Filipino Ako


First time we meet
You'll see a face
Of dark brown hair along its trace
And dark brown eyes
Under squinted eyelids
Looking through a pair of glasses
First assumption you must have made
She's Chinese!
No...
She's Japanese!
Wait...
She's Korean
My crisp tan skin
Is before your eyes
Laid upon a skeleton of 5?9?
My ethnicity is not clear to you
So you change your mind and think
Maybe she's Mexican..
Or maybe Native American!
With your mind still unclear
You still assume
And throw out words to me
Obviously showing you have o clue

Ay dyosko , Filipino ako!
Filipino ako

I'm not that cliche Chinese kid
You see on TV
So dont go up to me and say
Ching-chong chi hai-yee?
And wait for a response
While bustin' out karate moves in front of me
Thinkin' you're Bruce Lee
(But you're not)
Or clasp your hands together and take a bow
As if I was Japanese
(But I'm not)
Why don't you ask me questions instead of assume?
Before you start talking
And make yourself look foolish
At least the best thing you can do
Is just call me Asian
Just ask me
What is your ethnicity
Don't as me
Tu Espanol?
or
Ching-Chong Cha??
Just ask me
What is your ethnicity?
Cause I'll answer you simply

Filipino ako
I am Filipino

It'll slip off my native tongue
Or just straight out English

Filipino ako
I am Filipino

Ano?
Ako ito:
Filipino,
Filipino ako

Rewind