Three generation ancestral pilgramage

There's been a lot happening behind the scenes on my end. As some of you may know, I've been getting ready for a trip to the Philippines next month with my entire family. The last time I visited the Philippines with my parents, I was just 6 years old. Since then, I've returned three times on my own, seeking answers to questions around home and belonging. Making those later trips as an adult helped me to understand the complex and intricate web of ancestral, cultural, colonial, and familial influences on my identity. 

I'm really looking forward to experiencing the Philippines with my parents at this point in my life. This trip feels especially significant after all the inner work I've done (and continue to do!) around unpacking what it means to be a second-generation, mixed-race Fil-Am. It's been a challenging journey to feel through all the complex emotions, but now there's so much space within me filled with gratitude and appreciation for how my father's story, and that of his family, has shaped me. Our upcoming trip will take us to Pangasinan, my father's birthplace, a place he hasn't returned to in over 50 years. We'll be eleven family members total traveling together, including my 6 year old niece, Lyanna, who will be experiencing the Philippines for the first time . So, it's three generations coming together for what feels like an ancestral pilgrimage.

I asked my mom to dig up old photos from our trip! Here we are at Fort Santiago in Intramuros circa 1989.

I'll be reflecting on my previous trips to the Philippines in the Chrysalis Kali newsletter, plus documenting my upcoming travels. I invite you to come along with me for the inner and outer journey!