filipinosmakinghistory

[filipinosmakinghistory]

FAHM17 - October 31, Julia Barruga

Meet D1′s Co-Chair, Julia Barruga, a Junior at Boston University. Julia is Filipina-American from Ewa Beach Hi; her upbringing was influenced by Filipino culture.  

How did you become aware of your cultural identity?

Since I was born in the Philippines, I first became aware of my cultural identity when I moved to America. Even though I was only three years old when I came to the US, I immediately recognized that I did not look like everyone else. I recognized that people spoke different languages than what I had grown up hearing. I may not have explicitly realized that I was Filipino, but I did realize that my culture was very different from everyone else's. 

What are you most proud of as a Filipino/Filipino-American?

I am most proud of our resilience, whether it's to the sun (so thankful that I don't get sunburnt easily!) or the discrimination we face. One of the most important things Filipino culture has taught me is perseverance, and I see that perseverance and willingness to keep fighting despite all odds stacked against us in Filipinos and Filipino-Americans everyday. It makes me proud to be a part of a culture that emphasizes and encourages perseverance. 

What challenges did you face, growing up as a Filipino/Filipino-American?

One of the biggest challenges I've faced growing up as a Filipino/Filipino-American is my skin color. I remember watching a Filipino pageant on television when I was younger and seeing that all of the contestants--despite being Filipino--did not look like me. They did not have dark, brown skin like mine, and I felt discouraged. Little Julia wanted to become Miss Philippines one day, and she realized, at that moment, that she could never achieve that goal (Little Julia would soon realize that it was never really achievable because one has to be quite tall to be a model/join pageants.) So as I grew older and this beauty standard of having fair skin perpetuated, I became even more discouraged. I felt as if my skin color affected my ability to succeed or feel good about myself. I felt that, regardless of all the hard work I could put into something, my skin color would always get in the way of me reaching my goals, whether its getting a job or just feeling comfortable in my own skin. Although I continue to struggle with this everyday, I know that--deep down--I will be able to achieve these things with hard work and perseverance. 

Describe a significant event in your life that shaped who you are today.

I would say that deciding to go to school in Boston was a big turning point in my life. I would even say that it's  the biggest risk I've ever taken. Deciding to go to school 5000 miles away from home was a difficult decision considering I had always wanted to go to school on the west coast. However, I have learned so much from my time here in Boston, and I truly believe that I have grown so much--more than I would have if I had gone to school on the west coast. By immersing myself into in a completely different part of the US, I was able to learn more about myself--my strengths, weaknesses, passions, and goals. The discomfort that I felt from being in such an unfamiliar place--having to deal with winters, not having my parents around, and meeting people of races I had never met before--pushed me to become more open-minded. I can confidently say that I am proud of the person I am slowly becoming all because of my decision to step out of my comfort zone and go to school in Boston.

What do you feel most grateful for your life?

I am most grateful for my parents. They love and support me unconditionally, and I would not have everything I have today if it weren't for them. I am most grateful for the fact that they believe in the power of education and have instilled this in me. They continue to support me in my academic endeavors and work hard to make my education possible. 

What has been one of your biggest regrets in life so far?

One of my biggest regrets in life so far has been not going to the beach more often when I'm home. Even though I grew up in Hawaii, I rarely went to the beach. I would probably go to the beach a handful of times throughout the year. But now that I'm in college and spend roughly nine of the twelve months in Boston, I go to the beach almost everyday when I'm back home. I took the warm weather, beautiful beaches and scenery for granted, and I wish I took the time to appreciate my home more. 

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

In ten years I'll be 30. That's really weird to think about, but I'd like to think I'd have a job that I love and a pug by then. 

Describe your immediate/household family.

I'm an only child so it's just me, my mom, and my dad. But growing up, I lived with my grandparents, aunt, uncle, and cousins, so I'm also very close with them. Even though I don't have siblings, I'm lucky I was able to grow up with my cousins. 

Do you have any stories involving your older/deceased ancestors? My great-grandfather on my father's side of the family actually came to Hawaii to work as a Sakada in the early 1930/40s. Sakadas were Filipino men--usually from Ilocos (which is where my family is from) and Visayas--who came to Hawaii as unskilled laborers to work for the Hawaii Sugar Planter's Association. I'm not sure if this is completely true or not, but my dad told me once that my great-grandfather lost all of the money he had earned as a Sakada on the ship back home to the Philippines. I also find it very interesting that my immediate family and I would eventually immigrate to Hawaii nearly 75 years later. 

[filipinosmakinghistory]

FAHM17 - October 31, Emily Chuang

Meet D1′s Co-Chair, Emily Chuang, a Middler at Northeastern University. Emily is from Lexington MA and is neither Filipina nor was raised with Filipino culture.

How did you first become involved in the Filipino - American community?

I first became involved in the Filipino-American community fall my freshman year. NU Barkada's Performance Coordinator Amira Roxas taught me how to dance in our Asian American Center's MPR and encouraged me to come out to dance practice. My mentor, Melanie Chu was also a part of NU Barkada and so that's how my journey into the Filipino-American community started! 

What have you learned by being a part of your school's Filipino cultural organization?

I have learned so much about Filipino culture, history, and how kind everyone is in Barkada. It's important to support and take care of each other in the community. Being a part of Barkada means that I have a place where I belong. 

In what ways do you see ties in your own culture or background with the Filipino culture?

In regards to food, I see similarities between the types of dishes between Filipino and Taiwanese cultures (i.e. pancit, lumpia, longanisa, sago, taho...) I'm always learning something new about Filipino culture, and it leads me to do more research on my own culture.

Describe a significant event in your life that shaped who you are today.

A recent significant event would be when I made Kinematix in the spring semester as a newbie. I had wanted to join since I was a freshmen, and actually achieving my goal after putting in #werk alongside the fact that I'll be performing in my first FUNK'tion this Saturday is unreal. Goes to show that if I put my mind to it, I can actually achieve it!

What do you feel most grateful for your life?

I feel most grateful for having a family that cares about my well-being and always pushes me to greater heights. I know I might not be able to tell everything to my family, but they will be there to support me with love and hugs.

Tell us about someone who has had a big influence in your life?

My older sister. She works so hard, is very caring, and always wants the best for me. Even though we have sibling fights and awkward conversations, we push each other to grow as individuals while helping each other out. 

Describe the happiest moment of your life.

In freshmen year my family came to visit me on my birthday. I signed them into my dorm and my parents had brought one of my favorite dishes, homemade beef noodle soup (i'm pretty sure that's what they brought i have horrible memory lol). Just the fact they came into Boston and we were able to eat together made me really happy.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years? 

I hope to have traveled to different places, helping patients of all ages, and earning enough money to eat all the yummy food in the world. 

What does it mean to be successful in your family?

To be successful means to be financially stable enough to take care of ourselves, to eat well, to exercise, and to be healthy. A general unsaid expectation is to do well in school, but my family is happy as long as I am trying my best.

