June 23, 2008

Filipino Encounter of the rare kind

Sometimes I wish I live in California - or Cali, if you wanna call it the hip way. Why ? well, it is a haven for Filipinos. And here's a proof that verify that: Asian Explosion . The figure is just astounding but I'm not surprised since Cali is the closest US state to the Philippines, globally speaking.

I have lived in NC for about 5 years now and meeting or even seeing Filipinos in this area is a miracle! Ewan ko ba, mukhang di yata kaya ng powers ng aking kapwa pilipino ang tumira dito. Dahil kaya sa malamig dito ? My mom lives in Cali (thrives in the warm (or hot) weather in the west ) and visited me this year during Spring. As you guessed, her body did not totally appreciate the cooler weather here down east. Nagkasakit si Lola. Wawa! but she recovered and is now back to her home sweet home enjoying the warm weather of the west coast again ( hindi ko sya makumbinsi tumira dito ever! )

Charlotte only have .7% Filipinos in the entire population. Which is why most of the time, I feel like a filipino from a lonely planet (hikbi). But somehow luck was in my favor since the past 2 weeks. Lo and behold! Filipino presence has flocked into my domain- not this domain- I mean at work ! (",) But hey, I would be so flattered if I do get Filipinos to drop by my site and actually say Hi !

So anyway, I was pretty ecstatic including people who know me at work. Like I said, Filipino encounters are very rare and you just learn to appreciate it when they do come along. I met Mimi, a filipina doctor married to an american, who lives in Fort Mill SC and currently enrolled in TaiChi . Then there's the Filipino teenager, Kenneth who was born in Mindanao and was adopted by her american parents when he was 9 months old. His mom is just so hungry to connect to his heritage that she was so happy to meet me (so do I ). He now takes Shaolin. Good for him! Then just today, I got a phone call from someone whose adoptive father is a filipino who lives just outside of Charlotte's City limits. Talk about encounters! I do hope to meet more. The only filipino friend I have unfortunately is not even as fluent with her native language anymore and has sort of lost touch with her "Filipino-ness". In her defense, she's almost old enough to be my mom and have lived here like forever! My daughter adores her, she's a filipino and that's all that matters!

Kumusta na mga kababayan ko ?

Census Originally posted in Toasty Brown (site dedicated to my Filipino-ness).

20 comments:

  1. OMG! I am so excited, I have moved here 6 years agao and until now wala akong kilalang pinoy dito..I met a couple but they moved to different states. I have lots of friends in Cali and like you my parents don't want to move here either...malamig daw! So pareho pala tayo..i live in the Mint Hill area and work for Mecklenburg County. How old are you? I just turned 30 and my husband is a native Charlottean who grew up in Mint Hill. I have a 2 year daughter...call me 980-939-4335. I am dying to meet a filipino...

    Joy

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  2. Hi Joy!

    I'm glad you found my blog site! If you're reading this, be assured I'll give you a call back soon. I have been sick and too weak to even make phone calls, as soon as I'm well, I'll call you. Also if you can, leave me your email add so I can email you back at least. Ingat palagi, tawagan kita pag kaya ko na dumakdak! (",) - Maricris

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  3. awww, nalungkot tuloy ako. i miss being back in charlotte kasama ng iba pa nating mga amiga!

    anyway, i'm glad you're finding new friends through this blog, its such a powerful medium no? galeng!

    cheers to new (and old) friendships!

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  4. Katuwa nga. Ganda sana kung dito kau uli sa Charlotte para we can have our LNO ulit with old -and new friendships! Yes, internet is such a powerful tool!

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  5. Wow
    I didnt' realize there were not a lot of Filipinos where you are from. I am in Ontario here we have a lot of different people of all cultures. I had some lovely children in my home day care that were Filipino.

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  6. Noong nakatira kami sa Arizona, sa Chandler maraming Pinoy, pero dito sa Texas, Dallas area, mas marami. Dati akong taga-Cali, do'n nakatira rin ang Mama ko.

    But you know, wherever we are, Filipinos rock!

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  7. hi! im a filipina here in the raleigh-durham area. planning to move in kannapolis, nc. i think thats close to charlotte. im moving in with a friend there and im very thankful i found your blog. i have a lot of friends here the RDU area and moving to a different place can be difficult if you don't have friends or new friends, especially kababayans.

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  8. Hai finally... Just moved in here please contact me po..I am so dying to meet a piney...262 215 1208. Graben walang piney ditto sa Charlotte!

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  9. Hi my name is Miah im also a pinay,and i am also ding to meet mga kababayan here in charlotte, i currently live in the south side , if any of you wants to get together and reach out para magdamayan tulungan at chismisan please call me lets make something out of this, my number is 704 222 6654 lets all get to know each other and help one another. Gusto kong mag start ng group para sa lahat ng mga kababayan na pinoy pinay na bagong salta dito sa charlotte. Maraming salamat!

