So I have been pretty good about putting up original content (well if you call my randomlings all that original, then hey fling some poo).. But i have been going around and doing the whole blog crawl today (specifically Filipino Blogs).
So as most who would come by this blog would know, I am Filipino-American (Pinoy Wonder Bread, PinoyStarr, The Likable Asian Variety). Well today I decided I dont read (follow, frequent, know, etc etc) enough filipino-centric blogs. So today began my journey for finding filipino blogs I can relate to. And so far my search has rendered me somewhat still Lost and well frustrated.
The thing is I am almost (about 83.17%) fluent in Tagalog, I can hold a conversation without any hesitation in response (even though according to people [whose tagalog is no better than mine] say I sound just like Mr. Roboto or some other kind of angry asian). But today I got completely frustated, since I wasnt able to process anyones post (the Tagalog ones)… My brain was Non-Function throughout trying the whole “crawl”(and it was literally a crawl since it was like 2 words a minute when reading a post).
I found that a majority of things that i find going through my thought process are not similar to those of the blogs I was reading (but then again nothing really travels down my cognitive conveyor belt anyways). Quite a few of the blog I came across were very self-contained (meaning that it came off very Click-ish… Yes i did feel like the High School Loner). Growing up stateside through the majority of my life has really shaped my thought process, compared to that of a home-grown filipino.
In the states we are encouraged to find the “ME” and basically just be the best “ME” you can be. Yes i do understand that I made a gross generalization of growing up abroad and I left out alot of facts (such as _______________ you guys can fill it in yourself since like i said my brain is running on limited capacity or as some might say “Over Working”, HAH either way).
From my perspective of people who have grown up Filipino, have really developed that true “Hive Mentality” so to speak (I think I am beginning to misconstrue comparisons). For you to be a successful filipino, the majority have to be enterprising individuals from the get go, your success is heavily measured by education, by your social classification, and ability to hob-knob amongst the people. (I want to make a preemptive apology for people that might read this and be offended, but my ID-urrss are starting to bubble through).
Social complacency is somewhat of a norm here (and NO, i dont exclude myself from this). I’d say only about top 7.89% will actually sacrifice everything to be able to climb the social ladder and of those that do push pass their social classification, its always seems like an uphill battle.
For myself, I do find that I am currently Socially Complacent. I just cant find motivation here and it is by no fault except my own. I’m just tired of having to coddle the people that get dealt with on a daily basis. I’m used to being stern in my convictions, but since being here I have found that you have to make to many compromises in order to appease the whose who to make sure your shit get pushed through (I know thats just how things go and yes it happens everywhere, but for me its to much of a norm… but i guess thats just the cost to do things here in the PI).
So we’ll put a pin in that topic for right now. And I keep with my crawl. Here’s to being able to relate.
I’m out like a filipino in the closet. (ex. of self-deprication)
It can be tough trying to find your true heritage while living in US melting pot. I find that it’s one of those things either you’re in or you’re out. I can only partly relate to this, never having lived outside of the states and being a half-breed of Puerto Rican/Italian heritage, but I have been shunned multiple times by my fellow Puerto Ricans. They say that because I don’t speak Spanish, or talk loudly, or dress/act a certain way that I am not “really” Puerto Rican. I will admit my actions are probably more “white” than anything but my heritage still makes up a part of who I am. I don’t feel the need to validate that with anyone. Be proud of who you are. That is all.
thanks for that… ya its completely different here in the Philippines (meaning actually … its the reverse of what happens to you)… me and my siblings actually feel like we get put on a pedestal sometimes since we grew up in the states… buts sometimes it works to my advantage (especially when girls are talking about me and think i dont speak tagalog)
at first, when i was still fresh in this virtual sphere, i had a hard time too looking for sites that i could relate to… i decided to give up and let those blogs come to me. ahehe!
thanks for the drop