The Emo Glasses

In the morning, after watching Fall Out Boy’s live performance at CD USA (which they have actually replayed for the nth time…and I totally appreciate that, thank you.), I get up from bed and prepare to explore the rest of New York City. I sit quietly at one corner of the F train (praying that none of those big, scary, coal black guy sits next to me…or worse, a homeless person eager to put up a show—in expense of an Asian tourist), ears plugged and with Erich Segal’s book on hand (I borrowed Doctors from Grace, hoping I could finish reading it before I graduate from med school). I subtly move my eyeballs from side to side to check (of course, Manila-style) for pickpockets and most interestingly, to watch people—which, by the way, is my favorite hobby besides sleeping. So from my queer observation (from the time I ride the train at 169 Street) everytime I turn my head to the rushing New Yorkers coming in the sliding doors, I will never miss a chance to spot a person wearing those black thick-rimmed glasses. From old couples walking in from Forest Hills to yuppies coming to work at 42nd/5th Avenue and NYU students stopping by at West 4th! It almost seemed like New York City is home to the cult of emo glasses-wearing fanatics! For a moment, I wondered what the heck was wrong with these people. Why would you want a glass frame that’s simply a replica of anybody else’s?! Then I suddenly remembered (and how could I dare miss it?) this guy Patrick Stump whom I was watching on TV earlier that morning. Uh-huh, emo is it since Fall Out Boy for all I know. And all these people are emo wanna-be’s!!! For the heck of it, I stopped by Greenwich Village and searched through all the stores around NYU. I have previously tried on one of those emo glasses when my brother showed me around the place. (Greenwich Village is my league place. It has all the stores I love and all the people to love.) And so, determined to have one of those, I looked around each store trying to remember which exactly it was. After more or less an hour of going around the blocks (I had to be keen with my poor sense of direction, huhu!), I finally found the store that sells the glass frame that everybody loves! All the while, I thought those things actually make you ugly (who wants to look like a nerd?) but I have actually made a resolution this year to challenge all colors and all styles to look good on me. A way of reinventing myself and growing up from my usuals, you could say that. And if there is anyone on earth who deserves to wear the emo glasses, that person would have to be (guess who?) ME! *evil laughter* Why? Simply because I am Patrick Stump’s wife. =)

When I got back to Queens, I showed off the wonderful glasses to my brother. He was envious. I found a treasure. I realized that they actually “camouflage” my face so I wore them to change my image (release the schizo in me). I fondly wore them even when going to the nearby grocery to buy yoghurts for my handsome brother (ehurm!). A Spanish guy who was stacking the cereal boxes greeted me and asked if I was Chinese (in church, they call me “hongky”—as in taga-Hong Kong!).

Me: No, I am from the Philippines.
Spanish guy: Oh! I heard most of you can speak Spanish?
Me: Si, hablo Español pero un poco, amigo.

And then, adios. I had to cut short the conversation. My brother told me to never talk to strangers because apparently, everyone in that piece of land is a maniac. How ridiculous!

When I got back to my homeland, I had the biggest surprise when I find out that most Pinoys have actually adopted the black thick-rimmed glasses! I still see them in every person I turn to. It’s a haunting fad nowadays. Every nerd in med school wears them, so I find no point in wearing mine—coz after all, mine are fake glasses. Haha! But anyway, I am glad to realize that even a third world country like ours can take on the prestigious fashion of New York City—yes, even if they were just some stupid eye glasses (hah, emo wanna-be’s!). I am proud to be Pinoy. Watch out, New York. Someday, this country shall launch itself into the world and prove everybody that the Philippines is not just a group of islands so you move over, mockers and haters!