The Day I Became An American
I became an American citizen on April 1, 1997, April Fool's Day. I sure hope no one will one day tell me that the day I became a US citizen did not count since it was just a joke.
It was a beautiful spring day when two important people in my life, my mom and my partner, accompanied me to the Masonic Temple on top of swank Nob Hill, to witness my oath taking as I become one of America's newest citizens.
It was no doubt a proud day for me. I had wanted to become fully part of the United States and this day marked the beginning of my life as a citizen of the country I had dreamed of living in since I was a child.
What I thought was going to be a simple ceremony turned out to be a bit of an emotional one for me. My eyes welled when I had to renounce my old citizenship and pledge allegiance to my new country. Although it was true I couldn't wait to leave the Philippines and live elsewhere, the Philippines did help shape who I am today. I was schooled there, I speak the language, I love the food, my very being is Filipino.
On the other hand, there is a lot in me too that is American. I have lived in the US longer now than I ever did in Manila. I too went to school here. I work here. I chose to make my home in San Francisco.
I do go home to Manila every so often, but, the United States is where I feel I truly belong.
With my mom and Marc after the oath taking ceremony.
With Marc at the Masonic Temple after I swore allegiance to the United States.
To celebrate this event, we all had a wonderful lunch at the Marc Hopkins Hotel where we all lunched on exceptional food in a very posh place. God bless America!