Piercing Pens

There is an on-going discussion at Yuga’s blog on why American columnist Michelle Malkin is not included in the list of Filipino bloggers. Yuga says Malkin is clearly “of Filipino descent.”

But there is of course a difference between being of Filipino descent and being Filipino. In her Piercing Pens entry “Defining the Filipino”, Oriah wrote:

But who is and what makes a Filipino? For many of us, being born a Filipino citizen is the key. For some, just tracing your roots to one Filipino makes you one. As for me, citizenship is earned, not laid out on a silver platter. We work to earn the title of being true blue Pinoys.

Defining the Filipino is still a challenge for most of us but one thing I am certain, it’s not just ancestry or bloodline or eating adobo that defines us.

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Former Bukidnon Rep. Juan Miguel Zubiri is now a senator.

Yesterday, the Commission on Elections proclaimed him as the 12th winner in the senatorial race in last month’s elections. This was after the Supreme Court denied opposition senatorial candidate Koko Pimentel’s request for a temporary restraining order on Zubiri’s proclamation. Pimentel has been claiming there was cheating in Maguindanao, where the administration’s Team Unity won by 12-0.

Zubiri’s legislative record as congressman is impressive. It’s just sad that his victory in the Senate seems tainted.