i am
a first-generation
filipino-american
i’ve only
known life
in the suburbs
of usa.
my classmates
are curious
and question
where i’m
actually from
oh
that’s a funny question,
“where are you
actually
from?”
i am actually from here.
should i not
actually
belong?
a silly thought,
i laugh it off
and say
“my ethnicity
is filipino,
but
i was born here”
i guess
they mean no harm
i do stand out,
they’re not wrong.
i have
tan brown skin,
a large nose,
(from my dad’s side)
oval eyes,
(from my mom)
and am quite short
(barely 5’)
but the funny question,
“where are you actually from?”
turns into a guessing game
“are you samoan?”
“are you hawaiian?”
“are you chinese?”
“are you japanese?”
“are you asian?”
“are you mexican?”
oh
i guess
i can’t answer
“american”
a silly thought,
i laugh it off
and state,
“my ethnicity
is filipino, but
i’ve grown up here
all my life”
