The new viral trend on social media today is the line “What hafen vela? Why you crying again?” From TikTok to Instagram, many Filipino stars like Kyline Alcantara and Andrea Brillantes are game to lip sync this hilarious scene. But where did it really start?
The trend originated with Christopher Diwata's performance in 2013 on Kalokalike, a segment of It’s Showtime. He imitated Taylor Lautner as Jacob Black from the Twilight film. In his skit, he talked to Bella while she was crying, and angrily confronted Edward Cullen to defend Vella—yes, Bella! So intense, he even said: “I will make sure you die, Edward!”
Even though she didn't win, her performance became iconic. Many netizens created memes, lyrics, and TikTok videos using her funny lines. Thus, the thrill and laughter returned to Twilight and Diwata fans.
The impact of the trend was so strong that even Netflix PH joined in. And the funniest thing is, Filipino fans are now looking forward to Taylor Lautner joining the challenge as well. Right now, Diwata is busy doing shoutouts using fans' names instead of “vela.”
“What hafen vela?” is not just a joke—it's a part of Filipino pop culture. It's been proven that sometimes, true entertainment comes from the skin, heart, and creativity of Filipinos.
