My family has always had a lot of faith in God. I grew up seeing my grandmother always getting prepared to go to church. I watched her as she fixed her things and prepared her purse. Growing up I realized that she was always wearing a necklace with a pendant of the Virgin Mary. She had always had this and never had I seen her taken it off. This necklace has a sentimental value since it was given by my great grandmother to my grandmother when she was a child and she kept it with her through her moves into different provinces in the Philippines. That necklace was always with her wherever she went. It was her companion to every situation, hardship and joy that she experienced. Since I was little, I have always wanted to have the necklace and wear it. A couple years after, I was finally able to wear that necklace. My grandmother gave it to me when on the day of my flight going to New York in the year 2008. Since that day I have never taken it. It has become a part of me. Not only is it the only thing that I have to remind me of my grandmother when I get homesick but it also reminds me of the history of the family and it shows our faith and our religion. Hopefully in the future I will also be able to pass on the necklace to my child to carry out the tradition.

– -Carla

Relationship:  Im/migrant Im/migrant