[filipinosmakinghistory]

FAHM17 - October 30, Lauren Bough

Meet Lauren Bough, a freshman at Northeastern University. She is a Filipina-American from Upper Saddle River, NJ and Filipino culture Did Not influence how she was raised. 

What challenges did you face growing up as a Filipino/Filipino-American?

When people asked me what my ethnicity was growing up I’d always start by saying that I was half-Chinese. The response was almost always “Really?” or “No way!” I’d nod, but then add that I was half-Filipino. The look on their face became understanding, as though this explained everything. Truthfully, though, I’m not even a full half Filipino.

With one hand I can count the Filipinos in my graduating high school class. In fact, I'd still have my thumb curled into my palm as I ticked us off: one boy and one girl of full-Filipino descent, a half-Russian and half-Filipino girl, and myself—half-Chinese, “half”-Filipino. Just four among three-hundred and fifty students from the four separate towns that make up my high school’s quad-district. In elementary school I was the only Filipino-American and in middle school I was one of two. Thus, I’ve never really felt that my Filipino-American identity had a place in my life. I have always gravitated more towards my Chinese heritage, as at least through that I could meet other Chinese kids my age outside of places like church and my grandparents’ parties.

Have you ever struggled with your racial/ethnic/cultural identity? Describe this struggle and how you overcame it.

My ethnic and racial identity has always been difficult for me to determine or explain without a lengthy explanation, probably because I’m a “mutt” of sorts. Firstly, though, I think a lot of my own confusion and that of people around me regarding my ethnicity starts with my last name, "Bough". The name itself is actually Irish, tracing back to a single Irishman who crossed the Atlantic and married a former slave in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. Their son was my great grandfather, Irvin Gustav Bough, who himself traveled across another ocean as a missionary to the Philippines. There, he married and had three kids, the youngest being my grandfather, Irvin David Bough. Irvin Gustav passed away when my grandpa was still young and thus my grandpa grew up as a fully-fledged Filipino, not having much connection to his family in St. Croix, but looking more like his black family across the sea. My grandmother on the other hand has a lot of Spanish blood, so she doesn’t look like a “brown” Filipino either. With this weird combination my dad and one of his sisters popped out with dark skin, while his other two sisters could (and do) easily pass for Caucasian women. Mixed with our mother’s Chinese blood, my siblings and I somehow turned out looking more Filipino than my dad and his sisters. Just as my genetics are mixed, the culture I grew up with is mixed too. Nonetheless, my parents are both very ‘Americanized’, so I’ve never felt particularly connected to any of the cultures my family is a part of. As lengthy as this whole explanation is, however, knowing my family history and listening to the stories my family members tell me about their lives and the relatives I’ve never had the blessing to meet is how I’ve come to feel most comfortable with who I am and where I stand in terms of ethnicity. Of course I still usually simplify all of this down by saying I am half-Chinese, half-Filipino, and somehow all-American when people ask, but even if I am the only one who knows the truth to my heritage, I can settle some of my own confusion.

How has being involved in a Filipino cultural organization helped you to connect with your culture?

The day after NU Barkada’s second GM the beginning of this past September I called my grandfather and I excitedly told him how I had decided to join the Filipino student organization on campus. All of the members I’d met so far had been overwhelmingly nice and welcoming. My grandpa was ecstatic---especially when I told him that many of Barkada’s members were from Bergen County, NJ, just like we were. He asked me first for their names, but at this point I had met so many people in such a short amount of time that it was difficult for me to remember. It didn’t matter though as my grandpa was already rapidly continuing his speech. “This will be so good for you!” he kept repeating. In part, he said this because he really honestly believes that all Filipinos are outstanding students, (and #barkademics has only proved this to be true,) but I knew that he also was happy that I would be exposed to more of his culture---and I have been! Before Barkada the things I knew about Filipino culture were limited to a few foods (pancit, lumpia, and balut), a couple of words and phrases (literally just salamat and a couple other words), that my grandma is from Tacloban but most of her family is in Manila nowadays, and that all of my (many) Filipino aunties and uncles had strange nicknames. I’ve only been a part of Barkada for two months, but I’ve already learned so much more about our culture than I ever would have at home. 

Describe your immediate/household family.

At home, there are six of us in total: my mother, my father, my two older brothers, my younger sister, and myself. We’re all very close, and very sarcastic! Being kind of mean to each other is how we joke and show our love for one another, hahaha!

Is having a knowledge of family history important? Why or why not?

With a family history as complicated as mine, knowing its in's and out's has helped me understand who I am and where I am coming from, even if no one else around me also understands. In April 2017 I actually went to a family reunion in St. Croix, USVI. There I met so many people who I’d never think could or would be part of my family, and yet they all shared my last name! I always make a point to ask my parents and grandparents about the family I’ve met and those that I haven’t.

[filipinosmakinghistory]

FAHM17 - October 29, Dorothy Yu

Meet Dorothy Yu, a middler at Northeastern University. She is a Filipina-American, born in Manila and raised in Elmont, New York. 

How did you become aware of your cultural identity?

I was born in the Philippines and I was raised there until I was 9, so I grew up with Filipino culture and traditions. This identity became more clear to me when I immigrated to New York (Long Island, not the city) and everybody else wasn't Filipino. In my town, despite how white most of Long Island is, everyone came from different backgrounds and were different ethnicities, and everyone saw that as normal - which empowered me to never be ashamed of my culture and to be proud of where I came from.

Is religion important in your household? Describe a situation illustrating why or why not.

It is not. My sisters and I went to Catholic schools when we lived in the Philippines, but that was because they were good schools. And the only time my family went to church was during Easter and Christmas, and outside of that, whenever my sister needed to fill out a "Good Deeds" sheet for her homework and was missing a good deed for the week.

Have you ever struggled with your racial/ethnic/cultural identity? Describe this struggle and how you overcame it.

I mentioned that my neighborhood and school district was incredibly diverse, but this didn't immediately click with me that I can wholeheartedly embrace my culture. What helped me was when one of my closest friends in 6th grade started embracing her Chinese/Asian identity. She introduced our friend group to going to Flushing (an incredibly Asian area in New York) for fun and going to cutesy Korean shops and gifting everyone small trinkets from there. I also noticed how my other friends from different backgrounds would casually mention stuff from their culture in everyday conversation, and more importantly, humor, and it was an incredibly huge part in how culture/race/class plays into my humor and just who I am in general as a person today.

For those not from the Philippines, have you ever been to there? Tell a story or favorite memory from you visit!

I am from the Philippines but I'll answer this anyway! My favorite thing about living in the Philippines as a kid was that all of the neighborhood kids would come out to play every single day. We'd play patintero, or hide-and-seek,  or trespass in our neighbor's house who we never saw and pretend it was haunted (oops!). The only things that ever stopped us from playing outside was if it was raining hard, or if we were sick. AND DON'T EVEN GET ME STARTED ABOUT CHRISTMAS IN THE PHILIPPINES!!! DON'T DO IT!!!

