Alien Migi, my true identity.

Growing up, I had a traditional upbringing. All the traditions and values were intact from the saying of “po” — up to the tradition of giving extra food to neighbors. We would even have a giant Christmas Party. Where everyone gathers to have fun. You’ll see uncles giving “aguinaldos”; while the aunties competed on “who cooked the best dish”. Now, is it safe to say that I’m just your ordinary Filipino?
Nope.
Unfortunately, I’m a victim of the Janus-face of globalization. Where external influences gave me both a positive and a negative impact on my identity. The crisis occurred when I was an adolescent in high school. Having met people from varying backgrounds, I wanted to mimic these new amazing things/culture I saw from them. An example would have been me wanting to buy and wear Gucci clothes. As a foolish boy, I wanted to be “in” and “cool” like my friends. However, this only created a conflict between the traditional values of my family in which they said “You don’t need these stuff you only want them”. This highlights the “Need vs. Wants” value that even today they remind me of.
This pattern of trying to actually attempt to do something new and end up being hindered by my family due to their traditionalist beliefs, continued for years. An example would be the strictness my parents ruled with. Back then, they would limit my curfew to 8:00 pm. As a high school student, that was just sad. High school is known for those crazy moments with your friends. Miserably, I just studied when I knew my friends were having those crazy moments. The cultural belief that “young people aren’t supposed to be out at night” ; impeded me to having that “night out”. The said belief conflicted with the global trend of having unforgettable parties with friends (As portrayed in teenage international movies).
With all these influences and conflicts, I questioned myself
Why was I raised in this kind of a family?
Why can’t I be like them?
— The reason was because I wasn’t them.
It was because that I wasn’t them that gave me the concept to create a new identity. One that can cater to my traditional values and to these new culture I wanted to have in my life.
That’s why I present to you the picture above that I think best exemplifies my identity of today. I am Miguel Mercado a Globalized adolescent that innovates his own cultural ways in order to be part of the globalized world. However, always remembers his roots and stays intact with them for it is these roots that made his first identity.
Example:
I follow International trends as can be seen in the new zip-lock fanny pack, but I still conform with what we have here in the Philippines because of the fact that I was raised by it. (shown in the Pancit Canton and Forevermore television series picture found above)
SOME OF THE PICTURES ARE NOT MINE WAS ONLY USED FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED.
Hello, never mind this, just placed this because it can be counted as one of my requirements hihi. Socsc 11 Section O.
