SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Two members of Team Seymour shared their passion of their native cuisines during Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
Staff Sgt. Janna Matthews, 4th Medical Operations Squadron non-commissioned officer in-charge of pediatrics, emigrated from the Philippines in 2005 at the age of 14 with her family. She joined the Air Force in 2011, and became a citizen shortly thereafter.
Staying close to her roots, Matthews continues to speak her native tongue, Tagalog, and prepare dishes from her home land.
“I love to cook,” said Matthews. “I like making lumpia and other Filipino dishes to share with my friends and co-workers. [Cooking] is how I celebrate my heritage every day.”
Matthews added that even though she grew up in the Philippines she really didn’t learn how to cook until she joined the military and found herself missing her family’s home cooked meals.
Senior Airman Melissa Punzalan, 4th Aerospace Medicine Squadron deployment medicine technician, also enjoys preparing dishes native to Guam and the Philippines.
“Me and my husband are complete foodies,” said Punzalan. “I love preparing kelaguen, a shredded chicken dish served with titiyas, which is kind of like a tortilla.”
Both Matthews and Punzalan agreed that rice is life for Asian culture and is a part of every meal, including dessert.
“[Filipinos] are pretty much known for their eating,” said Matthews. “You wake up in the morning, you eat and then two hours later, you eat and so on.”
Even during the holidays both Airmen said their families prepare dishes from the culture and usually eat them traditionally, which involves using hands as utensils.
Both Airmen enjoy sharing their culture’s dishes during potlucks and being able to bring a little piece of their native home to others.
“Food is how we connect with people,” said Punzalan. “Nobody is going to deny food, especially good food.”
Matthews attended the AAPI Heritage Month luncheon May 24, adding that Punzalan was there in spirit. In addition to the luncheon, throughout the month of May, Team Seymour celebrated AAPI Heritage Month with how-to flyers, movies and fact sheets of well-known Asian Americans throughout history in the military.