Irene Bantigue
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Irene Bantigue
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How would you describe your transition from the Philippines to England, and from England to the US?
“The transition from the Philippines to England - I don’t remember much of it. I just remember growing up and feeling that I don't fit in where I was, because I thought that was my home. And just feeling that something made me feel different. My family is super Filipino and them being so different from my other friends’ parents made me feel conflicted. Then moving from England to the US, I was definitely a lot more conscious about the diversity of the new place and finding my place in a new environment.”
What was the hardest thing about immigrating to the U.S. for you and your family?
“I think it was having to find that balance between fitting in and keeping a hold of your culture. Yeah, we still celebrate a lot of our culture at home, but it's very hard sometimes. We waited seven years for our immigration visas to be approved, and then in 2014, we moved. So it's just been a long time of failures and then starting over again. But I think it's impressive and it motivates me - hearing that my parents in general did not let the failures deter them.”
Why did you choose to share your story today? What do you hope to gain and what do you hope to give?
“I chose to share my story because I feel like I'm still a very Filipino person, culturally, even though I've lived in very Westernized places. I guess this is kind of a type of self-growth for me. I want to share how I've tried to direct myself through the process because it's difficult to try and settle in a completely different place. So that's why I was hoping to share my story. Even though I appreciate that my life has gotten so much better, moving from these different places, it came with a lot of sacrifices from my family."
- Irene Bantigue
Irene Bantigue