My grandparents immigrated to the US from the Philippines to help my parents take care of my siblings and I. With my parents always at work, it was truly my grandparents who not only helped raise me, but kept my cultural identity alive. I learned, understood and spoke Tagalog from my grandparents. Before I started school, Tagalog was once my only language. They always communicated with me in Tagalog and introduced me to different Filipino foods. When my siblings wanted McDonald's or Taco Bell, I was eating rice and fried fish with my grandparents. We would eat with our hands, dipping our foods into vinegar. My grandpa spent his time in the backyard working on the garden. He used to tell me how the only thing they ate back home were the food from their yard and the fish they’d catch from the fish ponds. He taught me how to be resourceful and frugal, making most of what we have. I shared a bed with them and always slept next to my grandma. After elementary school and as we got older, my grandparents eventually moved back to the Philippines. I was lucky enough to spend so much time with them as a child, ingraining the Filipino culture and norms into my own identity. I often look back and wonder how much of my culture I’d have or understood without them being around. I will always be proud and cherish my Filipino background because it will always remind me of my grandparents and the special bond we had. 
 

 

– Erin Estrada

Relationship:  Grandchild of im/migrant Grandchild of im/migrant