Since arriving from the Philippines, my parents raised me to be a devout Roman Catholic. I was an altar server through grade school, diligently attended Sunday classes, and partook in the sacraments of Holy Communion and Confirmation. My family even prayed the rosary daily. During college, however, I no longer considered myself a Catholic. Surprised by my confession, my parents asked, “Do you hate being Filipino?” At the time, it seemed to me an absurd question. What does my conversion from Catholicism have to do with abandoning my Filipino identity? I can understand if disavowing my childhood faith implied a fundamental disagreement with the ways they raised me, but it was a leap to say I hated an integral part of my identity.
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“Do you hate being Filipino?”
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Since arriving from the Philippines, my parents raised me to be a devout Roman Catholic. I was an altar server through grade school, diligently attended Sunday classes, and partook in the sacraments of Holy Communion and Confirmation. My family even prayed the rosary daily. During college, however, I no longer considered myself a Catholic. Surprised by my confession, my parents asked, “Do you hate being Filipino?” At the time, it seemed to me an absurd question. What does my conversion from Catholicism have to do with abandoning my Filipino identity? I can understand if disavowing my childhood faith implied a fundamental disagreement with the ways they raised me, but it was a leap to say I hated an integral part of my identity.