Half-life

“Half- life”

Golden Gates Bridge

       Allen is a young boy from the states; he's a half-Filipino and half-American. One summer, he was brought by his parents in the Philippines; it's his first time to go in the Philippines so he was very surprised to its temperature and the way of life of the people here.

  Allen is not proud of his Filipino side. In the U.S, when someone asked his nationality or ethnic background because of his color, Allen would answer that "I'm half-white and half-Spanish.", because he believed that Filipinos are Spanish in someway. 


        He is not raised by his parents in a Filipino way so he doesn't know how to say "po" and "opo", he can't even speak Tagalog and he doesn't practice any Filipino customs.From the Airport, he and his parents went to their relatives’ house in Pangasinan because the reason why they are here in the Philippines is to visit his Grandmother who's sick. Upon arriving in the house, Allen was greet by his cousins, "kumusta?", Allen just nod his head with confusion because he didn't understand what his cousins said. Allen's mother command him to greet his grandmother, and because of his American manner he just said, "hey, Good day!", all the people in the house was surprised with the way he talked to his grandmother. 
  
      The next day, Allen's cousins invited him to walk around the town and to play at the same time. But Allen refused because he was busy playing his computer games and his other gadgets, but his mother insist that he should go, so he had no choice but to follow what his mother said even if it's against to his will.  While Allen and his cousins are walking going to the rice field, he saw a vehicle crossing the street an he asked one of his cousin, "what is that?", because his cousin can't speak English, it ask the other one who can speak a little English to answer Allen's question and he ask Allen, "what was your question?" and Allen said, "I said, what is that vehicle?!", his cousin answered, "that's Kuliglig". Allen said, "oh, whatta weird name!”Allen and his cousins reached their destination, the rice field, And again, Allen saw a strange creature for him, a Carabao and he asked his cousin, "what's that?", and his cousin answered, "that's a Carabao or in Filipino and in Ilocano it's Nuwang!", Allen asked again, "is it dangerous?" ,"no, you wanna touch it's horn?", Allen touch its horn.  After a little while, Allen saw his cousins climbing a Mango tree, and one of his cousins hand him a Mango, Allen said, "what this?" his cousin answered, "that's mango, it's our national fruit. Eat it, it’s delicious.”," is it edible?”,"yes". After climbing the mango tree Allen and his cousins went home.  Allen's mother asked him, "how's your time playing with your cousins?", Allen said, " a bit fun! I saw a weird vehicle, touched the horn of a creepy animal and ate a mango!". Allen's mother said, "I’m happy that you have experienced the Filipinos life."" by the way, Allen we will go to the market later to buy something for your grandmother, wanna go with us?"; and because Allen was a little bit bored and he thought that the market is similar in the U.S.A he said yes.Allen was surprised when he saw that the market is completely different from what he expected. The market is noisy, crowded and even from outside you can smell the meat and fish. Because of his disappointment, he decided to stay in their car. While he's in the car, child approach him and asked some coins from him. Because he doesn't have peso money to give to the child, he gave 1 dollar. The child asked him, "anya  day toy?", Allen don't know what to do, fortunately his mother arrived and it give the child money and food and the child went home. Allen asked his mother, "Mom, why he's like that? He's dirty and he's asking money from us?" , Allen's mother explained, "he's like that because, may be, his parents is unemployed and he don't have any choice but to do what he is doing for his survival. Allen that's normal here in the Philippines. This country is completely different from where you're leaving." Allen realized something from what he saw.  


      After a couple of weeks of vacation in the Philippines, Allen and his parents are going back to the U.S.A. Allen bid his farewell to his cousins and to all his relatives and to his grandmother. Allen's vacation in the Philippines taught him bit knowledge about the Philippines.


