November 5, 2019
by: Rheana Reyes
I admit it can be a bit confusing when it comes to us Filipinos. Often times, our surnames appear to be Hispanic (as is the case with my last name), but our outward appearances are more on the same spectrum as Asians and Pacific Islanders.
I feel like I have a mental list of all the ethnicities and nationalities I’ve been mistaken for.
As a child, the Philippines was still a rather obscure country and concept to me. I was oblivious to how much my roots actually defined my identity.
Whenever I was asked the famous “What are you?” question and gave my answer, I never really thought about what being a Filipino-American actually meant. Eating three bowls of rice and exotic dishes each day, hearing my mom laughing over the phone in a foreign tongue, using Filipino honorifics when talking with elders, going on biweekly trips to the Asian grocery store ... it was all normal to me. I never really made the connection that my everyday life was, in fact, influenced by this foreign culture.
When I returned to my homeland seven years ago, I was able to see the Filipino lifestyle firsthand. I was already familiar with the family-and-friend-oriented gatherings, complete with a roasted pig, plenty of karaoke and family stories. However, it struck me how happy everyone seemed, even in the saddest of circumstances.
With much of the Philippines still struggling with poverty, the sight of children and families crowding the streets was a normal sight for many. Despite the sad circumstances for these people, I found that many of them were actually enjoying themselves.
As the adults pulled carts to sell delectable street food, they talked and laughed among each other while their children simply played games together on the sidewalk. It was almost as if they were having their own celebration and letting go of their worries by just being in each others’ company.
Upon arriving in America, I realized how much that trip made me embrace my roots even more. I became even more fascinated with the different aspects of my culture.
Since then, I’ve been slowly building upon my limited grasp of the language (which I admit is really hard, and I probably won’t be fluent or even proficient any time soon!), learning how to cook an array of Filipino dishes and desserts, and even reading about the crazy history of the Philippines.
I also admit to watching the occasional Filipino soap opera or two, or as Filipinos call it, teleseryes (and by the way, these things can lead to unhealthy addictions similar to those caused by Netflix).
But really, my overall message is don’t be afraid to embrace your roots. Cherish your culture and be proud of it. Heck, if you want to dive all in and research your heritage like me, go for it!
If one thing’s for sure, it’s that you can wow all your friends and family with all the amazing dishes you can cook and discover from your culture.
Disclaimer: Any views or opinions represented in this post are personal and belong solely to the author as indicated by the byline and do not represent an official endorsement by the Rutgers Association of Philippine Students of the aforementioned views or opinions of the author. Any views or opinions expressed by the author are not intended to malign any person or organization. The Rutgers Association of Philippine Students is a nonpartisan student organization.
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