On the wins and the bads of life

Quick reflections on the article I posted before this post

“When you’re startled, what do you blurt out?”

I just got shocked, after seeing a cat literally in my room. Answering the author’s question, I react with “PUTANG INA” when I get startled. (We don’t own cats. In my CR, I have a small tunnel that leads to the outside. Apparently, cats can climb into my room.)

Some quotes I like from the article:

• “We also need to embrace and master the languages of our instincts.”
• “Filipino is not just a language I speak, it is who I am. It is the Macario Sakay, the bolera, the Nora Aunor, the aktibista and the bastos in me. It is that one bit of myself that remains unconquered, uncensored and untranslatable.”
• “Find the indio in you, James. He’s far cleverer and more resilient than you have been led to believe.”

Filipino is the language of my instincts. It is not just a language I speak, it is who I am.

I get asked a lot about me being Chinese-looking. The last time I was asked the “Chinese ka ba?” question, I answered with “Hinde, Pilipino ako.” 

Ang Pilipino kasi, chopsuey na tayo. Bihira na ang purong Pilipino, maliban sa mga Aeta o yung mga ibang indigenous people. Lahat tayo may halong Tsino, Espanyol, at iba pa. We are not a nation defined by skin color or by physical appearance. 

Sorry sa mga traditional Chinese relatives, pero wala o konti nalang ang natirang Chinese sa pagkatao ko. Pilipinas lang ang bansang mahal ko.