The Phantom Race
Photo taken at SingTel Building in Pickering Street-
Most of the time, people ask me about my race. They are curious to know, as for them
I look neither Malay or Chinese. Some mistaken me as Thai, and some say I’m Vietnamese.
But once I start to talk, that’s when everything clears up. I’m a Filipino.
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After discovering my race, there’s a great sense of respect on the following conversation. It is totally different from what I’m hearing from other Filipinos, and I don’t have a clue. Probably because of the way I speak, or maybe because of the way I look (Naks!).
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Some of them are ‘gundu’ enough to doubt about it. They even ask me if I’m for real, as I look different from the Filipinos they usually see.
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Even though my race is quite controversial, there’s satisfaction in me.
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I don’t wish to introduce myself as a mixed-blood or something, as people who does that do not have a sense of belongingness. For me, if you practice Chinese culture, you are Chinese. If you’re a Filipino-Spanish who practice Spanish culture, then you’re Spanish.
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Blue-eyed Tatay (like Ang Mo, like that.. lol)-
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From my father’s side, it seems like everyone has a very Spanish name. My dad himself got blue eyes. And I’m thankful to him for my nose. He is thought to be in a Filipino mestizo clan. Mestizos according to Philippine History are part of Spanish aristocracy.
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Mom, when she’s not joking (hahaha)-
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My mom has a different background. She has a Chinese blood. Her grandmom was from Fujian province. But her generation never practised Chinese culture, or even speak any related dialect. Even though I got this ‘zhong guo ren’ blood, I don’t like anything that is so ‘ching-chong’ (so Chinese).
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Well, that’s all about my background and I’ll be sharing more on my upcoming posts.
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Until then.
