Raising Filipino Youths
attending to work, endless rounds of appointments and activities, where in these moments can you insert the process of Filipinization? After all, we are Filipino, do we not do this naturally and subconsciously? Is that not enough? Maybe. However, if we ask ourselves these questions? Do they know enough of their family history, or Philippine history? Do they even understand enough of their native dialect? Can these kids answer without a doubt the question: What does it mean to be Filipino? Obviously, if any of the answers are no, they are not Filipinized enough.
A practical suggestion would be no other than through talking to them. If they are young kids, include those Filipino myths and legends during story time alongside the stories of Dr. Seuss and Junie B. Jones. If they are in the teenage years, do not estimate the power of oral history. We can always tell stories that begin with "When I was your age..." without sounding condescending.
Speaking from personal experience, I know what saved me from being a rebel teenager in the city of Chicago, was that my dad, and eventually my mom, "befriended" me. When I entered that confusing age of adolescence, instead of tightening the reins, my dad loosened it to give me room for growth. We had open communication. I remember at age 16, my dad asking me upon hearing it first from my aunt, "So I hear you have a boyfriend already." I could hear a touch of worry in his voice, but the interest was there to know who this boy was as a person.
Now, as a parent, I hope I can pass it on to my boys. Growing up Filipino American can be confusing business compounded by the other business of being adolescent. We hope the youth will turn out all right and there is bright future ahead. We just have to realize we have to do more than just feed them rice and Adobo.
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