Dreams that was once discouraged

Ability that was once doubted

Confidence that was once destroyed

Hopes that was once taken away

And now, After all the hard work

You proved them wrong

After all the persistence

You are now strong

  (more…)

Does size really matters???

The average height for Filipina is 5‘0“ - 5’2” (just like most Asians). Compare to Americans we are small and slender. But is that enough basis to judge a person?… just by looking at their physical attributes?

When I left the Philippines, there are certain things in life I started to question.

When I came to Korea. I was a little indifferent because it was the first time that I’ve been away from home. It was the first time that I was expose into a whole new culture and I didn’t know how people would react on me.

Because my husband is an American and was working for the US government, I spent most of my time around people in his nationality (Americans), inside the camps and bases. I met a lot of new good friends that didn’t show any biases about races and nationalities. I guess because the military is more diversified in a lot of things compare to the people in the mainland.

I thought I am no different from the rest, that they sees me the way they see a normal person. But guess I was wrong…

There was this lady (her nationality is different from mine) also married to an American that whenever she sees me she was always picking me up while she kept laughing… that as if I was her toy. That really pissed me off and I started to dislike her from that moment on. My husband was so mad that he needed to pull me outta her and told her to stop. But she just didn’t seem to understand…

Then, Just about a year ago we needed to move from Korea to the United States because of my husband’s new job. Coming from another foreign country we didn’t have that much furniture to fill the new house that we just bought.

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Hello readers!!! Just wanna share this poem I wrote. I hope you’ll also find the connection…

Proud to be a Filipina,

Iris

I am what I am

White, brown, black or yellow… it doesn’t matter
The color of my skin won’t unfold the true me.
You will never find out how good or bad I can be
Unless you’ll see through me

I am what I am

Asian, American, African or European… it doesn’t matter
My race or nationality serves no purpose
If the reason for my existence is to make a difference
And not to be different

I am what I am

Muslim, Catholic, Buddhist, or Mormons… it doesn’t matter
My faith is not your faith… My beliefs are not your beliefs…
Peace is what we all seek…
For that… Respect is what I need… and what I give you…

I am what I am

Tall, medium, large, or small… it doesn’t matter
For I will never let my structure hold me back
Don’t look down on me coz I will break the glass ceiling,
Reach for my goal and rise up from the crowd…

I am what I am

Grey, blue, brown or dark… it doesn’t matter
The color of your eyes makes you no better than I am
My ability to look back, see the present, and envision the future
Is what will make me better than you are…

Iris D. Collier

Scranton, PA