Learning our hxstory by Mikaela Yangco

What is an ancestor?

mikaelayangco69 — 2025-09-02 19:54:01 UTC

An ancestor is someone who has come before you or paved a path for you. The ancestor you honor and bring into the space may have passed or might still be alive. It can be someone you know or are related to, but it can also be someone you don't know.

Mika's Example

mikaelayangco69 — 2025-09-02 20:00:00 UTC

This is my living ancestor and paternal grandfather: Manuel/Manny. I am grateful that I get to grow up under his roof and with his guidance. He has taught me about family, love, and community.

I honor him with the song: The Last Goodbye by Billy Boyd from The Hobbit Films. The Middle Earth Universe is near and dear to my heart because of my Lolo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8ir8rVl2Z4&list=RDq8ir8rVl2Z4&start_radio=1&pp=ygUKbG90ciBzb25nc6AHAQ%3D%3D

My mom

2025-09-04 16:34:56 UTC

My mom has always been the one consistently person in my life. She has always been there for me.

A somg that reminds me of her is Fast Car by Tracy Chapman.

Mavie's example

2025-09-04 16:35:14 UTC

I would like to acknowledge my grandfather, who recently passed away in January of this year. He was a man I remember for his good sense of humor; his care and affection, which I recall as some of my earliest memories.

2025-09-04 16:35:52 UTC

Prof. Miura

My faddah- Malcolm Miura

Song: What a wonderful world- Louis Armstrong version!

Malia Gomes Ancestor

2025-09-04 16:36:02 UTC

This is my obaachan, my grandmother on my mother’s side. I lived with her my first two years of college and am extremely grateful to have been able to learn from her life experiences. She always encourages me and emphasizes the importance of being curious and exploring all opportunities.

She really loves the Tennessee Waltz by Patti Page https://open.spotify.com/track/0BHroBUvBAp561BYqC9LRK?si=o9XfWMfWSl6jDiriIT5u7A

Cassandra Gomez

2025-09-04 16:36:07 UTC

An ancestor that is important to me is my grandmother because I often ask her stories about what her life was like when she was younger which helps me get a better idea of my cultural history. I also admire her because she is very active for her age and spends hours gardening every day.

Veronica Solis

2025-09-04 16:36:40 UTC

My living ancestor is my grandma Mercedes. She’s a very kind person who loves telling stories about her childhood back in El Salvador. I’ve learned so much about my culture because she’s open about cultural practices and struggles Salvadorans go through.

My mother

2025-09-04 16:37:30 UTC

I like to acknowledge my mom, who immigrated to the states from the Philippines and has sacrificed a lot to give me and my sister the lives we have now. Not to mention the experiences that she went through to get here.

(Aiden Wang)

2025-09-04 16:37:41 UTC

Lindsay. She's a family friend, and since my mom's passing, she's been a staple role model in my family since. I've learned a lot from her, especially as a source of advice.

Randy Vera

2025-09-04 16:38:33 UTC

A ancestor that I would like to acknowledge is my grandfather since he is a man that I highly respected due to his character and way of life

Julian B

2025-09-04 16:38:36 UTC

I would say my grandmother is someone who is very important to me and has taught me a lot.

What is an ancestor

2025-09-04 16:38:37 UTC

An ancestor is someone who came before you, also usually someone who is the reason you were birthed into this world. They are someone who has lived a lifetime longer than you have and should learn from.

Phoebe Dowling: My Grandpa

2025-09-04 16:39:07 UTC

An ancestor I’d like to honor would be my Grandpa Grant. Unfortunately, he passed almost a decade ago. He was the head of our family for a long time and paved the way for our family. He immigrated here from Hong Kong in the 1940’s with his father and brothers. Once he got to Orangevale California, he decided to build and open up a grocery store. He ran that grocery store for decades, giving jobs to his brothers, his wife, and eventually his daughters. He’s a sacred person for me and my family. One song he loved and always reminds me of him is My Way by Frank Sinatra. https://open.spotify.com/track/2YkIDPL5lGhRhomCq4S2RO?si=DdCeG9dWThuBTB3DjpfrVg

Anthony Azurdia

2025-09-04 16:39:09 UTC

I’d like to bring in my grandfather (I can’t for the life of me spell his name) who passed away a few years back, I wasn’t able to visit him before he passed but I still remember all the times he and my father would take out me to do errands or anything, those were some of my best memories of my childhood

Faye McCoy

2025-09-04 16:39:10 UTC

Someone that is important to me is my mom. A song that reminds me of her is what the world needs now is love

Marlo Paprocki

2025-09-04 16:39:16 UTC

The ancestor I want to acknowledge is my Great Grandma Santo Tomas. She lived to be 102 years old, passing in 2019. She always brought so much joy and comfort into our lives.

