Growing up in a small town the United States, I really didn’t know that many other Filipinos. A lot of my earliest memories are kids pulling back their eyelids with their fingers while teasing me for being Chinese, while I’m not even Chinese. I’ve known I’m Filipino my whole life, my grandparents left the islands almost a century ago and wanted their children to be American. Sadly they didn’t want to teach their children any of the language they grew up with or the traditions of our ancestors. I understand that after the horrors of surviving World War II they did what they thought was best for their children’s survival, but it’s always left my heart feeling disconnected and empty from knowing about where I come from.
Spending this simple day eating some lumpia and going swimming for the first time in the Phillipines was such an emotional experience for me. I love how everyone is listening to emotional ballads all the time and I am learning that being an emotional person is part of my culture. I am letting go the shame I inherited about being Filipino, and feeling proud to have my ancestors come from such a beautiful place. The Filipinos I’ve met here so far have been really kind who really value seeing the beauty in others. I really can’t go anywhere without people telling me how beautiful I am.
With the way the United States has been treating transgender people like me with so much hate and ugliness, it really means so much to see so many beautiful dolls and non-binary Filipinas being accepted and expressing their beauty openly here. I know there’s a lot of hardships that comes from living in the Phillipines and being from America has given me opportunities I wouldn’t have had otherwise, but it really is a beautiful country to be trans and I really feel so thankful to be welcomed here with an open heart🙏
#findinglakapati #transisbeautiful #passporttoself #cebu
✨ A Filipina’s first time swimming in the Phillipines 💗 such a magical day at white beach in Moalboal Cebu Island
#transtraveler #leavingamerica #passporttoself #transisbeautiful #findinglakapati
Leaving my home and my 🌽 career behind has been really tough. Even though I am on this very exciting journey figuring out a new place for myself, I really do miss my all my friends and loved ones everyday
#leavingamerica #transtraveler #passporttoself
I really do believe that we are here to experience life through our emotions and connect with others on an emotional level. Moving through the world with an open heart is a struggle at times but really I think always worth it ❤️🔥🖤💗
#selflove #passporttoself #transisbeautiful #mtf #girlslikeus
