In 2004, my mother, father, and sister immigrated from the Philippines to New York City. Upon his arrival, my father developed a love for American film and music-- specifically rock. To express his love, he collected mountains of CDs of his favorite movies, concerts, and soundtracks. From Pink Floyd to Tina Turner, the range of genres was never-ending. 
     Growing up, I became familiar with every single one of these CDs. He often brought my family to concerts, even when I was a little girl. It became a family tradition to go to concerts and enjoy music together-- it was our favorite way of bonding. Not a day went by without listening to one of the albums. Our home was filled with musical notes and singing voices, and the CDs were a physical representation of that. 
     In 2020, my father passed away battling ALS. His collection of CDs now stand in my living room as a statue in his remembrance. Though it has been five years without him, his impact still lingers. The sounds of Rod Stewart and Led Zepplin still echo, and serves as a reminder of our musical memories. Listening to his favorite bands reminds me of his resilience of battling sickness, his intelligence in the medical field, and his strength to bring our family to America. In times of trouble, I listen to our songs, specifically "Shine on You crazy Diamond" by Pink Floyd, to remind me that nothing is impossible. Music is a form of therapy and creates an outlet for my anxiety. My father not only paved the way into where is am, but paved the way into who I am. 

Relationship:  Child of im/migrant Child of im/migrant