Pinay Symposium and Ruby Veridiano

Today was the Pinay Symposium of Kappa Psi Epsilon Gamma Chapter at the University of California, Davis, a highly stimulating event. They put together an inspiring and genuine event that included not only their sisters, but the talents and abilities of several other individuals. They looked to the past and the present for empowered Filipina women and presented a collection of women that anyone could be proud of.

Their keynote speaker was Ruby Veridiano, raised in Sacramento, California, a celebrity in many facets and communities. She made herself available to the audience and they responded in an equally engaged fashion. Her speech connected with everyone, just like an experienced and seasoned presenter and performer like her would be. Seeing the quality of her delivery and her message was stirring, her words potently etching themselves in everyone's minds. There is no doubt that she can be and will be successful in whatever she pursues.

Likewise, with quality events like the Pinay Symposium, put on by strong leaders such as Kappa Psi Epsilon, I am confident that our community is in good hands.

First Quarter Storm

A very often unspoken part of Philippine and Filipino American history is that of the era of martial law in the Philippines. Many people born in the United States understand little about the time period immediately before, during, and immediately following martial law.

One of the events immediately before martial law is the First Quarter Storm, an anti-U.S. and anti-Marcos movement that started in the Philippines on January 26, 1970. It involved a series of demonstrations, protests, and and marches against the government from January to March 1970, two years before the Philippines was placed under martial law.

On January 26, 1970, President Ferdinand Marcos gave his State of the Nation address. Tens of thousands protested, gathering to be symbols of what the nation was going really through, not to be defined in a single speech. On January 30 and 31, 1970, another protest occurred where four protestors were killed, hundreds injured, and hundreds arrested in what is now known as the Battle of Mendiola. Until March, violent confrontations continued to break out between protestors and state police.

Anti-Filipino Sentiment

Every now and then, an e-mail reaches me about a radio broadcaster that has written a tirade against Filipino Americans. More often than not, it is a version of a false chain mail that has been sent around for years.

There was an overwhelming amount of anti-Filipino sentiment in the 1930s. There was so much, in fact, that on January 29, 1930, the Filipino Federation building at 2049 South San Joaquin Street in Stockton, CA was bombed by rioters.

On that same day, the California State Boxing Commission barred Filipino boxers as a precautionary measure to stem anti-Filipino violence.

Despite the economic, social, and political barriers to their happiness, they survived and succeeded. When I think of the many privileges that I possess today, I remember and honor those individuals that struggled to obtain and maintain them for generations after them.

Filipino American Heritage Night Hits Sacramento

After the successful Filipino Heritage Nights that the San Francisco Giants, the Oakland Athletics, and the Oakland Raiders has had, the popular events are hitting the Capital of California, Sacramento.

The Sacramento Kings have tentatively scheduled a Filipino Heritage Night for February 27, 2009, and the Sacramento Rivercats have tentatively scheduled a Filipino Heritage Night for May 4, 2009.

Similar events have included entertainment from local Filipino American talent, Filipino-themed memorabilia like shirts, and have also been used as fundraising opportunities for local community groups. The Manilatown Heritage Foundation partnered with local sporting teams to support the International Hotel.

Eat to Make History

The Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) Sacramento-Delta Chapter (SDC) is hosting its first Crab Cioppino Feed Fundraiser.

FANHS is teaming up with the Auntie Ester and other community leaders to host a home made cioppino dinner on February 21, 2009, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. The event will be held at the:

American Legion Magellan Post 604

8831 Gerber Road

Sacramento, CA 95829

Our menu will include:

• Appetizer: Chips with a Mango Salsa
• Salad: White Sauce Pasta Salad
• Main: Cioppino with Halibut, Crab, Shrimp, Mussels, and Clams; Rice and Dinner Rolls
• Drinks: Soda and Bottled Water for Sale

All of that great food for only $35 per person or $60 per couple.

The proceeds will benefit the FANHS SDC Oral History Project, where we will record the accounts and stories of various individuals in the Filipino American community and the history that they made.

For more information, please visit the FANHS SDC Calendar of Events Web page at http://fanhsac.tripod.com/id17.html.

Fight the cold with Auntie Ester's home made cioppino dinner...
Heat up the dance floor with music and dancing...
Warm people's hearts by supporting a good cause!

Racial and Ethnic Data for the U.S. Department of Education

Today, I learned about how the U.S. Department of Education (ED) wants race and ethnicity reporting for federal education eligibility and accountability reports by 2010-11. It is very different from how California has typically handled race and ethnicity data.

