One of the unintended consequences of living abroad is being confronted by an one's own identity, I believe I speak not only for Filipinos like me. Whether I like it or I like it very much, I will be asked about where I am from, what my country of origin is like, and the way people of my own keen live from my faraway, exotic land.
Now, I don't mind talking about these things. In fact, I like talking about the Philippines. It's a good excuse for me to imagine paradise all over again, which what my mind does with the mere mention of my country. People believe me, rarely do they look unconvinced. But if and when they've been to one of the 7,107 islands themselves, they are always first to acknowledge its paradisiac beauty. They gush and all I have to do is smile and nod aggressively in fervor agreement.
Philippines: Archipelago Exchange
