Pinoyspotting: Jamaica

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I met Jerreza Chua and Bryan Boyce at the Dallas/Forth Worth International Airport while waiting for our American Airlines flight to Montego Bay. I was attending a birthday party in Montego Bay, whereas they were going to have their wedding in Ocho Rios. Both are electrical engineers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Chua is originally from Parañaque City.

Rey de la Cruz with Jerreza Chua and Bryan Boyce in Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (Photo courtesy of Rey de la Cruz)

The Jamaican rhythm can be felt in the country's native language, patois. Mainly a spoken language, the patois is a reflection of Jamaica's diversity of cultures and languages. The Jamaican rhythm can also be felt in the reggae, which is a Jamaican original. It encourages movement and total involvement. Ja mon!

De la Cruz dances with Leslie on the Iberostar stage in Montego Bay, while Brenton and Asley sing reggae. (Photo courtesy of Rey de la Cruz)

I was at the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay to catch a United Airlines flight to Houston, where I would visit a friend. I was on my way to the washroom when I bumped into my fellow Chicagoans:  Nielda Advincula Harnvanich (originally from Catanauan, Quezon), Manit Harnvanich (originally from Thailand), and Aida David Mitchell (originally from Mandaluyong City). They were at the duty-free shop.

Chicagoans all: Nielda Harnvanich, Manit Harnvanich, Aida Mitchell and de la Cruz (Photo courtesy of Rey de la Cruz)

I was finally going home. I was at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston to catch a United Airlines flight to Chicago. I was looking for my gate at around 6:00 AM when I "Pinoyheard" somebody from one of the shops. I traced the source of the Pinoy accent,  and it was Bernadette Palma Stackpole, who is originally from Makati City. A Subway sandwich artist, she has a 24/7 smile.

Bernadette Stackpole and de la Cruz (Photo coutresy of Rey de la Cruz)

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Rey E. de la Cruz

Rey E. de la Cruz, Ed.D., writes from Chicagoland when he is not busy traveling and loving the arts.

More articles from Rey E. de la Cruz:

Uncle Mike's Place
June 24, 2014
The best place to go for Filipino breakfast in Chicago is in the Ukrainian Village – at Uncle Mike Grajewski’s Place.

Pinoyspotting: Barcelona
August 11, 2014
Rey E. de la Cruz meets up with kababayans in Barcelona, Spain.

Paella In The Land Of Calatrava
October 8, 2014
Why true paella valenciana can only be had in Valencia, Spain.

Pinoyspotting: Croatia
October 19, 2014
Rey E. de la Cruz is delighted to spot fellow Filipinos in the former Yugoslavian republic of Croatia.

Ten Thousand Stories In Chicago’s The Field Museum
December 17, 2014
The Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago subverts the “bad reasons” for its extensive collections of artifacts from other cultures.

She Spins In The Air With The Greatest Of Ease
January 26, 2015
That’s how she hangs. Sarah Angelina Bustilo Johns is a professional aerial dancer.