Basically, the ED gave guidance that a two-part question should be asked when collecting race and ethnicity data on students or school staff:

The first part should consist of a question about the respondent’s ethnicity:

• Hispanic or Latino
• Not Hispanic or Latino

The second part asks respondents to select one or more races from the following categories:

• American Indian or Alaska Native
• Asian
• Black or African American
• Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
• White

In reporting race and ethnicity, a respondent must answer both parts of the question. The individual will be reported as part of one of the following seven groups:

• Hispanic/Latino of any race
• American Indian or Alaska Native
• Asian
• Black or African American
• Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
• White
• Two or more races

The guidance does not direct groups to disaggregate any of the racial sub-populations. This is unlike in California, where California Government Code Section 8310.5 requires the detailed collection of Asian and Pacific Islander sub-populations, including, but not limited to, Asian Indian, Cambodian, Chinese, Filipino, Guamanian, Hawaiian, Hmong, Japanese, Korean, Laotian, Samoan, Tahitian, and Vietnamese.

Basically, as people try to pigeonhole our heritage into seven convenient groups, we are unable to recognize the diversity within them. It seems to me that we should advocate for better federal practices when dealing with race and etnicity data collections.

Pinay Awarded California Documentary Grant Award

On Wednesday, January 21, 2009, the California Council for the Humanities announced the latest recipients of its California Documentary Grant Award Program. Among the seventeen awardees was Marissa Aroy, a Pinay that grew up in the Delano area.

Her documentary will be entitled The Delano Manongs: The Forgotten Heroes of the United Farm Workers Union (UFW). Her piece will document a small group of Filipino farm labor leaders--including Philip Vera Cruz and Larry Itliong--in Delano, California, who instigated the great Delano grape strike in 1965 and helped create the UFW. The grape strike catapulted Cesar Chavez into the national spotlight, but the Filipino leaders received little recognition for their efforts. Using animation, archival footage, and interviews with key leaders, participants, and historians, the film tells the gripping story of this forgotten part of labor history.

Ms. Aroy is no stranger to ethnic history, having worked on the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) productions Little Manila: Filipinos in California's Heartland and Sikhs in America. I met her at a screening of the Little Manila documentary here in Sacramento. I am glad to know that she is using her career and her craft to advocate for and educate about marginalized groups and history.

Filipino American Youth Leadership Conference (FAYLC) Impact

I was chatting with a student that attended their first Filipino American Youth Leadership Conference (FAYLC) last summer. They are now a student at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and the FAYLC came up. They said:

It's so funny, like when I think about FAYLC, I didn't fully understand what was going on and how everything fits together until I got to UCLA. It made sense at FAYLC but I didn't have that passion about all these issues until I got here. I am so happy I went to FAYLC. I mean there are so many things that I learned from just that one weekend. I find myself constantly thinking about how the stuff I learned in FAYLC applies to the real world. I think about the activities we did like Pusoy'd or the strategies for a successful campaign...or all the other ones and I just realize how I can use that to do other things on campus. On Thursday, the committee I'm involved in was talking about LGBT (lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender) issues and I told them what we did during FAYLC. It turned out to be something Samahang Board might want to do with one of their general meeings. I have friends asking me to help with Pilipino Youth Empowerment Day (PYED)--it's like another conference for high school students--because I went to FAYLC and I have more experience on how the workshops are run and what type of things are talked about. I honestly never would have thought that I'd be taking so much from FAYLC and applying it to my life here. Thank you for really making such a big impact by hosting FAYLC. It means so much to me. FAYLC is something I would definitely love to be involved in again. I would love to give back to younger generations.

I responded that I could not take credit for the event because I just did logistics. The programming and implementation was all thanks to the Philippine National Day Association (PNDA) and a wonderful and dedicated group of organizers and counselors. Still, I take pride in being even remotely involved in such an impactful event--to be a part of something larger than me.

The Apl Foundation

I just learned about The Apl Foundation, founded by Allan Pineda Lindo. of The Black Eyed Peas. He is using his celebrity and the benefits of it to assist those in need in the Philippines and Asia. All children deserve a home, food, education, and health care.

Apl has strong ties to his homeland and humble beginnings, and despite his success, he has not forgotten his roots. He is to be respected and honored for that.

Filipinas Magazine

Filipinas Magazine is a seventeen-year old publication that continues to bring news about the Philippine diaspora to people interested in Filipino culture and history.

It celebrates the best in the Philippine community while is also critical of some of the less pride-reaping aspects. I enjoy receiving my issue every month and taking a look at the lesser known aspects of Filipinos worldwide.