What do you feel most grateful for your life?

The people!!! I'm really grateful for my parents, who do as much as they can for me and are incredibly supportive of everything I do :'))))))))))). And also my sisters for being my tastemakers and shaping me into the pretentious butthole I am today! And my girlfriend, who is a ride-or-die b*nch and someone who I can always rely on for whatever :'). And my friends who have to put up with my crap all the time and still decide to stay friends with me :'). Wow!! I feel like I'm accepting an award! Filipino-American of the day!!!!

What has been one of your biggest regrets in life so far?

Going into nursing for and wasting two years of my life in it :') Who knows, maybe my next big regret is switching into computer science ¯\_(ツ)_/

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Geographically? ANYWHERE. Financially? STABLE (able to afford two pints of Ben & Jerry's and two party-sized bag of chips every week with NO WORRIES). Emotionally? WHO KNOWS.

What traditions have been passed down your family?

This is more of a Filipino thing, I think, but for Christmas, we open our presents during midnight of Christmas Day (think, 11:59 December 24th). Oh, but then something more specific, I guess, is we all carefully tear our presents open because my mom forces us all to take a family picture every year and the rest of us delay it as much as possible - so we tear open our presents and my mom "rewraps" it for the family picture when we're all dressed up in the morning. (wow, just realized how much LABOR my mom expends. Sorry mom!)

What does it mean to be successful in your family?

I guess, being happy? My parents never put any emphasis on being rich or anything like that - as long as we were good people, my parents supported it!

[filipinosmakinghistory]

FAHM17 - October 25th, Korry Valley

Meet Korry Valley a freshman at Northeastern University! Korry’s story is unique in that she has lived in the Philippines most of her life (Alabang, Metro Manila to be precise!), and does not identify as Filipino-American. How did you first become involved in the Filipino - American community? I moved the the Philippines when I was a baby because of my dad's job. What part of Filipino culture do you most connect with? I connect with the corny jokes, laughing a lot, the "too sweet" or "too salty" tastes of typical Filipino food. I connect with how people treat each other, and how people are so friendly no matter who they are :) What have you learned by being a part of your school's Filipino cultural organization? The first weeks of school I was extremely home sick, I missed the Philippines so much, and when I joined NU Barkada, it felt like I found a bit of home, in a place that wasn't home to me yet. (wow so deep) But it's really true, I love being with people who share or have similar beliefs, and values just because they have connections to the Philippines. In what ways do you see ties in your own culture or background with the Filipino culture? Even though I am American and I was brought up in an American household, I feel that a lot of my culture has been strongly influenced by Filipino Culture, because of the people I was friends with, the people who helped me grow up, all influenced the way I saw things. I think that American and Filipino Culture have similarities that they both want and love having a good time, and we all loveeeee to eat (although bread/pasta = rice) Describe a significant event in your life that shaped who you are today My junior year of highschool, I started a Project for street kids in the Philippines. I was helped out by my church who called it "Side walk Sunday". My project was to give street kids their Christmas wishes. So in early November my friends and I asked all streets kids who attended Side walk Sunday, what they wanted most for Christmas, some kids put batman toys, barbie, and others put shoes, pajamas, black board and chalk to draw, and one kid asked for a sewing machine to fix his clothes. I was really moved by what the kids asked for because I never realized how much I had until they wanted things like chalk, and pajamas.. Throughout November we found sponsors to buy/or donate 500 pesos (about 10$) so that we could buy each kid their gift. On Christmas Eve, we handed out about 150 presents with their Christmas wish, a snack, and slippers. All the kids were really grateful and it filled my heart to see that. Now when I want something I try to think about everything I already have, and I am a lot more thankful because of what I saw. What do you feel most grateful for your life? My Family, they are my support system, and I have no idea what I would do without them. Tell us about someone who has had a big influence in your life? My coaches in high school, they showed me how to work hard, and be respectful. They didn't only teach me how to be an athlete but they taught me how to carry myself, and to do with right thing. Describe the happiest moment of your life The happiest moment in my life was adopting my brother, Zach. He is full filipino, and we adopted him from White Cross in the Philippines when he was 3. Even though he is a massive pain most of the time, he makes me so happy and I couldn't wish for a better brother. Can you tell us about one of your most difficult memories? One of my most difficult memories was when I was in about middle school, my dad had lost his job, and we were going to move away from the Philippines for good because of it. Hearing that was one of the hardest things I had to deal with because for me, even though I'm not Filipino, the Philippines is home to me. On the bright side, he found another job and I got to stay <3 What has been one of your biggest regrets in life so far? Not trying to tryout other things, I wish that I got into more clubs in highschool, because looking at it now, I would never know if I enjoyed acting, or singing, but I was always too shy to try. Where do you see yourself in 10 years? I really want to have a good paying job, and live in a nice area, with a beautiful home, and a dog. I want to be happy and secure. What traditions have been passed down your family? My family doesn't have many traditions but my favorite tradition is eating homemade lasagna, and watching its a wonderful life on Christmas Eve. Describe your immediate/household family My family consists of an older Sister, Jordan, younger brother Zach, my mom, Patti, and my dad, Darin. We have two huskies Nala, and Kannel who are adorable. Other people who live in my house, is Marian, who helps me with everything, Iverson, her son (my brothers best friend) and Johnryl who always helps us out. Do you have any stories involving your older/deceased ancestors? My grandfather passed away when I was 12, but when we go to visit his grave, there is always a white butterfly flying around, so when we see a white butterfly ever, we say its my grandfather watching over us. Describe an extended family member you are most attached to and the relationship you have with him/her I am most attached to my grandmother, she always tries to help everyone out, and she does good, puts others before her, and she is just an amazing person. Is having a knowledge of family history important? Why or why not? I think it is, because it provides a piece of who you are and where you came from. What does it mean to be successful in your family? To be successful in my family means that even if you don't do the best, but you know you tried your best, you're successful, and we will be proud of each other.

[filipinosmakinghistory]

FAHM17 - October 24, Dylan Chen

Meet Dylan Chen, a Junior at Boston University. Dylan is from New York state and he is not a Filipino American, but he is involved with the Filipino community.

How did you first become involved in the Filipino - American community?

My best friend back home was Filipino and I would always accompany him at his Filipino church. 

What part of Filipino culture do you most connect with?

The food and the people. I love lumpia.

What have you learned by being a part of your school's Filipino cultural organization?

People in  the organization are loyal to each other and consider others, not just themselves. You can not show up for a few months, and when you come back, the organization will still greet you with open arms.

In what ways do you see ties in your own culture or background with the Filipino culture?

My culture is becoming Filipino Culture. 

Describe a significant event in your life that shaped who you are today.

I was bullied as a kid but I've overcome it

What do you feel most grateful for your life?

My health.

Tell us about someone who has had a big influence in your life?

My filipino friend.

