Kapwa, Bayanihan, Makibaka! The FAJ Story
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FilAm activists with the Filipinos for Affirmative Action, the predecessor of FAJ.
BAYANIHAN (collective effort) is the spirit of communal unity and cooperation.
MAKIBAKA (struggle) is the call for people to come together for change through struggle.
These three words embody the spirit that has guided the Filipino Advocates for Justice since its inception in 1973. As it reaches its 50th anniversary, its focus remains on building and sustaining an empowered Filipino immigrant community.
Through the years, FAJ has navigated numerous social and political landscapes and emerged stronger in its mission of organizing constituents, providing service, and advocating for policies that promote social and economic justice and equality.
Originally incorporated in 1973 as the Filipinos for Affirmative Action, it was a means of setting up services such as youth development, employment assistance and immigration services. The growing anti-immigrant attacks and intensifying need to defend affirmative action necessitated a community-based organization that would advocate for the growing Filipino immigrant population.
The ‘70s were also a period of upheaval in the Philippines. With the imposition of Martial Law in 1972, hundreds of Filipinos sought to escape the Marcos regime. Political asylum seekers joined the ranks of Filipino Americans feeling the impact of the injustices that befell people of color. Thus, it was no longer right just to provide services. It also became obligatory to fight for rights and to protect them.
A significant fight came after 9-11 when airport screeners were scapegoated and put at risk of being laid off. When citizenship suddenly became a job requirement, more than 60 percent of Bay Area airports were being staffed by elderly Filipinos, green card holders and college graduates. Working with several other organizations, FAA founded PAWIS (Pilipino Association of Workers and Immigrants) in 2002 to serve and advocate with fired airport screeners and new domestic workers in San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose.
In the 2000s, FAJ came to understand that there are two dimensions to building power, the internal and the external. Realizing that participants in its programs suffered at multiple pain points—as youth, immigrants, tenants, low-wage workers, domestic/care workers, elders, and/or queer people—Filipinos for Affirmative Action changed its name to Filipino Advocates for Justice.
FAJ activists stand up for justice.
Through its service programs, FAJ also continued to build a civically engaged and empowered Filipino community. It ran youth in-school risk reduction/prevention education programs in Union City; after-school youth leadership development in Union City and, later, Alameda as well; and immigration counseling. Gaining BIA accreditation allowed FAJ naturalization counselors to represent individuals before US immigration authorities. FAJ organized to help change the name of Alvarado Middle School to Itliong/Vera Cruz Middle School, in honor of the Filipino farmworker heroes.
Rachel Anne Aceberos talks about how “FAJ wasn't just a place; it was a lifeline for me. Here, I found my identity, learned to be proud of my Filipino roots and found a community that's supportive and gave guidance. It was like finding a missing piece of a puzzle that I didn't even know existed. For my brothers, FAJ was a sanctuary. The world outside was filled with threats of violence and gangs. But in FAJ, they found a safe place, a place where they could just be themselves. It kept them away from all the bad stuff, and for that, I’ll always be grateful.
For Marvin and Rachel Aceberos, FAJ has been both a lifeline and a sanctuary.
“And then there was my mom, a brave woman who moved to a new country to give us a better life. As an immigrant and a domestic worker, life wasn’t easy, but FAJ was there for her too. They gave her the strength to stand up for her rights, to fight against the wrongs. Even after she's gone, her voice, her strength, it still echoes in the work FAJ does every day.”
Patricia Vicman Aceberos (mother)
With the number of Fil-Am caregivers growing, FAJ helped found the California Domestic Workers Coalition and began advocating for greater labor protections for domestic/caregiver workers with the state’s Domestic Worker Bill of Rights. It expanded to assist the prosecution of wage theft cases and to set up workers’ rights education and outreach effort.
One story of a caregiver encapsules the work FAJ has been doing in the domestic workers forefront. Lea Nelson shares this:
“I worked as a caregiver from 2008-2011. During those years I was abused by my employers. At that time, I didn’t have any idea that there are organizations more than willing to help caregivers like me. In 2010, I became a program participant of Filipino Advocates for Justice (FAJ) support group for domestic workers. After attending their meetings and trainings I was enlightened that caregivers are protected by law. I have learned that discussing our needs, fears, and rights with our employer will help build a very strong relationship for a better and safer workplace. I believe that it is very important for caregivers to know their rights so they will not be subject to any physical, emotional, and mental abuse.”
Caregivers Xmas Party ‘22, Lea Nelson standing extreme left with right hand raised
In 2022, FAJ’s Civic Engagement Program was able to conduct virtual campaigns contacting 37,000+ voters across California with an intergenerational campaign team comprised of youth, transition-age youth, and elder caregivers. That year the growing need to activate, develop, and organize the political leadership of the Filipino and BIPOC electorate in the East Bay and statewide led FAJ to start its sibling organization, FAJ Action Fund, a 501(c)4.
Since its founding FAJ has aimed at changing the community through the following messages.
Know History, Know Self. No History. No Self. Along with Black, Native, and AAPI movements, Filipinos gain wisdom from looking at the past and connecting with the ancestors, to ground our collective in the realities of the here and now, ultimately, to help chart an unseen future.
Immigrant low-propensity voters have the potential to further progressive causes—so it’s important to invest in immigrant organizing by activating, developing, and organizing their leadership.
Healing is an act of political empowerment. Addressing burn-out, trauma, and the emotional impact of racist and classist policies and promoting mental-health-seeking behavior are critical to the growth and evolution of the immigrant movement.
FAJ leaders came together at the height of the pandemic and emerged with eyes set on becoming a visible anchor for thriving Filipino communities, one that centers transformative change (individual and collective) by championing working-class and cross-racial solidarity, intergenerational wellness and healing, and freedom and self-determination for all BIPOC communities.
“I hope that we continue to evolve in a way that continues to serve our community and not just become a stale, stagnant, immovable institution... [it] would be a nice thing to just continue to be able to... evolve and change with, with the community that [we] serve,” Geraldine Alcid (current FAJ Executive Director) said.
But as we change the world, we too must change and evolve as we continue to honor KAPWA, BAYANIHAN AND MAKIBAKA.
Join FAJ as it celebrates 50 years of service at the ZNE Center, 14600 Catalina St., San Leandro, October 14, 2023, 6-10pm.
For more on FAJ: https://filipinos4justice.org/
Susan V. Tagle is a worker-organizer with Filipino Advocates for Justice.
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