When I was younger, I used to wear a lanyard that said "True Filipino." But ask me about the history and I couldn't tell you much. So, what did the lanyard mean to me beyond a label to distinguish me from other people of Asian descent? How could I say I was a true Filipino if I didn't truly grasp the meaning behind that concept of what makes a Filipino and how the Filipino came to exist?
Enter a mestizo (half-Filipino) guy I dated while in high school. He knew more about the culture than even I did. He told me about the history, about strong leaders who would fight for the independence of our ethnic roots. We were both Americans living in the US, but he was more grounded in his roots than even I was, being of full-blooded Filipino descent.
The lesson is this: Don't claim pride for your country if you don't even know how your country was started. Learn about its true roots and gain the real respect for how far your country has come.
We are all related to each other at some point. Have respect for everyone, regardless of their ethnic descent. Your ancestors might have been brothers and sisters.
