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Abstract

d the achievements we have attained.</p><p id="4e11">Those are the roots that have fed my spirit; the roots that have nourished me to the person I am now.</p><h2 id="e15a">Pride, not prevarication</h2><p id="a3a7">Having lived and worked (to date and beyond) in countries outside the Philippines for decades, I would never dream of not disclosing where I am “originally from” when asked. I would not prevaricate.</p><p id="2e0b">I may even volunteer the answer despite not being queried.</p><p id="69ef">Being asked for our roots is not an offensive question.</p><p id="cc1b">It is, on the contrary, a query that should elicit pride in the individual.</p><p id="dc3e">A chance to highlight our heritage, our roots.</p><p id="eea7">At the University of Auckland in New Zealand where I worked for a few years, I got asked frequently where I was originally from.</p><p id="154f">This university, then and now, is a melting pot. Students, tutors and professors, guest lecturers and general staff are from all over the world.</p><p id="4492">None got offended when asked for their roots or heritage.</p><p id="a216">The pleasure when they answered was mirrored in the twinkle in their eyes.</p><p id="7266" type="7">Oh, the pride of disclosing one’s roots! 😊</p><p id="0f82">(In the event, however, that I come across someone who isn’t proud to reveal his/her roots, I would likely utter in my mind, <i>oh,</i> <i>stuff it</i>.</p><p id="f052">Honestly, though, I have not met anyone who isn’t proud of his/her roots.)</p><p id="0298">This is in response to Dr. Preeti Singh’s nature prompt for the last week of the last month this year, ROOTS. Thank you, Dr. Preeti, for the writing challenges that made contributing writers, like me, explore worthy angles with which to use for the piece.</p><h2 id="53a5">Recommended readings:</h2><p id="74cc"><a href="undefined">Bassey BY</a> wishes us a merry Christmas and happy holidays, with emphasis on what matters most.</p><div id="1349" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/merry-christmas-happy-holidays-c92dc89195e4"> <div> <div> <h2>Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays</h2> <div><h3>Let’s enjoy people, food, and gifts.</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url

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(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*LvVC6-BLtGbeyzlk)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="e161"><a href="undefined">Dr. Preeti Singh</a> writes about why the UK is the most multi-diverse spot on earth (contrary to accusers who use the ‘R’ card because it pads the wallet).</p><div id="eb7f" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/celebrate-christmas-with-the-u-k-the-most-multi-cultural-country-6edbcb54b464"> <div> <div> <h2>Celebrate Christmas With The U.K.The Most Multi-Cultural Country In The World</h2> <div><h3>Christmas fun in the UK with different communities</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*aPnOHT2ut_3YuCNq)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="49fc">MANY thanks again to Reciprocal’s Sahil Patel, <a href="undefined">Yana Bostongirl</a> and Dr. Preeti Singh for their warm and tireless support to contributors like me on this platform. Happy celebrations, and may <b>Reciprocal</b> move forward into 2023 with a big, big bang of success and recognition.</p><figure id="5f7f"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*q9sAgoFlLIe_b5W34l3bTQ.jpeg"><figcaption>Imagine the roots under this pile of leaves which, when they turn into mulch, would provide organic nutrients to the roots. Roots may be hidden from view but they are essential to the overall health of the tree itself.</figcaption></figure><p id="f3f0"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephine-crispin-081b0735/">LinkedIn</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/ja_crispin">Twitter </a>| <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NurturingHeartOfNature">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ja.crispin/">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Josephine-Crispin/e/B08QS89Z4J?ref_=dbs_p_ebk_r00_abau_000000">Amazon Author’s Page</a>| <a href="http://pinoypub.ph/catalog/author/josie-aventurado">pinoypub.ph</a> | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@j.a.crispin">YouTube</a> | <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/mzjosephine-27203240/?tab=latest">Pixabay</a> |<a href="https://jacrispincom.wordpress.com/">WordPress</a></p></article></body>

PERSONAL ESSAY

Roots

‘Where are you originally from?’

Image by Venita Oberholster from Pixabay

The roots of a tree and its symbolisms are articulated in depth by Sahil Patel and Dr. Preeti Singh in their articles, Root Taught Me How To Grow into Our Strongest Selves and Are You Proud Of Your Roots, respectively.

Who could dispute their profound affirmations? Not I, not I.

The word roots, however, brings to mind one of the best-known quotes by Jose Rizal (1861–1896) the national hero of the Philippines.

Ang hindi marunong lumingon sa pinanggalingan ay hindi makararating sa patutunguhan.

Its literal translation: He who does not look back will not reach his destination.

Patriotism and nationalism are at the core of the above quotation.

And well it should as the Philippines was under Spanish rule from 1571 to 1898.

But the quotation, which I translate to “he who does not cherish his roots will not achieve what he has set out to do” is not solely a call for patriots to conquer the colonisers.

It is also, after the passing of hundreds of years of foreign domination, a blanket reminder. About honouring one’s country. One’s heritage.

It is, to me, also about expressing gratitude to that which helped us grow, and which nurtured us to be the person we have become and the achievements we have attained.

Those are the roots that have fed my spirit; the roots that have nourished me to the person I am now.

Pride, not prevarication

Having lived and worked (to date and beyond) in countries outside the Philippines for decades, I would never dream of not disclosing where I am “originally from” when asked. I would not prevaricate.

I may even volunteer the answer despite not being queried.

Being asked for our roots is not an offensive question.

It is, on the contrary, a query that should elicit pride in the individual.

A chance to highlight our heritage, our roots.

At the University of Auckland in New Zealand where I worked for a few years, I got asked frequently where I was originally from.

This university, then and now, is a melting pot. Students, tutors and professors, guest lecturers and general staff are from all over the world.

None got offended when asked for their roots or heritage.

The pleasure when they answered was mirrored in the twinkle in their eyes.

Oh, the pride of disclosing one’s roots! 😊

(In the event, however, that I come across someone who isn’t proud to reveal his/her roots, I would likely utter in my mind, oh, stuff it.

Honestly, though, I have not met anyone who isn’t proud of his/her roots.)

This is in response to Dr. Preeti Singh’s nature prompt for the last week of the last month this year, ROOTS. Thank you, Dr. Preeti, for the writing challenges that made contributing writers, like me, explore worthy angles with which to use for the piece.

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays

Let’s enjoy people, food, and gifts.

medium.com

Dr. Preeti Singh writes about why the UK is the most multi-diverse spot on earth (contrary to accusers who use the ‘R’ card because it pads the wallet).

Celebrate Christmas With The U.K.The Most Multi-Cultural Country In The World

Christmas fun in the UK with different communities

medium.com

MANY thanks again to Reciprocal’s Sahil Patel, Yana Bostongirl and Dr. Preeti Singh for their warm and tireless support to contributors like me on this platform. Happy celebrations, and may Reciprocal move forward into 2023 with a big, big bang of success and recognition.

Imagine the roots under this pile of leaves which, when they turn into mulch, would provide organic nutrients to the roots. Roots may be hidden from view but they are essential to the overall health of the tree itself.