On Being a Person Who happens to be a Filipino

I want to be of no race.

Being Filipino, I'm apparently constricted to the mold of a confined personality, appearance, and life. If I break the mold, I am 'not Filipino'.

I don't eat meat.

"Wow. You're so not Filipino."

I hate karaoke.

"You're totally not Filipino!"

I don't care about Pacqiao fights.

"You are not a Filipino."

Well fuck! I guess I'm not! Then what am I? Am I "white-washed"? Am I a dreaded 'Kano? I thought white skin was the best! I thought our ancestors willingly moved to America for the opportunity.

I respect and honor every culture, race, and ethnicity. None is better than or inferior to the other. However, I am a person first. I happen to be Filipino. Being Filipino does not, an will never restrict me to be less of me.

There lies a real, beautiful, Filipino culture, in respect tropical nature, or flower festivals, and the liberation of peoples. In native history and modern literature. In inventions and innovations. The unfortunate thing? It's hidden behind fallacies of the superiority of food, pale skin, behavior, cheap pop culture, mediocre singing, and a possible inferiority complex.

I am Ciarlene. I have brown eyes, dark wavy hair, and am 5'2". I am chubby, I have small hands, and thick eyebrows. I like to create music and crafts. I like theatre. I have pretty good grades and a fast, absorbent intellect. Diversity is fantastic. I am a goody-goody at 17z I am the oldest of four and I believe in God, after rough patches. I'm straight and am not attracted to any specific kind of male.

Also, I happen to be 75% of Filipino descent.

What's more important?