A long and cold winter: How Fil-Ams cope

NEW JERSEY, USA – March 20 at 6:45 pm eastern time in the United States is officially the beginning of Spring season. But it looks like mother nature has a different plan.  

More snow and cold weather on Friday, March 20, for northeastern states, including New Jersey, New York, and Massachusetts.

“I like it cold, but I don’t like it that cold,” said Nora Sengco who has lived in Jersey City for more than 30 years. 

“Parang nag-hibernate na lang,” (It’s like we’re just hibernating) she said. “But I still go to church. I just never get used to walking in snow.” (READ: Northeast US shuts down due to ‘historic’ blizzard) 

Sengco said she remembered slipping and falling twice over the years.  “There was one time I was with a friend and I fell. I thought it was just snow, and I stepped on it and it was black ice pala. The only thing she could do was laugh kasi naman she could not carry me.” 

Maneuvering around icy streets is a skill that many still have not perfected.

But for Monette Rivera, producer and host of NY Chica for TFC’s Adobo Nation show, snow in New York City is “lovely, romantic, and breathtaking.”

Rivera and her family traded one beautiful tropical Hawaiian Island 8 years ago for another island – Manhattan.

Needless to say, she said, getting ready in the morning takes longer than before.

“Dress up half an hour, 10 minutes of which is rushed, putting on boots, coats, scarves, hats. We’re talking about NY minute here, ok?”

For thousands of senior citizens including Louie Pedron, going out when it is really cold or when it snows could be really difficult. A long-time resident of Queens, New York, Pedron said he and his wife learned how to prepare for any kind of bad weather, especially during the winter season. They did just that when there was a blizzard warning last January.

“Nag-grocery kami. Bumili kami ng rice, pang-ulam at gulay.” (We went grocery shopping. We bought rice, ingredients for main dishes and vegetables.)

Pedron, president of Filipino American Senior Citizens Association in Queens, said he also checked on his friends to make sure they were prepared.

“Nagtatawagan kami maghapon.” (We were calling each other the whole day.)

During the last week of February, the New York City area had 3 winter storms. The New York City Department of Sanitation responsible for snow removal has responded to 22 snow alerts so far just this winter season alone. The last winter storm left nearly 8 inches of snow in New Jersey.  

But Massachusetts residents are the among those hard hit this winter season. Ben Manzano and his wife who have lived in Randolph for 34 years were shocked when they saw their home after being away for a month. Randolph is about 15 miles south of Boston.  

The Manzanos went back to the Philippines for a vacation, and when they got back home on February 27th, they could barely get into their house.

“From what I saw on the ground when we got home it is not normal,” said Manzano. “There was no more space to put the snow. We have a double driveway where you can park at least 10 cars, but only one car could pass thru and both sides were as high as maybe 8 to 10 feet, or higher!”

The past two weeks, the temperature went above 40 degrees Celsius which helped melt some of the snow. But Manzano said not much snow has melted.  

“By far, this is the snowiest year since I moved here,” said Manzano. “I did not see the Nor’easter of 1978 but from what neighbors are saying, this is more serious than 1978.”

According to reports, Boston recorded historic snowfall this winter season, 108.6 inches, and that’s not counting what’s coming. – Rappler.com