I immigrated here from the Philippines - via Seattle - in 1931 after a 30 day voyage on the Sturgess,a boat that carried us from Manila to Hong Kong, to the United States. I came to the US to find new adventures and to follow my older brother, Pedro, who had left the province where we lived some time before.

In Minneapolis, Loring Park was a favorite place for me. Many people would go there to meet friends and like all other nationalities, Filipinos found the Park very interesting and people-friendly. A few Filipinos would go to the park to find other Filipinos who might have come from the same province or town. After knowing each other, loneliness or homesickness disappeared. Meeting other Filipinos at the Park was just like home. We played Sipa (like American kick-ball), just like we did in the Philippines. In Sipa, players form a circle and the ball is kept up in the air. Hands are not used. The ball is made of rattan strips and is bouncy enough. It is also easy on the foot. We played often and other nationalities tried to join us. The game was mild - no body contact, so it didn't seem to appeal to the Americans.