An interview with my mother
Q: Can you tell us about the place where you grew up? What did it smell like? What did mornings sound like?
A: I grew up in a small town in Laguna, Philippines. We call it a barangay; it was nice. We knew everyone, our neighbors, who were mostly related to you or family, or close friends. I can still remember how nice it is to wake up early in the morning, you can feel the fresh air, the beauty of all the greens around you, plants, flowers, trees, really precious! The novelty of waking up in the morning to the rooster crowing is something I’m so lucky to experience. I will treasure those memories.
A: I grew up in a small town in Laguna, Philippines. We call it a barangay; it was nice. We knew everyone, our neighbors, who were mostly related to you or family, or close friends. I can still remember how nice it is to wake up early in the morning, you can feel the fresh air, the beauty of all the greens around you, plants, flowers, trees, really precious! The novelty of waking up in the morning to the rooster crowing is something I’m so lucky to experience. I will treasure those memories.
Q: What is your earliest memory of your mother or father?
A: Inay introduced me to faith & Tatay introduced me to hard work. I didn’t grow up rich, Tatay was a factory worker and farm owner. I can still remember being with my family in our farm cultivating the land, I’m probably just playing & running, but my parents were working hard tilling the land to prepare for crop planting, my 2 older brothers were with us, it was hard but fun, I’m glad I had that experience.
A: Inay introduced me to faith & Tatay introduced me to hard work. I didn’t grow up rich, Tatay was a factory worker and farm owner. I can still remember being with my family in our farm cultivating the land, I’m probably just playing & running, but my parents were working hard tilling the land to prepare for crop planting, my 2 older brothers were with us, it was hard but fun, I’m glad I had that experience.
Q: What did you dream of becoming when you were a little girl?
A: Work in a big office in Manila, wearing high heels stilettos 😂
A: Work in a big office in Manila, wearing high heels stilettos 😂
Q: What was life like growing up as a Filipina daughter in your time?
A: Education is precious; Filipino parents value education, especially if you’re not from a rich, educated family. So my role was to study hard since I knew how hard my parents were working to send me to school. We valued & respected our parents, our elders. As a growing girl, my role is to excel in school, since I know that this is how I can make my parents proud.
A: Education is precious; Filipino parents value education, especially if you’re not from a rich, educated family. So my role was to study hard since I knew how hard my parents were working to send me to school. We valued & respected our parents, our elders. As a growing girl, my role is to excel in school, since I know that this is how I can make my parents proud.
Q: Were there moments when you felt invisible? How did you carry yourself through those days?
A: Coming from a province, going to Manila to study in college opened up my eyes on how different society is, some of my classmates are from exclusive schools, rich families, some have their own cars, while I… I’m from a small town & living in a boarding house with 7 roommates. It’s noisy & different, but I embraced it, I didn’t compete, I just let it. In the Philippines, there’s no racial discrimination, but there’s a societal bracket; there’s rich & poor. We’re not that poor, but as a college student with a 700 peso weekly allowance for all expenses, including food & school supplies, I’m barely surviving. It’s sardines, egg & noodles diets. I prioritize needs & do what’s really important. Maybe that’s why I shop a lot now, since I never had that luxury growing up.
A: Coming from a province, going to Manila to study in college opened up my eyes on how different society is, some of my classmates are from exclusive schools, rich families, some have their own cars, while I… I’m from a small town & living in a boarding house with 7 roommates. It’s noisy & different, but I embraced it, I didn’t compete, I just let it. In the Philippines, there’s no racial discrimination, but there’s a societal bracket; there’s rich & poor. We’re not that poor, but as a college student with a 700 peso weekly allowance for all expenses, including food & school supplies, I’m barely surviving. It’s sardines, egg & noodles diets. I prioritize needs & do what’s really important. Maybe that’s why I shop a lot now, since I never had that luxury growing up.
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Q: Looking back, how do you think growing up in a barangay shaped your sense of identity and community?
A: Growing up in a close-knit community gave me a sense of belongingness. It strengthened my identity as part of a group, which helps me to develop my individuality.
A: Growing up in a close-knit community gave me a sense of belongingness. It strengthened my identity as part of a group, which helps me to develop my individuality.
Q: You mentioned that your Inay introduced you to faith and your Tatay to hard work—how do these values live on in you now?
A: With a strong foundation from my parents, I used it to tackle life’s challenges, I know hard work & if trials come, I have faith to hold on.
A: With a strong foundation from my parents, I used it to tackle life’s challenges, I know hard work & if trials come, I have faith to hold on.
Q: What was your first impression of Manila when you arrived as a college student? How did it challenge or change you?
A: It’s crowded, busy, but you feel alone. You need to find your footing in life’s uncertainty.
