My father is... Filipino

CEBU, Philippines - Based on looks alone, I am every inch the American prototype.

My mother is white and she met my father during his struggling years as a new immigrant in the United States. I have a younger sister named Sampaguita. I recently graduated from high school and though my parents have lived separate lives, they never fail to give me the support I need. My father’s fiancee is also very supportive and it was she who encouraged me to write about the Filipino values I acquired from my father.

My father is Mike Saballe Pineda and he came from a small town in Leyte. He is popularly called “Amai” in Kananga. Like any Filipino household, my father is the central figure of our family. Major decisions are processed by him and my mother does not seem to mind it. My father taught us to respect our elders by addressing them “Ate” and “Kuya.” My sister Sami and I call my father’s fiancée “Nanay”.

Our favorite Filipino dishes are pancit and egg roll (lumpia) that my father cooks himself. Dad champions the Filipino cause of patronizing and loving Filipino products. I know how to cook rice, eat rice even with just Maggi seasoning or UFC catsup. Dad has been our role model of frugality. He taught us the value of hard work. He never gambles nor goes out to bars with the boys. He finds joy in keeping his yard full of blooming ornamental plants in spring and summer. In winter, he scrapes ice and shovels snow from the yard. There is never a dull moment in the company of dad. If he is not singing on his “magic sing,” which is his passion, he regales us with stories about the beauty of the Philippines – the beaches, nature and the tourist spots. In fact, he also tells us about the modern malls, the upgraded schools, the preserved old houses, the beautiful churches and the hospitable people.

I can’t wait to visit the Philippines. The new president, President Benigno Aquino III, son of the very popular president Cory Aquino, whom my mother admires, has given my father renewed hope he shares with his compatriots. Like my father, I am proud of my culture.

I am glad I have a Filipino for a father. Like he always says, Mabuhay!