UNDER MY INVISIBLE UMBRELLA

• Filipinos and Americans standing together


  Americans are often perceived more favorably due to their skin color
• At the beginning of the story


  • A Filipino man kindly offers his umbrella to keep the author dry
• Despite getting wet himself, the Filipino man prioritizes the young woman he is accompanying
• Laurel Fantauzzo: '"The man was not holding the umbrella above me. He was holding the umbrella above my whiteness." "They were brown and they were damp. I was pale and I was dry."'
• Upon arriving in the Philippines, the author's mixed nationalities sparked interest among those they encountered
• Once they set foot in Manila, they were perceived simply as a white individual
• This was a new experience for them, as they had never before been granted the advantages that come with being perceived as white, including financial stability, dependability, and assurance of equitable treatment
• Experiences at Greenbelt Mall and exclusive university campus


  • Filipinos being hurried along by employees, guard tipping hat and allowing entry without signing in, guards letting them pass restricted area without question
• Main Issue


  • Pervasive issues of societal status based on color and white privilege, Filipinos' hospitable nature sometimes misconstrued as subservience, Filipinos prioritizing needs and desires of white individuals over their own, white and foreign individuals granted more power and comfort than their Filipino counterparts
• People thought of the author as a "mestiza" because she spoke English, had black hair and a pale face, and they thought she looked like a ruler of Spanish or American descent
• The author's mother was a scholar at Ateneo de Manila University, and despite living in the suburbs of California, she was punctual with her budget and living in a foreign country garnered her grants and scholarships which none of the middle to lower class in the Philippines ever get to see
• The author's relatives in a working-class neighborhood in Tandang Sora were looking for ways to become Overseas Filipino Workers to escape the criminally small wages in the Philippines
• The author considered if her mother hadn't been a scholar, hadn't had an older sister married to an American petition her mother to join her in California, and hadn't found her father, she would be in the shoes of her relatives
• The author knew the financial struggles of her family could never compare to the Kalesa driver who can only have 20% of their annual earnings, the cab driver on the 23rd hour of their 24-hour shift, or the server struggling to make ends meet without angering their boss
• The author often finds extra charges being made to her bills and calls them "dayuhan tax", the extra cost for the postcolonial privileges of her face
• Main Issue

  • Privileges of the author thanks to her parents, and the struggle of the working class to make ends meet in the Philippines, who often think of the author as "mestiza" just by her physical appearance which some workers try to take advantage of by charging extra fees
• Western expats vent their frustrations with the Philippines to the author, whether it's the traffic, poor customer service, or corruption
• The author ponders when will she be able to say that this country is also her homeland, as her sound, proficiency in the language, and appearance prevent her from saying this
• The author finds comfort in the appreciation she receives for her identity, such as her accent and physical appearance
• The author finds herself bored and confused, opting to stay in her room, where she stays, and watch the subtitles on the local music, Myx, as a way to familiarize herself with the Filipino language
• The author harbored the dream of becoming a VJ using her white mestiza privilege to achieve this dream, however, her dream vanished when she heard how natural and fast VJs' Tagalog is
• The author watched an advertisement that promotes a whitening soap and saw an actress in an ad for a soap opera dressed like the blackface of her people
• The author attended a party in Forbes Park, a wealthy neighborhood in Manila, where they encountered lavish surroundings and extravagant festivities
• Upon leaving the party, they were confronted with a stark contrast as they witnessed the workers waiting outside, prompting introspection about their complicity in societal hierarchies and the disparities between the elite and the working class in Filipino society
• Main Issue

  • Complexity of identity, privilege, and belongingness, experienced by the author, who is of mixed race. Societal hierarchy based on race, class, and family connections. Disparity between the privileged and the working class, prompting the quest for equality and understanding in society
• The passage reflects on the disparities in opportunities between the author and many Filipinos, acknowledging the advantages the author possesses compared to the struggles faced by others
• The mention of "barred mansions" symbolizes the barriers to privilege, while the idea of leaving for work abroad implies a desire for better opportunities driven by global inequality
• The author starts by acknowledging their tendency to recognize the differences between their own life and the lives of those less fortunate but sometimes, they choose to dismiss these differences to preserve their sense of comfort or to have success in the face of others'
• The passage highlights the author's internal struggle with recognizing their privilege and the importance of empathy and understanding
• Despite their advantages, the author grapples with the question of how to make space for everyone, regardless of social standing
• The author's refusal of special treatment through a taxi, reflects a moment of self-awareness and humility, demonstrating a recognition of their privilege and a desire to not exploit it at the expense of others
• Laurel Fantauzzo

  Filipino-Italian by ethnicity, born in the United States, studied creative writing at the University of Iowa, wrote the essay "Under My Invisible Umbrella" and won the prestigious Carlos Palanca Memorial Award
• Tone

  • Upbeat and fast, shifts tenses from past to present, narrative and conversational, uses some Filipino phrases and words
• Filipino Values Present in The Story

  • Strong Family ties
  • Hospitality
• Theme

  • Racial inequalities in the Philippines, author gets special treatment and advantages because of her white skin color, attempts to be treated like an ordinary Filipino were hindered because of her appearance of social status
• Purpose

  To provide an emotional connection, entertain through engaging storytelling, and convey a meaningful message and a sense of awareness