A: It’s crowded, busy, but you feel alone. You need to find your footing in life’s uncertainty.
Q: How do you view the contrast between the rural life you grew up with and the urban life you experienced later? What did each teach you?
A: Now that I leave currently in city, I want my rural life back, that’s my ideal retirement life. When you experience both, urban Philippines & urban USA, you can really tell which one is a better ideal life, it’s a personal choice & this person wants the quiet life in the countryside.
A: Now that I leave currently in city, I want my rural life back, that’s my ideal retirement life. When you experience both, urban Philippines & urban USA, you can really tell which one is a better ideal life, it’s a personal choice & this person wants the quiet life in the countryside.
Q: In what ways do you think urbanization has impacted the cultural identity of Filipinos?
A: We’re too colonized, Filipino wants to be part of the world. I’m not saying it’s bad, but we need to also value our own identity like the Japanese do… You can see how technology has advanced, but the sense of tradition is predominant in all walks of life. I love that, don’t lose the sense of the true you!
A: We’re too colonized, Filipino wants to be part of the world. I’m not saying it’s bad, but we need to also value our own identity like the Japanese do… You can see how technology has advanced, but the sense of tradition is predominant in all walks of life. I love that, don’t lose the sense of the true you!
Q: You mentioned feeling the economic gap in college—what helped you stay grounded and focused during that time?
A: The consciousness that my parents & my brother, who needed to work as OFW, are working hard to send me to school, they are doing their part, so I have to do mine too.
A: The consciousness that my parents & my brother, who needed to work as OFW, are working hard to send me to school, they are doing their part, so I have to do mine too.
Q: What did you learn about dignity and self-worth while navigating spaces where you felt invisible?
A: Dignity & self-worth are yours & yours alone, it’s a personal choice, it’s a decision you place yourself into. It’s a test of your mantle…. You can be dignified in adversity, and nobody can tell you otherwise. It’s a test of true you, you owe it to yourself to be strong, you owe to to your parents who loved & worked hard for you even in the hardest situation.
A: Dignity & self-worth are yours & yours alone, it’s a personal choice, it’s a decision you place yourself into. It’s a test of your mantle…. You can be dignified in adversity, and nobody can tell you otherwise. It’s a test of true you, you owe it to yourself to be strong, you owe to to your parents who loved & worked hard for you even in the hardest situation.
Q:How do you balance honoring your heritage while embracing the changes in modern Filipino womanhood?
A: I can only be me in the best positive ways I can be; my foundation as a Filipino shows in who I am, and I’m trying to always be proud of who I am. A strong, intelligent Filipino nurse.
A: I can only be me in the best positive ways I can be; my foundation as a Filipino shows in who I am, and I’m trying to always be proud of who I am. A strong, intelligent Filipino nurse.
Q: If you could speak to your younger self—the girl from Laguna with dreams and 700 pesos a week—what would you tell her?
A: Good job!!! I’m proud of you!!! Also, I would tell her to spend more time with our parents in my younger years, I missed that!!!!
A: Good job!!! I’m proud of you!!! Also, I would tell her to spend more time with our parents in my younger years, I missed that!!!!
Q: What part of your story do you hope others, especially younger Filipinas, will resonate with or learn from?
A: There are no boundaries for dreaming & making it a reality. Do not be afraid to dream big, work hard, the other person who’s after the same dream as you is as talented or as accomplished as you are but if you want it more than that person, you will surely get it, have dreams, work harder, have faith and get it, that’s grit!
A: There are no boundaries for dreaming & making it a reality. Do not be afraid to dream big, work hard, the other person who’s after the same dream as you is as talented or as accomplished as you are but if you want it more than that person, you will surely get it, have dreams, work harder, have faith and get it, that’s grit!
Q: How do you see your story as part of the larger Filipino story—a mix of rural roots, resilience, and reinvention?
A: They said Filipinos are everywhere, we are citizens of the world. There are offices on all continents. For a girl in a small town in the Philippines to become a nurse in one of the highest-paying hospitals in the world with advanced technology, holding a leadership position. Busy is working 1 nurse to 10 patients, working without a break, surviving with Skyflakes crackers in your pocket, that’s busy. When you’re used to hard work, everything is easy. Filipinos are resilient, hardworking, smart, friendly, and kind. That’s why the world wants Filipinos. Be proud!
A: They said Filipinos are everywhere, we are citizens of the world. There are offices on all continents. For a girl in a small town in the Philippines to become a nurse in one of the highest-paying hospitals in the world with advanced technology, holding a leadership position. Busy is working 1 nurse to 10 patients, working without a break, surviving with Skyflakes crackers in your pocket, that’s busy. When you’re used to hard work, everything is easy. Filipinos are resilient, hardworking, smart, friendly, and kind. That’s why the world wants Filipinos. Be proud!