Seemingly confirming the growing trend that “to be or to know Pinoy” is to be hip, Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta a.k.a. Lady Gaga follows a string of international pop stars in asserting—one way or the other—a “Filipino connection.”

The international pop dance sensation proudly claimed while she was in Manila for a concert to promote her MCA-Universal album “The Fame,” that she is “quite familiar with the Philippines and its culture.”

“I have a couple of Filipino friends [and] my best friend is Filipino. I’ve known her since I was four [years old] so, I know a bit about the [Philippines]. Actually, I’ve long wanted to visit and perform [here],” the 23-year old singer-songwriter of Italian-descent gushed at the press conference for her Manila concert held at EDSA Shangri-La last Aug.11.

She affirmed that she finds inspiration for her music and fashion style from her Pinay friend.

“We’re very close. We motivate each other [and] we’re both very strong and dedicated. We empower each other.. We inspire each other,” she said.

Though the pop star refused to name her Pinay friend, Lady Gaga said she is of mixed lineage [Filipino-Korean] who has spent most of her life in the U.S.

“Their family hasn’t been in Korea and I don’t think they’ve ever visited [the Philippines] for a long time,” she said. “But she’s aware of her roots and she knows the [Filipino] culture.

Is Lady Gaga familiar with Pinoy food?

Lady Gaga claimed to have “tried and enjoyed” some Pinoy meals in New York where she’s based, but she unfamiliar with the more “exotic stuff” like Balut.

“I haven’t tried it but I just might,” she said, smiling.

Asked if she is promoting “materialism” if not “exhibitionism” --she once wore a see-through plastic bubble dress in an event—as some new-fangled way of empowering women, Lady Gaga quickly shot the notion down.

“I don’t have any agenda. My friends and I…we do what we do as a way of life. That includes the music and the fashion…that’s just the way we are.

“The title of the album is ‘The Fame’ but I’m not promoting being famous. I love the glamorous life but my friends and I, we feel famous without anybody telling us so - even before all these.”