I am Also a Filipino
Alitaptap
16/06/2009 | 
I think it would be best to introduce myself first in this paper. I am Karlene Co. I am 25% Filipino and 75% Chinese. My father is a pure blooded Chinese while my mom is half. Although there is Filipino blood in my family, we were never really familiarized with its culture and tradition. I grew up knowing I was Chinese who practiced Chinese traditions. Whenever we talk at home, Dad always distinguishes us as Chinese, not Filipinos. When we talk about Filipinos, it’s really like we, Filipino-Chinese, are of a different group. And so, I grew up knowing I’m Chinese or Filipino-Chinese, but not entirely a Filipino.
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| It had been hard for me then, to love my country, the Philippines. I mean, How could I, (I often ask myself) to love a country not entirely my own? I am not brown but yellow. Whenever I walk upon the streets of my city, I look at people different from my image, from my blood, and I don’t feel like I belong. | |
| There was a time when we went to Binondo or Ongpin to pick up a friend. There, it was like I saw a mini China: Both Starbucks and McDonalds had Chinese inscriptions below their English names. I saw a lot of Chinese people there too, and if I’m not mistaken, Chinese street food was present as well. Right there, I felt like I was a part of them. I look like them and know their language… but what about my 25%? | |
| Somehow, there is still a part of me wanting to be Filipino. I know I was searching for that identity. | |
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One night, Mom and I were both lying down in bed. I had my birth certificate in my hand and was slowly observing the details. Then, I came across mom’s full name. Her name was that of a name which was a combination of Filipino and Chinese descent, Salvador. But what was rather strange was that her Filipino name stuck in my mind. |
| Me: “Ma, yung Filipino side natin…ano yung province natin?”Mom: “Bulakan.”
Me: “Talaga???” |
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| I was really happy. I was so excited I began asking about my lola who passed away when mom was still young. I learned that we have Filipino relatives but they were already in US. Ever since I found out that we actually had a province, I began looking at the Filipinos as my own people as well. Someday, I wish I could meet with my Filipino relatives and discover more about my Filipino heritage. | |
| When I attended the Brown Raise Youth Organization (BRYORG) seminar, it opened my heart and mind more. I was more burdened, and I was now more proud to be Filipino. I was also full of hope because of the fellow youth who was there who had so much excitement and burden to change the future of our land. I began to appreciate the culture that had long been a mystery to me, and I became more inclined to know about my Filipino blood. I wanted to visit Bulacan and explore about the people…My People. | |
| I am now dreaming for a better Philippines. I love my country now more than ever. But, if I am to compare myself with other Filipino youth who have so much excitement to raise their country, I would honestly say I’m still learning to take my love in a deeper level. The Filipino culture is so rich and exciting and I am so thankful that I can be part of that. | |
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Here are some sweet dreams for my country:
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| Right now, I’m currently reading the history of the Filipinos to know more about the Filipino culture that I have long wanted to embrace. | |
| From: Karlene Co, 18, De La Salle University – CSB AB Animation, QC, Philippines | |
16/06/2009 at 11:04
Napakaganda ng iyong istorya. Patuloy kang mangarap sa ating bansa. Patuloy tayong maging solusyon para sa kinabukasan ng ating bansa. Salamat at patuloy na dumadami ang mga kabataang tulad ko na unti unting namumulat para sa bansa. Kahit hindi ka purong PILIPINO ngunit may pagmamahal ka sa ating tinubuang lupa. Sabay sabay nating isusulong ang ating bansa lalaban tayo at patuloy na itataguyod ang lahing kayumanggi =)
16/06/2009 at 14:35
You are indeed a Filipino!
Your ever increasing love for your homeland, your ever deepening grasp and understanding of your culture and heritage, the stratospheric soaring of your dreams for your fellow Pinoys and their future, the pride within in the context of representation, regardless of your DNA.
In your heart of hearts, You are indeed a wise Filipina.
Probably a decendant of “The Women of Malolos” whom Rizal was referring to when he wrote the letter.
16/06/2009 at 17:31
It’s really a great privilege to become part of the FILIPINO race… Especially our situation right now…
And I’m looking forward on what’s gonna happen next…
My only wish for our country is that, FILIPINOS will discover our own IDENTY that we can be like Rizal..
We will be the one who will MOVE first! To become the LIGHT to those FILIPINOS did not feel any love for ur beloved country…..
16/06/2009 at 17:48
If a person really has the Filipino blood, this blood will always find where it belongs and is originated from.
Count me in… in building your dreams.
Let’s make the big change!
Proud to be Pinoy!
17/06/2009 at 00:26
Salamat sa pagbabahagi ng iyong kuwento Karlene. Ang sarap lang makarinig ng ganitong mga bagay kasi ibig sabihin lang nito ay natututunan na nating mahalin ang ating bansa.
