Rediscovering your Filipino story
Filipino-isms dat’s por me
by Jojo Santo Tomas from guampdn.com
As usual, click on that article first before diving in here.
***
That’s what I don’t understand with some Filipinos. Why are they ashamed of being a Filipino? Click this and read examples of ridiculous Filipinos that will make you do back-flips. What is it with the Philippines that you suddenly get allergic to your own skin? If you are one of them, this are what you need to know: first, people don’t care where you are from, second, where in CNN or BBC have you read a headline that says, “Embarassing Filipinos found running from anyone”, and third, there are a lot of stories to be proud of about being a Filipino that it tips the scale over if you weigh it against the dark side of the force. Those who are embarrassed of their being a Filipino should be visited by Manny Pacquiao so they can lick his 350km/h punch.
I admire Boy’s (a so-Filipino nickname) story of looking for his Filipino being (obviously there are a lot of people who haven’t found it yet) and when he found it, it was majestic. He devoured 14 variations of Kare-kare, are you kidding? Now that is what I call crazy passion. If you haven’t read his article, click that link above and you go read it. You will feel splendid about this brother.
There are a lot of websites that promote the Filipino Culture and stories of rediscovering being a Filipino. This Filipino food site is just one of them. But if you really want to start appreciating your own skin, I suggest, do what Boy did (I will really get it if he calls himself Jojo) – start from your roots… ask your grandmother about her life-story, your father’s, your mum’s. Ask about the story of your family. And I would even encourage you to send me a message if you want to write a 1000 word essay about your Filipino history and publish it here in myfilipinokitchen. In the meantime, I want you to answer these questions:
In your family’s history, what are you proud of the most? And why do Filipinos need to be proud of themselves?
Hi there!
Thank you for the insightful and all-too-true points you make in your commentary.
Yes, I call myself Jojo. (But you’re not gonna get it!) Short for Joseph John. And the column topic is derived from the frequent phrase heard at many Guam gatherings.
I make no excuses for how I felt when I grew up. That’s just how it was. I suppose you don’t understand it because, well, you say, “People don’t care where you come from.” On Guam in the 70s, you’d be wrong. Because I am also half Chamorro (Guam native), it was easier and less drama to simply claim my Chamorro side.
It was two-faced at that time though — I never denied being Filipino at home and I for sure enjoyed my dad’s cooking.
I enjoy your site and will visit in the future.
Thank you very much for sharing my column.
Jojo
Thank you very much for dropping and leaving a comment. i really do appreciate it. What I mean though with “nobody cares where you come from” is that, most of the time it will not be the basis of how people judge you. Although we cannot deny it because there are a lot of racist jokes going around. I haven’t heard a Filipino one though. Again, thank you for that article, it was an eye opener and I don’t mind sharing more from your column. Cheers!
Leave your response!
Recent Comments
Recent Posts
Pages
Archives