Alright so I finally check up on where one of the kids I sponsor lives and judging from the name of the bible center, he comes from an aeta tribe in the P.i.

Now I've heard of these people before, my mom and dad talking about these small dark people who live in the mountains and who were in the Philippines before all the other (Malay?) peeps moved in. Wiki'ed them and google imaged and - man the kids are so cute and adorable. My kid maybe a little more cute than the rest of them haha. So what if they have dark skin and curly hair? Tan, pale, who cares?

I chose him because of his last name - Handog. Reminded me of the term 'hangdog'. But his picture looked anything but. He looked like he was a little rebellious. He looked like a fighter.

I didn't want people to judge him by his name, or guessing from the picture, his small stature. I want him to grow up strong, to become a great leader, to go back to his parents who are living in a tribe and to tell them that hey, there is one God out there, He gave His son Jesus, and He died and rose from the dead on a cross to save you, and He has saved me. Just how amazing would that be???? It would be great to meet him and the rest of his folks one day.

~~~

Looking up these pictures makes me proud of my heritage. So many different dialects, styles of traditional dress, etc. It makes me sad when we 2nd gen filipinos/as put down our culture, like its a lesser one than say that of Japan or S. Korea. There's nothing to be ashamed of being pinoy! Now to learn the language..aheheh