My ancestor I think a lot about is my grandfather. He shaped the way I view the world. Giving me the example of what a man does for his family. Working hard, providing, and loving even the most stubborn people. The song that reminds me of him is Aloha Oe.

2025-09-04 16:40:10 UTC

2025-09-04 16:41:09 UTC

Not necessarily an ancestor by definition but someone who has forsure paved a path for me, someone who’s always held it down, someone who has always been a reason I keep pushing forward. That person is and has always been my twin brother, my wombmate, my built in bestie. The only person in my life, in my family that I can’t undoubtedly, 100% count on.

The song I’d choose would be Count Me In by Dove Cameron;

https://open.spotify.com/track/10fVu7S4wYUG82dfEnRktg?si=C7Y79zyIStedICNoEjT7Sw

Aya’s

2025-09-04 16:41:39 UTC

The people I chose are my Baba and my mom. They are both alive and well and they have made such a big impact on my life. They have taught me valuable things that shaped me into the person I am today and those lessons have stayed with me.

https://youtu.be/lB4PRX737-0?si=RUHUQ6I7u9cGrxSB

2025-09-04 16:42:19 UTC

My harabeoji (grandfather) is a big part of my childhood memories growing up, because he was the one who primarily took care of me when I was living in Korea with my dad. My dad was usually busy with work so he could raise us so my grandpa usually looked after me and my brother. My mom in the U.S. during that time too because she was trying to immigrate our family over.

One song that reminds me of him is "아침이슬" (Morning Dew) by 양희은 (Yang Heeeun). It's a pretty old school korean rock song and he would always be playing super old music or opera around the house.

My Mom

2025-09-04 16:42:35 UTC

My mom has been there for me my entire life. Helping me navigate through life despite my mistakes, fixing them and always telling me to try new things and be adventurous.

Here’s a song that always reminds me of my mom, she always sings this song and hearing it always reminds me of her.

https://youtu.be/qu_FSptjRic

Grace Gomez

2025-09-04 16:42:43 UTC

The ancestor I want to bring into the space is my Grandpa Joe. He immigrated to San Francisco in 2000 from the Philippines, and then moved again to the desert in SoCal in 2005 to be with us. He loved everything about the city, and would talk about it all the time. I think part of the reason I wanted to go to school here is because of his influence. He passed in 2009, and his favorite song was What A Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong.

Taro Pali ancestor

2025-09-04 16:43:01 UTC

This is my lola, who died a couple years ago to COVID. She acted very different to me but those closest to her remember her as a very funny, extroverted soul who had a bit of a perverted sense of humor. She immigrated to the United States from the Philippines with her husband and after divorcing him, had to raise my father and my two aunts alone. She made a lot of sacrifices for my family but still had energy to share with her community. After she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease she created a support group to socialize with others who had it.

I remember her with the Beatles, which was one of her favorite bands.

Joseph Garcia Reynoso

josephgreynoso — 2025-09-04 16:43:21 UTC

My dad is someone I really look up to especially for being a hard worker and a great mentor. A song that reminds me of him is eye of a tiger from his favorite movie, Rocky.

Shada

2025-09-04 16:44:35 UTC

I am going to write about my maternal grandmother. She has gone through a lot with both of her family’s and yet she is the sweetest person I know. She is always laughing and tries to look at every situation with a positive light. I don’t have a picture of her with me at the moment! The song I chose reminds me of my moms entire family not just my grandma. I remember as I kid I would get really emotional when I heard it because I hadn’t seen them for over a decade. The song doesn’t talk about family, but the chorus talks about missing someone and the girl reminded me of my aunt. So, every time I hear it, I remember them!

https://youtu.be/xdOfsXhLURo?si=hBmqs8XsUUIYP3Ug

Anh Thu Le

2025-09-04 16:44:45 UTC

Growing up, I lived with my grandmother, and I got to hear so many stories about her life, especially during the Vietnam War. Even though she lost her husband and son during that time, I know she was very sad, but she told me her stories like they were fairy tales, and I loved listening to her share them.

