Angelino AF (Asian Flavor)
Not Just Surviving—Thriving in Two Cultures
Category: Uncategorized
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After visiting several California missions this year, I finally made my way to Mission San Luis Rey in Oceanside. Often called the “King of the Missions,” it immediately stood out for its impressive size, peaceful gardens, and beautiful architecture. It is one of the largest and most well-preserved missions in California, and walking through its…
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I’ve visited 7 California missions so far, and out of all of them, Mission San Juan Capistrano is easily my favorite. I actually visited two other missions—San Diego de Alcalá and San Luis Rey—before coming here. But this place left such an impression on me that I couldn’t wait to write about it and share…
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Five years ago, on the Fourth of July, I arrived in California with a face mask, a face shield, and a lot of uncertainty. Since then, this state has challenged me, humbled me, and changed me. From overcoming my fears to discovering the rich history of California and the United States, it’s been a journey…
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My California Mission Journey: Mission San Buenaventura One Stamp. One Story. One Step Closer to Understanding California’s History.
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Most people living in California—whether they grew up here or just moved here—don’t really know the story behind these places. If the East Coast was shaped by colonization, the West Coast was shaped by missionization. The Spanish brought Christianity, especially Catholicism, and that became a huge part of California’s identity. But here’s the thing—we shouldn’t…
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After my visit to Mission San Gabriel Arcángel, I felt inspired to continue my journey and visit another nearby mission. My next stop was Mission San Fernando Rey de España, located about a 45-minute drive from San Gabriel. The interior of the church felt quite similar to the other missions I had visited. In a…
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My interest in California’s missions began after my visit to Mission Santa Barbara. I arrived in Santa Barbara carrying a heavy heart, but I left with a renewed sense of purpose—a goal to visit all 21 California missions. As a Filipino, I feel a special connection to these Spanish missions. The Philippines was under Spanish…
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When I was in theological school, one of our professors asked a question that stayed with me for years: “Who do you think receives more credit in heaven — someone who goes to church on a Sunday, or someone who spends that Sunday helping people, such as feeding the hungry?” What seemed like a simple…
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I just finished Devout by David Archuleta, and I can’t stop thinking about it. What struck me most isn’t just his story as an artist, but his story as a person trying to survive in a space where he felt he had to choose between faith, family, and identity. Growing up in a deeply religious…
Angelino AF (Asian Flavor) 