Kabayan??

I keep getting mistaken for being Philipino everywhere I go. Most shops here are manned by Philipinos (like literally every salesperson!), and 9 out of 10 times they will ask me if I'm "Kabayan" or countrymen. I was at a mall once looking at the mall directory, and these 2 Philipino ladies came to me and said "Kabayan?". They were so embarassed when I replied No. Once I also stumbled into the office pantry and 3 Philipino ladies were having their lunch, so I said hello, and immediately, one of them asked if I was Philipino. When I replied No, they told me that they had been guessing if the new girl (me!) was Philipino or not!

People have always had a hard time telling what ethnicity I am, but I think it's unanimous that if I had to look like anyone, I would be Philipino. Even when I went to Manila 2 years back, people were talking to me in Tagalog. Maybe I should learn the language, that would really put people in a spin as now, most of them tell me that they know I'm not Philipino once I open my mouth. One Aussie lady did ask me if I was Aussie as soon as I said a sentence, I really didn't think that my Aussie accent was remotely noticeable, but who knows!