Austin Thompson

2025-09-04 16:45:29 UTC

my mom is someone who paved a way for me. She comes from a Japanese, Hispanic, and white family. Which has been something that she has struggled with to identify with multiple ethnic groups.

Her favorite song is Carrying your love with me by George Strait

Rafa Robles

2025-09-04 16:45:50 UTC

This is my obaasan/Lola Sachie. She isn't an ancestor in a traditional sense but since my mother didn't have family here in America she became kinda like my adopted Grandmother. To touch up on her Japanese when I was in High School we'd watch Ghibli movies together in the original dub. Both of our favorites was Kiki's delivery service.

https://youtu.be/hpfLKbjTWn0?si=eSjMV6vMjLR0zkAc

My Father & New York State of Mind

2025-09-04 16:46:22 UTC

He is someone whom I'm most inspired by; his work ethic, dedication to our family, the father figure that I always look up to, and just being my biggest mentor that I could ever ask for. I am forever grateful for the life that I have now because of the path he has laid down for me to be able to come to America.

I would listen to Billy Joel in a car with my dad, and "New York State of Mind" is our favorite song to listen to.

My grandparents

2025-09-04 16:46:25 UTC

Before Covid we would go to Okinawa every other summer where I would attend school and partake in daily life. My favorite trips were to a grocery store named Union where we would just buy sweet potatoes and I ask all the questions in the world. We would also go to my grandpa's farm where he grows dragonfruit and just being with family it truly makes me miss being so close to family.

2025-09-04 16:46:55 UTC

An ancestor I'd like to acknowledge is my great grandmother who fought for equality for Black and Native Americans. She is a source of inspiration for me and my relatives.

Big Broo

2025-09-04 16:47:21 UTC

This is me and my older brother, probably 3-4 years old at the time this picture taken. It looks like this was taken at our aunts house which holds a special place in my heart. I picked him because he is one of the very few people that keeps the memory of our dad going. He looks just like him and it still surprises me every time I see him. I haven’t seen him in a while and I miss him all the time. I would added a song he liked but I don’t know any.

-Skylar / Sky

My Dad

2025-09-04 16:49:56 UTC

My dad is my living ancestor because he’s been very supportive of all my decisions and looks out for me even on his hardest days. He has gone through so much since he was a kid to the moment he migrated here to the U.S. A lot of people don’t acknowledge the hard work he’s put in to be here in the States. He has influenced a lot of the things I do today and I honor his hard work everyday. He’s someone I genuinely look up to everyday.

A song that reminds me of him is Cariño- The Marias. Although it is a love song its reminds me about how that’s my nickname from him. My dad calls me cariño.

Haley Winslow

2025-09-04 16:53:18 UTC

This is my maternal grandmother Cristina (Flore) Monroy. The thing that stands out to me that she taught me is that hard work will always pay off. When she immigrated here from Mexico life was not easy for her or her family. I will always admire her and I think about her when I am tempted to give up. One song that reminds me of her is "Las Mananitas" that we always sing for peoples birthdays and I remember her face always lighting up with so much joy and love for us.

Brian Liang

2025-09-04 16:59:42 UTC

I would say my mom as she’s important to me and she has shown me a supportive path in life and motivations with her stories about her time in life

Eliana Garcia

2025-09-04 17:21:32 UTC

I would like to acknowledge my grandmother. Someone who has raised me I don’t see her often since she lives in Mexico however, I try to talk to her often. One of her favorite artist is Jose Jose .

2025-09-04 18:35:03 UTC

A person I would like to acknowledge is my father who along with my mother came to the United States at a very young age, my father is my role model.

A song that reminds me of my father is any song by Chalino Sanchez, he enjoys listening to his music

Mayva Lou

2025-09-05 00:05:47 UTC

My ancestor of choice is my grandma, my mother’s mom. I spent a lot of time alone with her while my mother went to work, and she would try to play with me or tease me about eating something she shouldn’t. She didn’t listen to particular songs, but swimming pools always remind me of her

Arianna Velazquez

2025-09-05 23:57:13 UTC

A living ancestor I would like to share is my grandmother, Demetria, my best friend. She is a demonstration of resilience and strength. Growing up I never really had ideal parents so she would be the one to take care of me and my little sister. Through her love for cooking, she would teach me how to cook authentic Puebla dishes and advise me through life, which is why I am who I am today. She is very chill and silly and always makes me laugh. A song that reminds me of them is A Donde Vayas Los Bukis.