These are
some reasons why I'm proud to be Pinoy, even more so to be Pinay! Galeng talaga natin.
For every Erap, there's a Clarissa.Watch out!
I recently received an email about the need to bolster the image of Filipinos, for the sake of the "younger" generation (hmm, does that still include me?) and it listed the current Miss America, Gen. MacArthur's nurse, and Jocelyn Enriquez, the "Oriental Madonna" as reasons to be proud to be Filipino, or more specifically, Filipino American, I suppose. While I love Jocelyn Enriquez, the email just irked me. It gave me the impression that we should be proud because of the "many" Filipinos in high positions, including ones in the Bush (past and current, I think) administration.
Hello?? Like, gag me with a spoon!?!
I mean so freaking what if Rob Schneider is half pinoy? (Ok, maybe I think that's just a little bit cool, didn't you love him as the "copy guy" on SNL?) Though images of Pinoys in the mainstream media may be a nice superficial boost to us "FilAms" it isn't quite the source of pride I rely on.
I'm proud to be Pinoy (Pinay, Filipino, Pilipino, FilAm, however way you say it, it's still rooted in the old colonial master, Spain's King Philip, duh!) because my parents are proud to be Pinoy, because they told me about their upbringing with no shame, they taught and constantly speak to me in their native tongue so much so that I can speak it too. I am proud of them, no, not because they are doctors or laywers or professionals or entertainers -- which, I would like to emphasize, they are not. I'm proud of them - mom, a domestic worker and dad, a doorman - because they are true to themselves and proud not inspite of their societal "position" but because of it. And because of that, I am proud of my heritage, my background, my culture, because I have had the opportunity to be around people who can't help but be themselves and not only unashamed, but proud , no matter how certain members of society (Pinoy or not) may look at them, simply because of their occupations.
Okay, I just rambled, so I'm sure I'll be back to edit this. Ha. Back to work.
