Life Lessons

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Tinikling, the iconic Filipino bamboo dance, is as ubiquitous as lumpia, adobo, and pancit as shorthand for Filipino presence and identity in America. The dance, which calls for timing one’s steps to avoid being caught between two clashing bamboo poles, is also a metaphor for learning to navigate life in an adopted homeland, according to author Bobbie Peyton’s children’s book, Dancing the Tinikling. Contributor Claire Mercado-Obias reviews the book illustrated by artist Diobelle Cerna (“Living Through the Rhythm of the Tinikling,”).

February as African American History Month is also a timely reminder of our own political and organic links to Black America. Rene G. Ontal tells the story of Pvt. David Fagan, a Black American soldier who defected to the Filipino resistance during the Philippine-American War (Read Again “A Black Man’s Burden,”) warning, “To the Colored American Soldier: It is without honor that you shed your precious blood. Your masters have thrown you in the most iniquitous fight” as instruments of their ambition.

More contemporarily, Filipina African American writer Janet Stickmon shares insights on growing up in both cultures: “Identifying as only African American or Filipino American never felt right because it just wasn’t true. College and scholarship applications told me, ‘Please choose one,’ but categories like African American and Asian/Pacific Islander felt too constraining” (Read Again “Blackapina, Third Movement: The Blend”).

Meanwhile, in time for the coming California primaries on March 5, 2024, Filipino community leaders who have long learned the importance of political representation and empowerment are encouraging Filipino Americans to be engaged in democratic life, to vote for candidates from the community, and to hold them accountable while in office. Contributor Jun Nucum reports on Fil-Am movers and shakers who are gunning for California legislative posts (“Meet Fil-Ams Running in California Primaries ’24,”)

Back in the Philippines, human rights activist Robert Francis Garcia and peers from the Commission on Human Rights find that the human rights situation in Cotabato in Mindanao has improved such that they could enjoy unperturbed visits with friends and their innovative livelihood projects (“Catching Up in Cotabato,”).

And here’s an actor to watch: Red Concepcion. Within a decade, Concepcion has made it from college theater productions in the Philippines to the world’s biggest stage – Broadway. Concepcion just debuted as gullible car mechanic Amos Hart in the long-running musical Chicago, the second-longest running show on The Great White Way (“Actor Red Concepcion Takes on ‘Chicago’ on Broadway,”).

[Video of the Week] Panagbenga Festival 2024

Anti-Asian Hate Watch

U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Releases Translated 2023 Statutory Enforcement Report, The Federal Response to Anti-Asian Racism in the United States
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/us-commission-on-civil-rights-releases-translated-2023-statutory-enforcement-report-the-federal-response-to-anti-asian-racism-in-the-united-states-302058779.html

Reported Hate Crime at Schools: 2018-2022
https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:2c0e00e0-6190-470a-94a5-b4524c9fc435?utm_source=CA+vs+Hate

The Web of Misinformation
https://scotscoop.com/the-web-of-misinformation/

Anti-Asian hate crimes are down in S.F. So why do AAPI communities feel unsafe?
https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/aapi-hate-crimes-18655173.php

SF city leaders, community coalition discuss fighting AAPI hate
https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/san-francisco/sf-city-leaders-aapi-hate/3448039/

Man gets 30-year sentence for attacks on Asian Americans at West Baltimore stores
https://www.hastingstribune.com/ap/national/man-gets-30-year-sentence-for-attacks-on-asian-americans-at-west-baltimore-stores/article_6294eb09-0d67-5280-890e-2706e33674e4.html

The Roque Family Struggling to Survive Months After Assault Case Ended
https://sanfernandosun.com/2024/02/07/the-roque-family-struggling-to-survive-months-after-assault-case-ended/

Funding provided by the State of California.

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Staff