Confronting Identity

The memories of job application still haunt me and whenever the interviewer asks me to share some things about myself which do not appear on my résumé, I usually find myself grappling with words to tell. The question seems to be one of the most difficult queries thrown to me. Whew!

I realized I have so much to share. Below are the names which I can easily identify myself with. These names will somehow reveal a part of my identity.

1. Juan dela Cruz
According to Wikipedia, this term was coined by Robert McCulloch Dick after he discovered that this name often appeared in blotters. This name symbolically represents the Filipinos and is also used to refer to the collective Filipino psyche.

First and foremost, I can easily identify with this name primarily because I am a Filipino. Second, I stayed for almost four years with my landlord whose name is Juan dela Cruz who happened to be a real fine catch. ;-)

2. Talpolano
This term is a local version of Juan dela Cruz in our place. This name represents the Bantoanons. Well, I am a Bantoanon.

Talpolanos (Bantoanons) are known for putting premium on education. Bantoanons are remarkable for their unparalleled ability to prepare delectable dishes using the coconut milk. Now, I realized how Bantoanon I am. Bantoanons speak the local dialect known as Asi and most of their last names begin with letter “F”

3. Mario Puzo
I am a Mario Puzo fan. I’ve read eight (8) books out of his nine (9) novels. I do not know him; I just know his works. His novels partly influenced my perspectives in life and showed me the real world of Mafia.

4. Don Carlos Palanca
Palanca Award is the most prestigious and most literary award giving body. I’m lucky that I was trained as a student by few Palanca Awardees namely: Carlos Ojeda Aureus, Vim Nadera, and Nilo Ocampo.

5. Junior
Well, being a Junior, I carry my father’s first name. My father really wanted that my brother be the junior but my mother did not succumb. No, they did not run out of names but my father simply wanted that he has a junior.


Picture grabbed from: www.jmorganmarketing.com