Category: Funny

The Illusion of Sikat

“Kuya Kevin!”

It isn’t unusual for me to hear this while walking around the university belt. I’ve lived here for six years, and I’ve had the privilege of speaking in several different schools. Sometimes I remember the name of the one greeting me, but at times the face doesn’t even look familiar. Regardless, I’m always honored that someone remembers my name. More importantly, I hope my life has somehow blessed whoever called out to me.

I was more confounded by the greetings that happened about a month ago–they came from complete strangers, far away from the u-belt. I was heading home from a seminar in Quezon City. “Kuya Kevin,” a random pedestrian blurted as I walked to the LRT (monorail). “Did I just hear my name? Did I just ignore one of my students?” I asked myself. I continued walking to the LRT station, where I heard another completely random greeting. “Kuya Kevin,” said the guard as I walked up the station’s stairs.

That’s when I realized I was still wearing my nametag from the seminar.

Want to feel famous? Wear a nametag for a day.

For my non-Filipino readers, sikat means popular or famous.

Related Topics:

Confessions of a Suki

Unforgettable Moments (That I’m not Sure I Want to Remember)

Bading and Mr Suplado

American women never paid too much attention to me–tanned skin is preferred in the States. Things changed drastically once I arrived here in the land of likas papaya (a product Filipinos use to whiten their skin). My physical features (light skin, blue eyes, and a pointy nose) get a lot of compliments here. There are times when I enjoy the attention–no bachelor would mind being called “guwapo” (handsome). There are other times, however, when I would rather not be noticed. This morning was one of those times.

I decided to buy a radio so I could listen to DZAS (they were promoting my book this morning). I went over to the SM appliance store and chose a simple AM/FM model. Buying something from the SM appliance store is a slow, inefficient process. Everything is locked in glass displays, and they have to go get your selection from the stock room.

Someone approached me while I was waiting for my radio to come out of the stock room. He asked me a question or two about where I was from. I’ve lived here long enough to know what was happening–I was being courted by a bading (gay). Times like this are when I go into full suplado (stuck up) mode. I don’t smile, give only short answers, and don’t even hint that I’m fluent in Tagalog. This seemed to be working until the SM staff member came out of the stock room. He told me that they did not have my radio in stock, and I asked him if I could just buy the radio in the display case. The bading heard these two Tagalog sentences and became even more interested in me.

It seemed to take forever for us to get to my radio. The SM staff member picked up the wrong set of keys for the display case. My “friend” approached me again while I was waiting for them to find the right key. He asked me if I drank and went to clubs, and then repeatedly asked for my number. He told me that he worked at City Hall and could help me if ever I needed a favor. He finally went away after several refusals.

I thought I could finally get my radio once they found the correct key. We got the the radio, only to discover there was no electrical cord (in the radio or the box). I told him I couldn’t wait any longer–I had waited about fifteen or twenty minutes and the radio program was coming on soon. I came home and listened to it online.

I prefer to be polite to everyone, regardless of their background/lifestyle. Sometimes, however, I just don’t have this option.