Describe the happiest moment of your life.

I won my fifth grade spelling bee.

Can you tell us about one of your most difficult memories?

A bully stuffed me into a locker and took my trophy after I won my fifth grade spelling bee

What has been one of your biggest regrets in life so far?

Peeing my pants after getting stuffed into a locker.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Stuffing bullies into lockers.

[filipinosmakinghistory]

FAHM17 - Ocotber 22, Santiago Tolentino Pacheco

Meet Santiago Tolentino Pacheco, a sophomore at Northeastern from Los Angeles, California. He is a Filipino-American who grew up with influence from Filipino culture. 

How did you become aware of your cultural identity?

I became aware of the fact I am Filipino because my mom has always pointed out every Filipino thing she comes across. From flags or national iconography, Filipino restaurants or food, and especially any celebrities that had at least one drop of Filipino blood in them.

How much do you identify with the history of the Philippines?

Being Mexican and Filipino, there's a lot of cultural and historical overlap between my two cultures due to the colonization by Spain. I see similar foods, practices, and last names in both of the communities I am a part of.

Is religion important in your household? Describe a situation illustrating why or why not.

Religion isn't particularly important in my household. My family was the type to only go to church twice a year (Christmas and Easter). Even then, if there was no family around we might not have gone.

Have you ever struggled with your racial/ethnic/cultural identity? Describe this struggle and how you overcame it.

Growing up, I moved a lot, nearly every two years. Going from town to town and school to school, it was always difficult for me to make and keep friends. Despite this, the first friends I usually made where white or sometimes East-Asian. It was always more difficult to relate to the other Mexican or Filipino kids because both my parent were very Americanized, so growing up I didn't have that much exposure or knowledge of those cultures. This made it often hard to immediately relate to the other “brown” kids. Up until my sophomore year of high school I spent most of my social time with white people, which influenced how I spoke, dressed, and viewed myself. I literally looked like a white frat dude, from the Sperrys up to the brightly colored button downs. I was lucky though, when I moved to a new town for high school it was very diverse. I met so many people with an intense sense of cultural pride and with behaviors that I better understood. Even though I was always around white kids, their behaviors were difficult to understand since it was so much different than what was expected of me or of my cousins. Finally seeing and interacting with people that held intense cultural pride was very important to me overcoming my struggle with my identity. Over the course of the next few years, I became more willing to listen to anything my parents, family or friends had to say about Filipino or Mexican culture. It even led be to do some discovering on my own. I grew so much more proud of myself and where I was from. Sadly, I did feel guilt for how much I had rejected my identity and culture while growing up. I'll always regret that I turned down so many opportunities to learn, but now I'm so much happier with myself and with the learning opportunities that college has given me. 

What are you most proud of as a Filipino/Filipino-American?

I would say I'm proud of how much pride the Filipino community has for each of its members. No matter how small the achievement may seem, if you're a Filipino achieving something, there will be a million other Filipino's celebrating your achievements with you.

For those not from the Philippines, have you ever been to there? Tell a story or favorite memory from you visit!

I visited the Philippines this summer, it was such a special experience for me because it had been nearly 15 years from the last time I was there. I stayed at my family home in Manila where I saw my ya-ya (she used to give baths, tabo-tabo style), got home cooked food for every meal, and looked through numerous photo albums and heard even more fascinating stories about my family members. I visited Santa Maria in Ilocos Sur, the town my mother's parents were from. Went sight-seeing, island hopping, and spent time at a beach resort in Panglao, Bohol. My favorite part though, was going clubbing for the first time ever! On the first day we arrived in the Philippines, we went to this club-complex called the Palace in Bonifacio Global City aka BGC aka The Fort. We were there from 10pm to 4am and had an great time. And by "we" I mean myself, my sister, my mom, aunt and uncle, and their two kids. lol.

What do you feel most grateful for your life?

I feel most grateful for my parents. During my early adolescence, I, like most young people, was going though a lot. Through the difficult times between myself or within our family, my parents have always been incredibly supportive and understanding of my needs. They didn't treat me like a child, they approached me in a respectful and loving way and tried having real conversations with me in order to understand what I was going through. As a young teenager, I initially kept everything to myself. At this point though, I'm comfortable telling them (almost) anything and it's made my relationship with my parents that much stronger.

What has been one of your biggest regrets in life so far?

My biggest regret in life was allowing my fear and insecurities to rule me. For so much of my life I was hesitant to embrace my passions. From the way I acted and dressed, to who I hung out with and what things I got involved with. All of these were so influenced by my fears of not fitting in. After all of that inauthentic living, I realize now that the best thing to do is to be your absolute self and no matter how crazy that may seem to some, there will undoubtedly be people who will understand and celebrate who you are. 

Where do you see yourself in 10 years? 

I want to be back in Los Angeles, working in the pharmaceutical industry, paying off my loans and saving up to travel the world. 

What traditions have been passed down your family? 

I'm really lucky to have had so many family members so close to me growing up. Every month, we made it a point to have some sort of pot-luck celebration, a holiday, birthday, or for no particular reason, where everyone would show up with great food and our family could bond and catch up. 

Describe your immediate/household family.

I have a sister who is 15 months older than me, and my dad and mom who are separated.

Describe an extended family member you are most attached to and the relationship you have with him/her.

My two aunts, Aileen and Amy. They're twins and two out of the eleven siblings in my mom's generation. I, as well as my sister, and most of my cousins were very close to them. They were of the youngest in their generation and were always the "cool aunts." They didn't let us run wild or spoil us; they were cool because they were so good at talking to kids and teenagers. In their professions they both worked with young people, so they knew how to approach me and talk to me about anything. It didn’t matter if we were talking about something good, bad, or neutral, they were just people I could talk to for any reason and feel really validated since they were "grown-ups."

Is having a knowledge of family history important? Why or why not?

I believe knowledge of family history is incredibly important. It can be a source of pride, effect the way you see the world, or just be fun stories that can be passed on and on and on. 

What does it mean to be successful in your family?

To be a hard worker. The work you do has no impact on how "successful" you are, it's the effort that counts.

