I've known my grandparents on my father's side very well to this day, but I wish I could say the same about the ones on my mother's side. My grandfather, Herman Macatiag Ines, died when I was 10 years old, and my grandmother, Leonora Ragil Plana Ines, died two years before I was born. I've only met my grandfather three times because he lived in the Philippines ever since 1969. I have been able to acquire pictures of them, but not a lot as of now, and only of them in Hawai'i. I am also still looking for letters, although my mother said there aren't any. I wish that I could've know my grandma and grandpa on a very close personal level, but I will try to get to know them now through the memories and values they left in my mother, uncles, aunties, and cousins.
My grandfather was born in the Philippines on August 29, 1913. My family referred to him as "Papa". He was into music, played the trumpet, and even composed a few pieces. He worked in the medical staff of the military, but moved to California to find a "greener pasture". During these times, many Filipinos were looking for a better life in the United States. However, they didn't work on plantations or farms. Since immigration was limited after the Immigration Act of 1965, it was mostly professionals, such as nurses, doctors, lawyers, the military, etc. People in the Philippines also need "sponsors," or relatives who already live in the U.S. in order to move here, Papa was sponsored by his sister. He slowly sponsored the rest of his family to join him in the years to come.
He stayed in California for 4 years, working in a nursing home, but when he visited his daughter, who lived in Hawaii, he really liked the island and thus, moved here. He ended creating a Filipino band in Hawaii. However, he moved back and retired to the Philippines after my grandmother passed away. My family's description of Papa is "funny, but was also strict, especially about being on time. He loves to joke around, is sociable, and loves to party and drink."
My grandmother was also born in the Philippines on April 7, 1915. My family referred to her as "Mama". She worked at the Post office in Manila, and was a dressmaker. She loved helping and donating food to poor relatives. She migrated to the United States in 1974, and was the last out of the entire family to do this because she wanted to wait for my mom to graduate. Mama valued education for her children, and always told them how important it is.
In Hawaii, she was active in her hometown organizations that were in Hawaii. She continued to sow dresses and other articles of clothings at home. My family's description of Mama was "soft-hearted and friendly. She liked talking stories, and was very funny."
Sadly, Mama was diagonsed with breast cancer in 1990 when she was 75, but by then, the cancer was already in its late stages. But she was strong, a fighter, and continued to keep on thriving and living, until cancer got the best of her on December 23, 1990. After my grandfather moved back the following year, he lived another 12 more years. He was healthy, but didn't go to the doctor because he showed no bad symptoms whatsoever. He died of old age on September of 2003.
However, they left behind a legacy. Papa's musical values and talent remains in my uncles, aunties, my mother, and even myself, through instruments and being able to sing. My mother and aunty are also good with sowing and fixing up clothes, just as how Mama was. And even though I don't have any memories with them, the ones they have left others are strong enough for me to paint vivid images of Mama and Papa in my mind and heart.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Project Icarus Rough Draft
I've known my grandparents on my father's side very well to this day, but I wish I could say the same about the ones on my mother's side. My grandfather, Herman Macatiag Ines, died when I was 10 years old, and my grandmother, Leonora Ragil Plana Ines, died two years before I was born. I've only met my grandfather three times because he lived in the Philippines ever since 1969. I wish that I could know them on a very close personal level, but I will try to get to know them now through the memories and values they left in my mother, uncles, aunties, and cousins.
My grandfather was born in the Philippines on August 29, 1913. My family referred to him as "Papa". He was into music, played the trumpet, and even composed a few pieces. He worked in the medical staff of the military, but moved to California to find a "greener pasture". Since people in the Philippines need "sponsors," or relatives who already live in the U.S. in order to move here, Papa was sponsored by his sister. He slowly sponsored the rest of his family to join him in the years to come.
