Members: Fe, Nympha and Zarah Gillies
Meal: stir fry noodles, Brazo de Mercedes (meringue and custard), English tea
In our culture we serve the older people first, because we have respect for them. It’s a courtesy. This photo is of me and my daughter and granddaughter. I’m 75 and they call me Lola Fe which means grandmother.
In Filipino culture the first thing you do when you see an older person is take a blessing. When my children see me, they take my hands and put it on their forehand – as a blessing. It’s like saying: Lola Fe I am here. I am blessing them.
The Kitchen table is where we get together and talk about what happened. It’s like a meeting room. They hug me a lot. They tell me they love me on the phone. They listen when I give them advice, especially about relationships. I treat my children and grandchildren like sisters. They drive me around when I need it. Anything I need. They ask me about stories from long, long ago, their grandparents they never knew about our life in the Philippines.
Photographer: Suzanne Phoenix