On Always Being Mistaken as a Mexican (or Another South American Country) Here in NYC

Once again, someone who's a stranger was chatting with me and she thought I was 'Mexican'. I had to correct her right away, and tell her 'I'm Filipino'. I would usually say 'Yo soy Filipino.' Now, I have experienced being with other Asians and some of them would not correct me right away if I would mistake them for coming from another Asian country other than their true Mother Country. For example, I've met several South Koreans who would not tell me right away if they're  South Koreans even if I guessed wrongly they're Japanese. I don't know exactly why would they do that.

My point in these mistaken identities is that they indicate something about those nations that stick to the mind of the one asking me. I could always assume they're prejudiced, biased of clinging to something relatively untrue. I sense some are actually malicious, especially because I feel they're using as bases their questions on outward looks. It's a perception thing for most people. And I have to learn that most of these questions are heart-felt and authentic, even if they can sound negative to me.

But then again, being thought of as Mexican (by some malicious persons) is not exactly a bad thing. Mexico is among the world's biggest, major economies. And I have a special fondness for Mexicans as they behave strangely very similar to folks I know back in the Philippines. It's not difficult to imagine that, as Mexico and the Philippines were linked culturally at least a 100 years before the Philippines got its own independence from Spain in 1898. Check history books and you'll be amazed at finding about details of these links. And more, a place called 'Mexico, Pampanga' is located in the Philippines. For hundreds of years, Mother Spain administered the Philippines thru Mexico. The word 'palengke', which is Mexican, is used most extensively and understood to refer to a local market. And with that main note here, I like to believe I'm taking lead by claiming these notions to my advantage.