My mom moved to America on a student visa in her late 20s from the Philippines. Although she was in culinary school, she missed the food from her home country. When my lola (grandmother) returned from the Philippines, she reunited my mom with the kudkuran ng niyog (coconut grater). The kudkuran ng niyog and food have served as tools for fostering bonds both in the Philippines and America. As a kid, my mom would buy coconut dishes, such as ginataan and biko from her neighbors for meryenda (snack), which inspired my lola to buy the kudkuran ng niyog. My lola would grate the coconut, and my mom would help make dishes from it. The kudkuran ng niyog helped my mom and lola bond over their shared culture’s love of food, motivating my mom to become a chef. In America, the kudkuran ng niyog has functioned both metaphorically and literally. The kudkuran ng niyog serves as a reminder of a culture full of family and food, but at the same time, it has been used for its actual purpose. My titas’ (aunts) and titos’ (uncles) live in New Jersey, so whenever they have a party, my mom brings the kudkuran ng niyog to grate coconuts for the meals. When I first asked my mom if she had anything from the Philippines, I was skeptical when she brought up this object. But by interviewing her, I remembered that the little things in life bring us together, such as the kudkuran ng niyog. 

– CC

Relationship:  Im/migrant Im/migrant