I'm an underdog person, so I align myself with those who seem to be not considered valuable in polite society.

It's not just NYU. There are days when I feel like I'm stranded in some upscale mall in Pasadena. Don't even get me started on the insidious transformation of Bleecker Street!

My identity is linked to my grandmother, who's pure Filipino, as pure as you can probably get. And that shaped my imagination. So that's how I identify.

There are certain regions in the country where the indigenous people eat dogs.

Don't say Fili, sister. Say Pili. In Tagalog, pili means to choose. Pino means fine. Pilipino equals 'fine choice.

I also identify as a Latin person, a person who has Latin blood.

Life is not simple, and people can't be boxed into being either heroes or villains.