I, Minority
Usually I’m quite self-conscious and uncomfortable about my new role as a minority, but sometimes its fun. Like today when we had a company outing at a shabby beach club in Mactan. Being the only non-Filipino there today was for some reason enjoyable. I don’t usually like the spotlight; I don’t often want to be noticed. Maybe it was the beer (but really I only had two San Miguels) or maybe it was the karaoke. I’m well aware that I’m an awful singer but I sometimes relish the opportunity to make an ass out of myself with a microphone. I opened up with my dead-on impression of Ozzie-era Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs.” Sure, with all the little kids in the adjacent cabana, the lyrics may have been a bit inappropriate, but at least Ana enjoyed it. As did all the staff, although I’m sure only a few probably know who Black Sabbath is. Later I went with one of my karaoke faves, “La Bamba,” although I always seem to lose interest half way through the song because of its repetitiveness. Some of the girls were too shy to sing despite my continued prodding, but for me it’s a liberating feeling when I can sing (however badly) in front of people and helps knock down a cultural barrier between us. After all, karaoke is as much a part of Filipino culture as eating. If you can at least make an attempt, you can find a place here.
Karaoke really demonstrates the contradictory parts of my personality: shyness and boldness behind the armor of a microphone. Sure, everyone was looking at the white guy singing, but today I didn’t mind at all
