American family shares photos of happy life in PH

What makes a Filipino truly Filipino?

Sometimes it is not just about being born in the Philippines, having brown skin and black hair, or knowing how to speak the native language. In some cases, embodying ideal Filipino qualities, having immense love for the country and bearing high respect for the Filipino culture are enough to make someone a true Pinoy.

The Folkmans may not have been originally from the Philippines but nonetheless can be considered Pinoy at heart.

Amber, together with her husband and her then one-year-old son, transferred to the Philippines from Seattle, USA due to the nature of her husband’s work. After a few years, Folkman gave birth to two more children.

The whole family has been in the Philippines for 8 years now and their children has since grown up in a Filipino environment.

Despite being a full-blooded American, Amber considers her family as Fil-Am citizens. She said her wish is for her children to learn that there are many cultures outside their own that they can always explore.

Take a look at some of their family photos here in the Philippines.

If there’s one thing you can count on me for it’s a dorky photo! #ADorkAbroad But for reals people, jumping for joy that we now have a @landersph in our hood. What up Pasig?! ? Pasig has everythaaaaang. Proud paaigueño ako. Find my Favorites from today in stories. #Landers #LandersSuperStore #landersarcoviacity #pasigueno #pasigueñoako #PerksOfPinas

A post shared by Amber (@amommabroad) on Apr 20, 2018 at 11:45pm PDT

On Tuesdays we have coding so the last year we uber/taxi to school and then walk home. We started eating at the rolling carts (Gulong Sulong) because it’s so cheap and the manangs are all so friendly. Today we had tuyo, which I learned is way harder to de-bone than gg. We also stopped at the panaderia to pick up some pandesal for a small gathering at my home this morning. We took a trike part of the way and used our feet the rest. For my family, there is every day magic in the interactions with the manangs, everyday magic with fresh fluffy Pandesal, everyday magic with the wind blowing in our faces on the trike and every day magic as a jeepney races by. We really are so fortunate to be here and have these experiences, they make us better people. #PerksoPinas #❤️?? #MahalKoAngPilipinas

A post shared by Amber (@amommabroad) on Apr 16, 2018 at 5:40pm PDT

“Who farted?!” “Ozzie!” – Wells ?This is how I get my kids to smile for a pic. McDo Kiddie Crew is a first for us. Did you go as a child? I didn’t even know it existed. I loved the real world concepts the kids each got to participate in during the workshop. They greeted people, took orders, handled money and even made cheeseburgers. I can’t believe how affordable the programs are. Two day workshop is only 595php and five day workshop is 695php lang! Includes a meal even. As always, I’m grateful #ChandaPoppins was there to help because this momma is pagod! #mcdokiddiecrew

A post shared by Amber (@amommabroad) on Apr 13, 2018 at 1:41am PDT

Because sometimes you just have to throw your hands up in the air and shout, BAHALA NA SI BATMAN! Pak na pak, look at my Batman! ? #PerksOfPinas

A post shared by Amber (@amommabroad) on Apr 11, 2018 at 4:28am PDT

Few things make me happier than A paper bag full of fresh hot Pandesal. Worth the big butt! PANDESAL POREBURRRR! #pandesal #foreignay #perksofpinas #❤️??

A post shared by Amber (@amommabroad) on Apr 9, 2018 at 11:36pm PDT

BUFFET+PLAY+SWIM+REPEAT. HEAT at @edsashangrila now brings families the convenience of a Sunday buffet pero there is also play room to deposit kids so parents can enjoy their meal! Tapos, you can hang pool side (inclusive with buffet talaga!) and enjoy #THESUNDAYSIDE. Whoot whoot! No need to fly out of the city to enjoy resort living, Manila’s got ya covered. Thanks for having us @edsashangrila. #edsashangrila #edsashangrilahotel #PerksofPinas #ManilaPorebur

A post shared by Amber (@amommabroad) on Apr 8, 2018 at 12:32am PDT

HAPPY EASTER! ???Every Holy Week is such an experience. Our first Holy Week in 2009 we learned that everything shuts down in Manila. Ha! We ended up eating Easter dinner at KFC along the SLEX. ? Now we stay in Manila to enjoy the open roads and make sure we stock up on food before Thursday and Friday come around. Hope your Holy Week was full of love, reflection and family time. #FolkFam2018

