‘Becoming Filipino’ vlogger reflects on identity after airport encounter

Vlogger and cultural storyteller Kyle Jennermann, widely known online as Kulas of “Becoming Filipino,” recently shared a moment that once again sparked conversations about identity, citizenship and what it truly means to belong.

In a post, Kulas recounted an encounter at a Singapore airport while checking in for a flight back to Manila.

Handing over his Philippine passport, he noticed the airline staff member pause and compare his appearance to the document. Then the staff member asked if he had a special visa or an onward flight out of the Philippines. Kulas calmly replied, “I am Filipino. Ma’am, that is a Philippine passport.”

Kulas acknowledged that he does not “look Filipino” by conventional standards. He shared that his certificate of naturalization is #93, meaning he is likely only the 93rd foreign national in roughly a century to be granted Filipino citizenship.

Because of this, being questioned at airports or redirected away from Filipino passport lines has become something he expects. For Kulas, these moments highlight a global reality that millions of people do not fit the image of the countries they call home.

This realization led him to think of Filipinos abroad, particularly in Canada, where he estimates around one million Filipinos live. Many may have since become Canadian citizens and face similar experiences of being misidentified or stereotyped.

Instead of viewing these encounters negatively, Kulas said he approaches them with gratitude. Living a life where he can be easily generalized only reinforces his belief that identity goes far beyond appearance.

Kulas’ journey into Filipino citizenship was formally sealed on Sept. 13, 2023, when he took his Oath of Allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines.

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