family reunions, are they important to you?
By davaome
@davaome (1826)
Philippines
July 7, 2012 5:20am CST
Just today in my home town in the Philippines my family just celebrated our GRAND FAMILY REUNION. Relatives who migrated to US and Canada came all the way to this event. Relatives from other provinces in the country also came to the reunion.
It's depressing, because I was not able to attend the event. I am in manila, 1 hour and 45 minutes away(by plane) from my hometown of Davao. I wasn't able to attend the event because I am currently studying for my Board exam to get my license.
I received word that the event is already done, and they had a fun time. I'm a seafarer, and due to the nature of my work I usually miss this kind of events but, still, I fill so depressed not being able to see my relatives from far away. I wish to know them better so that I could be close to them and maybe have a good time.
Family for me is very important, and being able to keep our relationship close is something that I want to maintain. And I find family reunions important to maintain such close ties with family. Hopefully the next grand reunion which is 3 years from now, I will be able to attend.
How about you myLotters?
3 people like this
14 responses
@ShyBear88 (59347)
• Sterling, Virginia
7 Jul 12
My husbands side of the family has a family reunion every year in Ohio. Its not that important to go but most of our family does go. There is a lot of us but only this section of our family holds a reunion there are other clans but its hard to track them down and we would probably take over the whole town. We are going this year it's only a 5 hour drive for us. Most everyone shows up for at least 2 days since we make it more then one day so if you can't make one of those days your most likely to make the next one. It's nice because a lot of us do not get to each other till this time of the year.
@davaome (1826)
• Philippines
7 Jul 12
It's the same as mine, except my relatives, specially from US are so far away I haven't seen them before, that's why I wanted to know them and also to let them know about me as well.
Because maybe someday, somewhere, we will meet and I will be able to recognize them ;D
@ShyBear88 (59347)
• Sterling, Virginia
8 Jul 12
All of us are all around the US at least my husbands side of the family on his dads side. We don't really have reunions for his moms side of the family or his step parents or for my family either. We are one big clan broken down in to smaller clans. There others all over the US but I have never meet them in the 3 years I've gone to the reunion just our clan and I don't even know all the people by there names I know them when I see them. We through one big party and in the part of Ohio we are going to my husbands family is know to be the biggest family and have the most people ever at a family reunion.
@davaome (1826)
• Philippines
8 Jul 12
I am bad with names myself, but I can recognize people through remembering their faces. But if it's relatives, I try to remember each one of their names as much as possible. I wish to participate in such an event that there are alot of people taking part of the reunion. My cousin said, their were more or less 100 people at our reunion.
@agent807 (751)
• United States
8 Jul 12
It has been quite some time since I went to a family reunion on either my mother or my father side of the family. The main reason that I don't like going is because even though I get to see family members, most of us live so far away from each other. Also, the people in the family all have relatives which they grew up with each other with, except me. I am the only one in my age group. There are either people older than myself, or younger than myself, and by large margins. This creates a problem because the last few times I went to a family reunion, people did not know who I was.
@davaome (1826)
• Philippines
9 Jul 12
I must say it must have been difficult for you. I guess because you you don't belong to any age group and your somewhat cast aside. But doesn't your parents introduce you to your relatives during the reunions. I think there is one in my family who doesn't have a close relative nearby to them with the same age group, but I was able to have a drink with him and with some friends of mine and from their I knew he wouldn't be left out in a family gathering because even with me and my friends, we had a good time together.
Maybe next time you should try to talk to them and be close to them, I'm sure they will welcome you with open arms.
@sylvia13 (1850)
• Nelson Bay, Australia
8 Jul 12
Yes, very important, as I have two brothers and two sisters + my mother and we all live in different countries! We only get to see each other every few years, but I wish it was more often, although I am glad we have Skype to communicate and that makes things better for us! We are in Austria, Australia, USA, Dominican Rep and Spain! It is not easy to get us together, as first it costs money and one must also have the time to do it too.
@davaome (1826)
• Philippines
8 Jul 12
WOW, I mean WOW.
That would really cost alot, traveling to meet in one place, but I salute you, for keeping your family close and continuing to keep close ties to each other. I wish in the near future, that my family will also do the same, and if I have the time, I would want to partake in such events. 
That would really cost alot, traveling to meet in one place, but I salute you, for keeping your family close and continuing to keep close ties to each other. I wish in the near future, that my family will also do the same, and if I have the time, I would want to partake in such events. 
@lampar (7584)
• United States
7 Jul 12
Yes, it is important to me, it is a moment full of joys and happiness, all the old memory come rushing back during the reunion, the laughters and tears will begin to come back again for all of us. It is an event and a day that has special meaning and value to me, i treasure every minute of my reunion party in every possible way. 
