Looking for better life opportunities, 4 new Filipino Americans set foot on American soil for the first time on September 19, 1980. After a thirteen hour flight, my father, his youngest brother, oldest sister, and mother settled in Carson, California. Six months prior to their arrival, two of my father’s sister arrived in America with another one of his brothers. Like most Filipino families, their American citizenship was approved through the petition process.  Culture shocked, adapting to the new American culture was totally different to what he was used to back home. An item he took along with him on his journey was a Filipino flag. It was not just any flag that represented his country. It was a flag that symbolized his father. When my father left Philippines at the age of 19, he had to leave many precious things behind including his father. As the mayor of their home city, my grandfather would not turn his back on his duties. Although his family was across the Pacific Ocean, he understood what better opportunities lied before his wife and children in America. To this day, my dad still has that specific flag. In fact, he has draped it in our living room as a reminder of his father, who passed away later in 2004. Almost 40 years later, he admits that he gets homesick once in awhile, but he does not regret migrating to to the Unites States of America one bit. 

– Jillori G.

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