My Published Articles for the Asian Journal

My Lifelong Goal:

http://www.asianjournal.com/data/PDF/2010_LA/2010_07_14/2010_LA_07_14_MDWK-p%208.pdf

Confessions of a Karaoke-holic:

http://www.ajdigitaledition.com/pdfs/PDF/2010_LA/2010_08_11/2010_LA_08_11_B%207.pdf

My Sister's Wedding

Last weekend, my Ate Hazel just got married!

Being the "bunso" (youngest), I've cried a lot during both of my sisters' weddings. I'm not ashamed to admit it. I've cried when my oldest sister, Misty, walked down the aisle eight years ago, and I've cried watching Hazel walk down the aisle with my dad last week. Both of my sisters have made the most beautiful brides that I've ever seen. I'm not saying that just because they are my sisters, but because it's true. I've known both my sisters all of my life and they've practically helped raised me. I love them so much and they deserve all the happiness and blessings that come their way. I'm so happy to know that they've both found worthy men to spend the rest of their lives with. Misty and her husband, Manny, have three most precious and beautiful daughters and I'm sure Hazel and her new husband, Isaac, will make good looking children as well. Isaac is half Samoan and half Chinese, so I said in my Maid of Honor speech that their children would be hot, haha.

As for me, don't ask when it's my turn to get married. (Well, I was married in the second grade at a school carnival, but I don't count that!) People ask me more often now that I'm the "only one left." I'm in seriously no rush. I leave it up to God and his timing. As of now, I am not going to take anything in life for granted. Day by day, I am learning to grow as a whole person. Believe me it's been a journey and I'm learning a lot about myself. I am not looking for anyone to "complete me" as Jerry Maguire would say. When it's my turn, I should already be complete. Two halves don't make a whole--only two wholes make a whole.

Ah, enough about me.

Again, congrats to my sister Hazel and my new brother-in-law Isaac. It was an amazing wedding that I will never forget.

Oh, my sister runs a widely followed wedding blog called I Do Budget Weddings. You can check it out at http://www.idobudgetweddings.blogspot.com/

Happy Birthday America!

HOY!

Hoy! Kumusta na?

Welcome to my blog page. I literally just created it 50 seconds ago, so it is brand spanking new.

Let me introduce myself. My name is Ames and I'm a Filipina American. Or should I say "Pilipina-American"? I think I will refer to myself as a "Pinay American"...that way I don't confuse myself whether or not I should use "F" or "P".

Let me introduce myself again.

Ako si Ames. Ako ay Pinay American.

I'm a first generation Pinay American. My parents immigrated from the Philippines in the early seventies. I'm the youngest of three girls and I was born in West Los Angeles. My sisters once claimed that I was adopted and that I was born on a crab boat, but that's a whole different story.

Growing up, I had trouble identifying myself culturally. I always had that lingering question of whether I was Filipino enough or American enough. For one thing I didn't speak Tagalog. I grew up speaking mainly English. I understood a little bit from what my parents' conversation to each other, but I never was able to speak Tagalog fluently.

I grew up in a sparsely Filipino populated Inland Empire. I had very few Filipino friends in school. The only exposure to my culture was through my mom's cooking and family parties.

However, I did go to the Philippines almost ten summers ago. It was obvious that I was an American. Not knowing how to speak Tagalog and my towering height didn't help in blending in. I felt out of place. I felt like the Jolly Brown Giant.

The one motivating factor that motivated me to seriously learn Tagalog was when I saw two non-Filipinos speak fluent Tagalog at the airport. I knew that I HAD to start learning the language. If non-Filipinos could do it so could I!

The main reason for starting this blog was to share my life long goal of learning the culture and language of my Motherland. Right now I am taking Filipino classes at Bahay Kubo (www.bahay-kubo.org) and I am learning so much. This program has really inspired me to continue learning and to share to others how beautiful our culture is.

Stay tuned as I update this blog of what I'm learning in my class and what I come across in real life.

After all, being a Filipino born in America is more than just being a Manny Pacquiao fan. It is a life long journey of learning the culture of my Motherland.