For the last time, I don’t know karate
…nor do I use chopsticks!
Filipinos are faith, family, music, and FOOD loving people. And regardless of our economic status, we all enjoy gatherings and karaoke in the company of our family and friends. And thank God for the strong Filipino community here in Washington, my family and I are able to preserve some of our culture and traditions.
Last week, my wife, my kids, and I were among the role players in the Mass for San Lorenzo Ruiz, the first Filipino saint. The 9-day novena, processions, and feasts complete this annual celebration, held jointly by the St. John Bosco and St. Cabrini Catholic Church Fil-Am groups. This year’s event was done at our sister church, St. Frances Cabrini, in Lakewood, Washington. This is the first time in years where my wife and I were not directly responsible for the preparation of the program. Whew! However, we were still very much involved. My kids were in the opening procession. I was in the choir. And my wife, suprisingly, volunteered to do a prayer in Filipino. Oh, how fun! Mostly, all we had to do was bring our appetite.
Along with Simbang Gabi, events like this one, are useful instruments for a Filipino father like me in teaching my U.S.-born sons universal family values, spirituality, and humility. Filipino food, Filipino stores, Filipino friends, Wowowie, and others like these, also help them appreciate heritage, culture, and diversity. To us, being different is the norm.
And as I attempt to explain to Elijah that the cashiers in the Filipino stores can speak English, and to Mino that he’s half Filipino and NOT “mostly Washingtonian,” my wife and I wish to continue to teach our children about loving thy neighbour and self by example.
And by the way, no dogs were eaten at the feast
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MrNonsense is Jesse. He was born and raised by two solid parents in Tondo, Manila. He came to Iowa when he was 17 and is now raising a family in Washington, where a group of Filipinos adopted them as their own.
Mr. Nonsense can often be seen in the Tacoma-Seattle area carrying a camcorder, accompanied by his two sons and his personal chauffeur, his wife. He uses his Tondo upbringing to nurture his children and to survive in a mental institution, where he currently works. He enjoys basketball, cooking, singing, cartooning, producing short movies, and making his own furniture out of junked wood because he's so cheap. He is a self-proclaimed "Man of the House,"...when his wife is not home.
base!
haha. ang saya naman.
well dumadaloy na talaga ito sa ating mga dugo – nakangiti pa din at nag eenjoy kahit nasa gitna ng problema.
ang saya ng family mo.
welcome sa barrio!
very resilient kasi tayong mga pinoy
…at laging may hollywood feel
NO DOG MEAT?! You’re not Pinoy. You’re not. Really. HAHAHA! We both are coz I ain’t 1 of ‘em who dare eat that.
seriously though, i think bawas na yong kumakain at tumitira nang aso para gawing asocena. kahit dun sa bayan namen, isinusuka na yong mga mang-iinom na gumagawa nyan.
basta, tulad ko, tuwing may magtatanong kung kumakain ka ng aso, just say, “our specialties are boneless chihuahua adobo and hairless poodle curry,”…sabay yakap sa pets nila
my neighbor, he was irish and the wife was german. everytime na nawawala ang aso nila, nagtitili sa bakyard! looking for me! hahaha!
and everytime we bring the barbecue grill out, sigaw uli! pinapapasok lahat nung aso nya hahaha
alala ko lang yong tarantadong yon hahaha kainuman ko minsan hehehe
tapos pag di ka maintindihan eh tagalugin mo na “mga tarando kayong mapuputi ang singit at… your hair looks good today…”
Sana mga good things nalang ng pagkapinoy ituro sa kanila.. haha.. kasi we must admit na may mga hindi rin maganda sa culture natin.. hehe..PS: kahit pulubi sa Baguio City nageenglish kasi madalas turista mga nandun…:)
sa akin naman eh good things lang naman ang mawi-witness nila at wala nang iba pa