By Maricel V. Cruz
The House of Representatives led by Speaker Martin G. Romualdez approved on third and final reading a bill granting Filipino citizenship to Canadian video blogger Kyle Douglas Jennermann.
The lower chamber passed House Bill 7185, which granted Jennermann Filipino citizenship by a 244-0-1 vote.
The bill’s author, Laguna Rep. Marlyn Alonte said Jennerman, nicknamed Kulas, lived with the purpose of introducing the Philippines to the rest of the world through his Youtube channel called “Becoming Filipino.”
“Through time, effort, and his love for the country (Philippines), he has become an internet sensation with close to a million subscribers. Through his vlogs, he has created and published thousands of video content showcasing his real-life interactions and connections with the Filipino people and their culture all throughout his eight years of immersive travel across 80 of the country’s 81 provinces,” Alonte said in her explanatory note.
“In view of Kyle Jennermann’s contributions to the promotion of Filipino culture and identity to the rest of the world, the immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought,” Alonte added.
HB 7185 will be transmitted to the Senate, and later on to be signed into law by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.