This year's Christmas Day has arrived and each Filipino has their fair share of something to be glad and thankful about. Igniting that spirit upon Jesus Christ's birth, the Philippines bonded with heartwarming regards despite the chilly, snowy-like atmosphere. Gift-givings went alive, and the handing of Aguinaldos were maintained, with all Catholics putting smiles on their faces on every single moment.
In the U.S., the celebration of Christmas has been similarly joyful, but much calming if compared to the Philippines. Despite the overlapping difference, our kababayans out there still have that trademark Pinoy holiday spirit glowing.
Pinoy California had a chance to tap a conversation with Migs Padilla. The 18-year-old Pinoy hailing from New York detailed his Christmas vacation experience in California, the new life of being in the States, and what he misses about the Philippines this holiday season.
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| Migs with his father flexing their respective passport | Image courtesy: Migs Padilla/Personal collection |
Andrei: Kamusta ang buhay ngayon sa States? (How’s life doing currently in the United States?)
Migs: Medyo bumpy for the first few months, pero as the days go by, nasasanay na rin sa ibang environment. Especially nung pagdating ko, I was still doing online classes from PH kaya mas mahirap mag-adjust pa. Pero ngayon, tapos na rin first semester of college ko rito, nakapag-adjust naman na and nakakasocialize with fellow non-Americans and Americans na rin.
(It's kind of bumpy for the first few months, but I became familiarized as days went by. It was a hard adjustment considering that I left the Philippines when I was still studying online class for senior high school. But now, with my first semester here in college already in the books, I am able to adjust and socialize with fellow non-Americans and Americans nevertheless.)
Andrei: I mean, wow. That's kind of great na you pulled off that uneasy transition in terms of your studies. Sa ngayon, ano bang program ang ti-ne-take mo? (That’s great that you pulled off that uneasy transition in terms of your studies. What college program are you taking right now?)
Migs: I am currently taking a medicine course in a university in New York . That's been my dream talaga since my mother is a nurse working in the field.
(I am currently taking a medicine course in a university in New York . That's been my dream since my mother is a nurse working in the field.)
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| Migs's mother, a registered nurse | Photo: Migs Padilla/Personal collection |
Andrei: So, how's your vacation in California with your family? And can you tell me ang pinagkaiba ng Cali sa New York? (So, how's your vacation in California with your family? And can you tell me the difference between Cali and New York?)
Migs: Our trip was really great. First time ko makapunta sa California since I am really a New Yorker. We have a rest house there so the accommodation isn't that hard. Had plenty of trips around L.A., made some tour around San Francisco na rin.
Very beautiful din ang California. Ang masasabi kong main difference niya sa New York ay yung noise mismo. Masyadong urbanized ang New York for me but nasanay na rin naman ako as my life went on there.
(Our trip was really great. It was my first time in California since I am really a New Yorker. We have a rest house there so the accommodation isn't that hard. Had plenty of trips around L.A., made some tours around San Francisco also.
California is also a beautiful place, but it differs in terms of the noise and calmness with New York. New York has been raucous, but I was able to adjust to that.)
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| Migs (back) posing for a selfie family picture with his family at front of the Statue of Liberty in New York City | Image courtesy: Migs Padilla/Personal collection |
Andrei: Ano ang pinagkaiba ng pamumuhay mo sa Pinas and US? (What’s the difference in the living condition between Philippines and the U.S.)
Migs: I would say yung everyday living. Dito kasi parang may endless loop yung buhay nila, just wake up - go to work- go home and sleep, cycle lang. Sa PH, although may similarity, hindi mo pa rin talaga alam ano ieexpect and usually sa napansin ko, ambilis ng araw/oras dito compared back home. Kasama na rin yung norms dito, like sinasabihan ka lagi ng "bless you" pag babahing, laging may "have a good day," laging may tip sa mga restos,etc. and yung tax na hindi pa kasama sa mga price tag.
