Writers Note: As with all my pieces, this one is meant to be personal and humorous. I have no interest in news or documentary style writing. I make no universal proclamations; that is other than the fact I like Filipinas! DW
I’ve already written that many Filipinas are very interested in having a baby with a Westerner. There’s just something about white skin, blue eyes and a long nose that drives them wild.
Janet agrees with this sentiment, though still has a hard time understanding why genetically I can’t give her a blue-eyed baby. “Not every race produces blue eyes. After all, there aren’t any blue-eyed Filipinos either,” I said.
“Sure there are. Ones with a foreigner father.”
“But not this foreigner father,” I said.
She eventually understood well enough to giggle and said, “So if I ever have a blue-eyed baby, I would be in trouble?”
“Big time,” I agreed.
But it was her other core genetic belief that really threw me. Driving in the car we were having a discussion on just this subject when I mentioned, “Of course, even if we have a child, it’s just as likely that he or she will have dark skin and a small, cute, flat nose like yours.”
“No, I don’t think so. She will be white with a long nose. I’m positive.”
I tried to be mature and reasonable; that’s what you do at 61. “But you wouldn’t be disappointed if a child turned out looking more Filipino than Caucasian?”
“That’s not possible. The white always overcomes the brown.”
“You’re kidding, right?”
“No, everyone knows that. When a Filipina has a child with a foreigner the child looks like the foreigner.”
“Right now Darwin is rolling over in his grave.”
“Who?”
“When a Filipina has a child with a foreigner the child looks like the foreigner.”
I tried reasoning with her, “But look at my kids.”
Now, I have two teenagers whose mother’s heritage is from the Carribbean; a mix of several races but certainly leaning mostly toward African-American.
Janet agreed that while my kids had some of their mother’s qualities, they were mostly me. No matter how much I argued logically, quoted law of averages, genetic theory, and all that crap, Janet is convinced of her position. Not only does she believe, as I already knew, that white skin and a long nose are better qualities to have, she believes that genetically they are superior qualities. In other words white trumps brown.
I approached a mutual Filipina friend. A medical professional, I figured she would certainly be able to set Janet straight. She listened to my dilemma and thoughtfully answered, “Dave, everyone knows that when a foreigner and a Pinay have a baby, the baby looks like the foreigner. That’s why we want you.”
“What about genetics?” I asked.
“Everyone knows the white genes are stronger than the weaker brown ones.”
“I musta missed that chapter when I studied Darwin.”