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  10. Hi! Im Jen, a Pinay currently live here in Raleigh NC.Cebu is my origin,one month pa lang ako dito.Im married to American man for 5 years,we have 3 years old son.I dont have yet Pinay friend here in Raleigh or in state of NC but i have friends in Texas.Sana magkaroon ako nang kaibigan dito.Thank you and God Bless...

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  11. Hi! Im Jen, a Pinay currently live here in Raleigh NC.Cebu is my origin,one month pa lang ako dito.Im married to American man for 5 years,we have 3 years old son.I dont have yet Pinay friend here in Raleigh or in state of NC but i have friends in Texas.Sana magkaroon ako nang kaibigan dito.Thank you and God Bless...

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  12. Hi! Im Jen, a Pinay currently live here in Raleigh NC.Cebu is my origin,one month pa lang ako dito.Im married to American man for 5 years,we have 3 years old son.I dont have yet Pinay friend here in Raleigh or in state of NC but i have friends in Texas.Sana magkaroon ako nang kaibigan dito.Thank you and God Bless...

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  13. Hi! Im Jen, Pinay currently live here in Raleigh NC.Cebu is my origin,5 years married to American guy and we have 3 years old son.Dalawang buwan pa lang ako dito at walang kilalang kaibigan na kababayan pero sa Texas at ibat ibang State mayroon.Sana around NC makaroon ako nang kaibigan na Filipino din.Thank you and God Bless you all.

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  14. mahirap kasi maki chica sa mga kapwa pinoy, nauuwi sa inggit at chismis na hindi maganda ang nagiging resulta. Gusto ko rin sanang magumpisa ng grupo ng mga pilipino/pilipina na gustong mag get together at mag bbq and exchange ideas and experience kaso maraming pilipino hindi maganda ang isip , meron akong nakilala pilipina dito sa charlotte nc, hindi ko na sya inimbita sa bahay ko uli dahil ang mga sinasabi nya sa akin ay hindi maganda, hindi ko alam kung naiinggit or what. Anyway, i am married to a caucasian american and itong pinay na ito whom i invited in my house for july 4th get together in vited her friend also who is also filipina and when they got to my house they were dressed like galing sila sa ermita and i will never foget one of the many red flags that i have heard and experienced with them, one of which were" alam mo maraming mga pinay dito sa america nang aagaw ng asawa ng may asawa" i was shocked, along after she was sayoing that in tagalog she was sitting in front of my husband wearing a short dress and her legs were up on the chair spread wide open , i have a witness and i could not wait to get rid of them , it was pass 230 and these girls wont leave my house. That was one of my many experience with my encounters, i have met many filipino in charlotte from all over the place, but i felt that there is some sort of arrogance competition meanness on some of them. And i dont want to have anything to do with that, like i said to my mom, i'd rather be alone and mind my own business kesa naman makunsumi ako.

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  15. i also met this other filipina whom i met at the farmers market one time , she was kind and generous but something went down and i dont feel as close as i expect to be with her. And then there was a filipino sari sari store in pineville at one time. OMG , that place was a typical filipino tindahan, punong puno ng intriga at chismosa. So, bottom line my experience was typical negativity with this, i really wish i could meet filipino who are very happy, content, have their lives together, in other words matino at hindi manloloko or lokoloko or sira ulo or matinong magbihis at hindi parang tatayo sa kanto ng fairview rd and sharon in south park mall. Seriously there is something that is needed to be done kasi ako ay pinay at nakakahiya when i see this things , lalo na kung ang mga ibang lahi ay makita ang ganitong paguugali. I want to help and form an organization na walang drama at walang yabangan. parepareho tayo and we need to help each other and unite.

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  16. Hi! im new in Raleigh and in my quest to find group of filipinos online, I stumble upon your blog. I hope I could meet a lot of filipinas here in NC

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    Replies
    1. Hi Hazel. Welcome to NC. I'm in Charlotte which is a little too far from where you are. I'm not sure if they have a huge group of Filipinos where you are but if not, get in touch with me and you at least have a friend online in me :-) Email me kapatid and tell me more!

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    2. Hi Maricris! I didn't know you responded on my comment almost a year ago. I just stumbled upon your blog again. How I wish it's still not late to be friends with anyone of the Filipinas here in NC :)

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    3. Hi Hazel, Buti at nahanap mo uli blog ko. Check mo si Lora Brown (comment below). Nasa Facebook din sya at nasa Winston-Salem sya. Mas malapit sa yo :-) Keep in touch. Kung nasa Facebook ka, friend mo ko. Salamat!

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  17. Hello! I live in Winston Salem NC! I would love to meet Filipino friends who live near

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