     Because of his project, Allen needs to go back to the Philippines to gather information and to take pictures of something from the Philippines. In the Philippines he stays in his Aunt's house in Manila.
  In his first day in Manila he visits the Quiapo church, he took pictures of it and he noticed a bunch of vendors beside the church. He asked one of the vendors. "Hi! Can I ask, what's that?", and the vendor answered, "it's Agimat!", "Agimat? What's the use of that?", the vendor answered, "it is use as a lucky charms.", "oh! Interesting!” Allen took a picture of it and he will include it to his documentary.
  Allen just continue exploring the street of Manila and he keeps on taking photos of whatever he thinks will be useful for his school project. While he's taking photo, a child approaches him and it ask money from him and unlike before he has peso to give to the child. And because Allen knows why the child is doing it he decided to include the child in his project because it will show how the life of some Filipinos in the Philippines is.




        The next day, Allen went to Pangasinan where stayed for a couple of weeks when he was a child. He is welcomed by his relatives and he discovered that his grandmother died a couple of months ago. He doesn't know about it because he didn't even bother to ask about the Philippines and his mother didn't tell him about it. He meet again his cousin who used to explained everything to him when Allen had a vacation there. "Hey, how are you doing?", said Allen. "I'm doing great. What brings you here?" said his cousin. Allen answered, "I'm here to gather information about the Filipino culture for my school project, and would you help me to look for something that will help me finish my project?” "Ok, I'd love to help you. What should we do first?", his cousin said. "Just accompany me around the town while I'm gathering information and taking photos".
 
    One day, Allen and his cousin went to the rice field to take some pictures there. Allen saw again a Carabao which he used to call when he was a child "creepy animal", now he is not afraid to the Carabao and he also want to ride it. He also took a photo of it with him. Allen saw the weird vehicle, "Kuliglig". He asked the driver of kuliglig if he could ride the on it and the driver allowed him. While he's on the kuliglig he saw the mango tree which his cousin used to climbed. Allen reminisce his summer vacation before and now he climb the tree. It seems that Allen become a child again because of all of what he saw. He realized how enjoying doing those things.

      Allen is done to his project and he have to go back to the U.S for the presentation of it. In his presentation, Allen discussed what he got from his experienced in the Philippines and he is now very proud that he is a Filipino because he knows now how the Filipinos cherish the family values, their culture and other traditions. He also encourages his classmates and professors to visit the Philippines.
Allen graduated with honor as a teacher. He chose to be a teacher in Pangasinan where he learned to be a Filipino.


       One day, Allen and his cousin went to the rice field to take some pictures there. Allen saw again a Carabao which he used to call when he was a child "creepy animal", now he is not afraid to the Carabao and he also want to ride it. He also took a photo of it with him. Allen saw the weird vehicle, "Kuliglig". He asked the driver of kuliglig if he could ride the on it and the driver allowed him. While he's on the kuliglig he saw the mango tree which his cousin used to climbed. Allen reminisce his summer vacation before and now he climb the tree. It seems that Allen become a child again because of all of what he saw. He realized how enjoying doing those things.

"kuliglig" is a vehicle composed of a two-wheeled trailer pulled by a two wheeled tractor similar to a rotary tiller.

       Allen is done to his project and he have to go back to the U.S for the presentation of it. In his presentation, Allen discussed what he got from his experienced in the Philippines and he is now very proud that he is a Filipino because he knows now how the Filipinos cherish the family values, their culture and other traditions. He also encourages his classmates and professors to visit the Philippines.
Allen graduated with honor as a teacher. He chose to be a teacher in Pangasinan where he learned to be a Filipino.
  Allen is done to his project and he have to go back to the U.S for the presentation of it. In his presentation, Allen discussed what he got from his experienced in the Philippines and he is now very proud that he is a Filipino because he knows now how the Filipinos cherish the family values, their culture and other traditions. He also encourages his classmates and professors to visit the Philippines.
Allen graduated with honor as a teacher. He chose to be a teacher in Pangasinan where he learned to be a Filipino.

Allen is now in college and as a part of his school project he will make a documentary about different cultures and the culture that was assigned to him is the Filipino culture but what he know about the Philippines is not enough because before he doesn't even mind the Philippines.