How do you celebrate your heritage?
- Teaching my kids about Filipino culture – reading books about the Philippines and traditions, my Mom loves to teach the kids phrases and words, using respectful terms for elders (Lola, Lolo, Kuya, Ate, Tita, Tita, Ninong, Ninang), incorporating Filipino toys
- Growing up, I rarely called my brother by his first name…I always called him “Kuya”. I love hearing my youngest son call his older brother “Kuya” too – all the kids at their preschool know who the Kuya is 😉
- Dance. It has been a long time since I’ve danced any traditional Filipino dances but I am so happy I had the opportunity to learn some – Tinikling, Pandanggo sa Ilaw, Singkil, Binasuan, Carinosa
- By far, my favorite way to celebrate my culture is to eat! I love to make Filipino food but can’t get enough of my Mom’s delicious cooking – adobo, pancit, lumpia, turon, sinigang, kaldereta, arroz caldo, kare-kare, lechon, leche flan, cassava cake – I could go on forever! Growing up, our parents always had an open door to friends and family and the first thing people would get asked when they would come over is, “Did you eat?” Life is busy with a 3 year old and a 5 year old but I too LOVE to feed people when I can, looking forward to making a feast for friends when it is safe to gather again.
- At Christmas time, my Dad loved parol decorations. The kids and I plan to make some for this coming Christmas.
Do you have favorite recipes, playlists, or family traditions that you like to incorporate throughout the month?
- Not necessarily through the month but I have so many happy memories of having a noche buena at midnight on Christmas & New Year’s Day. Growing up, my Dad would do a thorough cleaning of the house while my Mom cooked up a delicious meal for our family to eat at midnight. On Christmas, after we ate, we would open all of our presents. Right now, we do this a little earlier with the kids but when they can make it to midnight, we’ll be staying true to this tradition!
Influential Filipinx Leaders/Celebrities
- Growing up, I didn’t see many Filipinos on tv or in movies, hear them on the radio or see them in magazines. Once I finally did (Lea Salonga, apl.de.ap), it was so inspirational and comforting to see Filipinos represented.
Deckers Careers 