“I am human; therefore no human is alien to me.”
The greatest compliment I have ever received is not about my appearance, my achievements, or anything I own. It is when people, especially immigrants, tourists, or those who feel forgotten by the world, tell me: “You made me feel at home.” They thank me for my kindness, my warmth, and for making them feel like they have family here, a home away from home. When I first came here, my beginning was far from beautiful. The thought that I had to start from square one still gets me. I cried and complained to God more times than I can count. I encountered people who were unkind, colleagues who mocked my accent, laughed at the way I spoke, and made fun of me for simple things. At the same time, my parents were constantly arguing, I was working two jobs, carrying stress, anxiety, loneliness, and the ache of having no real support system. I learned to keep everything to myself until my body began to carry the weight of what my heart could no longer hide. Akala ko ang sexy ko, yun pala nagkakas...
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