Me, My Culture, and I

Marigold Peer Voices

Anonymity is essential to the Marigold Health community so that every member has a place to be their true self; to comfortably speak openly and honestly. While our peers are not anonymous in the Marigold Health app, we still encourage them to use their own voices when they communicate, without feeling like they need to edit for an audience. In that spirit, this piece of content has not been filtered, polished, or run through the marketing machine. We hope you enjoy this sample of Marigold peer voices, and that it inspires you to join the conversation.

Hey there, fellow adventurers! In honor of Asian American Pacific Islander month, I wanted to share a piece of me with you. Get ready to join me on an uproarious journey through the wacky world of Filipinos and the hilarious twists and turns of Philippine history. Grab your sense of humor and prepare to be entertained, because this mischievous Filipino is about to give you a front-row seat to our nation's funniest moments!?

Let's start with us Filipinos. We're a quirky bunch, full of colorful personalities and unforgettable traits. One thing we're known for is our unique sense of time. When a Filipino says, "I'll be there in five minutes," it's like a magical code that actually translates to "I'll be there whenever I feel like it." We have our own time zone, and it's called "Filipino Time." It's a time zone where clocks seem to move slower, and appointments are mere suggestions. So, if you ever find yourself waiting for a Filipino friend, bring a book, a snack, and maybe a sleeping bag, because you'll be there for a while!?

Now, let's talk about Philippine history—a rollercoaster ride filled with heroic tales, strange encounters, and plot twists that even the best soap operas would envy. The Spanish colonization era was like a never-ending episode of "Whose Culture Is It Anyway?" The Spanish arrived, thinking they could change everything to their liking. But we Filipinos, being the sly rebels we are, managed to turn their attempts at dominance into a comedy of errors. We mixed their language with our local slang, confusing them with our unique vocabulary. It was like watching a Spanish grammar book explode into a sea of "ay nako" and "bes."?

Then came the Americans, armed with their catchy tunes, Hollywood dreams, and a knack for spelling our names wrong. They were like the kooky cousins we never knew we had. We embraced their pop culture, but in true Filipino fashion, we added our own twist. We sang their songs with a heavy accent, danced the cha-cha while wearing cowboy hats, and devoured hamburgers with a side of lumpia and pancit. The Americans must have thought they had stumbled into a parallel universe where everything was a bit off but undeniably fun.?

As for me, growing up in this whirlwind of a country, I couldn't help but let my mischievous side shine. I was the pint-sized troublemaker who always found a way to turn the mundane into a comedy sketch. Math problems? I turned them into riddles that left my classmates scratching their heads. History class? I transformed it into a theatrical production, complete with epic battles fought with rulers and erasers. My teachers didn't always know what to do with me, so they always sent me to the principal’s office, but they couldn't help but chuckle at my antics. If you want to know more about my rebellious adventures of being a church girl gone wild, you should ask my mother.

So, my fellow adventurers, let's celebrate the hilarity of being Filipino and the comical moments that make up our history. From our relaxed sense of time to our knack for turning serious situations into comedic gold, we've mastered the art of finding joy in every twist and turn. So, the next time you find yourself in the midst of a Filipino fiesta or caught in the web of our peculiar humor, just sit back, laugh, and embrace the chaos. After all, life is a lot funnier when you're a Filipino!