Christmas In A Box

No matter where you are in the world, what your age is, your gender, or your nationality, you still enjoy the satisfaction of physically opening a box. Well, in the Philippines there is a tradition where a family in the Philippines receives a balikbayan box from their family from the states. So,what’s so special about a box? “What matters is what’s inside”, ever heard of that expression? It’s very true because who ever it may be, once you cut the tape, open the left side of the flap then the right side, your world begins to brighten. It starts to slow down, your heart begins to throb, your stomach begins to flutter, and for that moment you forget all the negative, all your problems...for that moment there’s an unspoken bond between you and that box. Don’t get me wrong, as my sister would say, it’s not all about material things like the Kardashians, that unspoken bond is more between you and the giver. It’s more about the satisfaction of being remembered and being loved. 

These 18 X 18 X 24 boxes that way around 100-200 lbs mean much more to the families in the Philippines then they do in the states. Today I observed my mom pack a balikbayan box and inside lay several clothes, food, toys, movies, and my mom was just adding candies from yesterdays venture of acceptable begging American’s call Halloween. There I was, watching her pack all of these items and asking myself, “Why can’t they just get that there?” Being the oblivious person that I am, I asked my mom what the point of these boxes were. She called them, “Christmas In A Box.” appropriately named. My mom sends them once a year during October and fills them with items that are not available or too expansive in the Philippines. She also includes christmas gifts, and clothes for the new borns. Here in the states we tend to take things for granted. Having food in the pantry is normal, not having food in the pantry is abnormal. Having these technological gadgets is to be expected. The average family in the states own at least two television sets in their home. 

Tell me, why would I cherish Vienna Sausages, I can get them anytime. Or what about my Crest: Whitening toothpaste, Dove soap or biscotti from Costco. What I didn’t notice until today, is that I am very blessed to have the opportunity to have variety. I never realized how many products the US receives just for toothpaste. It’s like choosing what ice cream flavor I want from Baskin Robins. In the Philippines, especially the province where my mother’s family lives, don’t have the luxury of variety. It’s either Sarsi or Royal. 

Ironically, there is much more to this box. Although it’s filled with clothes, food, toys, what have you the most important thing is something you can’t buy, you can’t wrap, something you can’t weigh. it’s an immeasurable amount of endless love that is oozing out of the box.  

Filipino Time

"Sister and I at Fil AM 20th Gala Night"

“Don’t be on Filipino time!!” Sound familiar? Well, for me, my family, and my filipino cultural, that’s “our” motto. Ever since I came out of my Mother’s divine scar I was born into the normality of always being 1 hour to 2 hours late to every event. Speaking of events, this past weekend I attended the Filipino American 20th annual Gala Night as well as the 9th Annual Historical Heritage Gala. A fundraiser for the Filipino Historical Museum, as well as the Gawad Kalinga Project. For those of you who are not aware of the Gawad Kalinga Project, don’t beat yourself up, I had no clue what it was before the event either. The Gawad Kalinga Project is a housing project for the “poorest of the poor” in the Philippines. Not only was this event a Gala it was also a Filipino Youth Achievers Award Night where they gave awards to outstanding filipino students in the Southern California Region. The Youth Achievers Award Night is what actually brought my family out to this event. My youngest sister, not the charming one beside me in the photo above, received this award. 

Now that you are fully acquainted with the layout of the where’s, what’s, and why’s of the event, let me confess to you the behind the scenes of what I experienced. What is a filipino event without sticking with the motto? It would have never been a true filipino experience if it started on time. The Event was scheduled to start at 6 and serve dinner at 7. With that being said, the doors didn’t open until 8 o’clock and dinner wasn’t served until 9. Keep in mind, I’m a man with a metabolism that moves at the rate of a helicopter’s propellers. That being said I am constantly hungry and 2 hours late for dinner was just unexceptable for me, but I should be used to that already! For those of you that are not familiar with the saying, “do not come to the party filipino time” it simply means that the party usually starts 2 hours after the event time. Being that this was a formal occasion with some political dignitaries as guest, one would expect that it would have started on time. On the contrary, we as filipinos stay true to our filipino motto. 

The “Born This Way” a song by Lady Gaga being covered by Maria Aragon speaks to me in a strong way. When I listen the lyrics to this song this is what it is telling. Be happy with the way you where born don’t wish you were someone else, life might give you a hard time cause of your race but it is only as hard as you make it out to be. Be proud of your race, sex, class, who you are and who you are becoming. No one say that life will be easy but changing who you are just because people say you need to, only makes you lose your true identity. Without your true identity you become just another shadow in this world. By Maria Aragon covering this song it speaks to me in a higher level. With out her knowing, as a filipino she sings about the hardships I feel filipinos face trying to break through with there own identity and how they getting pushed into sub groups as asian or mexicans. As Filipino’s we should be proud of our race and take ownership to it. Make the world aware that we are filipinos “we are born this way”, look at us as filipinos and not as anything less.

Maligayang pagdating sa pamilya, mga kaibigan, at mga bisita

              Maligayang pagdating sa pamilya, mga kaibigan, at mga bisita, “Welcome family, friends, and guests.” My name is Christian Enriquez and I come from a Filipino background. I am a first generation Filipino American. I have deep roots in the Filipino culture but have much to learn from it and believe that this class  can help me spread and make known the Filipino culture and values.  Along the road I have learned new elements about my culture that I would have never thought of on my own and has also answered numerous questions about my roots that have intrigued my curiosity for many years. I humbly invite you to join me as I explore this Bayan community with expectations of  success, creating memories, and taking on my challenges and struggles head on. Accompany me on a journey to learning about the Filipino culture and its values. I will keep you informed with blog entries detailing the obstacles that I confront, how I overcome them, how I learned from them, and how I have improved because of them. I will also keep you well informed with short statements, stories and photos. Salamat sa iyo para sa iyong oras at umaasa i na iyong oras sa labas ng iyong busy buhay at samahan ako sa paglalakbay na ito, “Thank you for your time and I hope that you take time out of your busy lives to join me on this journey.”