Celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month - Kristine Butler Published May 21, 2013 By Kristine Butler ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Kristine Butler Human resources technician, Air Force Reserve Command Hometown: Warner Robins, Ga. What is your heritage: Filipino-American What does your heritage mean to you: The Filipino heritage has a deep-rooted relevance in who I am today. I realize that the more I get older the more I am like my mom in some ways and how she raised me. Growing up as military brat, the Filipino community has always embraced my family. They are known for their "sense of family" and I have felt that all my life no matter where I've lived. What makes you most proud about being Filipino-American? What makes me most proud of being Filipino-American is the food! I love going to my mom's house while she cooks. I am also learning how to make chicken adobo, pansit, and I finally made my own batch of lumpia. My mom always has fish and rice made for my daughter when we visit and she loves it. She will always have that piece of the Filipino culture to carry with her as she grows up. I also love going to the oriental stores and picking up some fresh mango, chicken tocino, and the chocolate Yan-Yan's. Other thoughts about what being Asian-American means: Being Asian-American means you are unique and people gravitate towards that. It is very rare that you meet someone who is Filipino and they feel like a stranger.