Finding Yourself.

I find myself lost in the chores of everyday living as a wife and mother of 2. Sometimes life really starts drifting, work, school, family, and friends. You get so busy doing so much you forget to have some time for yourself.

Recently I was able to attend a Filipino Independence Day Event!! June 12, 2022, was the date of this very well-organized event full of many unique people from all around Brooks.

My eyes smiled seeing all the sponsored food, prizes, trophies, t-shirts, and decorations that were donations from many of the Filipinos living in this very loving community.

After seeing the long table full of so much food you couldn’t fit another dish on it, my tummy smiled a bit too.

This was great since I also invited my inlaws who are Cambodian, to show them how Filipinos celebrate our Philippine Heritage Month and Independence Day.

Starting the day with colorful parade boasting flags, balloons and SO MUCH SPIRIT marching through the streets of this loving city really brought back nostalgic feelings of doing the same thing back in my hometown of Sta Rosa, Laguna. That feeling you get when you hear a particular old boy band’s song and have to sing to it.

Even after the parade, I saw everyone line up to enter the JBS Centre where the main event was to be held, and could barely hold my excitement.

There was a 30-minute basketball exhibition and 5 teams also got to participate in volleyball games. Wish you could hear the roars. I couldn’t count how many people were present, nor could I have since my ears were occupied, dancing to the amazing Filipino and Cattlescraft Bands that were playing for this event.

Everywhere I looked I could only see smiles, hear laughter and feel love. you could FEEL the excitement as cheers filled the building especially when we introduced traditional games like tug of war, the adult version of Maria Went to Town, and of course, my personal favorite, THE SACK RACE, which our team won I might add.

As my energy was racing I thought to myself, it is our duty to let the next generation see and experience these fun activities. Traditional games like Pabitin, where I can see the joy in my daughter Hanamiko’s face as she was jumping and trying to grab food. To keep Filipino traditions alive for everyone to experience. A great event that definitely brought my spirits up to 110%.

The day after the event was the best part, to wake up full of joy and love. It opened my eyes, my heart, and my soul. I feel as if I found myself again, so thank you to everyone who helped in making such a successful event. this was a great day for me, for everyone. Our Indenpendence Day!!!

What a way to wake up 🙂

Author: Cai Bernardo, GED
GLOBE Education Director
Email: m.bernardo@globalbridge-edu.com

Kudos to the Brooks Filipino Community.