I’ve been wanting to do this for some time now, it’s been in my peripheral vision for the past few weeks. But everyone knows the story of my Megalife and how the triplets have taken me hostage and how I can only do stuff when they say I can. (Not much different from my immediate past corporate life, except that I’ve replaced obedient professionals with whiny three-year olds.) More…

Filipinas were once stereotyped as maids or domestic helpers, then eventually were tagged as mail-order-brides and overseas nurse/nurse aides. And now, when you search using online engines like Google and Yahoo! (don’t even try searching for images, ugh!), another ugly stereotype comes out- as dates for hire.

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9-11 in New York was rainy and damp — yet the fashionistas had a field day! A Filipina designer, Monique Lhuillier, showed off her Spring Collection at Bryant Park on Fifth Avenue. Her parents, especially my role model (with a warm, welcoming personality and down-to-earth aura to complement her business ventures and philanthropic advocacies) Amparito Llamas Lhuillier, must be beaming with pride. Yes, we’re happy too! That’s because Monique is a true-blooded Cebuana (o.k., French and Spanish with cultural roots in Cebu). Someone asked me (by e-mail) if Monique is proud of her Filipina roots, and I replied, “All the time!”

Continue reading at my RadiantView.com.

I’ve seriously thought about what and how it is to be a Filipina, and the stereotype always comes into my mind. The ideal image of the Filipino woman is Maria Clara. She symbolizes beauty, grace, simplicity and obedience. Growing up, I usually hear the term Maria Clara but never dug deep to its history. To those who do not know, Maria Clara is a character symbolizing the perfect Filipina created by Jose Rizal, our national hero, in Noli Me Tangere. Please correct me if I’m wrong. In my school, an all girls Catholic high school, the teachers promoted good behavior and obedience to God, family and school. When I say good behavior, I mean, “follow orders or get lost”. In my small town of Bacolod City, there wasn’t much diversity. Your actions and words are dictated to you by family and society. It wasn’t until I left my home to work abroad that I felt empowered.

Let’s go back to being a Maria Clara, many Filipino men prefer Maria Clara type of girls. These are the type of girls that they can introduce to their mothers without society raising an eyebrow. In a Catholic society of like ours, we are usually conservative in our ways, and being the Maria Clara type often solves problems. Why men prefer a Maria Clara type of woman, I only gave you my theory. And like the rest of you, I can only guess.

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