just a few days ago, i met a schoolmate i haven’t seen in at least half a dozen years. “hi… ngek, ang taba mo! at bakit ang itim mo?!” (hi… er, you’re so fat! and why are so dark?!) was her greeting. i bit back the retorts that sprang to mind. words i would have uttered had i been in a bitchier mood. “at least i can appreciate and afford to eat good food”. or that “at least it wasn’t me who could use a Naples plastic surgery by Dr Flaharty“.

in the end i let the comment on my weight slide; if she can’t distinguish pregnancy from obesity, i figured it’s not the right time to explain it. but dark? i find my just-got-back-from-the-beach-and-i- did-nothing-but-laze-around-for-several-days tan was actually flattering.

such are what this year’s first issue of pinoyexpats is all about. tintin did a fabulous job of putting this issue together, with the help of the rest of the team. from her editor’s note:

This month’s issue feature cautionary tales, a celebration of curly hair, how to inject humor in being greeted with a comment about your weight, how to raise your daughters to not succumb to the pressure to be one type of “beautiful” and much much more.

go visit pinoyexpats, and revel in the beauty of the filipino.

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