Where I'm From.

It's late, but I finally did it!  I found this meme forever ago at Loukia's, but it originates here.   Hope you enjoy another peek into the mind of Nenette.  May it not scare you too much.

I am from sandos and tsinelas, from banana seat bikes, from watching the Electric Company, The Flinstones, and Sonny & Cher, and warm buttered pandesal and ensaymada with a generous sprinkling of sugar.

I am from The Village People, Donna Summer, and Donny & Marie.   I am from Duran Duran, Madonna, and U2 back when they were considered "alternative".  I am from "Do They Know It's Christmas?", "Tears Are Not Enough", and "We Are The World".

I am from watching Friday Night Videos, Tales from the Dark Side, and SCTV.  All in a row.

I am from Merlin, Pop-o-Matic Trouble, and Simon.

I am from the 2-story house on Sampaloc with a chicken coop outside under the front stairs, street vendors selling cashews, warm island tropics I will never forget.  I am from the 2-story grey house on Arlington Street with the wood-panelled basement, bedroom walls covered with pictures of boys with turned up collars from BOP and Tiger Beat.

I am from the sampaghita in front of my grandmother's house in Pandan and the lilac bushes on my way to school.

I am from saying Grace before meals, and thick wavy black hair, from Pilar and Illuminada and Josefina, and cousins nicknamed -- believe it or not -- Bong-Bong, Weng-Weng, Jhun-Jhun, and Jhet-Jhet.

I am from the quick tempers, the genuine desire to help our friends, and the green thumbs that make things grow.

From "You are our first grandchild so you're extra special" and "You are the example to your younger cousins" and "You need to wear lipstick -- you look dead."

I am from praying the rosary every Sunday and playing the organ in church choir, from 12 grapes eaten at the stroke of midnight on New Years, from Noche Buena on Christmas Morning just before going back to church.  Again.

I am from statues of the Virgin Mary and painted portraits of Jesus all over the house that would freak me out because it was like he was watching EVERYTHING I DID.

I'm from Manila, The Philippines, milagrosa rice and chicken adobo, and pancit that my grandmother would cook not only for special occasions but because she loved me and knew it was my favourite.

{image: Tangled Noodle)

From the family with the 12 girls and boys, the grandfather who would hide his cigarettes behind the bookshelf, and the other grandfather whose 2nd wife was younger than his eldest grandchild.

I am from a large case in my parents' basement filled with 8mm films, black and white photos from the 60s, and artwork and carvings from The Philippines to help me remember where I'm from wherever I decide to go.

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