by Lulu Santiago
In this episode, I share my conversation with Ava Bernardo (Freshman – 14, Filipina) and Tavian Sancho (Freshman – 14, Filipino).
Lulu: How do you think knowing your culture’s language helps connect with your ancestors?
Tavian: To me, I personally think knowing my culture’s language helps connect with my ancestors since my culture’s language is Tagalog. It’s been around for a very long time, dating back to the tenth century. Although I don’t know how to speak the language fluently, I think If I learned it well enough, I could read all sorts of things my ancestors left behind for me to better connect with them.
Lulu: So how do you think life in the Philippines is for other young Filipinos?
Tavian: I don’t really know how life in the Philippines is for other young Filipinos since I live in the US and grew up in the Bay Area, but I have seen videos online, and some live in poverty while others live in wealth. For some young Filipinos, I’m sure life is tough having to provide and care for their family as it is for many other countries. I do hope life for young Filipinos in the Philippines is easy and full of joy.
Lulu: What shows or movies do you remember from your childhood?
Tavian: The shows and movies I remember from my childhood were mainly American TV shows and movies since I’ve grown up here. They’ve all been on TV networks like: Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon. One of the shows I remember in my childhood was called “Teen Titans Go!” It was a really funny and entertaining show on the Cartoon Network. I really loved to watch it with my friends, siblings, and cousins. One movie from my childhood that I remembered was “Happy feet.” As a kid, I really enjoyed this movie. It was mostly about a penguin who really liked to tap his feet while everyone sang and danced. It was my favorite movie to watch with my family.
Lulu: I remember those as well. What food do you think is significant to Filipinos as they grow up?
Tavian: Many foods are significant to Filipinos as they grow up but, the food I have to say is most significant has to be adobo. I say this because many people don’t really know all the other amazing Filipino foods like lumpia, lechon, and many more. Most people do know adobo. It’s like the main dish that represents all of the Filipinos in the world.
Lulu: I remember eating and seeing adobo a lot throughout my childhood. What’s your favorite Filipino dish?
Tavian: In my opinion, I don’t have a favorite Filipino dish but I do like many of them. Such as sinigang, dinuguan, lumpia, pancit, and lechon. If I had to pick the best out of all, I would definitely say that sinigang was my favorite. I could never go wrong with some freshly made sinigang that my lolo or lola had cooked.
Lulu: And lastly, what’s your favorite Filipino song at the moment?
Tavian: My current favorite Filipino song at the moment has got to be Pasilyo by Sunkissed Lola, as many have heard the song. I also like another song called Mabagal by Daniel Padilla and Moira Del Tore. I chose Pasilyo as my favorite song because it has a nice vibe and beat to it. Its lyrics also relate to my life a lot.
Lulu: Thank you for your responses!
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Lulu: How do you think knowing your culture’s language helps connect with your ancestors?
Ava: Despite not knowing much Tagalog, I think knowing at least a little bit of my culture’s language helps bring me closer to my family. I think this solely because a lot of our cultures family that immigrated from the Philippines to the United States don’t speak English very well and if we don’t understand at least a little bit of what they are trying to say, we may not be able to exchange details about the Filipino culture, their past, etc. Also, being able to speak their language is a huge advantage in getting to know them on a personal level since they are used to that being their primary language. If we spoke English to our elders that don’t really understand it, it could cause confusion and it would be hard for them to grasp what we are trying to say, which makes it hard to connect with them.
Lulu: I definitely agree. So how do you think life in the Philippines is for other young Filipinos?
Ava: I think life in the Philippines for young Filipinos is different depending on what area you originate from. For example, if you were born in Manila, you would get more opportunities since it’s a modernized city whereas if you came from a province that isn’t fully developed, you would not get as many opportunities. The Philippines is not like the United States where you can get opportunities wherever you go, but I think it shows how hardworking some of these thriving, Philippine-born kids are considering the area that they grew up in.
Lulu: What shows or movies do you remember from your childhood?
Ava: I remember when my grandma lived with me here in the U.S. when I was in elementary school and everyday, when she picked me up from school, the television channel, TFC, would be on. There were numerous shows I remember playing that I would be so invested in. Two of the main shows I remember playing on the TV were FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano and Showtime. Also, I remember watching a lot of Filipino movies with her as well, specifically with Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla. Some of the movies I have seen with these actors have been: She’s dating the gangster, Can’t help falling in love, and Barcelona: A Love Untold. An honorable mention is the show Forevermore starring Lisa Soberano and Enrique Gil.
Lulu: I too, remember when my Lola was addicted to the shows on TFC. What food do you think is significant to Filipinos as they grow up?
Ava: A food that is significant when growing up was sinigang and adobo. I think that these are significant, not only to me but to other Filipinos because they are universal foods that all Filipinos like. I have never heard of one person that dislikes these foods. These foods are also pretty popular in the Philippines and in the Filipino community in the United States. Also, Jollibee is pretty significant because it is a fast food chain that not only Filipinos enjoy but everyone can eat. Their chicken joy and their Filipino spaghetti are pretty well loved by many in the United States.
Lulu: What’s your favorite Filipino dish?
Ava: My favorite Filipino food is kare-kare. This is my favorite because I like the taste of the peanut butter in the sauce and I like how you can use pork, beef, or oxtail in the dish. I usually prefer pork, but I’ll eat it if it’s beef as well. Also, string beans are definitely a favorite vegetable of mine that is included in this dish, so whenever I eat it I make sure to get a lot of them on my plate. An honorable mention is definitely lumpia. Lumpia is literally iconic and whenever I see it on the table at get-togethers or parties, I eat like 10 of them. They’re like a snack to me rather than an actual food so, that’s why they are an honorable mention rather than an actual dish I would choose to answer this question with.
Lulu: Lumpia is definitively addicting. What’s your favorite Filipino song at the moment?
Ava: My favorite Filipino song at the moment is actually a song from the show Forevermore which I stated earlier. The song is called Forevermore by Juris which is kind of silly considering the show is literally the same name. When I heard this song again recently it was so nostalgic because I remember hearing this song after school. Now that I am older, I realized that this song is literally so good and her voice is angelic. This song is the definition of romance. It really shows how romantic Filipinos are/can be.
Lulu: Thanks, Ava!
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This episode definitely brought back so many childhood memories and the experiences I had as a kid. Seeing others have the same interests and experiences as I did makes me feel like I have people I can relate to. If there are any young Filipinos who are reading this, and feel like they don’t belong or feel disconnected from their culture, just remember that we all have similar situations and that we’re able to support each other in ways we don’t even know.
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