Ako din lumaki na may ibang konteksto bilang isang Pilipino. Pamilya kasi kami ng mga Mestisong Pilipino (na nagmula pa sa Espanya at Portugal ang mga ninuno) kaya ang pamantayan ng kagandahan sa amin ay base sa pamantayan ng mga kastila o europeo. Lumaki kami na naniniwalang mahalaga ang pakakaroon ng matangos na ilong, at maputing balat (na kapag naiinitan ay nagiging rosy cheeks). Dahil sa Brown Raise, naunawaan ko na wala sa panlabas na itsura ang halaga ng isang tao — nasa puso, kaisipan at, higit sa lahat, sa pagkakakilanlan sa sarili.
Ngayon masasabi ko na PILIPINO AKO! ASYANO AKO! At madalas iniisip ko na sana masmukhang Asyano na lang ang mukha ko kaysa sa mestisong kastila na itsura ko ngayon. Walang biro.
Tuloy natin ang ating lakbayin bilang mga PILIPINONG KABATAAN na may tunay na pagmamahal sa ating bansa.
Para sa sakin, walang nang urungan ang lakbaying ito.
Mabuhay ka Karlene! Mabuhay ang kabataang Pilipino!
17/06/2009 at 00:40
grabe po to… i’m also filipino chinese and i studied in a chinese school, naisip ko rin na chinese ako…ngayon ko lang din talaga binuklat ang aking mata nung nagkaroon ng Brown Raise…your story is also my story. salamat sa inspiration.
17/06/2009 at 08:48
“I want to create animated films that tell stories about the pre-colonial Philippines so that the Filipino People would look back to who they are….”
–I want to watch these animated films someday!!! I can now imagine the Laguna Copperplate in animation. I want to live until these films are shown in vivid ethnic and local Filipino colors.
I demand that this be done immediately! Biro lang po ang demand ko. As it is written, so it shall be done! heheh!
17/06/2009 at 15:43
And it will be done! hahaha Salamat po sa Brown Raise sa pag pili ng storya ko, marami po kasi kaming mga Fil-Chi na ganito ang sitwasyon. Mahirap po sa amin ang dalawang identity. Pinabasa ko rin po ito sa isa ko pang kaibigan na Chinese rin, at agad agad syang nag member dito. hahaha Animator din po sya at tutulong daw sya sa vision. Naipasa kaagad sa kanya ang burden para sa bansa.
salamat lang po tlga sa Brownraise, hindi naman namin po ito marerealize kng wala kayo 
:):)
go BROWNRAISE!
18/06/2009 at 11:44
Anong tuwa’t saya!
18/06/2009 at 20:14
I’m happy you finally ‘claimed’ your 25%. ♥
May you serve as a BRYORG channel to all of the Filipino youth like me. Ü
19/06/2009 at 19:24
wow., your story is such an inspiration., it truly open the eyes of youth nowadays, as well as, the filipino-chinese which they dont consider themselves as a filipino., filipino blood running to our veins is such an electrifying.,is it? two rich culture that pertains in asia.,
19/06/2009 at 19:34
we have the same sweet dreams in this country., to have a boutique showcasing the works of our fellow and a restaurant that truly present our native foods and sweets., just imagining it is such a marvelous idea., and seeing the/our people entering this shops is such a heart-warming., hais.,
i been saying this to myself “mabuti ng isang pilipino ang yumaman ng dahil sa kapwa niyang pilipino kesa yumaman ang banyaga”., u know why i always saying this to myself? becoz i know, this thing will happen., our economy will be better as well as many filipino will no longer unemployed., hais.,
hope someday this country will be peaceful., and people are loyal in the PHILIPPINES.,
21/06/2009 at 06:41
Hello Karlene,
Thanks for writing this. As a fellow Fil-Chi, I can relate very much to your story. Though I am a full-blood Chinese, having been born and raised here, I consider the Philippines my homeland. But its true, growing up, studying in a Chinese school, having endured racial discrimination, my nationalism came in starts and stops. My “disconnection” was a dominating force for a while. Now, though I am grateful for my enthnic heritage, I realize who I am now is a result of my upbringing and our country.
21/06/2009 at 07:38
napakaganda ng storya mo!
may iba rin na kabataan ngayon na naguguluhan kung saan ba sila galing na race.
ako rin pangarap ko na mabago ang pangarap ng kapwa kong pilipino para sila rin ay maging liwanag sa dilim!
mabuhay ka pinoy!!!
itaas natin ang ating bandila!!
go brownraise!!
21/06/2009 at 22:25
mabuhay ka!
22/06/2009 at 16:39
Wow! Your story is heartwarming. Sana ganyan lahat ang mga Filipinong half-blooded. Most of my contemporaries with mixed blood of a spanish or chinese or american are so proud of their mestiza look. In my youth, I feel so inferior every time they noticed my bisaya look – I mean pango at kulay lupa. Salamat na lang na sa brown raise my look is the real kayumangi – tunay na Filipino at hindi lang tunay na bisaya.
It’s also my longing that someday we can showcase Filipino cuisine with the bests of luzon, visayas and mindanao. Not fragmented but representing the whole archipelago.
Keep up Karl. You have the best time. I’m pretty sure you can do it.
22/06/2009 at 23:31
salamat dahil nabuksan ang iyong isipan at puso upang hanapin ang iyong sarili sa lahing Pilipino.
Filipinoes are born to be CHAMPIONS!
