Honoring Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month: Edward Cepe

Meet Edward Cepe, HR tech support specialist for Compass Group, who is helping us celebrate and honor Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. In his own words, he shares the importance and devotion he feels about the cultural and family traditions that have lovingly influenced his life.

“What does it mean to be a Filipino? To me, it’s who I am and the culture that shaped me growing up in Southern California. Both my parents were born in the Philippines and moved to the United States to follow my grandfather who was in the U.S. Navy.

“I grew up in a large Filipino community in San Diego, going to large family functions held at least once a month. Those family gatherings always had a plethora of Filipino dishes, karaoke, and basketball games – the trifecta of what defined ‘Filipino Functions’ in my experience! I didn’t realize until later that these were part of our culture as Filipinos.

“Filipino culture to me is the bond of family and the sense of community we have in our heritage. We express this through our  kindness, in our gatherings, and, most importantly, our food! At college, in my dorm apartment, I always whipped up classic Filipino dishes – tangy and savory chicken adobo, palabok (rice noodles with pork and shrimp sauce), and pancit (stir-fried rice noodles in soy sauce and citrus) –  to feel that comfort of home and showcase my culture to my friends.

“Being Filipino is very important to me as it defines a big part of who I am. I even have the Filipino Sun and colors tattooed on my right elbow. I always try to express that identity to others by sharing our dishes and love for karaoke. The photo is from the 2024 Philippines Fest in Charlotte, North Carolina, where Filipino delicacies such as balut (fertilized duck eggs) and grilled chicken and pork intestines were on the menu.

“This is what being Filipino means to me. Like all Filipinos, I’m proud of my culture and heritage.”