A Sneak Peak At “The Filipino Party”
A Filipino party is a unique experience. No matter where you are from in the Philippines, it is almost always the same. Filipino’s know how to have fun!
It’s the first time my wife has seen her cousin in 15 years. This could be anywhere in the world but this time it is in Alabama.
We arrive in the evening just before dark. I have never met any of these people. We are met outside by smiles that have been waiting for a long time. Have you ever been somewhere and instantly felt at home? Filipinos make you feel like that. We enter the house to the sounds of family gathered in the living room and kitchen. It is a given that the smell of food will be in the air. You just have to be there to experience it as it unfolds. There is no organization about it at all.
I had discussed with my wife as to how many people would be at the house that night. She replied that there might be one more person besides family. She was right when we arrived but it didn’t take long to see that we were in it for the long haul! I immediately made myself at home and sat at the table with my new found friend Meo. He is my wife’s, cousins’ husband, he is from Bicol in Luzon province. He is a thin man with a long ponytail. A hardworking dude with a flair for Photography. We shared a few beers (with his brother also). We discussed our lives and generally got to know each other for a while.
It is an experience that is repeated throughout the Filipino community. Although I am American I am accepted without reservation in this household. We engage for sometime looking into the future of the evening and what it hold for us. While we talk, others in the family begin to move in and the home begins to resemble a family reunion of sorts. Little did I know it would turn into a night to remember.
Meo led me out to the back porch all the time eating Pulutan (Filipino for snacks) to an expansive screened in porch that overlooked the road that they lived on. As new (to me) guests showed up I could tell that this was a place that was a regular hangout for local Filipinos. I was amazed to find that Meo had buillt a full size Kareoke Machine and it was sitting on his back porch ready for service. The Filipino Party is a fluid event that has no start and no end, often with guests/family spending the night. As the night unfolded and people came (and more beer of course), the house was packed and full of music.
One note that I want to express. There were many children there. Most children born of Filipino parents don’t end up speaking their parents native language. I am pleased to report that all young ones here at this house were very fluent in Tagalog.
Continuing on, some were good singers, some were not. One thing for sure, everyone had a great time! There was one group singing on the inside of the house (the children) and one group on the outside.
There was an abundance of food as always and friendly conversations flowed naturally all night long. I guess as an American (random white guy), I appreciate the culture that these folks have. You know, growing up we didn’t have gatherings like this. We visited family once in a while around the holidays and that was about it!
There is a sense of belonging in the Filipino community. There is a closeness that is not felt in all cultures and that is one of the things I like best!
Oh yeah, the exciting part… The local police had to break up the party around 1:30 a.m. due to the noise. It was a peaceful breakup but it goes to show how Filipinos love their parties!
This is just a common post but I wanted to try in a small way to relay what it is like to experience a “Filipino Party“.
