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Publisher’s Note
It was 22 years ago when I arrived in Canada and chose Calgary, Alberta to be my home. Leaving my family and friends behind, it was a new adventure for me to be in a new country without knowing anyone. That was the time I looked for a Filipino community paper and never found any, [...]
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Page added on June 28, 2012

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Are you Filipino enough?

By Glynn Galla

As we are celebrating our 114^th Philippines Independence Day this month, the thought of being a Filipino had gone along way that we can think of. Many of us had gone to different parts of the world, bringing the Filipino pride wherever they go. But as the question goes, ARE YOU FILIPINO ENOUGH? There are lots of things that truly we can say, that yes we are Filipino enough.

I did a survey online and as well as ask random Filipinos of what they can think that they can say they are Filipino enough.

As I posted it on my blog site, lots responded and these were the few of them.

Patty- Patty is born and raised here in Canada but both of her parents were Filipinos, her parents migrated here during 1990’s and started a small business in Winnipeg. This is what she had to say.

“Patty- yes I am Filipino enough. Even though I was born and raised here I could still say I am Filipino enough. My parents taught me lots of Filipino ways, that until now I’m still embodying it. The “Mano Po” habit, during my grade school years after school or even after the mass. I always kiss their hands as a sign of respect and loved for them. Before it was unclear for me of why I’m doing it but along the way I realized how important to show respect and honor them.”

Gilbert- a half American half Filipino living in California. This is his version.

“Gilbert- Opo I’m Filipino enough. Although I have an American blood I still find my Filipino blood more influential to me, I’m an ADOBO lover, I don’t know but my tastes buds is more of a Filipino. I like other foods like SINIGANG and KARE- KARE of my mom, she cooks it really good. “

Ricardo- a temporary worker from Calgary, well I’m Filipino enough, my skin speaks for it. Even the way I talk in English.

Daisy- a live-in caregiver from Okotoks, I am Filipino enough because I never forget to pray, to cook Filipino dishes. Find to time to watch Filipino News back home and constantly talking to my kids back in the Philippines.

There were other respondents who gave their comments on the subject. Some were telling positive things of being a Filipino and others where negatives. There are many things that we can truly say that we are Filipino enough. Many of us have lots to say like the following: If you’re a Filipino enough you always send money back home; you send balik-bayan boxes; you speak tagalog, bisaya, Ilocano, and other dialects; you use “TABO” in the washroom; you have karaoke machine; you like shrimp paste as part of a meal; you love drama series; you believe in gossips and rumors; a lechon lover and many more.

On the other hand some of us were totally influenced by other different culture, from food to clothing and forgetting some great traditions. Celebrating our Independence is a reminder to us how our heroes, our poor fathers fought for our freedom to preserve our race and to insure the future of our nation.

For me, you are Filipino enough if you continue to have the values of honesty, industrious, caring for others and still have strong family ties despite of the distance wherever they are in the world. Let’s not forget to pass it on the next generation our great customs that world vow to us, such as; being hospitable, our smiling faces; our great singers; best fighters; being religious; being resilient and a hardworking people that always look the welfare of their family.

How about you? What have you done to be called “I am Filipino?”

Are you Filipino enough?

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