Hello I am an American, and No I am not an Actress.

Last weekend we went to Fort Santiago. Fort Santiago was a Spanish military fort built in the 1500's, and it was where the Philippine national hero, Jose Rizal was imprisoned before his execution in the late 1800's for prompting the revolution against the Spanish. Most of it was destroyed in the Battle of Manila in WWII, but it has since been restored and in 1950 it was named a Shrine of Freedom. It remains a memorial for all Filipinos who have fought and died for the cause of freedom.

The Fort

The Moat

Memorial

Dungeon Cell

***

Girls: Ma'am! Ma'am! Sir! Sir! Excuse. Ma'am! Sir!

I ignore them.

Because A) I have been trying to stay away from the 100's of annoying kids that have been running around the monument all day and so far it's been working out for me and B) well, because I'm just rude.

Lee answers them.

Lee: Yeah

Girl 1: Oh sir, you are so very handsome! Can we take a picture with you?

Girls: Oh yes, please please. Please Sir!

Lee: Ha. You want to take a picture with me?

Me: Hahahaha. Go for it Lee. Take a picture with them.

Girl 2: Oh you too Ma'am. You are so very beautiful!

(Right... they just feel obligated to take a picture with me. Who's rude now?)

They take pictures with us on their phones. So of course I have to have one too...

Girl 3: Ma'am! Where are you from?

Me: The US

Girls: *Confused*

Me: The United States...

Girls: Oh!! Ma'am, what is your name?

Me: Keely

Girls: Oh, Keely. Are you an actress?

Me: Ha. No.

Girls: Why not?

Me: Ummm.. I'm just not. Ok, bye.

Why not? Well for starters... being actress would require a little thing called, an ability to act... followed by a million other reasons I won't name because then I'll just start feeling sorry for myself.

I have come to the conclusion that many filipinos only see Americans on TV. So naturally they assume that if you are from the United States then you must be a model... remember the little obnoxious girl from the bookstore? A movie star... like the waiters on our vacation. Or at the very least they think because you are an American you must be friends with every US celebrity... like the Uber- Feminine male nurse.

Or... they all think I have low self esteem and are trying to make me feel better about myself.

But that couldn't possibly be it. Right?