Passing the Torch: Family Traditions I Continue to Uphold

My family has been at the heart of my earliest memories, shaping the traditions that have formed my strongest opinions and values. Every June during my most formative years, I would stand on stage to perform at an annual vocal recital in front of my entire community. This included my peers, teachers, various members of the church at which the recitals were always held, but most importantly, my parents, sister, cousins, Ninongs, and Ninangs, occupying a row of their own. Out of all of the people in the crowd, this was the only row whose eyes made me nervous. I remember also feeling shy at the sheer number of my family members that came to support me, knowing that my mom’s cheers would be the loudest, but also that her expectations of me were the highest. As a child, this would overwhelm me with conflicting emotions of embarrassment and anxiety, but as time has passed, I recognize how much of a privilege it was to have my family show up for me.

As it follows, for every graduation, birthday party, first communion, school performance, musical recital, spelling bee, and math olympiad, our row of supporters would prevail. My mom would make sure to advertise to all, even on her Facebook, to come out and support my sister and me. This tradition was also upheld at all family gatherings that spanned throughout the entire year. Even for other holidays like New Year’s, the Super Bowl, and of course, every Manny Pacquiao fight, it would be expected that all of us cousins would be in attendance to spend time with each other and our elders. Again, when I was younger and still lived near my family, I took this for granted and sometimes found it to be a nuisance. At that age, I had defiant tendencies and would rather go to a friend’s house. However, I reflect on those times now with such fondness, in that my familial relationships would not be as strong as they are today if I had not given them the time I did then. 

Thus, the importance of consistently showing up for those you love has stuck with me ever since. I extend this value to all of my personal friendships and prioritize the moments that really matter the most. With friendships, especially as we get older, it gets increasingly inconvenient to stay in touch and continue showing up. As a college senior, I acknowledge that all of my closest friends will get jobs that will put us miles apart, and we’ll only see each other a few times a year instead of a few times a week. Theoretically, this should scare me, but it doesn’t. Because of the values I learned from my family, I understand what quality time is and how to make that time amongst the madness of my life for the moments and relationships that really matter. 

That was it for the sentimental portion of this topic, but the other ideas I had in mind that more directly answer the prompt of family traditions I value most and will continue to uphold:

1. Gathering as a family for Christmas festivities on the night of Christmas Eve rather than Christmas Day (something a lot of Filipino families do).
2. Having and sitting at the “Kids Table,” although most of my cousins and I are in our 20s.
3. Engaging in some form of gambling game or talent show to get money from the adults, usually Left, Right, Center, and karaoke, respectively.
4. Living in New Jersey, the place where the Tero family has set down our roots, thanks to my late Grandma Dahl.