live and let live Paco. no one appointed you the judge, jury and guardian of filipino culture. if you think it's important your family honor the pinoy ways and language, then go do that. but don't tell others how they should live their life.

i'm not sure if he'd call me a coconut, but i grew up in the US not speaking a word of tagalog. but in my opinion my parents were some of the biggest patriots - they were very active in the Boston community doing what they could to raise awareness about the Marcos regime (they actually met Cory and Ninoy a few times), and forsaking good careers in America to get US educations and be part of a 'reverse brain drain' in migrating back to the philippines.

it's funny because kids grow up wanting to fit in, and most immigrant pinoy kids refuse to speak tagalog anymore because they want to be as American as the kids who grew up here. for me, i migrated to the philippines and tried desperately to learn tagalog so i too could fit in.

what's my point? i'm not sure maybe only that kids should be given the freedom to choose their own way, and most of them (me included) will grow up with a healthy respect and interest in their heritage.