The most Filipino thing about me is the way I look. Having grown up essentially in American culture, for the longest time I'd identified first as an … - Jason Tanamor

I considered myself white, having grown up essentially American but with Filipino parents. I don't speak with an accent and I barely speak Tagalog. So, for most of my life, I looked at the world as a 'white' person.

I try not to look up to people who are Filipino for the sake of their nationality. There seems to be a shortage of diversity in the arts in general, including publishing, so whenever I see a person of color doing something to further their culture or cause I tend to root for them.

Like many American born Asian-Americans, I wanted to assimilate as a child. I wanted to fit in. As I grew older, I realized that instead of fitting in, why not stand out?