@blair.villanueva #gippsland #tiktokph #tiktokaustralia #pinoytiktok #pinoyinaustralia #filipino #fiesta #australia #filipinoinaustralia ♬ original sound - Blair Villanueva
Last night before I closed my eyes to sleep, I was wishing for good weather the next day.
And I was very pleased that my wish was granted, as we drove our car from Warragul to Morwell to join the first Gippsland Filipino Festival.
Together with my husband and my mother-in-law (I called her Grandma), we are excited to join the Filipino community to celebrate the festivities. After all, it is nice to hang out outdoors, see what’s new in the community, and enjoy the full summer after a very long restriction brought by the pandemic.
And here we are gloriously being grateful for this good day, as the whole Filipino Gippsland community including the Filipinos in different parts of Victoria, gathered in celebration of Filipino culture, and solidarity.
Being a Filipino expat in Australia, I find it very delightful to support many cultural activities and celebrate being a Filipino.
Because without our own culture, who are we?
It is very motivating and uplifting seeing smiling faces and laughter of many Titas and Titos, tagging their whole family, socializing with other Filipino-Australian families, and the best part – hearing them expressing themselves in one (or two or could be more!) local Filipino dialects that I haven’t heard for almost couple of years. It is like music in my ears.
This simple gesture makes me feel safe and humbled. Therefore, being with a strong community is important.
I’m glad that my Aussie mother-in-law enjoyed the festivities, admiring the many traditional clothes and costumes, encouraging me to dress up the next time we join the party.
…while my husband enjoyed his Pinoy-style chicken and rice!
Hala Bira!
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