Reflections: The Philippines

Hello again, people of Cyberia and the Blogosphere,

I've written previous drafts about the Philippines on a number of topics, but I was never satisfied with what I had tried to explain and paint with words to describe the Philippines. So, instead of trying to plan out too many things or find just the right photos to go with this and that, I think that I'll return to my impromptu approach and write whatever my conscious decides to bring to to the surface. This is just a tiny reflection about what the Philippines means to me.

Repúblika ng Pilipinas

The Philippines is important to me because it's where my parents and most of my close relatives grew up, it's their homeland. So, I can never forget my roots or my family's culture. I grew up bilingual, knowing both English and Tagalog.

 Growing up as the first generation of my family in the United States was new ground for my parents and for their children too. Where we grew up was fairly homogeneous and we were one of just a handful of 'diverse,' families in the neighborhood or school district. This led to some interesting interactions at times with people at school.

Whenever we had a chance to share our culture at school my parents would be more than glad to help. (I'm pretty sure that I've previously written about some of this background, but like I said I'm following whatever comes to mind). We explained how Christmas was celebrated in the Philippines, my Mom came to my music class one time to demonstrate how to dance Tiniklilng and I sold lumpiang shanghai for a school marketing project (everybody loves an egg roll).

I've only been to the Philippines a total of 3 times now; so you can imagine that for most of them there was a wide gap of time between visits. I've seen changes in the geography and culture (the most dramatic being from the 1980's and the 2000's) .  If it were up to me; I would be visiting more often, but since nobody offers free flights back and forth (as far as I know) there has to be some stretch of time in between visits.

I'll be going on my fourth voyage to the Philippines, very soon. My last visit was filled with heartfelt reunions, lots of laughter and a few tears too. My last visit to the Philippines was the last time that I saw my last living grandparent, my Lola Frances, it was also the last time that I saw my cousin Jojo. I also lost one of my Aunt's from my Father's side of the family. If you've read my previous posts about them, you already know that it was bittersweet and heartbreaking when they left this world.

When I return to the Philippines; it will be bittersweet once again because I go there for the christening of new life and lives. My cousin's son is getting married and another of my cousin and her husband just had their first child.  I also return there to pay my respects at my cousin Jojo and my Aunt Irene's graves and at my Lola's columbarium.

I know that life is always a combination of joy and pain. We see it each day when we watch the news and see both wonderful and also terrifying things that are going on in the world. So, I cannot let myself feel too joyous or overly sad at the prospects of going back to the Philippines, knowing what I will face.

I recognize the natural beauty of the Philippines that allures so many people, but I think what I always look forward too is seeing my family, relatives and hearing new stories about my parents or 'the good old days, ' from my relatives. I of course cannot deny the glee of being able to enjoy all of the fresh vegetables and fruits that would cost me 2 arms and 2 legs over here, but it's in the sharing of the experience with others, that really makes me happy.

It's never really where you are, it's the people with whom you share the experience, that makes all the difference.

There's something that I noticed when my parents, relatives or family friends mention the Philippines about somebody taking a trip there, they always say 'We're going home/I'm going home or We went home, etc. '
Even, when my parents talk about us, their children; if we go the Philippines, they say that 'They're going home.' I always found this funny because as their children who grew up in the U.S., I don't think that I could really refer to the Philippines, as 'home.' I think that maybe the reason why they still might consider the Philippines as 'home,' for us, is that maybe they know that it's a place that's familiar to them and it's where a majority of our family still are. Maybe, it's because they know that their homeland will always have a place for us and show us the Filipino 'Mabuhay,'  warm spirit of welcoming. You never know, we may fully validate their stance that The Philippines, is our home ; if my siblings and I were to apply for dual citizenship ;)


The Philippines is more than just a place to me. It's where my cultural roots are, where loved ones are where memories were made and will be made.

Mahal kita, Pilipinas - I love you, Philippines <3

See you soon!

Love,
Jessica

We are all connected

If you follow this blog; then you know that I do not have a set pattern or schedule for entries. Nor do I have a set list of topics upon which to write =) Originally, I thought that the next entry would be a show and tell with photos, but I've decided to write about how we are all connected instead. Perhaps, it's because we've just begun a whole new year (if you believe in the concept of time and calendars ;p that is) that has me reflecting on what unites us all.