Itaas natin ang lahing kayumanggi!
Sama sama tayong maging liwanag sa dilim ng mga Pilipinong nakakapit sa liwanag ng ibang bansa.
Nawa ay magliwanag ang ilaw nating mga PPilipino upang mabuksan ang kanilang kamalayan.
24/06/2009 at 13:12
For me, FILIPINOS are the most bright people in the world. But many of us are blind. We should really open our eyes to see the big picture. To make us FIRST WORLD……
27/06/2009 at 18:00
As a YA it brings great joy to me seeing our young people now have a heart for our beloved country. Kasama nyo kaming mga YA’s in raising up our race.
01/07/2009 at 14:17
hi kar . :]
i am from bulacan, before bryorg, brown raise bulacan was held of course here in bulacan, specifically in its capital-the malolos city.
the history of bulacan and its known people is really amazing. but not all, bulacan is very manila especially here in malolos. youths here are so hannah montana. :[
nakakatuwa po ang kwento mo, kasi ung iba na kahit walang halong ibang lahi – ayaw maging piny. labo no.
01/07/2009 at 19:12
ang saya naman . galing ka ng La Salle at mahal mo ang Pinas .
kadalasan kasi ng mga tao dun, uhm .. ung tipong, talagang pang-ibang bansa na ang utak . as in talagang english na ang language, Inglog nga raw, kesa Taglish .
un ung mga hindi tinatangkilik ang sariling atin . madalas, mga taong pasaway . oh, well . we’re glad to know your thoughts about what’s up with you
03/07/2009 at 15:53
I will be eagerly waiting for your T-shirt collection.
It’s a bit sad that when you go to the malls, majority (if not 99%) of the brands there are not from here.
Tingin ko naman kayang kaya nating gumawa ng high quality shirts, ang problema lang, bakit walang gusto bumili ng sariling atin?
05/07/2009 at 02:04
Mabuhay ka Karlene! Ituloy mo lang ang iyong pangarap para sa ating bansa. Lahing Salvador din ako, pero sa Laguna naman, malay mo magka-mag-anak pa pala tayo. hehe.
May classmate ako nung college and he’s a full blooded Chinese but he was born in the Philippines. Ang sabi niya he is much more of a Filipino than a Chinese.. I don’t wanna elaborate his reason but I understand him.. which is enough for me to love my own county more.
Hanapin mo ang nakaraan mo.. naiisip ko pa lang na parang ang sarap hanapin ang “roots” mo as a Filipino. But remember..you belong in the Philippines.. you are a Filipino.. kahit na hindi mo sila mahanap.. basta maganda ang pangarap mo para sa kanya.
Long live Brownraise!!!
19/07/2009 at 21:18
nice naman po. sayang ung ibang pure filpino di nila ma appriciate ung tunay na kulay natin at hanga cla sa mga puti hayyyyyy! nkakatuwa naman po khit 25% lng ung pagiging filipino mu my maganda kng hangarin para sa bansa. eheheh taung mga filipino ay walang katulad kaya dapat natin ipagmalaki ang lahing kayumanggi.
[.brownraise.]
20/07/2009 at 00:24
Be brave karlene, and i’m glad that you are are really awakening your Filipino spirit…
Mabuhay ka!
22/07/2009 at 14:55
Mabuhay ka Karlene! You are a Filipino and may you always keep the spirit of a true Filipino.
25/07/2009 at 13:26
Go Karlene!…
Make yourself proud of being a Filipino..
Keep it up!
There is hope in a person like you…
The inspiration of Filipinos…
Fight True-Blooded Filipinos!…
25/07/2009 at 18:46
karlene! this is so cool to see a post from someone i know. hahaha. it’s really nice that the chinese people i know are so interested in this country.
God bless you more.
29/07/2009 at 21:02
Very inspiring Karlene, i’m really grateful to know that there’s a young filipino-chinese who understands that being a fil-chi does not exempt us from first being a ‘Filipino’. Can’t wait to see some of your designs and animated films. keep us posted =) Keep on dreaming BIG for the Phils. =) Keep the fire burning!!!
20/08/2009 at 08:31
Galing galing ng storya. Belib ako!
13/09/2009 at 20:50
It’s good that you have a deeper awareness for your own country. However, do not forget the 75% either. Love everything you are and where you are. Strive to change things for the better when needed. Rise above and beyond the call of duty.
13/10/2009 at 18:05
Wow, You make me proud and courage to go and explore what is the real filipino that make me inspire to a certain place !!!You are nice person, even though you are 75% Chinese but your love for being Filipino is so nice. . .
Thank you so much for your inspiring story that makes the filipino people proud to them selves.
30/10/2009 at 10:21
grabe po… sobrang nakakainspire ang inyong story… ang ibang 100% ay di pa nga po talaga 100% at kayo ay 25% filipino lang at minamahal niyo na po ang bansa niyo! maging 100% pilipino nga sana ang mga nakatira sa pilipinas.
25/11/2009 at 18:54
nakakatuwa…
12/02/2010 at 09:31
>,< pilipino ka kong pinoy yung puso mo.. kahit ano ka!