The Many Faces of the Fil-Am

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Our stories for this second issue of Filipino American History Month (FAHM) 2024 reflect the many facets of being Fil-Am in this day and age. Our four million-strong community in the US has gone beyond its farmworker beginnings and expanded into a variety of professions, affiliations and locations.

But of course, no matter how far we've evolved, we begin a FAHM issue with our manongs, they who sowed this American earth so we can strive and thrive. PF contributor Alex S. Fabros, Jr., whose biography can fill several volumes, regales us with stories from his young life among the manongs of California's Salinas Valley. These are stories told orally, although Fabros, the historian, meticulously checked newspaper sources to confirm some of the incidents he writes about. "The Ilocano Gang of Salinas Valley" is a rare and valuable attestation to the hard but also fun-filled lives in California farms in the mid-20th century.

Fil-Ams have accomplished much in various fields previously unknown or unreachable to our manongs. Later this week, the Philippine Development Foundation (Phildev) will honor some to them, and we feature them here.

In this crazy election season, Fil-Ams are participating in record numbers. But one Filipino Republican pauses to reflect on his disappointments and dilemma. 

Fil-Ams are now all over the US, not just on the West Coast, and so, some of them have not been spared nature's wrath. The poet Tony Robles who moved from California to North Carolina years ago writes about how the recent Typhoon Helene has devastated his home and family. Read his lyrical account here.

And finally, a young Fil-Am megawatt celebrity visited and performed in her grandparents' homeland and wowed the country with her generosity. Read the story in our In The Know section below of Olivia Rodrigo's love gift.

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We can't help but repost this heartwarming Facebook post of Kalookan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David when he first heard that Pope Francis announced him as the newest Cardinal-designate of the Philippines. Get to know Bishop Ambo as he is fondly called in our In The Know section below.  

FROM A WHIRLWIND TO A SOFT BREEZE 

Cardinal-designate Pablo Virgilio David

I was enjoying a quiet Sunday morning at the Collegio Filippino after a heavy Synod schedule. I slept a bit longer because my Sunday Mass was not going to be until 4pm at the Chaplaincy for Filipino Migrants in Rome. For the first time in many days I had 8 full hours of sleep. After my late “Coffee with Jesus” my phone started ringing. I ignored it because I was also preparing my Sunday homily for my 4 pm Mass at the Sta Pudenziana Church. Besides, the call registered as an international call so I restrained myself from answering it because I’m using a Philippine SIM card and the call would have had to pass through the Philippines and would have been very expensive. Haha, now I realize it must have been someone from the Vatican trying to reach me to inform me about the announcement that was going to be made by the Pope at 12 noon after the Angelus.

Later at noon, the procurator at the Collegio sent me a congratulatory message on WhatsApp. I texted back and said, “For what?” He texted again and said, “Na-announce po na Cardinal kayo.” I texted back and said: “Joke?!” That’s when he called me up to say it could not be a joke because the Pope himself had announced it after the 12noon Angelus. And he sent me the video cut-out from the newsfeed of Vatican news. Then i began to receive a deluge of messages. It felt like being caught in a whirlwind. I put down the phone and did a five minute breathing exercise, which instantly calmed me down. Now it felt like Elijah standing by the mouth of a cave and feeling a soft breeze that penetrated my soul and prepared me for this new chapter of my life and ministry as a bishop, as a servant of God’s people. I said, “Ok, Lord. My life is in your hands.”

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Staff

Cheers at A Rare Gathering

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Last Saturday, August 31, at the San Francisco Public Library, Positively Filipino hosted an event to honor 12 community heroes -- our manongs and manangs -- whose life stories and achievements serve as lighted paths for succeeding generations of FilAms. [https://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/they-blazed-a-path-for-us]

It was a rare gathering of pioneers and "bridge generation" (children of the first wave of Filipino immigrants, who were born before 1945) offspring. Most were in their 80s or 90s (except for two) and have lived through economic hardships, discrimination and miscegenation. All have overcome social and professional barriers to excel in their respective fields.

An audience of about 200 cheered the seven honorees who were able to make it to the event. The rest who couldn't, just sent video messages. 

Some of the post-event reactions: 

"We thoroughly enjoyed your tribute to our incredibly gifted Manongs and Manangs at yesterday’s event. I learned so much. 