Back when I was growing up my family was one of the few families who were not white/Anglo-Saxon/Caucasian and as such we came under more scrutiny than the other families. Basically everything you did seemed a bit strange to people who didn't live in your household. To be fair though I remember when I started Kindergarten that most people didn't speak more than one language. I thought it was normal to be at least be bilingual if not multilingual.I remember my brother Jonathan and I packing Siopao (a Chinese style Bao steamed bun filled with meat or vegetables) and everybody saying 'Ewww what's that you're eating... are you eating raw dough? gross.' I think we did try to explain to them what it was, but I don't think they listened because we would hear it time and time again.

Check out the link to the site where I got this photo for more information about Siopao =)

I know that my family did try to share information on about the Philippines and about Pilipino Culture whenever they had a chance to; such as when it was near the Holidays. I remember building a parole ( a star shaped lantern, something traditional that you see during the Holidays in the Philippines)  with my Dad. We also made tambourines by flattening bottle caps, using a hammer and nail to punch a whole through the middle of them and sliding them on a hanger bent into a circle.They came by the school dressed in Barong Tagalog and Butterfly dresses. During some Music class my Mother came in to show our class how to dance Tinikling ( a dance not for the poorly hand eye coordinated =) It requires lightening quick reflexes while dancing and jumping through clacking bamboo poles) and I helped demonstrate it too. I think the most memorable part though for my classmates and perhaps the teachers as well as us bringing Lumpia Shanghai (Pilipino Eggrolls).

Some of the more modern type of Paroles, check out the site where I got this photo to learn more about them. =)

In Kindergarten, it was the first time I encountered the feeling of being something different when one of my classmates referred to me as the 'Chinese girl.' Which to me felt obviously wrong because I was well aware of my Pilipino roots. My Kindergarten teacher actually made us talk about it during a sitting circle the same day it happened. If that had happened today; I probably would have been able to succinctly tell them why it felt strange to me to be referred to as the 'Chinese girl', but then go on to explain how we are really all related in the world.

This photos is pretty darn close to what the Lumpia Shanghai that we brought to numerous functions looked like! Check out the link to read more about them as well as to get a recipe =)

Click on the hypertext to see a cool youtube video of the Leyte Philippine Dance Company dancing Tinikling =)

I think the original site where this photo came from is gone, but you can find tons by searching for Filipino Butterfly dresses =)

Check out the original site where I found this photo for more information about Barong Tagalog =)

All through school I would get the question whether politely or rudely 'What are you?' 'Yes, I know you're American, but where are you really from?' Probably my most memorable moment was being so offended that I made somebody list all the Asian countries that they knew and kept on making them try to think really hard.... I think they kept on repeating the same 3 countries over and over again and at the end of it I just said 'I'm from Germany' and walked away.

Now, that was supposed to be some kind of quip from me, but honestly, there's no reason why I couldn't be German. Nobody can say that they 100%  this or that and that they come from one single place or country. Our Ancestors traveled  all over the world and through diaspora and colonization we kept on mixing it up again and again.

I think we all have our hands and feet in so many different cultural pools. On my father's side his ancestors originally migrated to the Philippines Islands from the Fukien Region in China. On my mother's side we have ancestor's that originally came Spain and Mexico. My Mother's side of the family are often referred to as Mestizo or Mestiza because they tended to have much lighter skin than the other Pilipinos.

Growing up I never thought I looked like either of my parents, my oldest brother and I look similar, but my 2nd oldest brother looks more like my Dad's side of the family. When I went to the Philippines to visit relatives in 2004, I was introduced to one of my Mother's Aunties to which whom I said 'Kumusta kayo po' and she took one look at me and slapped me hard on the face. It was a truly powerful slap because I was stunned and thought maybe I said something or did something wrong, but the she said in Ilocano the equivalent of 'Son of a gun, you look just like your Mom and Dad.'  =p

My oldest brother and I always get asked if we're Hawaiian, Indian or Native American and my response would always be, 'Well, my Parents are originally from the Philippines, but you know everybody is related in the world; so I really cannot say no.' Most of the time the people will smile and say something like 'Yeah, you know, you're right.' I do get the occasional person who kind of looks at me like I'm a bit kookoo, but that's okay. At least it gives them something to think about for later =)

I am fascinated to think about all of our ancestors and how we all came to be at this point.

