Close encounter of the Filipino kind

Since this is my first post for this topic, I'll put in 3 encounters.


1. Shy Filipino
Waitress: Pinoy ka?
Me: Oo.
Waitress: Pinoy ka pala bakit di ka nagsasalita? Ang tahimik mo naman di mo ko kinakausap.
(Do I really need to tell every Filipino that I see that I'm Filipino?)

- Cold Rock Ice cream store, Abu Dhabi Mall


2. Birds of the same brown feather should flock together

Waitress: Kabayan? (Asking me if I'm Filipino)
Me: Oo.
Waitress: Ahh.. Pilipino ka pala. Akala ko foreigner ka kasi puro foreigner kasama mo eh.
(There were 2 French, 2 South African, 1 American, 1 Filipino, and 1 Indian at our table that night)

- Dinner with colleagues at a Chinese restaurant in Sands Hotel, Abu Dhabi


3. Again, again, again. Sinabi nang birds of the same brown feather should flock together eh...

The sales ladies at the G2000 store in Abu Dhabi Mall already know me since I went there (alone) last weekend to buy 2 suits. This time I was with Jeremy, a South African of Chinese descent. While he was at the counter and I was at the back going to the dressing room:

Sales Lady: Bakit puti yung kasama mo?
Me: (smile... kasalanan ko ba kung pinanganak syang maputi?)

- go white boy!