Hello, 44 --thoughts of an almost-US citizen

Yup, that's me with Barack Obama. I just had to have my picture taken with him during his swearing-in ceremony. My nose is all red and swollen and blotchy because I couldn't hold back the tears. I saw Marian Robinson, Michelle Obama's mother and thought of how people couldn't wait to spit on the ground that her own mother walked on. I thought of the millions of people gathered, braving the cold and crowds just to be part of this moment, and I remembered 1986 and Edsa. Filipinos stood up for change back then, just like Americans did this past November. How could I not cry?

When my US citizenship application didn't push through in time for me to vote for Barack Obama, I was bummed. I wanted to be a part of history, one of the little gusts of wind that banded together with the rest to make up that great hurricane of hope and change. But in a way, it has worked out even better. My swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for Feb. 17, and when I take the oath as a United States citizen, Barack Obama will be MY president. And I am so very, very proud.

Bonggamom blogs about finding her inner diva at Finding Bonggamom.