The Deepest Roots are the Oldest
During this past weekend, I got a good perspective of the way culture resonates (or doesn't) through generations and generations. After being around different types of Filipino communities, there is a mixed reaction to what can be seen. As a leader for a cultural club, it is often a challenge to inspire the younger, newer generations (not that I'm any older) to want to know more about their culture. Media plays a strong role in swaying their minds to want to know the coolest, hippest, up to date trends. Historical significance? Traditional meanings? They haven't the keenest interest in it, and yet a good amount of what's relevant now was probably influenced somewhat by something in the past. I can admit to say that I am no historical/cultural buff when it comes to my own, but I am always eager and willing to learn something new (or old per se), and try to share it with others.
As we had our Open House this past weekend, I was curious to see the different types of people that would come to our booth, non-PCE members more specifically. There were many people who stop by to buy some lumpia, but is that what we are mostly known for? Our food? It's nothing to be ashamed about, but I suppose it'd be nice if they knew what we were beyond the fried and oily deliciousness of our food. It could also be an invitation to know more, I suppose.
Later that evening, we had a Kasayahan performance for a young couple's wedding. We had very good reception from the crowd, which consisted mainly of Filipinos and Caucasian people. It was great to hear from the older people how much they enjoyed seeing it, or asking about the dances.
Which leads me to our Sunday performance for a small Filipino church organization in Santa Maria. A man named Aaron S. had invited Kasayahan to perform for their group, which consisted mainly of older people. They were very excited to watch us perform traditional dances. And it was a rewarding experience. We were able to eat delicious homemade Filipino food, talk to the members about how they used to do the same dances when they were younger, and just sharing our culture with each other. What was an even greater thing to see was seeing all the members trying to do tinikling. They did not hesitate to try it again (in their heels even) and bring back memories of their youth. It made them feel young again. They were so energetic and enthusiastic. They already invited us to their Santa Nino event next year, and wouldn't take no for an answer! It's events like these that are more rewarding.
As for the younger people that were there, it took them a little convincing for them to try it out. There were the few who wanted to do it right away, and then the others who felt "too cool" to try it. But after a little persuasion, they tried it out too. I was sure that almost every single person in the room tried tinikling at least once.
The most interesting thing to come out of this experience was the culture gap between generations. Why is it that the younger generation seems less interested in their history, their culture? From what I have learned and heard, some of it could be due to whole "reverse exile," where parents who come to the US assimilate to US culture and forget to foster their own through their children. And a part of it could be as I mentioned earlier, that it is not so interesting for us. So how do we (the people who are interested and want to share this culture and keep it alive) get our fellow youth to be eager to learn, to be interested in it? It is something that I am still trying to learn, and something I am trying to work on myself.