A post shared by Amber (@amommabroad) on Mar 31, 2018 at 9:33pm PDT

Magandang Hapon! Hello to new followers. ?I had no idea where all the growth was coming from until I saw the article I wrote for @smartparenting had been published. I had no idea whatsoever how popular it would be or I would have edited a bit better. LOL ? Next time talaga! Welcome to A Momma Abroad! This is a place where I chronicle our kaloka lives as an American family in the Philippines. We moved here in 2009 for my husbands job and have grown as a family here ever since. We have lived in BGC, Eastwood, Makati (San Lo/Salcedo) and are now proudly Pasigueño. I try and see the good and everyday magic Manila has to offer and share it here. Need a pick me up, follow #perksofpinas and share also po. I don’t really give parenting advice because I’m a hot mess most of the time but I do try and share about my #3PinoyBoys (7,5,3 years na) growing up here and sometimes a few thoughts on motherhood. You can hear Kuya speaking in Tagalog by clicking here #DinnerConversationsWithA. You don’t have to be a parent to enjoy A Momma Abroad, there’s something for everybody here. Thanks for your kind and encouraging words, I am forever humbled and grateful. It’s easy to love the Philippines because of incredible Filipinos like you! Please feel free to ask question below. {Pinoy Halloween circa 2016, Family Photo December 2018 @jeffandlisaphotography and a huge Salamat po to @smartparenting for giving me this amazing exposure. NAKS!}

A post shared by Amber (@amommabroad) on Mar 29, 2018 at 11:56pm PDT

Guys, you ready for a bit of honesty? I’m tired of playing super heroes, light saber battles and action figures! I used to think I was a bad mom because it didn’t excite me and I would half heartedly get through the dedicated amount of time I told the kids I would play. It was G R U E L I N G! Then I realized I’ve been playing for S E V E N years, dedicatedly! No wonder there was a bit of burn out. I learned a few valuable lessons; there are seasons to motherhood and I might not be in love with them all (this one was hard for me) and also that I needed to re-engage in a play that I wanted to be a part of. I am a doer by nature so finding an activity that allowed me to create and learn with my kids was instrumental. @olisboxship sent over a box last year and I have been forever a supporter of their campaign. It checks all my boxes for my #3PinoyBoys but also for me! It’s been a game changer that has allowed me to dedicate time with my kids where we are both learning and creating TOGETHER! If you’re in a parenthood rut give @olisboxship a go, I promise you won’t regret. Be a little kinder to yourself too. ? {if you want a 10% discount you can use my code: playfulmum10 this isn’t a paid post, just something we are both passionate about} #NoBadDays #MomSoHard

A post shared by Amber (@amommabroad) on Mar 25, 2018 at 6:43pm PDT

Thinking of this fun night we had in the city over the weekend. F. Ortigas Jr. Ave is car free for 48 hours (like all through the night!) on the weekends and is open to the public. They offer bikes and other fun toys to rent by the hour. Thanks for the reminder @kidsmorefun. While cars are not allowed take caution, cars did drive through and a motorcycle ripped through and got way too close to my kids. Ingat po kayo! I wish the traffic guards were a bit more attendant. #perksofpinas #Ortigas #Pasig #ManilaLife #LifeIntheCity #ManilaForKids

A post shared by Amber (@amommabroad) on Mar 6, 2018 at 4:06am PST

Don’t let the picture or Instagram fool ya! Parenting is SO SO hard. I stopped doing #FolkFam2018 Sunday photos because of a few reasons. The first being that I never want to present an illusion that we ever have it together, we flat out don’t. Moments after this photo was taken my husband and I looked at each other and expressed how we both felt defeated. Our kids had been insanely difficult the day before. This is by far the hardest stage of parenting we have had together. Second illusion I never want to perpetuate, that we are a picture perfect church family. Ha! My faith has been bent and broken over the last few years but isn’t that what church is for? It certainly shouldn’t be for only those with perfect faith or those who *think they have it all figure out. SO, please when you look at this photo don’t see only smiling faces- see the tears, the screams, smell the sweaty stink and feel the humanity. Don’t let the gram fool ya, we are all human here. Cheers to a new week my friends. May we smile a bit brighter. Kita kits, Amber #NoBadDays #MomSoHard #GoodVibesOnly #KidsAreTheWorst and also the best!

A post shared by Amber (@amommabroad) on Feb 25, 2018 at 9:23pm PST

Gong Xi Fa Cai! ? I never knew how preserved Chinese culture was until I went to Binondo last year the week before CNY. You guys weren’t lying, that place is LEGIT! And yes, we took a water ferry there with a double stroller, I don’t recommend it. ? The Pilipinas has it all! #perksofpinas Here are a few memories from our visit last year. #CNY #Binondo

A post shared by Amber (@amommabroad) on Feb 15, 2018 at 9:59pm PST

Just living out my dreams in Taal Heritage Town. #BecomingFilipino

A post shared by Amber (@amommabroad) on Dec 30, 2017 at 1:10am PST