He stayed in California for 4 years, working in a nursing home, but when he visited his daughter, who lived in Hawaii, he really liked the island and thus, moved here. He ended creating a Filipino band in Hawaii. However, he moved back and retired to the Philippines after my grandmother passed away. My family's description of Papa is "funny, but was also strict, especially about being on time. He loves to joke around, is sociable, and loves to party and drink."
My grandmother was also born in the Philippines on April 7, 1915. My family referred to her as "Mama". She worked at the Post office in Manila, and was a dressmaker. She loved helping and donating food to poor relatives. She migrated to the United States in 1974, and was the last out of the entire family to do this because she wanted to wait for my mom to graduate. Mama valued education for her children, and always told them how important it is.
In Hawaii, she was active in her hometown organizations that were in Hawaii. She continued to sow dresses and other articles of clothings at home. My family's description of Mama was "soft-hearted and friendly. She liked talking stories, and was very funny."
Sadly, Mama was diagonsed with breast cancer in 1990 when she was 75, but by then, the cancer was already in its late stages. But she was strong, a fighter, and continued to keep on thriving and living, until cancer got the best of her on December 23, 1990. After my grandfather moved back the following year, he lived another 12 more years. He was healthy, but didn't go to the doctor because he showed no bad symptoms whatsoever. He died of old age on September of 2003. Even though I don't have any memories with them, the ones they have left others are strong enough for me to paint vivid images of Mama and Papa in my mind and heart.
My grandfather was born in the Philippines on August 29, 1913. My family referred to him as "Papa". He was into music, played the trumpet, and even composed a few pieces. He worked in the medical staff of the military, but moved to California to find a "greener pasture". Since people in the Philippines need "sponsors," or relatives who already live in the U.S. in order to move here, Papa was sponsored by his sister. He slowly sponsored the rest of his family to join him in the years to come.
He stayed in California for 4 years, working in a nursing home, but when he visited his daughter, who lived in Hawaii, he really liked the island and thus, moved here. He ended creating a Filipino band in Hawaii. However, he moved back and retired to the Philippines after my grandmother passed away. My family's description of Papa is "funny, but was also strict, especially about being on time. He loves to joke around, is sociable, and loves to party and drink."
My grandmother was also born in the Philippines on April 7, 1915. My family referred to her as "Mama". She worked at the Post office in Manila, and was a dressmaker. She loved helping and donating food to poor relatives. She migrated to the United States in 1974, and was the last out of the entire family to do this because she wanted to wait for my mom to graduate. Mama valued education for her children, and always told them how important it is.
In Hawaii, she was active in her hometown organizations that were in Hawaii. She continued to sow dresses and other articles of clothings at home. My family's description of Mama was "soft-hearted and friendly. She liked talking stories, and was very funny."
Sadly, Mama was diagonsed with breast cancer in 1990 when she was 75, but by then, the cancer was already in its late stages. But she was strong, a fighter, and continued to keep on thriving and living, until cancer got the best of her on December 23, 1990. After my grandfather moved back the following year, he lived another 12 more years. He was healthy, but didn't go to the doctor because he showed no bad symptoms whatsoever. He died of old age on September of 2003. Even though I don't have any memories with them, the ones they have left others are strong enough for me to paint vivid images of Mama and Papa in my mind and heart.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Journal #24!
Passion:
Learning more about my grandparents - the grandma that passed away before I could meet her, and the grandpa I hardly knew.
Resources:
Interviewing my uncles, aunties, and cousins. They were very close to my grandparents.
Family photo albums.
Looking for:
How they impacted my family's life and the lives of those around them.
How each one of them lived in the Philippines, and Hawaii.
Why and when they moved to the United States.
What my family thought of them.
Any special, spectacular deeds they mey have accomplished.
Reaching my Resource:
Contacting my family members.
Going to my uncle's and aunty's houses for interviews.
Asking family members for any old photographs of them.
Possible Product:
A website dedicated to both of them, or creating a package about them.
Learning more about my grandparents - the grandma that passed away before I could meet her, and the grandpa I hardly knew.
