Post-Colonial Language Hang-ups Six Years into the New Millenium

I have a confession:

I still can't help but gawk at a foreigner (especially when white) speaks Tagalog.

I'm blogging at the Starbucks in front of the Asian Institute of Management here in Greenbelt when a tall white guy comes in, walks up to the barista and says,"Isang capuccino na may dalawang shot ng espresso po."

The surprised barista uttered a confused response in English. And I witnessed everything unfold as if in slow motion. The poor guy can't help it. He was compelled to speak in English to this tall white person.

I think the barista spoke better English than he would have done conversing with lets say, me.

We Filipinos usually feel embarrassed whenever one of us speaks in accented and/or broken English - especially when addressing foreigners (regardless if the foreigner actually is English or American).

When we meet a foreigner who actually tries to speak in Filipino we feel that we've been given a treat. I know I still do.

(Note: I'm typing sitting on a stool sandwiched between two white folks by the shop front facing Paseo de Roxas)

"Anong pangalan po ang ilalagay ko sa baso?" The barista finally manages to ask in Tagalog.

"Mike" The tall white guy said.

And that's the game.