[filipinosmakinghistory]

FAHM17 - Oct 19th, Eric Makapugay

Meet Eric Makapugay a sophomore at Northeastern University. He is a Filipino-American who grew up in an environment that did not emphasize Filipino culture. How would you describe your upbringing? Before I had come come up to Boston, I would say I identified as an American in my hometown of Memphis, TN. My family wasn't really involved in the Filipino community, and there were barely any Filipinos whom I interacted with or became friends with at all. I'd say the only exposure I got from my culture was from my immediate family members, which mostly shaped how I viewed Filipino culture at the time. My high school was predominately white, so growing up I almost forgot about my ethnicity and never saw being Filipino as something important to me. What challenges did you face growing up as a Filipino/Filipino-American? Describing my ethnicity to my classmates in elementary school and even high school was always a challenge. Since my high school had a small asian population, most of classmates would group all of the asian students as one identity. Some didn't even know what the Philippines was, so growing up I almost forgot about my Filipino identity because I wanted to fit in with the other kids. How has being involved in a Filipino cultural organization helped you to connect with your culture? I would say after joining Boston College's PSBC and later NEU's Barkada as a transfer student, my entire perspective of asian culture and Filipinos had changed. It was the first time I had really interacted with other Filipinos, other than my immediate family members, and showed how diverse the Filipino community is. I'm actually so bad with Filipino culture and didn't know much about the food, traditions, or even line dancing lol, but all of these things didn't matter as much. It was the loving community of amazing people and friends who have shaped my identity as a Filipino-American :) Describe a significant event in your life that shaped who you are today Back in my elementary/middle school days, I was a pretty awkward person who didn't have many friends. I remember in middle school and most of high school,  I would spend most of my days playing guitar rather than hanging with kids or going to social events. It was very hard for me to meet new people as an introvert who had trouble interacting with people in general. At this time I met my best friend, Ahmi, who was an insanely good drummer and someone who was completely different than me. He helped shape me into the person who I am today, and we've been playing music together ever since. He was the opposite of me and was someone who enjoyed socializing with everyone. I've learned a lot from him because now I would say that I'm an extrovert who also loves meeting people. I knew this was the type of person who I wanted to be, but it was Ahmi who helped get me to this point. What do you feel most grateful for your life? I am so thankful for my parents who have given me so much. They have sacrificed for me financially whether it was for music, school, or even just for the little things. I honestly wouldn't be a musician if it wasn't for them because they have paid for everything (If you have music equipment, you know how expensive this stuff is)!! I don't want to waste the opportunities they have given me, and I am so lucky have parents who want me to pursue my dreams. Tell us about someone who has had a big influence in your life? My big sis is definitely my role model. She's just a talented, smart, and awesome person who inspires me to be as cool as her! Describe the happiest moment of your life Getting my first guitar :) Describe your immediate/household family My dad, mom, and older sister What does it mean to be successful in your family? Follow your own dreams and passions rather than what anyone else expects of you.

[filipinosmakinghistory]

FAHM17 - Oct 18th, Katrina Gunara

Meet Katrina Gunara a Sophomore at Northeastern University. She is a Filipina-American whose upbringing was influenced by Filipino culture. How did you become aware of your cultural identity? Growing up in multicultural society, it was part of my upbringing to understand my ethnicity and my family history. I am also fortunate enough to have traveled and continue to travel around the US, the Philippines and Indonesia - these visits help me understand my culture and opens opportunity to find aspects I identify with. Have you ever struggled with your racial/ethnic/cultural identity? Describe this struggle and how you overcame it A struggle I have faced with my cultural identity is growing up knowing I was born in the US, raised in Singapore and my ethnicity being Filipino and Indonesian. The wide range of cultures that have contributed to my values, personality and general likes/dislikes has often clashed, leading to long conflicting thoughts and even arguments internally and within my family. Growing up with liberal education and being from two strong conservative cultures, dealing with the culture clashes has made me look deep into who I am and what I as a person truly care about. These long thoughts are important as they were defining moments of my personal growth. What are you most proud of as a Filipino/Filipino-American? I am most proud of the community that Filipinos and Filipino-Americans have created by being hospitable, happy and familial people. There is a place for everyone with ties to Filipino culture. What do you feel most grateful for in your life? I am most grateful for my family who have contributed so much time, love and effort into raising me to be the person I am today, as well as the people and opportunities in my life that have come by to push me to grow, challenge myself and be the best version of me. Tell us about someone who has had a big influence in your life? My mother. She is one of my greatest inspirations and I can only hope to be half the woman she is. Despite growing up in an extremely conservative home in a province in the Philippines, she found her passion for art and music. Her drive brought her around the world to sing, and brought forth her liberal views on the world and life itself. Her outlook on life is something so bright and forward looking that I am so grateful to have been raised by such a strong woman who has overcome many hardships and has taught me to "do" more than "try". Describe an extended family member you are most attached to and the relationship you have with him/her My cousins (mother's sister's daughters). These two girls are motivators to always work hard and do what I love, but above all, they make me laugh and smile unlike anyone else. They understand me as a person and how I became to be who I am today. Although we may not see each other very often, their support is always felt from across the US to across the world and I am blessed to have these two ladies in my life. Is having a knowledge of family history important? Why or why not? Knowing family history is important because it has helped me understand my parents and their life before me, my grandparents and everyone before them. Having this perspective on my family's history has helped me understand who I am and why I say or do certain things. Also, there is pride in knowing that a family member has changed something as little as overcoming their personal issues, which may have affected a situation to you to where you are.

[filipinosmakinghistory]

FAHM17 - October 15, Matt Calapatia

Meet Matt Calapatia, a sophomore at Northeastern University. He is a Filipino-American from New Jersey who’s upbringing was influenced by the Filipino culture.

What are you most proud of as a Filipino/Filipino-American?

I think the thing that I'm most proud of being a Filipino-American is the strong familial and friendly atmosphere that I've grown up in. This not only pertains to my actual family but with friends as well. My family, as well as family friends, have always shown me the importance of happiness that we share so openly with others. I would always remember growing up, my parents would never let me forget to live with a smile on my face and to treat everyone with kindness. The time I really realized this was when I went back home to the Philippines. Despite seeing everyone fighting their own battles and struggling in their own way, no matter what, at the end of the day, we were always smiling, laughing and being so loud I swear everyone in the neighborhood could hear us. Wherever we went, we always had a great time talking to anyone and everyone. Whenever we were at a restaurant, a big family dinner was taking place. Even at home, this would spill out into every aspect of our lives. We were always open to having a good time with anyone that we meet. Even though everything may seem to be going wrong, you must never forget to be happy and to live life to the fullest because there isn't time to sit around and focus on what's wrong when there is so much more to life than that. This attitude towards everything that I do - and everything that I will do - was only ingrained in me because of my Filipino family and the people that I grew up with. This outlook towards life that's been given to me by my parents and everyone that came before them is what I am most proud of as a Filipino-American. 

For those not from the Philippines, have you ever been to there? Tell a story or favorite memory from you visit!

I have! I recently went back there this past summer (2017) and it was the most wonderful experience I've ever had. My favorite memory, and possibly one of the happiest moments of my life, was actually when I went back to my dad's hometown of Pola, Mindoro. To get there was about a 4-6 hour trip total- and when we were there they didn't really have much of modern technology. Meaning there was no wifi and no TV (that kind of thing). But I soon realized that they didn't need it at all. Everyone there was so happy and so comfortable it was so refreshing to be just with them. Everyone always got up before 7 in the morning, and immediately they would just walk around and talk to everyone. There was no one in the town that they didn't know. (Fun fact: almost everyone in that town was related to me in some way!) But everyone was so content with that lifestyle that they didn't need anything else. It was always the same routine everyday but they always had the mindset to be happy and live life to the fullest. Not to mention, everything over there was so beautiful! The night sky was the best thing I have ever seen. I still remember looking up and thinking how amazing everything in life is - and I've never felt that way about anything. The people in that town really influenced me to live life in the best way I can because things like the amount of likes on Instagram or views on a YouTube video can never amount to the happiness that you can gain by just going out into the world and seeing it for everything that it is. I can still remember waking up everyday with a smile on my face and having the energy to make it last for weeks. It was there that I realized that you don't need much of anything to be happy; you simply need the attitude to be happy. 

