
Raissa Robles, self-proclaimed investigative writer and proud author of one book, recently donned her internet sleuth hat to criticize the girl group Phantom Siita, claiming they were “Filipinos trying to look like Koreans.” The irony? Phantom Siita isn’t Filipino or Korean—the group is Japanese! Yes, Japanese, as in sushi, not kimchi or adobo.
One can only wonder if Robles’ investigative skills stopped short of typing “Phantom Siita nationality” into Google. Or perhaps she was too busy plotting her next groundbreaking exposé: “Filipinos Trying to Be Swiss While Eating Toblerone.”
This mishap is a gentle reminder that a writer’s most powerful tool is research—preferably done before hitting “post.” If Robles wants to critique cultural appropriation, she might first need a crash course in geography and modern pop culture. Phantom Siita, meanwhile, continues to slay stages, blissfully unbothered.