Chicago Mahjong Night Second Game - @JFPerseveranda

By J.F.R. Perseveranda

Still First Night. Still Winning. 🀄😂 After years away, I’m finally back in Chicago—and on my first night, we played mahjong at my cousin Bernadette’s home in Algonquin, IL. She has this super fancy automatic shuffling table that lights up, spins, resets, and basically makes it look like you're walking into a high-stakes casino in Southeast Asia. With my nieces Claudine and Alaina at the table and Chesca fresh off the plane, it felt like the perfect reunion. I was rusty. I hadn’t played in forever. But somehow, I won the first game in under five minutes. Everyone laughed. Then we played a second round—and I won again. 😂 Maybe it’s beginner’s luck. Or maybe… just maybe… watching Crazy Rich Asians on repeat has awakened some dormant mahjong magic in me. 🀄✨ Crazy Rich Asians & That Iconic Mahjong Scene If you’ve seen Crazy Rich Asians, you know that the final mahjong scene isn’t just about the game—it’s a symbolic mic drop. In it, Rachel (played by Constance Wu) goes head-to-head with Eleanor (Michelle Yeoh), her boyfriend’s disapproving mother. But it’s not just a game. It’s a masterclass in quiet strength, cultural fluency, and self-respect. Rachel gives up the winning tile—sacrificing her happiness to show Eleanor she’s not trying to "steal" her son, but rather choosing to walk away with dignity. It’s a moment that blends East Asian traditions with modern emotional intelligence. That one scene made mahjong look elegant, strategic, and deeply personal—exactly how it feels when you’re playing with family. Family, Competition, and Being Home Again I forgot how competitive I get. 🤣 Sitting around the table with family, I wasn’t just playing for fun—I wanted to win. And maybe that’s the beauty of it: how these simple games, passed down through generations, bring out the playful (and prideful) spirit in us. Especially for immigrants and children of immigrants, these traditions become little anchors of culture, comfort, and connection. Whether you're a balikbayan like me, a second-gen Fil-Am finding your way, or just someone who loves a good game night—we all share these moments. Laughter, competition, bragging rights… and the occasional automatic mahjong table flex. 😄 #MahjongNight #FilAm #PinoyBuilt #FilAmStories #AsianAmericans #FilipinoAmerican #FamilyVibes #BalikbayanFeels #CrazyRichAsians #MahjongScene #ImmigrantStories #FilipinoCulture #FilAmPride #MahjongMasters #CulturalTraditions #PinoyBuiltStories #FilAmFamily #1stNightWin #AlgonquinIL #MahjongWithFamily #HomeAgain Join us at https://bit.ly/44pIEny

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By: Ronaldo

#PinoyBuilt #FilAmVoices #FilipinoAmericanStories