Of winter Clothes and Culture

There are maybe 10 million Filipinos across the globe that the diaspora of culture has become so palpable. It's not an anomaly but rather the trend.  

Last week I met up with these Italian guys the because they're friends with a friend. And while making small talk with this guy he said that there's a lot of Filipina working in his country. And so I ask what jobs are they  doing in your country, then he said they are cleaners and stuff. Oh you mean like maids? He said yes. I know that was a rhetorical question and I was expecting more from him but maybe he has already that long held stereotypes that I don't blame him.   I never look down at our OFWs in fact my father has been one. I am  actually quite proud of them but I can't help feel sad that still most foreigners would always associate Filipinas with the lowly profession of being maids or the like.Why  don't they know or remember  the  successful Filipina abroad such as Josie Natorri or Maybe Monique lhuillier or the latest most beautiful woman of the world, the universe rather - Ms universe, Pia Alonzo Wurchbach.  At one point in my life I have dreamed of just getting odd jobs abroad and have the freedom to travel anytime I want. I could be that cleaner or that maid.  I heard this guy wanted to date Filipinas as well since a lot of his friends married Filipino women and maybe they are still together. I remember telling someone how I wanted to go to Italy and maybe pursue a career in Fashion and he told me it's quite impossible for me to do that and that I have better chances in doing it in China. You can come here and maybe work but don't expect a corporate job and stuff he said.  I told him but I have a university degree. Maybe he's right maybe he's wrong. Maybe he's just thinking about the language barrier and all but of course there is still a learning curve. Well, I've been wanting to live abroad because I wanted to wear all the Winter clothes I want - my shallow self subconsciously and maybe at one point while we were kids  we were dreaming to have blue eye and white skin. I may have accepted and even wanted to have darker skin now but  at one point I've done all the gluta skin treatment ( except the injectibles maybe) 400 plus years of western domination has that effect on you.  I guess it's true what my ex said that we wanted what we don't have or we couldn't have.( yes for the past 2 years I've been on interracial dating) He even said that most Asians look the same to him. And he ask me if I have the same perceptions for white men. So I told him, you look different to me. (So different I guess that were no longer together lol!)  

So  this other guy  I'm talking to just asked me why I am interested in foreigners. I know and I'm not one to deny it and I answered it's a diaspora of some sort. I haven't really described it in details but what I meant is I would love to travel soon and maybe live in another country. Because now more than ever, it's like we are living in a border less world, where halfway across the universe is a 12 hour plane ride. It's when you travel and live in another country you would challenge yourself, to be independent and to experience other cultures and discover yourself and other people. 

It's true that there are about 2.5 million OFW now and their  contribution to the country cannot be discounted and the sacrifices they have to endure to provide for their families back home. 

They are your nurses in the US, your engineers in the Middle East, they are the people manning the commercial ships,  even your  Musical performers in London's opera scene. 

There are those who disapprove leaving ( like my brother  who was schooled in a State U like me) we Filipinos have a distinct nationalism and pride. Knowing how this country perpetually fought for freedom against the Spanish, Japanese and Americans it's an insult to the heroes who fought for such freedom.  

But maybe not anymore. A border less world has presented  lots of opportunities especially for young minds whose passion is traveling and learning all they can from other cultures while not forgetting their own.  It's about not forgetting about who essentially you are. I maybe entertaining the thought of interracial marriage one day if that's in the card but I would still let my child learn about my culture and language and make him or her go back to a part of her roots thereby creating a culture of their own. And  so no individual can truly claim ownership from where he is. Even us do have Chinese blood or Spanish blood in us. But we are still Filipinos. 

Danny targarean travelled across the other side of the 7 Kingdoms becoming the mother of the dragon, Queen of the dothrakis even going back to her enemy's lair to another land but she's coming back to  the Westeros  to claim her birthright richer and more powerful.  ( sorry my latent obsession with Game of Thrones )

So this Italian guy maybe interested in me  (he visited me at work the next day) but he just lose the chance  of really getting to know me because of that convo. ( it will take a lot of his redeeming qualities for me to agree to go out with him lol! Choosy pa ba?) .Maybe I have my own  held prejudiced.. But I would probably keep

It to myself. I mean I met a lot of foreigner friends  who would rather get to know me and not bring up issues such as the plight of Filipinas abroad on first meeting.  I know I was sensitive that way, but I guess to be a citizen of the world I would be more open and just take every thing with a grain of salt... I'm learning!