A Cafecito Merienda Afternoon with FACS and LRSA
When traveling with your family and passing by a church, do you all subconsciously make the sign of the cross with your hand? Our LatinX colleagues make the same hand gesture, too!
Do you enjoy eating “champorado” (chocolatey breakfast rice porridge) with lots of evaporated milk and dried fish? Our LatinX colleagues indulge in “champurrado,” made of Mexican chocolate tablets, ground maize flour, and warming spices, BUT as a thick, hot chocolate drink perfect for the holidays.
Do you ever wonder why the large mangoes at the nearby Mexican supermarket are called “Manila Mangoes,” even if they look nothing like the smaller yellow mangoes you eat when visiting family in Manila? A cursory Google search reveals that the Mexican Ataulfo and Manilita mango cultivars descended from the Philippine mango through the galleon trade between 1600 and 1800.
These topics, and many more like it, permeated Meeting Room 140 at Kingscote Gardens during the first joint activity between the La Raza Staff Association (LRSA) and the Filipino American Community at Stanford (FACS) held in early November. Prof. Anthony Lising Antonio of the Graduate School of Education facilitated the casual conversation by pointing out many shared facets of both Filipino and Hispanic culture. Aside from leading the sharing of anecdotes about similar practices and traditions, Professor Antonio also pointed out that his former Stanford student, Anthony Christian Ocampo, wrote an award-winning book, The Latinos of Asia, and recognized this unique feature possibly as a result of the Philippines’ and Latin American countries’ colonial histories.
FACS Leaders Lanelle Neumann and Diane Abundabar, along with La Raza Leaders Karina Macias Sandoval and Samantha Chacon, orchestrated a special potluck that was a true celebration of cultural fusion. The spread featured a variety of favorite snacks contributed by members from these two staff groups. Each treat had a unique twist that made it both familiar and intriguing – steaming hot empanadas, deliciously sweet chocolate flan, freshly baked senorita bread, crunchy banana turon, assorted fresh fruit with Tajin chili lime, candies, cookies, a unique recipe for rice bibingka topped with ube, refreshing Tamarindo and Calamansi drinks – and even Milo chocolate drink! It was a feast that expanded our culinary horizons and sparked new conversations.
FACS is deeply grateful for the opportunity to connect and engage with LRSA. This event was a testament to the power of cultural exchange and the strength of our community. We look forward to future collaborations and partnerships, where we can continue to share delicious snacks and equally delicious conversations about our shared experiences. It's these moments that bring us closer together and make our community so vibrant and rich.