[filipinosmakinghistory]

FAHM17 - October 14th, Janna Santos

Meet Janna Santos, a Junior at Northeastern University! She is a Filipina and her ties to Filipino culture did influence how she was raised. 

What do you think is the most common misconception about being Filipino?

We can all dance well! My family frequently tells me not to dance in public because it makes people uncomfortable. 

What are you most proud of as a Filipino/Filipino-American?

"The Filipino is worth dying for." Ninoy Aquino

Have you ever struggled with your racial/ethnic/cultural identity? Describe this struggle and how you overcame it.

Before high school, I always wanted blonde hair, blue eyes and fair skin. It took me a while to love how I look. But at some point, I learned to love my dark hair, my mundane brown eyes became chocolate covered and I'm super lucky not to get sunburnt easily! lol 

Can you tell us about one of your most difficult memories?

There was this one time where my dad had to be separated from the rest of my family due to career reasons. And my siblings, mom and I had to stay behind a bit before we moved with him. It was hard for my family because to us, no matter how much we to change our lives, uproot everything and start over every time we had to move, being together was still the most important thing for my family. And I think that's because it's ingrained to my culture. But persevering and supporting each other was also ingrained, so that's how we got through it and how I get through being so far away from home now. 

What traditions have been passed down your family?

Filipino spaghetti on birthdays!

What does it mean to be successful in your family?

Being happy.

[filipinosmakinghistory]

FAHM17 - October 12th, Nelson Angelo Ballesteros Villanueva

Meet Nelson Angelo Ballesteros Villanueva, a sophomore at Northeastern University. He is a Filipino-American and grew up with influence from Filipino culture. 

How did you become aware of your cultural identity?

Sooooo in first grade I was told to write a short story about my ethnicity and when my teacher asked me where my family is from I said "I don't know :/" Then I went home and asked my mom and she was like "YOU FILIPINO BOY!" and I was like "what???????" then I became super Filipino! MABUHAY! 

Is religion important in your household? Describe a situation illustrating why or why not.

Religion is super important in my household. My lola (grandma) is the most religious woman I know and she was pretty much the person who raised me so religion is really hammered into me. So ever since I can remember, every black Friday my family and I make it a point to visit 7 to 10 churches before 3:00pm and go through the stations of the cross. 

What challenges did you face, growing up as a Filipino/Filipino-American?

Being mistaken for every other Asian ethnicity besides Filipino because my eyes are a little small. 

How would you describe your upbringing?

Three words: Family, Fun, Filipino

How has your Filipino student org impacted your life?

My Filipino student org has impacted my life by providing me with a sense of community that I once felt at home. When first entering Northeastern I was worried that I would be missing out on Filipino culture because I knew that there weren't that many Filipino communities in the Boston area. Now I couldn't have asked for a better community to be part of on campus and in the wider Boston area.

How did you first become involved in the Filipino - American community?

Back where I'm from there is a organization my parents are a part of called the Filipino American Society of Teaneck. It is very similar to the Filipino orgs in D1 in that they promote Filipino culture, throw culture shows, and just have fun! My parents have been members since 1997 so when I was born I was pretty much born into that community and raised by the members of that organization. All of the people who are part of the organization have helped me grow as an individual and taught me everything I know and love about Filipino culture. 

What part of Filipino culture do you most connect with?

The foooooooooood. Filipino cuisine is so unique to me because it is composed of many different styles of cooking from different cultures, but it still somehow remains its own unique self. Filipino food to me represents much of Filipino culture because it is so daunting at first but once you get a taste you can't get enough of it. :)

Describe a significant event in your life that shaped who you are today.

Ever since I can remember I was always fat; at 15 years old I weighed 264 pounds at 5'7. So when I went to the Philippines for my 15th birthday to see my grandma on my dad's side I visited her and she threw a birthday party for me inviting everyone in our small village-like city. The first thing my grandma said to me when she saw me after not seeing me for over 6 years was "oh my god! You got fatter than before!" She said those words with such a smile on her face as if she thought my obesity was something to be laughing about, but I didn't mind at that time because I was also bullied in school for being fat. So later at my birthday party my grandma introduced me to her friends in town as her "fat grandson from the states." This really hurt my heart and to make things worse my grandma told everyone at the party that the party was for her because she was afraid no one would come if they thought that the party was for me. So during the party I had enough of the insults and went to an empty room to just cry. It was at this moment that I decided to change my life once I got back to the states and to work hard to lose all of the fat. I love my grandma so much and I can't thank her enough for what she did for me because she was the push I needed to change my life. Now here I am, standing at 5'8 (and 3/4 ;)) and at 167 pounds. So you can you say that this moment literally shaped who I am today and why I have such a strong determination to accomplish anything I set my mind to. 

What do you feel most grateful for your life?

I am so grateful for my nanay. She is my grandma on my mom side, and I know nanay means "mom" in tagalog, but I call her that because that is essentially what she was to me, a mom (and it also makes her feel young). So since because both of my parents worked night shifts and morning shifts, so growing up I was always going with them to work or staying at a cousin's house. Them my grandma moved in with us when I was 7 and she pretty much raised me to be the person I am to be. If there is anything anybody knows about me it is that I love my grandma so much and I can't imagine who I would be if she did wasn't there for me growing up. 

Tell us about someone who has had a big influence in your life?

My nanay. 

Can you tell us about one of your most difficult memories?

Nah, I might cry. 

What traditions have been passed down your family?

Going to 7 different churches on Good Friday. 

