I’ve been wondering whether I should get “Angelo Gio Mateo” printed on my degree. It has got me thinking about my name and my identity.
In case you don’t know, Gio isn’t my legal middle name. (Joshua is my legal middle name, but I rarely use it.) It’s a nickname that my grandma gave me when I was little, has always been used by my Filipino family and friends, and has always been a major part of my identity.
“Angelo Gio Mateo” as on Facebook is a whole reflection of everything I am: a proud Filipino Canadian.