Pasasalamat – Proper noun
ThanksgivingFor a while now, Loblaws has been making commercials where they take a family, highlight their story, and then let them go on a grocery spree for a big surprise family feast. The latest in the series hits close to home as it features a mixed couple, with a half Filipino and half German father. He explains that his parents moved to Canada almost fifty years ago in search of a better life. His parents’ wedding was scarce, even foregoing a cake.
Representation of Filipino stories has been severely lacking in the media and the public sphere. The subject has inspired academic discussion as University of Toronto Press published Filipinos in Canada: Disturbing Invisibility (2012). It means a lot to me that a Filipino story, so familiar to me and to many others, would actually be portrayed – corporate marketing aside. The commercial even highlights classic Filipino food like “Tita’s” lumpia, pancit palabok (complete with the inihaw pusit – grilled squid), and my favourite, kare-kare.
I truly love that they chose the story of Filipino immigrants and our food. It is the physical manifestation of shared memories. That’s why food so important to us Filipino immigrants and our connection with our heritage because it makes us remember who we are.