For two years now, I have been thinking of applying for British citizenship. I could draw a lot of advantages, i.e. easy travel within Europe, being able to vote, among other things. I don't have to renounce my Filipino citizenship so in the eyes of my children, I am still Filipino. For my husband, he has that gnawing feeling that the 'Indefinite Leave to Remain' stamped on my passport could one day be invalidated – which sounds silly really – but that's what you expect from someone who has an understandable distrust with politicians.
So what am I going to do? Just the thought of filling up a form and writing 'British' after Nationality makes me feel like a fake. Physically, I look Filipino although most of the time mistaken for being Chinese (!) or Japanese (!!). Excuse me?!
I might not think 100% Filipino (owing to the massive influence brought about by my intensely British extended family and work colleagues/friends) but then I still feel one. I still long for sinugba, kinilaw, biko, pangat, etc, and if only tricycles are available in England, I would readily go on one despite the freezing temperature.
So it all comes down to practicality and the fact the my whole life revolves around everything British.
Am I integrated in the culture? Apart from not having pints most evenings in the pub, I think I am. Am I attuned to their culinary habits? I think so – if fish and chips and chinese take-aways are not the main order of the day.
So why am I so anxious about it?
Lewis had his 2nd birthday, shown here washing dishes after the party :)