They are always looking for people to contribute their writings to several sections of the magazine, including the "Hometown", "Travel", "In Their Opinion", "Youth Voices", "First Person", and "Buhay Pinoy Abroad" sections. It is a great way to develop one's voice and express one's feelings.

In Honor of "Big Duke"

Back in the 1940s, a popular Filipino American boxer by the name of Joseph Bernard "Big Duke" Docusen became the top contender for the world welterweight title. He fought a fifteen-round battle with Sugar Ray Robinson for the welterweight championship of the world on June 28, 1948, at Comiskey Park in Chicago. By March 30, 1949, he had fought 68 bouts in four years as a professional, with one loss. He defeated former champions and contenders Phil Terranova, Johnny Bratton, Tippy Larkin, John L. Davis, and Gene Burton on his way to a log in a 73-10-6 pro record, retiring in 1953.

He also hand-wrote his memoirs, “A Memoir, New Orleans Amazing Filipinos," which talked of his induction into the New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame in 1976 and the California Boxing Hall of Fame in 2008.

Although he passed away on January 11, 2009, he will always be honored and remembered.

Taking an Oath to Serve

President Barack Obama took his Oath of Office today and made history. In the Filipino American community, many leaders took oaths this past election. Among them include:

• Steve Austria, U.S. House of Representatives for Ohio
• Aurora Abella Austriaco, Illinois State Legislature
• Cheryl Moss, District Court Judge, Clark County, Nevada, first elected in 2002
• Christopher Cabaldon, Mayor, West Sacramento, California, fifth term
• Ed Balico, City Council, Hercules, California, first term in 2000
• Jim Navarro, City Council, Union City, California
• Diana Colvin, City Council, Colma, California
• Christopher Mateo, City Council, Lathrop, California
• Henry Almonte, Board Member, San Leandro Unified School District--Area 1
• Joey Manahan, Hawaii State Representative, 29th District, first elected in 2006
• Henry Aquino, Hawaii State Representative, 35th District
• Rida Cabanilla Arakawa, Hawaii State Representative, 42nd District, served since 2004
• Kymberly Marcos-Pine, Hawaii State Representative, 43rd District, elected in 2004
• Michael Magaoay, Hawaii State Representative, 46th District, serving his ninth year

Lorraine De Arco in Flower Drum Song

One Sacramento celebrity, Lorraine De Arco, will be gracing the stage as Linda Low in the Community Asian Theatre of the Sierra (CATS) production of Flower Drum Song.

A popular Filipino American performer, Ms. De Arco has had a variety of performances, ranging from singing The Star Spangled Banner at professional sporting events, to performing in Miss Saigon. She has quite the resume, winning cash prizes in contests as well as volunteering her time to community theatre projects and benefit concerts, and her performances are amazing. Do a YouTube search for her and you will not be disappointed.

Death Rituals

Many Filipino families, when they lose a loved one, has a prayer for nine days after their death. Susbsequent prayers occur on the fortieth day, and then annual prayers thereafter. There are also festivities on All Saints Day on November 1.

The Philippine culture is an amalgamation of different folk beliefs and religious beliefs, intermixed with the traditions and culture of the many people that inhabited the Philippines. When Filipinos come to America, they do not leave these traditions in the homeland. They carry them with them, and raise their children and subsequent generations with these same rituals and beliefs. Scholars refer to this blending as syncretism, and it makes the Filipino American experience one of a kind.

Filipinos and Filipino Americans deal with death in very unique fashions. Certain beliefs vary form family to family and yet many commonalities exist.

The Fiipino American Dream

I was speaking with my friend and he mentioned that he was in the midst of a rivalry with an ex-coworker. He mentioned that his friend, while drinking together, said that he was better than my uncle. Then he said something that really stuck out. "He owns a home but he can not find work."

Later that day, I spoke with another friend who told me that her uncles and aunts kept telling her how to live her life. She said that they did that because her own mother did not own a home and that they thought they were smarter and in a better position in life, being homeowners and what not.

On my way to work earlier this week, I noticed that a home on my block was being put up for auction. This home was owned by a Filipino family. Another Filipino-owned home is for sale and I am not really sure if they lost their mortgage or if they just moved away.

All of these incidents lead me to wonder how the mortgage meltdown has been hitting the Filipino American community. Owning a home seems to be at the top of a typical Filipino family's priorities.

Upcoming Filipino American Photographers

There are a couple of Filipino American photographers that are racking up a lot of frequent flyer miles as they travel across the world. They are Ed and Monica Pingol, and I keep on hearing more and more about them and their work. I personally know two couples that have hired Ed and Monica for their weddings and they had the highest compliments for the husband and wife team.