[filipinosmakinghistory]

FAHM17 - October 11th, Isabelle Joy Carrillo

Meet Isabelle Joy Carillo a sophomore at Northeastern University. She is a Filipina-American who grew up in a household that emphasized Filipino culture. What do you think is the most common misconception about being Filipino? That we're not REALLY Asian but just... uncivilized, third world country jungle people? How did you become aware of your cultural identity? Being surrounded by my family How much do you identify with the history of the Philippines? Maybe like 65% Is religion important in your household? Describe a situation illustrating why or why not Yes - growing up Sunday was family day. We went to church and spent the entire day together. Both religion and family were so important in my household and Sunday was a day to celebrate both of them together. To me, religion and family go hand in hand and it's something that brings me and my family together. Have you ever struggled with your racial/ethnic/cultural identity? Describe this struggle and how you overcame it Yes - growing up,  I was in a town that was mostly white. What I really hated was how different I was compared to the other people in my town. I didn't really know many Filipinos other than my family so being Filipino really wasn't something that I knew outside of my family. I didn't realize that there was such a large community because all I knew was what it meant to be Filipino in terms of what it meant to be a member of my family. I overcame it in high school after going to a county school that literally showed me that there's such a strong community and identity outside of my family. What are you most proud of as a Filipino/Filipino-American? I'm most proud of the food. I love the different types of food and how unique it is compared to what I saw in my community. I love the process of making it (and eating it) and I love how it brings everyone together. What challenges did you face, growing up as a Filipino/Filipino-American? Growing up I think it was hard because Filipinos weren't really looked as the typical "Asian". I struggled a lot with what it meant to be Filipino because no one really knew what Filipinos were in my community and growing up it's kinda hard for a kid to describe their entire culture. It was hard because there were Chinese-Americans and Japanese-Americans and Korean-Americans in my school and I feel like their culture was something that many people knew about but when it came to being Filipino-American there wasn't really anyone but me. For those not from the Philippines, have you ever been to there? Tell a story or favorite memory from you visit! Yes! I just loved being in the Philippines and finally being able to see the actual places that my family members would always describe in their stories. My favorite part was going into my dad's old house and having my dad narrate what his typical day was like and having him take me around his neighborhood. What do you feel most grateful for your life? I'm really grateful for my family. My dad one of eleven kids and literally all of his siblings lived within ten miles from us. Family is super important to me and I'm super thankful to have mine. Tell us about someone who has had a big influence in your life? I! LOVE! MY! GRANDMA! She's 92 years old, a mother of 11, and the reason I'm on this earth. What has been one of your biggest regrets in life so far? Probably not being able to speak Tagalog. I feel like language is such an important part of a culture and going back to the Philippines this year and having people speak English to me made me feel kinda bad. Where do you see yourself in 10 years? In 10 years, I'll be 28! Hopefully I'll be doing something I love... surrounded by people that I love... in a place that I love. What traditions have been passed down your family? Christmas is always a big thing where we'd spend Christmas Eve at my grandma's, sleep for four hours, then spend Christmas day at my uncle's house. Describe your immediate/household family I've got a mom, a dad, and two older brothers. Do you have any stories involving your older/deceased ancestors? Not really? Describe an extended family member you are most attached to and the relationship you have with him/her I'm really close to my aunt. She never married and has no kids so to her, I'm the daughter she never had and to me, she's my second mom. Is having a knowledge of family history important? Why or why not? Yes! Of course! You don't get to choose your family so it's good to know where you came from and why you are the way you are! What does it mean to be successful in your family? In my family, success is just being happy with who you are and what you have. 

[filipinosmakinghistory]

FAHM17 - October 8th, Maria De Leon

Meet Maria De Leon, a sophomore at Harvard University. She is a Filipina-American from Chicago, who’s upbringing was influenced by Filipino culture. 

How did you become aware of your cultural identity?

I was born in the Philippines, so when my family and I moved to America, we took the Filipino culture with us. I guess I never really "became aware" of my cultural identity because it was already so ingrained in me that I always knew it was there. 

Is religion important in your household? Describe a situation illustrating why or why not.

Yes. My mom goes to church every morning and our cars all have crosses hanging from the review mirror. 

Have you ever struggled with your racial/ethnic/cultural identity? Describe this struggle and how you overcame it.

I never really struggled with my cultural identity because Chicago had such a huge Filipino community that I felt right at home. However, coming to Boston was a culture shock to me because the Filipino community isn't that big. This just made me be more proactive and led me to reach out to Filipinos outside of my school to get that sense of community I had in Chicago.

What are you most proud of as a Filipino/Filipino-American?

 We are known as kind and hard-working! I can't even count how many times people have told me that the Filipinos they met have such great work ethic and are always happy. It really warms my heart. 

How would you describe your upbringing?

Conservative and strict.

How has being involved in a Filipino cultural organization helped you to connect with your culture?

I'm learning more about the history of the Philippines!HPF (Harvard Philippine Forum) really gave me a sense community in a place that was so undeniably new to me. 

How has your Filipino student org impacted your life?

They made me feel like I was a part of their pamilya. :)

What part of Filipino culture do you most connect with?

Food. Forever and always. 

What do you feel most grateful for your life?

I feel most grateful for the fact that I still have family in the Philippines, so I can connect to that side of my identity whenever I need to. I realize that this is a blessing because some people don't have the opportunity to just hit up their Tito or Tita on Facebook to ask about the Philippines and the Filipino culture. 

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Hopefully finishing up medical school. 

What traditions have been passed down your family?

This isn't very unique to my family, but we karaoke any chance we get.

Describe your immediate/household family

2 older siblings - 1 brother, 1 sister. My mom. Dad is in the Philippines. 

Is having a knowledge of family history important? Why or why not?

Knowledge of family history is very important because my aunt also told me to "never forget your roots," and how can you remember your roots if you don't even know it? Knowing my family history allowed me to feel blessed about what I have no because I know how much they all struggled to get us where we are today. 

What does it mean to be successful in your family?

Be happy. Also, have a nurse in the family.

[filipinosmakinghistory]

FAHM17 - October 7th, Talia Quaadgras

Meet Talia Quaadgras, a sophomore at Northeastern University. She is a Filipino-American who wasn’t heavily influenced by Filipino culture while she was growing up.

How would you describe your upbringing?

I would most closely identify it with an American and Dutch-centric upbringing; I learned how to cut my food the European way and sing Dutch happy birthday songs, but I never learned anything very culturally Filipino.

What challenges did you face growing up as a Filipino/Filipino-American?

I didn't really understand how I was different when I was fairly young, or why I felt like I was kept at a distance from some of my white peers. Once I moved into a community with a larger Asian presence, I felt that I didn't fit into the largely Asian friend groups either, and this might have been because I was second-generation Filipino, and thus further removed from the culture, or because the Asian population didn't have any Filipino presences. Probably a combination of both.

Have you ever struggled with your racial/ethnic/cultural identity? Describe this struggle and how you overcame it.

I definitely have, especially as I came to realize how unbalanced my cultural upbringing was-- I felt a little betrayed by my parents that I know so many Dutch traditions, and while that's understandable (I'm first-gen on my dad's side and I have Dutch citizenship) I felt that a dichotomy of Filipino and Dutch culture could have been integrated into my life without compromising either side. In reaction to realizing this, I've made efforts to get in touch with Filipino culture through food, reading, following current events, and learning from a Filipino community.

How has being involved in a Filipino cultural organization helped you to connect with your culture?

I don't really know what a Filipino-American can be like in my generation. Sure, they're a person, but I can learn what people have held on to in their families, little things that I can ask my mother about, to know if that's something that we could have done in our family, and that I could try to bring into my own life. It definitely gives me a bit of a FOMO feeling, but I can't go back and change anything in the past, so instead I try to channel the FOMO a little more productively.

