Meet the Philippines
Over the past year, I’ve proudly introduced a lot about my culture to my all-American co-workers, from our lifestyle as middle-class Filipinos, to our language, to our eating culture, to the food I bring to work everyday (I crave for a lot of Pinoy food lately – buti na lang malapit lang ang Red Ribbon, Chowking, Jollibee and this huge Filipino grocery store sa bahay). It’s funny how they react to a lot of these things, including my experience being a first-generation Filipino immigrant -- but that’s another blog altogether. I just want to say, despite the constant subtle discrimination I get at work (because I proudly wear my FOREIGNER label on my sleeve), I’m so proud to be Pinoy.
Tagalog 101
My cube mates have now learned a few Filipino words, including the usual greetings, thank-you's and how-are-you's. My favorite so far is teaching them how to say one particular sentence in Tagalog, because they’re fascinated by the fact that with our language, we can communicate by repeating one syllable. Case in point: Bababa ba?
Danilo (co-writer): What does that mean?
Mel: "Are we going downstairs?"
Brian (another co-writer): You gotta be kidding me.
Mel: Nope. Oh, and “BABA” with the accent on the first ba, also means CHIN.
Danilo: WHAT? So how do you say, “Is your chin going down?”
Mel: (laughs) But that doesn’t make sense.
Danilo: How do you say it anway?
Mel: Bababa ba baba mo?
Danilo and Brian: HYSTERICS.
Mel: That’s not all. You can respond by saying yes or no, but you can also respond with “Bababa.” That means, "yes, we are going down."
Danilo and Brian: MORE hysterics.
Brian: So I can say, “Bababa ba baba mo?” And your response is?
Mel: Bababa.
Danilo: Fascinating.
Brian: starts humming a tune with ba-ba-ba- ba baaaa
Food Trip
They’re very open to new tastes as well, with one of them being a chef, and the other one being “Asian-inside.” The other writer is just adventurous with food, so more often than not, they taste any “exotic” thing I bring, like suha and longgan. Or empanada and siopao. Or the sweet Filipino spaghetti. They like most of it, except for the longgan, that one of my co-workers described it as “barn floor with hay.” Let’s wait till I bring balut to work.
Etc.
What else do they now know about our country and our culture, c/o me? Things like most of us can communicate clearly in English (that’s why I’m a writer) because our medium of instruction in school is English and that as kids we understood what "What color is this?" means. That living comfortably in the Philippines is a possibility. That as middle class citizens, we can afford one or two stay-in maids to do our laundry, cook for us, clean everyday and watch our children.
That we don’t celebrate Thanksgiving, that’s why our Christmas season begins in September. That people dress up in costumes for both Halloween AND holiday parties. That we take care of our elderly until they pass, and that nursing homes aren’t as popular as they are here.
The list can go on and on. But all I’m saying is, I’m honored to spread my Pinoy-ness especially to those who know the Philippines only by how they see it on TV, or by how it is described by their Filipino friends who are so happy to have left the country that they can’t say anything good about it anymore. Maybe that’s my purpose here. So help me God.
Best of 2007
Di lang tv at radio shows ang may year-enders. Ako rin. Here’s my own list of the year’s “bests,” both in the good and bad category. It’s my tribute to the amazing roller-coaster that was 2007.
Best Purchase – Our New House
And most expensive, too, because the spending never ends (and never will, as most homeowners tell me). This 3-level townhouse, however, is our biggest and best investment so far. We moved in end of September and just started painting (not me though – I’m banned from paint fumes), furnishing and decorating the house. We have 2 floors down, with the first and second floors 90% done. By done, I mean furnished – we still need to add a few details like décor, artwork and lighting to complete the look. Third floor will probably be completed by Jan 08 – and then we can start having people over for housewarming.
Best Big Change – Baby boy on the Way
From the moment we learned we’re having a baby, everything changed, not to mention the way my belly has gotten bigger every single minute. I get treated differently by the people around me – and I’m not complaining at all, because I always get some form of positive reaction and special treatment from strangers. It’s the biggest change, too. And we know the changing will never end from this point onward.
Best Movie – Our Baby’s Ultrasound
It’s totally a short movie, but even with Transformers and Harry Potter coming out last summer, it’s the best I’ve seen all year-round. The last ultrasound we saw so far was a few months back, when we found out our baby is a boy, and when we saw how healthy and “naughty” he is, grabbing his tiny weenie as we were looking at him. But sabi nga nung isang co-worker ko, that’s just instinct at work: PROTECT IT FROM PEEPING TOMS (kami daw yun)!
Best Music – Grateful
My cousin Julianne came up with a beautiful soulful album that I was very lucky to receive from Uncle Phil and Auntie Rica when they came to visit us here in LA a few months back. I have since showcased her album to my co-workers. Syempre love your own. I’m so proud of you, Julz!
Best Underground Move – My Annual Performance Review
Not that it was the best for me, but it’s the best manipulative move I’ve ever seen in my entire corporate life. My department’s used my ka-OC-han for the past year, and because they decided they needed me to do more analytical, organizational and excel-related projects, they took away all creative projects (i.e.: any writing project even if I was hired as a “copywriter”) since I came back from my 2-week morning sickness leave in September. Then they gave me one kind of project with no direction whatsoever and turned it around to reflect negatively on me – according to them, it was my chance to make a plan, kasi walang planning ang department namin, as if that’s my job and not that of the management/executives to steer the ship. Apparently, the way I work “doesn’t work well with the dynamics of this company.” So true. I can’t work ass-backwards. So they spun my annual review to reflect one thing: that I suck as a copywriter/creative person and that I’m better use to them as a “marketing analyst.” Take it or leave it, daw. So pagbalik ko next year, I’m no longer a copywriter, but a marketing analyst who will create a system to track our coming online marketing efforts that they JUST decided to do. By the way, they hired another copywriter just about a month ago, pandagdag daw sa team of writers – ayun pala ipapalit sa akin. And that’s why I give her the award for “best scheming bitch” ever.
Best Vacation – 2-night Stay at Surf and Sand Spa Resort
I’ve had a few vacations this year, but our last hurrah as a couple definitely takes the cake. I am writing this in the middle of a very laid-back, relaxing trip with my husband for 2 days at a spa resort here in Laguna Beach, CA, in a lovely room with a balcony overlooking the ocean. Last night, I slept to the sound of waves crashing on the sand. I woke up to wild dolphins frolicking in the sea. And I just came out of an hour-long pre-natal massage. No pressure to do anything or go anywhere, like most vacations that get you tired and wanting to go on another vacation. In this trip, I will read my book, surf the net, write my blogs, exfoliate my hands and feet and sleep and eat as much as I want. Tell me how that can be beat.
Labels: 2007
