There’s this facebook status/post that’s gone viral about being plus size in the Philippines. After reading it, I could totally relate to it. There is just something about being fat in the Philippines. Here’s my version…

I am fat.

There I said it. No ifs ands or buts. I am fat.

That doesn’t mean I can’t be pretty or I can’t be sexy.

It just means that I am not a size 0, I am heavier than the average person, and I’ll need a bit more space on the bench.

And, you don’t have to point it out to me. I know it. I’ve known it all my life.

I am fat.

I’ve been on every fad diet, I’ve tried Weight Watchers, Nutri-System, Fit for Life, Atkins, Scarsdale, South Beach and though some of them have worked, eventually I just go back to what I truly am…FAT

And that’s ok.

It doesn’t mean I won’t try to lose the weight, it just means I won’t feel horrible if I don’t. I won’t feel ugly if I only lose 5 and not 50 pounds. I won’t feel like I’m a failure if I never become a size 2. I’m just happy fitting into the clothes I have now.

As long as I am healthy, I am not at risk for sudden death or my knees aren’t buckling because of the weight.

You don’t have to feel sorry for me. “Maganda ka sana, kaya lang mataba ka.” You don’t have to look down on me. “Maganda ka sana, kaya lang mataba ka.” You don’t have to think less of me. “Maganda ka sana, kaya lang mataba ka.” No need to stare, point fingers or laugh, “Maganda ka sana, kaya lang mataba ka.”

And though I am fat, I am so much more than that. I am a daughter, sister, aunt, ninang, tita, friend, neighbor. I am a former fim production slave, a band manager and a writer who now co-owns an Events Company and, along with my friends Ben and Aimee, am now a vlogger (please subscribe to The Truets vlog on youtube, visit https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1To1O_Fas1dBEUSM2fjVDQ). And, I am a doggie mom to Jose Cuervo Quiogue aka Cuervo.

And yes I am fat, but surely I have so many other traits and characteristics that you can use to describe me.   You can say I’m pretty, cute, loud, masungit, mataray, madaldal, maarte…Because I am so much more than just FAT.

So yes I am fat, but that’s not all I am.