How has your Filipino student org impacted your life?

They've been pretty great. Overall, I'm not the most involved member, but it's nice to have a community of people that I share a little bit of my identity with that I can just be with for a little while-- there's a sense of understanding who I am there, what my underlying identity is, that I just can't get around most of the other people I hang out with. They don't officially mean to, but they've motivated me to investigate my cultural background more, and I'm planning on taking a trip to the Philippines sometime during college to see my roots in person.

Describe a significant event in your life that shaped who you are today.

Moving from a predominantly white, conservative town to a more liberal, diverse town.

What do you feel most grateful for your life?

My parents' support in most everything I do.

Tell us about someone who has had a big influence in your life.

My grandmother- she's such a strong person, and she's infinitely giving. She created Zurich's international Women's society, decades ago, and she always believes the absolute best of me, no matter how much I try to tell her that I have faults.

Describe the happiest moment of your life.

I don't think I have one? That'd be so much pressure, I'd be comparing everything else that ever happens to me to that one moment, and not achieving that level of happiness again, well that'd suck a little.

Can you tell us about one of your most difficult memories?

I got sexually assaulted by someone I thought was a friend. I was ok in the end, but I was kind of messed up for a few days after, and I don't like to talk about it a lot.  

What has been one of your biggest regrets in life so far?

Not spending more time with my grandfather before he passed.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Ideally with a stable job, traveling occasionally.

What traditions have been passed down your family?

Little Dutch traditions, like leaving shoes out to celebrate Sinterklaas day, and one or two small Filipino things, like eating rice with absolutely every meal.

Describe your immediate/household family.

I have mom, who's Filipino, my Dutch immigrant father, and a younger brother, who's a halfie like me.

Do you have any stories involving your older/deceased ancestors?

I know my Filipino grandfather worked for the US Navy, during the Korean War, I believe, so he could later bring my grandmother and the rest of the family to the US later.

Describe an extended family member you are most attached to and the relationship you have with him/her.

My grandmother-as previously noted- but my eldest cousin is cool too. She's half Indian and half Dutch, no Filipino in her, but I've looking up to her for most of my life. She's always been a few steps ahead of me in life, but not too far ahead she forgets some of the struggles, so she gives pretty good advice.

Is having a knowledge of family history important? Why or why not?

I think a bit of immediate family history is important. I want to know what shaped the people that are shaping me, I think that helps me understand where they're coming from and why they do some of the things they do.

What does it mean to be successful in your family?

Success has to do with following your passion. It used to be pretty chemical-engineering focused, but that didn't work out super well for a lot of family, so they've revised it to finding and pursuing passions that are truer to themselves. I''ll be pretty supported in what I want to do as long as I can prove I'll be able to manage myself.

[filipinosmakinghistory]

FAHM17 - October 6th, Ashley Cortes

Meet Ashley Cortes, a sophomore at Berklee College of Music. She is a Filipina-American who grew up in a household that emphasized Filipino culture. Is religion important in your household? Describe a situation illustrating why or why not. Yes. My family did rosaries every night, switching between four different altars in the house, and going to Sunday mass every week. What are you most proud of as a Filipino/Filipino-American? A lot of Filipinos I know are very talented and hardworking in creative and artistic fields. What challenges did you face, growing up as a Filipino/Filipino-American? As an actor, it’s difficult to find roles that can work for someone who is Filipino. For those not from the Philippines, have you ever been to there? Tell a story or favorite memory from you visit! Yes, I used to go every summer for various performances and media appearances. Describe your immediate/household family. Mom and Dad (both Filipino immigrants), older brother (born in Philippines, raised in America) What does it mean to be successful in your family? Earning money, getting good grades, having a good job and being skilled at it

[filipinosmakinghistory]

FAHM17 - October 5th, Lorenzo Bartolome

Meet Lorenzo Bartolome, a Middler at UMass Boston who came from a household that did emphasize Filipino culture.

What do you think is the most common misconception about being Filipino?

Being good in school.

How did you become aware of your cultural identity?

Going to pre-K and saying a few tagalog words and my classmates not knowing a single thing I was saying.

Is religion important in your household?

Ye. When my family moved here in 1998, All we had were each other and religion. I still remember us praying for a green card when we did nightly family Prayer.

Describe a situation illustrating why or why notHave you ever struggled with your racial/ethnic/cultural identity? Describe this struggle and how you overcame it.

I used to believe I wasnt Filipino enough. I know I was Filipino-American, but i wasn't liking the "American" part of that identity. My mini crisis not not feeling Filipino enough has resulted in me doing person research about Filipino history, traditional rituals, beliefs, folklore, mythology, and weapons. Hell, I bought a kampilan. Wasn't until going to the Philippines one summer when I really felt American. As much as I rejected the "American" part of my identity, it was there. This helped me accept the mixed cultural identity.  

What are you most proud of as a Filipino/Filipino-American?

Being associated with hospitality and food. 

What challenges did you face, growing up as a Filipino/Filipino-American?

Early poverty.

Describe a significant event in your life that shaped who you are today.

The first time I asked my father to tell me his life story on how it was back in the Philippines.

What do you feel most grateful for your life?

Family

Tell us about someone who has had a big influence in your life?

My Father

Can you tell us about one of your most difficult memories?

When I finally visited the Philippines and went to see my dying tatang(I know it means like, father but I was told to ruse it to call my grandfather. same with nanag and my grandmother). Everything that involved it. The death, the people coming, seeing my father cry, the funeral, seeing my nanag in tears, and all that stuff. 

What has been one of your biggest regrets in life so far?

It was when i visited the Philippines. I entered the room he was in and kinda mumbled at him. Everyone else was eating so it was just me and him. I didn't know what to say. Never really met him. Didn't even know if he was concious or not cause he was weak to the point he couldn't lift his eyelids. I remember he spoke to me. Must've took a lot of his strength cause he was silent to everyone. Everyone but me. I don't know why. I was shocked, scared, and didn't know what to say. I think he either said, "Ano?" cause I was mumbling or he called me "apo." Whatever he said, I left the room. I don't know why. Didn't tell people he spoke to me too. I didn't know he'd pass about an hour later.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Living. Hopefully.

What traditions have been passed down your family?

Just mano-ing people.

Describe your immediate/household family.

Friendly.

Do you have any stories involving your older/deceased ancestors?

I asked my nanag to tell me her life story. I only know my tatang's life from the stories me told my father from WWII. 

Describe an extended family member you are most attached to and the relationship you have with him/her.

My Tita Zen. My extended family are in Maryland, New Mexico, Cali, Japan, and Philippines. Other than my nanag, she has seen me grow up periodically since she lives the least far from me.

Is having a knowledge of family history important? Why or why not?

I believe so. It is my blood. Family is who you are. I've always been a family oriented person. Not just the ones living now, but my ancestors who have passed and my future descendants.

What does it mean to be successful in your family?

To lead by example for the next generation while honoring the ones before.