t h e . t r u e . p i n a y
it’s not about her streaked brown hair
that Nautica jacket
the dark lipstick she wears
it’s not all about the brown scapular
the small, sharp penmanship
the width of her flares
it’s not about how many photos she flashes
or stickers she places
or other bomb fashions
it's not about with which side she identifies
the tight ride she dreams of
with all tha bass from inside
with the non-asian artists who sing rhythm-n-blues
or people stereotyping her
by the height of her platform shoes
it’s not about her chained pager
or the babigurl voice on her greeting
or knowing how to jack voicemails
cuz skills like that are so fleeting
Pinay pride is not all in
the browness of her filipina skin
or whether or not she’s gorgeous
or whether or not she’s thin
it’s in knowing about her history and realizing her country’s past
seeing the strength of her ancestors
that usually flies by her much too fast
it’s in reaching out for the homeland
but at the last minute, pulling back in
but it’s not about assimilating
she should feel safe in the state she’s in
but it’s hard when most are like this
if she’s different, she won’t match
so she acts as is required of her
and does just enough to allow her to pass
a real pinay sees the double standard
and respects her nanay’s style
first rejecting, but then accepting it
a tradition she’ll pass on to her child
it’s about feeling homesick for the Philippines
even if she was born Amerikana
but there’s sometimes a space in her soul she can’t fill
when this place has been her home longer
it’s about all kinds of education
living up to all of the expectations
kasi dalaga na siya
diba...?
[[back to the Poetry page]] [[back to my isangmahal experience]]
Copyright © October 1998 Angel Artistries. All rights reserved.
