Why do Filipinos have flat nose?

“Why do Filipinos have flat nose?” By Ofelia Concepcion.

I found this book at the bookstore in the children’s section. The story begins with a boy named Juan who lived a long time ago when people didn’t have noses yet. Because science.

Ok, I’m gonna fast forward to the juicy parts…

Eventually a cloud comes around, raining down noses on the nose-less people below…

“It’s raining noses!” a white man cries. All the people were excited. They rushed to the place where the rain was falling. Probably because other races were taller and bigger, they were able to run faster.

Next thing you know, all the “taller and bigger” people who could “run faster” were able to get their noses first while the Filipinos were only able to get noses that were flattened by the nose-hungry crowds…

They only got their share of noses when the other races had already gotten their share. They were dismayed in getting only the flat noses that were deformed with the struggle. That is the reason why Juan and the whole Filipino race that descended from him had flat noses.

First of all, Filipino noses are beautiful just the way they are. The real question is, why are you so concerned about having a flat nose? This book is a quirky, yet unfortunate reminder of what we perpetuate to our children and each other.

Before you say, “oh Filipeanut, this is just an old folktale, passed down by generations of Filipinos. No harm is done to Filipino children at all.”

Well, if that’s what you think, then feel free to answer this question posted on Yahoo! Answers. The fact that “it’s just a folktale” probably went totally over their head. Or slipped under their nose.

See the original question on the now defunct Yahoo! Answers via Web Archive.

More books I’ve read

• Tikim by Doreen Fernandez
• A Lolong Time Ago: A Prehistory of the Philippines
• Sangkap by Food Writers Association of the Philippines
• Taste of Control by R. Alexander D. Orquiza
• People in Panic by Marguerite Alcazaren de Leon
• Pigafetta’s Philippine Picnic by Felice Prudente Sta. Maria
• Every Sunday (Tuwing Linggo). A story on learning sign language
• Why do Filipinos have flat nose? By Ofelia Concepcion

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Thanks to the few Patrons who support me, I can use the funds to my buy books like these, which eventually fuels my art. Learn more about how you can support me and my art here: patreon.com/filipeanut.