Filipino, Romanian

I was born in the Philippines, but I don’t remember much of it. My mom raised me and brought me up here in California. I love to eat rice with everything! I guess that’s the Filipino in me. Chicken Adobo and Lumpia are my favorite. :-)

I visit my Romanian father every four years or so. It is so strange to know that the Eastern European culture is a part of me, too, because the Filipino culture and food resonates in me so much more. Plus I like to joke that I am a white-washed American.

Of course, that is not completely true! I do feel that I have grown to love all that I am comprised of. I went through a bit of an identity crisis in college, but taking a Filipino American Studies class helped me to sort a lot of that out. I have my former UCSB professor, Rudy Guevarra, to thank. :-)

Being Hapa makes me feel beautiful, inside and out. I can’t wait to pass on my heritage and stories to my children someday.