Filipino American Muralist

When one walks into a room, it is common to look at the art on the walls. There are many great artists of Filipino descent. One of my favorites is Eliseo Art Silva, and one of my favorite works of his is a 145 foot by 25 foot mural titled Gintong Kasaysayan, Gintong Pamana in Historic Filipinotown, Los Angeles, California. I have had the opportunity to meet him once and hope to collect some of his art some day.

The Sini-Gang

I have been listening to a great podcast called The Sini-Gang, which is about life in Virginia Beach, VA through Filipino American eyes. Each podcast is entertaining, poignant, and insightful. As a person that appreciates the oral history tradition, their podcast is an alternative media that provides some clues about life for them as Filipino Americans.

Delano Grape Strike

The Delano grape strike in 1965 is one of the most important events in American history. When one thinks of the United Farm Workers (UFW) Union, most people think of Cesar Chavez or Dolores Huerta. However, before the Delano grape strike, there was not UFW. There was the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee (AWOC) and the National Farm Workers of America (NFWA).

At an event on Sunday, January 18, 2009, from 12 noon to 5 p.m., Andy Imutan, will speak on his experiences as a striker in the Delano grape strike, and about the importance of Filipino Americans to the overall labor movement. The event will take place at the Sacramento County Sheriff Florin Service Center at 7000 65th Street in Sacramento.

Pilipino Youth Coalition Event

Bridge, the Pilipino outreach and retention component of the Student Recruitment and Retention Center at the University of California, Davis (UCD) will be hosting the Pilipino Youth Coalition (PYC) Retreat. It is a three-day event filled with workshops, organizational and leadership development activities, social activities, college information, and cultural and artistic empowerment to encourage youth to pursue higher education.

The PYC Retreat is used to help high school students open their minds, discover their potential, and become empowered through learning about their heritage, cultural identity, and potential power in society. The purpose of the retreat is to give students information dealing with personal issues (such as identity, sexuality, leadership, and activism), social issues (such as womyn history and immigrant experiences), and tips to obtain higher education through college. The retreat will be focused on issues related to and facing today’s Filipino American youth.

The retreat will be a three-day, two-night event from Friday, January 23 through Sunday, January 25, 2009. Students will be staying overnight, and chaperoned hotel accommodations will be provided at UCD. You can learn mre at the PYC Retreat Web site at http://beam.to/pycretreat2009.

Brown Wines

When people think of Filipino alcohol, most think of San Miguel Beer. One family may change that. There is a small, family-owned vineyard in Creston, Califonia. The Villamin family happens to also be Filipino American, and they proudly state as such on the Eden Canyon Vineyards Web site, at http://www.edencanyon.com/. They started in 1996 and have won several medals for their wines and have been profiled in several wine shows and periodicals.

Silent Sacrifices

I have been looking for a documentary entitled Silent Sacrifices. Silent Sacrifices is a twenty-five minute documentary and accompanying informational/educational guide for use by both professionals and Filipino American families. The video introduces experiences of cultural conflict between Filipino immigrants and their American-born children, addressing issues of ethnic identity and opposing Filipino and American values.

At a previous Filipino American Youth Leadership Conference (FAYLC), we screened Silent Sacrifices and opened up a dialogue between students and parents. It was a fruitful discussion, one where my own relationship with my mother was enhanced as well.

The FAYLC theme that year was "Connecting the Real and the Ideal." The theme addressed the realities of the Filipino and American realities and the ideals of Filipino and American culture. It was appropriate then, and it is appropriate now.

A Brown White House Chef

Cristeta Comerford was named White House chef in August of 2005. I wonder if she might continue being the White House chef for President-elect Barack Obama. At this time, other cabinet members are still being chosen, and the White House chef is certainly not at the top of the list of the issues that need to be handled by the incoming leader.

I received a lesson from a Chi Rho Omicron, Inc. brother who worked on both the campaigns of the honorable Hillary Clinton and Obama this past election cycle. He mentioned that as the focus right now is filling the cabinet positions, the other staffers in the White House are typically not recruited and hired until six or more months into the Presidency. I am excited for him, as hopeful that he will be looked favorably upon.

Filipino American Academia

A college student and I had a conversation about creating a space and a venue where Filipino American college students can showcase their work, thereby reinforcing what they do and the paths that they have chosen.

I told them about an organization at the University of California, Davis called Filipino Cultural Reseearch Organization (FilCRO). It provided a space where students could share their research on Filipinos and Filipino Americans.

I also shared with them more about the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS), which has produced the most commonly referenced materials in Asian American studies and ethnic studies classes. They are the premiere source of information.