If you believe that Earth was once 1 continent named Pangaea; then you know we most likely started all together. Scientifically, if you understand what Carbon Based Life form means then you know that basically we are the universe and the universe is us. Moby tried to tell you all about it in his song 'Stars' =)

'People they come together, people they fall apart, nothing can stop us now, we are all made of stars...'

Whether you not you believe that; I think that when we all mourn or rejoice together; it's because we see each other in ourselves. We have the ability to achieve good and positive things together; if we choose to do so. We also have the potential to create great harm and I always hope people choose to be positive.

Through events in history; society has tried to devise ways to divide people into groups or classes. The most famous societal invention is the idea of 'race.' Whenever I talk to people and this comes up in conversation I often refer to the American Anthropological Association's Statement on 'Race.'

http://www.aaanet.org/stmts/racepp.htm

I remember sitting in class when my Anthropology professor was discussing it and seeing so many people's jaw's dropping in amazement. I think that the idea of 'race' is so deeply ingrained in society that it seemed like a revelation to them. Anyway, read through it yourself and let me know what you think.

It's hard to let go of preconceptions; no matter what the topic may be, but you just have to  realize that people are people; so we should just respect one another.

Let go of the prejudice and just embrace one another.

We are all connected and together we are all family.

Love,

Jessica

The power of Lugaw compels you!

Hello Everybody,

Depending on where you are situated it may be getting colder outside and you're starting to layer your clothes, but if you're not; then why haven't you invited me over to visit you yet???!!! ;p

I came home from work tonight not expecting to cook anything too complicated if anything at all, but I ended up making a very simple and common, but beloved Filipino dish called Lugaw (pronounced Lou-gow) or if you want to use the Spanish terminology it can also be referred to as Arroz Caldo. I guess you would call it a type of soup, but maybe also a type of porridge. It's based on a few ingredients: rice, ginger, vegetable stock or broth and a few seasonings. I made my own version as I do of almost everything I'ved cooked since the dawn of time; so of course this is a Vegetarian/Vegan version of Lugaw.

The traditional Lugaws do tend to have some meat in them; the most common one that comes to mind is chicken, but of course we're omitting that for my recipe. I actually didn't substitute anything for the chicken. I think that the few ingredients alone are hearty enough and definitely satisfy an appetite; especially on a cold winter's day.

Halle-luya! I <3 Ginger =)

If you love Ginger and hearty soups; then you will love this!

Here is what I used for the one I made earlier this evening:

Ingredients for Lugaw

4-5 Cups of cooked short grain brown rice
(It's better to use day old rice, but newly cook will do too)
6 cloves of garlic thinly sliced
1 Handful of medium thick slice pieces of ginger
3 Small onions sliced
Pinch of Turmeric or Saffron/Safflower
1 Bay Leaf
2-3 Tb Soy Sauce or Tamari
2 Tb Nipa Vinegar
3 Tsp Sesame Oil
6 Cups of filtered water or  low sodium Vegetable stock
Sea Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper to taste


Method:

In a large heavy bottomed pot saute the garlic slices in 3-4 Tb of oil until just golden brown. Add the rice being sure move the rice and break it apart if necessary; so that it is evenly coated with the garlic and oil. Then season the rice by adding in your soy sauce and sesame oil, mixing it around to evenly distribute it. Let it cook for a few minutes or until thoroughly heated through. At this point you will be adding in the water/vegetable stock along with the 1 bay leaf. Once you've mixed everything together add in your sliced onions,vinegar, ginger along with a little freshly ground black pepper. Check your soup for seasoning, stir and let simmer for 18-25 minutes on medium heat. Never leave the pot or stove unattended, stir it occasionally to make sure that nothing is sticking to the bottom of the pan. It will thicken dramatically and once you start to see that there are tunnels of steam shooting out of the surface you know that the Lugaw is close to being finished.

A big pot full of love!

Once the Lugaw is done, turn off the heat and let it sit for a few minutes. It's best to eat this while it's hot and the flavors will only get better and better the longer you keep the soup. 

A bowlful of love that hugs you from the inside =)

It's truly a Filipino Comfort food. I guess the U.S. equivalent to this would be like a bowl of Grandma's Chicken soup. It warms you up and makes you release a happy sigh of 'ahhhh.'


I wish I had more photos to share with you for this, but it's not a super complicated recipe anyway. I hope you'll give it a try.



Happy Cooking and Good Health to you all.


Love,
Jessica