarmino. “The Rappler community around the world wants to understand why are there Filipinos who voted for Trump.

“The reason I voted for Trump was I wanted to have a common sense leader, a strong leader for our country,” said Rachel. “President Trump, based on what I’ve learned about him, from his TV show, from his many, many books, of course his businesses, too, his enterprises, I just felt that Trump was the right person for the job.”

G also asked Nonie why the latter was so passionate for Trump as a Filipino. “Naniniwala ako sa kakayahan ni Trump bilang isang pangulo ng America,” Nonie said.

Rachel shared the policies of Trump that really made her decide to vote for him as president.

“Some of Trump’s policies that resonated with me was his desire to make America great in economy, with the border as far as national security. He was making sure that crime is down by closing the border, making sure that we’re not in any wars that were not necessarily needed for.

“The fact that he’s looking out for America that we can provide for our children and grandchildren, making sure that we have an America that we had before,” Rachel added.

“Please share with us what are the policies of Trump that made you passionate for him,” G asked Nonie.

“’Yung policies na nagustuhan ko kay Trump, he wants to make America great again,” Nonie said. “Kung magiging maunlad ang America, magiging maunlad ang buong mundo.”

G, asked, however, why is there so much divisiveness when it comes to Trump’s administration and so much controversy around Trump.

“I believe that much of the controversy and divisiveness are caused by legacy media,” Rachel said. “There are so many lies told about him, so much misconception, misunderstanding on how he presents his concepts. He is from New York. He’s very brash.

“The way he speaks, his redirect can sometimes be considered arrogant. But to me, that kind of arrogance means he’s very confident on what he’s talking about, whether its real or not real.

Whether it’s truth or semi-truth, he believes in it. You want someone who will stand by his convictions and not be weak and cowardly.”

Trump is the only president in the history of the United States to ever been indicted on a state level in New York City and also indicted on a federal level, pointed out G.

“It’s interesting that we talk about convictions, because there are so many great leaders who were actually convicted,” said Rachel. “Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela were leaders who were not afraid. A lot of them were brought on charges that were not real charges.

“If you look deeply at those charges, convictions and indictments, many of them were made up. They were charges that should never have even brought up. My faith in the Supreme Court, if justice appeals, is that all of the charges will be resolved and dismissed.”

G also pointed out how America has been so divided, with many against Trump. “Ang nakikita nila ang mali ni Trump,” said Nonie. “But the truth of the matter is speaking the truth.”

Nonie and Rachel attended Trump’s inauguration at Washington, D.C., as well as the Presidential Ball.

“We’re very excited to attend perhaps the most historic and final inauguration in modern times,” said Rachel. “This is a man who overcame a lot of law fare, two assassination attempts, hatred from legacy media, hatred from the other side. Lies.

“You name it. They threw everything at him, but he survived it. He’s a survivor. If there’s anything that you can take from his presidency, if you believe in yourself, just like Trump, you can survive anything.

“That’s the kind of man that he is and he’s worth our excitement. We were able to get those opportunities because of the work that we did in helping him.”

Rachel was a delegate for Trump in the Republican party. She voted for his nominations three times, in 2016, 2020 and 2024. Those were just some of the perks that Republican national committee presents to some of the delegates who have shown commitment and dedication to the cause.

She voted for Trump, but her spouse and her children did not. She is living in a household with different politics, but Rachel is not worried.

“Politics is politics, but it’s not life,” Rachel said. “I love my husband. We’ve been married for over 43 years. He doesn’t hate me. I love my children. We managed. They don’t hate me.

“We are still going strong. So it can happen. All the talks of division, no unity, if we can live and co-exist with each other, then I think everybody in America and the world can also co-exist.

“He won the popular vote in addition to the electoral vote, which means that more people voted for him than the other party.”

Nonie was excited to experience the moment attending the inauguration and flying to Washington, D.C for the first time to witness the inauguration.

“I’m excited for the victory that all the Trumpers have worked hard for and we will be able to experience that,” said Nonie who’s a self-confessed gay.

His friends asked him why he is voting for Trump when he’s gay, who is supposed to be for Democrats.

“I have my own belief,” Nonie said. “I have my own decision. When I posted about Trump, a lot of my friends were happy for me. Some of them couldn’t do it because of their work and affiliation.

This is America. There is freedom of speech. Just be yourself.”

To all the Filipinos around the world who might be concerned or even afraid that Trump is again the US president, Rachel called on her kababayans.

“What happens in America, since it’s one of the super powers, should concern you,” Rachel said. “But don’t be nervous. President Trump, in making America great again, will also make the world great again.

“He’s not someone who wants wars. He wants peace. And if we have peace, peace will follow all over the world, as well. If we have a good economy, a good economy will follow around the world, as well.

“Celebrate his presidency, enjoy the ride and you are going to see a golden era coming to America and to you guys out there. Just believe that good things are coming.”

Nonie enjoined Filipinos all over the world not to be worried and instead, be happy and celebrate Trump’s victory anew.

“Kung magiging maganda ang economy ng America, magiging maganda ang economy ng buong mundo,” he said. “So just believe in him because if you do, everything will be okay.”

Meanwhile, G also wrote her thoughts about Trump getting elected anew as US president.

“Politics has a way of seeping into every corner of our lives, and for me, the last three elections have been a deeply personal battlefield – President Donald Trump, Joe Biden and Trump anew,” said G.

“As a lifelong Democrat who has never voted for Trump, the political rifts in my own family have been challenging, to say the least.

“So when Rappler editor, JC Gotinga assigned me to produce a story about the views of Trumps for Filipinos for Rappler, I knew I had to step outside my comfort zone in ways I hadn’t imagined.

“A huge thank you to Antonio Nonie Belarmino and Rachel for their willingness to speak on camera. Many people initially reached out when I began fielding potential interviewees, but ultimately chose not to appear on camera.

“Their courage to share their ‘convictions’ – a word that feels like a fitting pun for the president they voted for – made this story possible.

“It wasn’t easy to remain neutral while navigating a subject so close to home. But journalism isn’t about comfort – it’s about uncovering truths, amplifying voices and understanding perspectives, even those that may seem worlds apart from your own.

“That said, I want to make it clear that the views expressed in the interview are in no way, shape or form my own. As Martin Luther King Jr. taught us, peaceful resistance is the path to change.

“Personally, while I arrived in America by plane, I’m still very much ‘on the fence,’ holding on to dear humanity by advocating and fighting for trans and immigrant rights.

“Someone close to me called me ‘way too woke’ and being far too left. I simply call it compassion.

“The pendulum of politics will continue to swing left and right throughout our lifetimes, but it is possible to have respectful and meaningful conversations with those we respect and love, even when their beliefs differ from our own.

“It requires active listening, empathy and a willingness to seek understanding, most especially when it’s difficult.

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