@davaome (1826)
• Philippines
8 Jul 12
I remember when my mother told me a story when she met her sisters and brothers after a long time. The way your comment flows seems like the same way my mother used to tell me that story. I wished i could share the same feeling towards my relatives in the future, and hopefully we will become more connected with each other
I wished i could share the same feeling towards my relatives in the future, and hopefully we will become more connected with each other
@ardoy0731 (7308)
• Philippines
7 Jul 12
Well we use to have family reunion every year wherein we always attend. Nice way to see relatives and to know updates about them. Great way to bond and make the family closer and tighter. There so many foods, lots of things to do, games to play and no end conversation about happenings in each other's lives.
@eunique317 (347)
• Philippines
8 Jul 12
When I was young, I hated family reunions because I often got bored and I didn't know the people around. My mother would introduce all her daughters to relatives and they would say "Ah, yan na ba si ____? Ang laki na nya" or something of the sort. Then, we would be compelled to do the usual courtesies. Sometimes, we would be asked to perform something to the elders. And of course, I disliked that.
But now that I have grown up, I actually want to have family reunions in order to get connected with our relatives. I realized the importance that reunions can do for us. It gives one a sense of belongingness. Without family reunions, one would hardly know how each other is related.
@davaome (1826)
• Philippines
8 Jul 12
I want to know my relatives well, because you never know when you will meet them in different parts of the world.
I don't remember going to a family reunion when I was young so I can't really relate to your feelings, but maybe if I did I would have felt the same way, because I don't really like to perform infront of people, even if I have to.
@sender621 (14893)
• United States
7 Jul 12
It may seem like a waste of time to some people, but i find family reunions t be very important to our lives. sometimes these reunions are the only opportunities we have in seeing some family members. It is vital to hang onto these family connections. they are the bonds that make us what we are. even if it seems trival family reunions do have the power to empower us.@davaome (1826)
• Philippines
7 Jul 12
Maintaining good connection and ties with distant relatives is really what I like about family gatherings and/or reunions. My current circle of relatives that I know are all good people, and I enjoy every minute spent with them, and I know those who are distant relatives of mine would fit in to make my circle bigger. My father and his siblings, and their cousins are very close, and I'm sure, in my present generation we will be close to each other as well.
@asdomencil (4265)
• Philippines
16 Jul 12
If given a chance to have a reunion in our family, I will be happy enough to attend the said event. This will make me know some of our relative since I am not that close or known to others especially those living far from our place.
@jenny1015 (13366)
• Philippines
8 Dec 12
Now that I am older, I do feel that having family reunions is something that we should be having once in a while. Relatives have gone to different countries and other places in our own country and we should have time to have at least one day to bond with each other and catch up.
@bhabycatch013 (9150)
• Philippines
7 Jul 12
hi davaome,
Well I really don't experience family reunions but every New Years Day most of my relatives from my mother side gather having fun and making the whole day memorable catching up things to each other .
But I wanted to have a family reunion its just my relatives are far from us they are in Mindanao which where my father came from and Mom side from Visayas Region
happy mylotting
@davaome (1826)
• Philippines
7 Jul 12
We do the same during holidays, but it's just me and my relatives who live in Davao.This year is actually our first grand reunion that's why I wanted to go. But I guess I have to wait another 3 years for the next grand reunion.
I've only heard of what happened in the reunion and it sounded that they had alot of fun.
You should have a reunion if you have the time, because I'm sure your family would want to get in touch with their distant relatives.
happy MyLotting to you too
@Jibbajabber (64)
•
16 Jul 12
Family is really important to me but it seems not as important to them.
I still see my only living parent on a regular basis but my siblings are a different matter my brother I have not seen in 12 years and have no clue to his whereabouts and my sister in 8 years and while I miss them all very much they don't seem to be that bothered.
@Bhebelen14 (5194)
• Philippines
9 Jul 12
Every January 01 we celebrate our Grand family reunion because its my grandmother birthday but its been 3 years that I did not attend our family reunion due to nature of my work, I know some of my relatives understand me but most of them get upset because they thought that I am not interested meeting them and celebrate with them. Sometimes even though that we want to be with them especially during special occasions like family reunions but we cant because of most important matter after all there's always be a next time.I just hoping that by next year I can attend the family reunion because according to them its a thanks giving party for the second life that given to my grandmother after her accident and operations.
@lovcie (116)
• Philippines
16 Jul 12
my answer is yes, family reunions are important to me. i make it appoint that if ever there are, we will attend. however, if the time is not convenient, i will make it appoint to request for pictures and posting at FB!
