Digging the Dinardaraan!

Digging the Dinardaraan (Dinuguan)

Ways I Reconnected With My Pinoy Heritage

Many second through fourth generation young people of mixed heritage have a challenging task of balancing their American (or majority) culture with their family or ancestral culture. Particularly if you are like me. My mom and her brothers are very Americanized and I was too young to ask those deeper questions of my Ilocano, elderly grandfather and very private grandmother (both since passed). Without the stories of the past, of my grandparents’ lives in the Philippines and their eventual immigration to the United States, I can only piece together bits of their unique story. As it stands, my adult self feels very ignorant of my Filipino heritage but I deeply wish to to learn where I can. While I have a long way to go, here are a few ways I have begun reconnecting with pieces of my cultural heritage.

Extended Family Members

Talk to and connect to any and all extended family members you can! Filipino families are “notorious” for having numerous cousins, uncles, aunts, lolos, lolas and other family friends who are more than happy to share their experiences with you. In Filipino cultures, “it takes a village” takes on a whole new meaning. If you can’t visit them outright, reach out by calling and talking with them, sending them an email, connecting via social media or taking them out to coffee. You can start a private “family” group on Facebook, then invite your extended family to participate by sharing stories or photos, etc. Any way you can find to ask about your family heritage will help you discover new things.

Read!

The Internet is not just for cat videos ( they are cute, aren’t they?)! It can be a fantastic source of nearly unlimited information on just about any culture present, past (or future??) for you to learn. Outside the Internet, books, magazines, articles, blog posts, newspapers and radio broadcasts abound. Pretty much anything that might give you insight into your target culture is fair game. Better if you understand one or more of your target culture’s languages, as a variety of media gives a fantastic insight not only into past events, but current events that may be missed in mainstream American media. Focus on things you find interesting, such as dance or sports. Not only will you be more likely to stick with it when your research hits a roadblock, but you’ll be able to strike up conversations with others about topics you’re both passionate about, a sure way to connect even more!

Participate!

Social Media

Related to connecting with extended family, take a look at social media. Seek out people, places and organizations on Facebook, Linkedin, Instagram, Twitter and others related to your target culture. I have personally expanded my cultural network to include the Philippine American Writers and Artists, Inc (PAWA), the Filipino American National Historical Society, and the Kalesa Traveler and Positive Filipino magazines. This has resulted in both fantastic networking opportunities and chances to learn more about the Filipino diaspora across the United States.

By Maki R. (Own work) via Wikimedia Commons

EDSA People Power Monument, Philippines: Getting involved in celebratory events and learning about your heritage through study is one of the best ways to reconnect

Social events and contests

Once you’ve found a variety of interesting organizations through social media, keep up to date on potential contests and events in which to participate and contribute. It is a rare organization that will deny an interested volunteer a chance to participate! I wrote a submission for the EDSA/People Power Revolution Essay Contest, sponsored by PAWA, Inc, and won! I met many awesome people from the Fil-Am community in the Bay Area I otherwise would never have met.

Language learning clubs

Language is a fantastic way to connect with your heritage, as it gives valuable insight into so many aspects of the culture. Words used for food, animals, ways of life, professions, religion, etc are all communicated through language, and provides a door to media and music that might otherwise be closed. You will also meet others interested in the same thing as you, which will make the journey that much more enjoyable. Make sure to be patient and try to stay positive while experiencing the journey, it will likely be an enjoyable, lifelong pursuit.

Social Gathering clubs

Colleges and local communities often have events and clubs focused on a specific region or nation of the world. Chinese American Club, Asian American clubs, Filipino Culture club, and many others are just a few examples. Sports clubs might tailor themselves around a specific nation’s sport, including Sumo or Escrima or boxing and martial arts. These are good areas to check out and connect with similarly interested people. It offers some of the same benefits as the language learning clubs and culture organizations, in that sharing community with people interested in some of the same things makes the experience much more enriching.

Media and Film

Popular media is another great way to experience a variety of aspects of your target culture. If the specific country has a film industry, seek these out on Amazon, Hulu, Netflix or other avenue that tailors to international films. I found that daytime Filipino dramas are highly popular, and stand up in passion and intensity with some of the best soap operas in the United States. Often, if movies or tv shows were released widely enough, there will also be subtitles (or dubbing) accompanying the original language, in English or your language. Watch them multiple times and see what aspects of the characters peak your interest, be it where they live, their profession, their mannerisms, their favorite food, etc.

By CapnPrep via Wikimedia Commons

Fusion food culture in Asia: Rice-bun fast food (chicken?) sandwich,

Cook!

Everyone eats! Food and culture are intimately tied together. Food speaks to the region’s geography, culture and language. Search out recipes you’re interested in trying on the internet, or rent or buy a cookbook specializing in your chosen culture’s cuisine. Pick a leisurely day (often on the weekend) to shop and try out one recipe of your choice. Take the time to appreciate the different ingredients (maybe only available at a specialty market you may never have been to!) and the people who shop for the ingredients. Ask questions of your friends and family, if you are unsure about anything. Cooking not only helps you try the food of your target culture, but also connect in many ways with the past, as well. I happened to cook sinigang for the first time with a good Filipino friend in graduate school, and loved its strikingly pungent, vinegary goodness. The first time trying balut and dinuguan was definitely a culinary adventure, but I am so glad to have seen many sides of Filipino cuisine.

By GracinhaMarco Abundo (Dinuguan) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

My first time trying dinuguan (or dinardaraan in Ilocano) was in Daly City, CA. It was delicious after a long day of traveling. It had a very earthy, meaty texture and deep flavor, perfect with rice.

Take Action!

These are just a few ways we young, second through fourth generation, mixed parentage people can reconnect with a cultural heritage we may not have been able to experience as a kid. Maybe your family was like mine, and didn’t really practice or teach you much of their own culture. As a young person or an adult, you can feel a little closer to your grandparents and their parents by trying out a few of these tips.

Was there something I missed? Have you found something else that helps you keep connected? I’d love to hear about it!

Mabuhay!