Resources:
Interviewing my uncles, aunties, and cousins. They were very close to my grandparents.
Family photo albums.
Looking for:
How they impacted my family's life and the lives of those around them.
How each one of them lived in the Philippines, and Hawaii.
Why and when they moved to the United States.
What my family thought of them.
Any special, spectacular deeds they mey have accomplished.
Reaching my Resource:
Contacting my family members.
Going to my uncle's and aunty's houses for interviews.
Asking family members for any old photographs of them.
Possible Product:
A website dedicated to both of them, or creating a package about them.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
"This I Believe" Rough Draft
There are some times when you ask the world, "Why is this happening to me?!". Whether it be stuck in traffic, the person you admire rejecting you, or having forgotten your homework at home when it was right there on the table with a big note saying "DONT FORGET!," there will always be a time when you would want to just turn back a day or two. But the sad fact is, you cant. Things like these have happened to me every so often, and if I still act the same now as I did in the past whenever that happened, I would probably be cursing nonsense in my mind, sitting in a chair, staring blankly at the wall.
For example, about four years ago, in 6th grade, I was taking a vocabulary test where the teacher would say a definition, and I would have to write down the word. I was doing very well on it too, that is, until my friend next to me dropped her pencil on the ground. I was nice enough to reach out and pick it up for her. She gave a thanks in return, but worst part was, I had lost track of which number we were on. Unable to talk during the test, I had to assume where I had last left off.
About a week later, I got the paper back, with 10 wrong, and a big fat F on it. I had the right words, just not in the right place. I confronted my teacher, but she refused to change my grade. My parents expected all A's from me at that time, so when I got home and showed it to them, I was lectured, and I couldn't go on the computer, which was my best form of entertainment back then. It traumatized me for a week, keeping me in a bad mood until I was able to use the computer again.
My outlook on such events in life started to change though in 8th grade, when my mom was driving me to school. I was almost late, so she was rushing. Unfortunately, we were hitting every red light, and frustration was the only thing in my mind. However, as the lights turned green, a car sped past right in front of us across the intersection. I realized that if we had not hit every red light, the car speeding could have hit us. I pondered on that moment for a while, until I came to the conclusion, "everything happens for a reason".
Ever since then, I've taken life more patiently, taking the awful things it throws at me, and rejoicing in the wonderful things. I've experienced carelessness in school, bad breakups, and more from that moment till now, but each bad thing has ended up helping me in life one way or another. But what was the reason for that vocabulary test incident? I still haven't figured any out. Maybe it was to teach me to not pick up people's pencils during tests, or maybe the answer is waiting for me in the future. Who knows? But what I do know, is that whether your hitting every red light, your boyfriend or girlfriend dumps you, or your computer freezes while you were doing an important essay and forgot to save it, everything happens for a reason.
For example, about four years ago, in 6th grade, I was taking a vocabulary test where the teacher would say a definition, and I would have to write down the word. I was doing very well on it too, that is, until my friend next to me dropped her pencil on the ground. I was nice enough to reach out and pick it up for her. She gave a thanks in return, but worst part was, I had lost track of which number we were on. Unable to talk during the test, I had to assume where I had last left off.
About a week later, I got the paper back, with 10 wrong, and a big fat F on it. I had the right words, just not in the right place. I confronted my teacher, but she refused to change my grade. My parents expected all A's from me at that time, so when I got home and showed it to them, I was lectured, and I couldn't go on the computer, which was my best form of entertainment back then. It traumatized me for a week, keeping me in a bad mood until I was able to use the computer again.
My outlook on such events in life started to change though in 8th grade, when my mom was driving me to school. I was almost late, so she was rushing. Unfortunately, we were hitting every red light, and frustration was the only thing in my mind. However, as the lights turned green, a car sped past right in front of us across the intersection. I realized that if we had not hit every red light, the car speeding could have hit us. I pondered on that moment for a while, until I came to the conclusion, "everything happens for a reason".
