Friday, July 07, 2006

Roots

Funny how our homeland always calls us back.

The black American who finds familiar refuge in Africa; the Jew who returns to Israel. The call of the land which nursed our ancestors is much too persuasive to resist, and we migrate, as if through some inner radar, to where our forebears came from.

I just found out a few weeks ago that I am both of Chinese and Japanese ancestry, on my father's and mother's side, respectively. Aside from being of Mexican (and of course Filipino) stock, which I'd known already. This perhaps explains my lifelong attraction to Japanese culture (I used to have an obsession with the Japanese occupation of the Philippines in WWII) and Chinese food. And, come to think of it, Mexican movies.

But my most recent "callback" is from the Cordilleras, home to my ancestors and to wbich I've recently returned. It's odd; two dear friends who have accompanied me on my trips up to BC appear to be considering making the place one of their bases as well. And, guess what, turns out that both of them have the Cordilleras in their blood: my Anak, like me, has Abra; CC's ancestors are from BC too. Hmm. And to think our ascendants came all the way to Manila for a "better life." No worries though, we're on our way to setting everything right.

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