Their stories are priceless contributions to our identity as beneficiaries of the Filipino immigration to America, “the land of opportunity.” Each individual’s story was unique and compelling!" - Eva Monroe

"We had a great time celebrating our Filipino American leaders and heroes.  May we all learn from their sacrifices and contributions to the community, the USA, and the Filipino people." - Mario Santos

"It is humbling and gratifying to hear from the awardees their inspiring life journeys.  And it is appropo that we come together and celebrate them while they are still vibrant and living." - Ben Olivas

"What a heart warming ancestral honoring event. I was so moved and proud. Thank you for including us!" - France Viana 

"So effective in bringing community together. Wonderful. An honor to be a part of it. Grateful to be with awardees and participants—all pioneers forging the future for the next generations of Filipino-American compassionate changemakers and joyful determined leaders!!" - Alisa Mallari Tu 

"I left inspired and proud and even choked up a few times during the program." - Kathleen Gutierrez

NOTE: We will be posting the full coverage of the event soon in Positively Filipino. Watch out for it. 

[Video of the Week] One-Armed Mamba

Anti-Asian Hate Watch

Alameda Co. fire chief condemns firefighter seen in viral video making racial slurs
https://abc7news.com/post/alameda-county-fire-chief-speaks-after-firefighter-shown-video-making-racial-slurs/15232286/

All charges dismissed against suspect in Oakland officer’s shooting death
https://asamnews.com/2024/09/02/officer-tuan-le-killing-marquise-cooper-murder-charge-dropped/

Report and Recommendations of the New York State Bar Association Task Force on Combating Antisemitism and Anti-Asian Hate
https://nysba.org/app/uploads/2022/03/EC-AND-HOD-AMENDED-Task-Force-on-Antisemitism-and-Anti-Asian-Hate-FINAL-1.22.24.pdf

Man punched in suspected anti-Asian attack in Brooklyn: NYPD
https://pix11.com/news/local-news/brooklyn/man-punched-in-suspected-anti-asian-attack-in-brooklyn-nypd/

Funding provided by the State of California.

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Staff

Critical Myth Theory

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One of the very first books I bought when my children and I immigrated to the US more than 30 years ago is Lies My Teacher Told Me by James W. Loewen. I knew that they were in for American history from a certain point of view so it was important to prepare for some counter-mythmaking. The book was too complex for my little kids to appreciate at that time but its presence in our bookshelf was a constant and symbolic reminder that stories/lessons (particularly historical ones) passed on as "facts" should be examined before they are believed. 

I just reread Loewen's chapter on "The Truth About the First Thanksgiving" because, well, it's Thanksgiving. This "feel-good" holiday is not as pure and innocent (and celebratory) as has been drummed into American schoolchildren through generations. There was another side to the story and it was dark and diabolical, involving, among other things, the slaughter of Native Americans. This ugly side has been exposed by other historians, not just Loewen. 

Historical myth-making or revisionism is not limited to long-ago events; some evil souls are even trying to rewrite contemporary history -- events that many still living can easily remember and expose as lies. (I'm looking at you, martial-law-as-golden-age liars.)

"The antidote to feel-good history is not feel-bad history but honest and inclusive history," Loewen says. It means "...allowing students to learn both the 'good' and the 'bad' side...." 

It is in this same spirit that we encourage you to read "The Conservation President's Troubling Legacy," our lead story this week about President Theodore Roosevelt whose monumental legacy is the protection of millions of acres of land that we visit and appreciate to this day. Roosevelt, however, was also a hard-core imperialist who considered Filipinos as an inferior specie. First-time PF contributor Mikko Jimenez, a conservation biologist and academic, de-mystifies the 26th US president.

There's nothing mystifying about our Living Legends series which hails the very real achievements of some Filipino Americans. Part 2 of Mona Lisa Yuchengco's compilation features Historians and Archivists, the Academe and the Arts. 

Sisig, that crispy, savory pork sensation that has surpassed adobo and lumpia as the Filipino dish of choice, has an interesting -- and accidental -- beginning, as chef and food historian Claude Tayag relates. And to top his delectable story, Claude is sharing his own recipe for this Pampangueño delicacy, for the Happy Home Cook.

Our Video of the Week is a short video documentary on the disappearing art of making Asin Tibuok in Bohol, one of the rarest salt in the world.

Read Again:

We commemorate the 147th birth anniversary of Andres Bonifacio on November 30:
http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/andres-bonifacio-the-other-national-hero

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Gemma Nemenzo

Editor, Positively Filipino