Filipino Parties

“Eat some more food.” Everyone surrounding me was telling me to eat more and more. Aunties, uncles, and cousins that I never even knew I had were telling me to eat. Even though I was already full, I picked up another plate and started to eat again. Every time I go to a Filipino party, I find myself eating more and more. Growing up Filipino, I have always been accustomed to going to a big Filipino family party at least once a month. Usually, my family would all get together at an auntie or uncles house for a birthday, holiday, or any other reason they can think of. Each party was practically the same for the most part. My family consists of hundreds of aunties, uncles, cousins, and other relatives. My family and I would all meet up in a relative’s home, and each family would bring at least 2 of their own homemade dishes to the party. Last weekend, I went back home for my uncle’s birthday. Since starting school, I haven’t really been surrounded by Filipino culture, and I forgot how crazy these Filipino parties can get. As I walked into the house, holding my Tupperware full of chicken adobo, I knew that I was at a Filipino party. As the door closed behind me, my senses were bombarded with a variety of different sounds, smells, and sights that I have had seen before but almost forgotten. After a few moments, when my sensory overload passed, I walked to the dining room table and placed my family’s home made Filipino dish onto the table. I looked around and took a deep breath because I knew I had to make my rounds, and greet every single person at the party. This has always been a Filipino tradition in my family. As I began to hug all my aunties, uncles, cousins, and other relatives, I got a feeling like I was home again. Everything that seemed weird in the beginning started to feel normal again. The party officially began at 1 o’clock in the afternoon, but in true Filipino fashion, the majority of the guests invited didn’t arrive until at least 3. While still