(I would say the everyday living. Here in states, it's like having an endless loop – just wake up - go to work- go home and sleep – like a cycle. In the Philippines, though there's similarity, you can't really just tell what will happen, and the time here is quite quick unlike back home.
The norms here also play differently, like if you sneeze, someone will tell you "Bless you." People also always say "Have a good day." The diners in restaurants hands tip frequently, with tax not included in the price tag of the objects out here.)
Andrei: If di ako nagkakamali, first time mo magpasko ngayon sa States. Kamusta naman ang celebration mo with your family? (If I were not mistaken, this is your first time to spend a holiday in the States. How’s the celebration with your family?)
Migs: Personally, I haven't really enjoyed the holidays for the last few years, and moving here didn't change that. Pero that's just me. This holiday, it was alright I guess, nag-gather kami ng mga tita/tito/pinsan ko and had a normal Filipino celebration. Ang difference lang siguro is yung gift giving, since norm talaga dito yung may gift para sa lahat.
(Personally, I haven't really enjoyed the holidays for the last few years, and moving here didn't change that. Pero that's just me. This holiday, it was alright I guess, me and my family just gathered for the celebration. The only difference is the gift-giving, since it has been a tradition already out here).
Andrei: It's natural for us na siyempre paghandaan ang pasko. Ano ang mga hinanda niyo last December 25? May dish ba na pang-Pinoy? (It’s natural for us to make preparations for Christmas. What were your dishes last December 25? You had some Filipino foods there?)
Migs: Funny enough, puro Pinoy food ang pagkain namin. Since lahat kami Pinoy, we became accustomed to eating the dishes from home in special occasions. Factor na rin siguro yung the rest of the month/days is Foreign food kinakain namin so it's natural na sa holidays, babalikan namin roots namin. We had food like Lumpiang Sariwa, Bicol Express, Dinuguan, Sisig, and Pansit. Nadagdagan lang siguro ng foreign food na nagstick sa amin, but other than that, it's all Pinoy food.
(Funny enough, we had a pure Pinoy meals here. Since we're all Filipino, we became accustomed Pinoy dishes during special occasions. Given that we've been eating foreign foods mostly and frequently here, we would like to make a lookback in our roots during holiday times.
We had food like Lumpiang Sariwa, Bicol Express, Dinuguan, Sisig, and Pansit. We added foreign foods, but it's mostly Filipino ones.)
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| Migs (back, middle) celebrating Christmas with his family | Image courtesy: Migs Padilla/Personal collection |
Andrei: May namimiss ka ba dyan sa States ng something about Philippines this Christmas celebration? (You had something being missed about in the Philippines as you celebrated the Christmas?)
Migs: Surprisingly, most people dito ay favorite din ang Christmas. Maraming lights and decorations sa mga bahay nila, etc. Ang naiba lang siguro is yung start ng celebration. Hindi uso yung "ber months" since hindi lang Christmas ang holiday nila sa ber months. I think I miss the time of Christmas pre-pandemic, yung may nangangaroling sa labas, Christmas parties sa school/work, yung hindi pa uso g-cash, yung big deal pa yung family gatherings and gimmicks niyo, mga ganun.
(Surprisingly, most people out here picks Christmas as their favorite. There are many lights and decorations on their house. The one thing differs is the start of celebration. The term "ber months" is not that relevant here. For me I think I miss the time of Christmas in pre-pandemic, wherein there were carolings taking place, Christmas parties in school/work, G-cash is still not famous, and family gatherings being a big one.)
Andrei: Lastly, ano ang Christmas wish mo? (Lastly, what’s your Christmas wish?)
Migs: I would say true happiness and stability in life. It has become so hard to come by those two things, especially sa mga nangyayari since 2020. People never ask for others' Christmas wishes na rin but I would say eto yung need ng lahat.
(I would say true happiness and stability in life. It has become so hard to come by those two things, especially sa mga nangyayari since 2020. People never ask for others' Christmas wishes but I would say this is what people need most.)
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Written by Andrei de Guzman
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