Ever since then, I've taken life more patiently, taking the awful things it throws at me, and rejoicing in the wonderful things. I've experienced carelessness in school, bad breakups, and more from that moment till now, but each bad thing has ended up helping me in life one way or another. But what was the reason for that vocabulary test incident? I still haven't figured any out. Maybe it was to teach me to not pick up people's pencils during tests, or maybe the answer is waiting for me in the future. Who knows? But what I do know, is that whether your hitting every red light, your boyfriend or girlfriend dumps you, or your computer freezes while you were doing an important essay and forgot to save it, everything happens for a reason.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Allusive Poem - Final
My Rightful Place
Getting beat down by tricks,
Listening to hurtful lies,
Getting knocked down on my feet,
Being bombarded by homework,
All part of the steepness
Of the mountain of life.
Climbing little by little,
With my hands I call friends,
And my feet I call family,
Helping me get higher each day.
It seems impossible to climb to the top,
To where I want to be, to be what I want to be,
And like the Golden Fleece,
It is almost impossible to imagine obtaining.
Unlike that courageous rightful heir,
It is not for a throne,
Or to gain my rightful place.
I do it not even knowing the point,
Of all this hard work and effort.
But I am too high to climb down,
And I must not look back,
Because seeing my past decisions,
Will stall me from reaching the top.
I will continue to climb,
Some days higher than others,
Completing every task thrown at me.
Even if the task is as hard,
As plowing a field with two fire-breathing bulls,
I will refuse to fall or slip,
And I will do whatever it takes,
Just to see the peak of life,
And the spectacular view,
Of what just might be,
My rightful place.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
This I Believe Essay Interview
Interviewee: Dad
Q: "As the time grows near for me to leave home, what is the most important message or belief that you hope I will take with me and remember throughout my entire life?"
A: "I hope that you will always make the right decisions in life, and try your best in everything you do."
Q: "Why this message?"
A: "Because I want you to stay safe, and you'll always be proud of yourself, even if you fail, as long as you know you did your best."
Q: "As the time grows near for me to leave home, what is the most important message or belief that you hope I will take with me and remember throughout my entire life?"
A: "I hope that you will always make the right decisions in life, and try your best in everything you do."
Q: "Why this message?"
A: "Because I want you to stay safe, and you'll always be proud of yourself, even if you fail, as long as you know you did your best."
Friday, February 27, 2009
Allusive Poem
Getting beat down by tricks,
Listening to hurtful lies,
Kept from doing what I want to do,
Getting knocked down on my feet,
Being bombarded by homework,
All part of the steepness
Of the mountain of life.
Climbing little by little,
With my hands I call friends,
And my feet I call family,
Helping me get higher each day.
It seems impossible to climb to the top,
So high that I can’t even see it,
Like an impossible test, but not for a throne,
Or to gain my rightful place,
Without even knowing the point,
Of all this hard work and effort.
But I am too high to climb down,
And I must not look back,
Because seeing my past decisions,
Will stall me from reaching the top.
I will continue to climb,
Some days higher than others,
I will refuse to fall or slip,
And I will do whatever it takes,
Just to see the peak of life,
And the spectacular view,
Of what just might be,
My rightful place.
Listening to hurtful lies,
Kept from doing what I want to do,
Getting knocked down on my feet,
Being bombarded by homework,
All part of the steepness
Of the mountain of life.
Climbing little by little,
With my hands I call friends,
And my feet I call family,
Helping me get higher each day.
It seems impossible to climb to the top,
So high that I can’t even see it,
Like an impossible test, but not for a throne,
Or to gain my rightful place,
Without even knowing the point,
Of all this hard work and effort.
But I am too high to climb down,
And I must not look back,
Because seeing my past decisions,
Will stall me from reaching the top.
I will continue to climb,
Some days higher than others,
I will refuse to fall or slip,
And I will do whatever it takes,
Just to see the peak of life,
And the spectacular view,
Of what just might be,
My rightful place.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)