A big THANK YOU, once more to Yulee Foster, Miss Philippines UK 2014, for nominating me yet again for another award! This time it’s the Versatile Blogger Award. Thanks, Yulee!
Versatile Blogger Award
heritage
A small world after all
The other day, we attended a picnic for Young Filipino-American families at a park, organized by Venessa of the Filipino School of New York and New Jersey.
As if on cue, the weather obliged us with a near-Philippine high of 94 degrees. And yet, unfazed by the sweltering heat, we all stayed for at least a couple of hours, sharing Pinoy food, games, and pagsasamahan (fellowship) – perhaps just a tiny bit envious of the kids who donned swimsuits to cool off in the park’s water splash area.
Of Salubongs and gardens
There is a beautiful tradition in the Philippines, usually held at 3 or 4 o’clock on Easter morning, called the “Salubong” – literally, the act of meeting someone who is arriving. I’ve only attended one of these, as far as I can recall, but one is all you really need in order to appreciate this very poignant experience of Easter morn, where deep sorrow turns into indescribable joy.
Pinoys are foodies
Last week, my husband bought me some of my favorite food for lunch, yummy sushi – no California rolls, just the usual slices of raw fish and cooked eel on rice. Half of it disappeared into our kids’ tummies, with our 2-yr old especially loving the salmon. Needless to say, I was still hungry after that meal. But I was happy. It was the first time we had witnessed all of our kids not only eat sushi, but ask for seconds and thirds as well.
Ugat Pinoy (Pinoy Roots)
Living a distance away from large Filipino communities, it’s a challenge sharing my Philippine heritage fully with our children. And though many have encouraged my efforts to do so, none have been able to provide achievable and easily accessible means to this end . It was only after our children came home from a Spanish camp without learning anything (having already learned the same Spanish-derived words in Tagalog) that I realized I could and should provide something more useful and infinitely more meaningful at home – and essentially for free.
Pinoy Roots 