As far as giving individuals reason to appreciate and be proud of the Filipino and Filipino American history and heritage, we need more organizations like these.

Pin@y Educational Partnerships

In my work in education, we are constantly looking for ways to engage students. For me, that especially means students of a Filipino heritage. Fortunately, I am not alone in this endeavor. There are several individuals and organizations that have been working on Filipino American curricula. One of the most local is that of Pin@y Educational Partnerships (PEP), based in the San Francisco bay area.

It has been implemented by San Francisco State University (SFSU) students in both the kindergarten through grade twelve educational setting and the community college educational setting. PEP has created two volumes of curriculum materials and continues to not only engage the youth, but recruit teachers as well.

Bayanihan Spirit

A beautiful part of the Philippine culture, and one that I enjoy syncretizing with American ideals, is bayanihan. Bayanihan is the idea of communal spirit, that communities and neighbors support one another to complete a common goal. The most common example is that when a family is moving, the entire community comes to assist the family to move their home. From providing food and support to Filipino World War II veterans, to donating funds to support communities in the Philippines, Filipinos are very supportive of one another. I myself have been a fortunate recipient of bayanihan on numerous occasions.

Hidden Treasures

I am a fan of books, especially nonfiction, Philippine or Filipino American themed books. I have made it a point to find books that fit these categories. On Saturday, a Borders closed down in the Natomas area of Sacramento, and I went looking for hidden treasures. Among my finds were three copes of Hampton Sides' Ghost Soldiers, which was about the raid on Cabanatuan during World War II, which saved many prisoners of war. The book was adapted into a movie called The Great Raid. Considering that I already have a copy of this book, I bought the 40% off discounted books as gifts for others, so that they may enjoy learning about an important event in Philippine and Filipino American history.

I sometimes find good books at the local Goodwill or thrift store and often frequent http://www.alibris.com, which is a coalition of independent bookstores that are leveraging the internet.

Filipino Artists

I walked through Downtown Plaza in Sacramento and ran across The Comic Lounge. Comic books are a part of many people's lives, including my own. One of my favorite heroes and role models is Superman. With the recent success of movies adapted from comic books, many more are being exposed on a massive scale.

A friend of mine is also an avid comic book fan, and he has been working on a documentary called American Komikeros. A very talented artist in his own right, the documentary is going to be about the many Filipino comic book artists in America. You can check out his Web site at http://www.leroid.com/.

One of my favorite is Whilce Portacio, who worked on X-Men and Wetworks. In fact, for X-Men, he created the character Bishop. You can check out his Web site at http://whilceportacio.net/.

One day, I hope to meet more of the artists at a convention.

Meeting the Needs of our Community

I had dinner with a couple friends the other night, and we talked a lot about the different areas that our work in the community was addressing. From youth to the elderly, our Filipino American community has unique needs. Our culture is diverse, including our taste in music and fashion, and our preferences in politics and education.

The conversation forced me to look at the areas that I am focused on, including:

• Filipino World War II Veterans
• Portrayal of Filipino Americans in the media
• Youth empowerment
• Filipino American curriculum
• Filipino American cultural preservation
• Education
• Political empowerment

My friends share m concerns in these areas and also devote their time and energy towards:

• Economic empowerment
• Social empowerment
• Philippine socio-economic issues

While not always easy to see, these issues are all interrelated. One affects the other. So if we work on just one of these issues, we can improve the other areas as well. Also, these issues are multi-layered and multi-faceted. There is not an area that we do not need help. A Filipino proverb that I often quote is: "Walang tutulong sa Pilipino kundi kapwa Pilipino."

In this day and age, it may be helpful to keep that in mind.

A Filipino American Eagle

An unheralded Filipino American will be entering the National Football League (NFL) playoffs this weekend, as the Philadelphia Eagles face the Minnesota Vikings. Chris Gocong, a first string outside linebacker, wears number 57 and has had a productive season, starting 12 games, throughout which he recorded 59 tackles, two sacks, and one forced fumble.

Manny Pacquiao may have three boxing matches coming up in 2009. On May 2, he may face Britain's Ricky Hatton in Las Vegas. Pacquiao's promoter hinted that he wants to set up a fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. as well. However, if they can not set up a fight with Mayweather, Pacquiao may have fights with Joan Guzman, Zab Judah, or Juan Manuel Marquez for a third time.

Pacquaio is the lastest in a long line of boxers of Filipino descent many engaging in pugilism in the 1920s and 30s. A documentary entitled The Great Pinoy Boxing Era highlights many of these great fighters of the past.