Sailing for Peace in Troubled Waters

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The turmoil in the West Philippine Sea (WFS) has roiled the Philippine defense establishment and has sadly surfaced long-simmering anti-Chinese prejudices among Filipinos. How can one not be angry when watching the YouTube videos of the Chinese Coast Guard training powerful water cannons on Philippine Coast Guard ships, blocking Filipino fishermen from fishing in Philippine waters (as confirmed in 2016 by the arbitral ruling of the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Seas) and, in a recent episode, surrounding and destroying with pickaxes and poles the Philippine Navy rubber boats carrying survival supplies for the Marines stationed in BRP Sierra Madre?  

But war with China is not an option, even with the proclaimed full support of the more militarily superior United States for the Philippines. How best to conduct a David-and-Goliath struggle without the use of military force? Popular political pundit Ronald Llamas says civilian mass actions on the sea are best; they perplex the Chinese military because they cannot be seen as aggressors to civilians (and therefore have to maintain distance), and they send a calm and friendly message to the Chinese people that the Filipino people are not against them but rather against their government's policies. A highly nuanced approach no doubt that may or may not be lost on the intended recipients.

Atin Ito!, a project led by Akbayan Philippines, is a civilian activity that has sent two supply missions to the WFS bringing aid to Filipino fisherfolk. The first took place last December [Defying Goliath in the West Philippine Sea].

The second and bigger one was last May and, like the first one, our Manila-based contributing writer Robert Francis Garcia was part of the contingent. Read his blow-by-blow account of this harrowing but ultimately successful mission in this issue. And be sure to watch the beautiful video at the end of the article. 

Do you agree that civilian action can be more effective than a purely military approach to counter Chinese aggression in Philippine shores? Tell us how you feel by replying to this email.

*****

People are talking about Asador Alfonso, an authentic Spanish roasting house featuring the innovative dishes of Chef Chele Gonzales in a fabulous, environmentally sensitive setting by architect/owner Carlo Calma. It's located in Alfonso, Cavite so it's a worthy weekend drive for Metro Manilans.

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A Filipina entrepreneur now based in Switzerland, Demee Mahinay Koch, has come out with DEMOI, her line of cruelty-free, socially relevant, and ecologically friendly beauty products. Fil-Am community leader Sonia Delen profiles this enterprising Cebuana with a mission.

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Our Video of the Week: a short documentary on the Philippine Rise, a collaborative production of the Daily Tribune and The Extra Mile Productions' Know Your North project.

Anti-Asian Hate Watch

The States With the Highest Concentration of Hate Groups: All 50 Ranked
https://247wallst.com/politics/2024/07/12/the-states-with-the-highest-concentration-of-hate-groups-all-50-ranked/ 

Education, National Security, Gun Control, Climate, Matter To Asian American Voters
https://indiawest.com/education-national-security-gun-control-climate-matter-to-asian-american-voters/#google_vignette

More than half of Asian Canadians experienced racism, hate in past year: survey
https://www.sookenewsmirror.com/news/more-than-half-of-asian-canadians-experienced-racism-hate-in-past-year-survey-192331

Funding provided by the State of California.

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Staff

The Past Year As Prologue

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A new year brings new beginnings, but it's also a time to take stock of the old year.  This week, Positively Filipino, now starting its 11th year of existence, offers yearend look-backs -- and we've got two of them plus a first-person account of an adventure in the West Philippine Sea.

Manila-based analyst and columnist Ernesto M. Hilario steps back from the day-to-day grit of politics and offers a sweeping view of how the first full year of the Ferdinand Marcos Jr. administration panned out. His verdict in "Marcos' Year of Hits and Misses."

2023 was also a banner year for Fil-Am visual arts as contributing writer O.M. France Viana, herself an active artist, sums up the year with over 45 links to Fil Am artists, curators, and their shows.  Dive into this visual feast in "2023 Filipino American Visual Arts in Review: An ArtsiLog."

A first-of-its-kind sea voyage -- and hopefully not the last -- was done by a group of about 50 social activists and media people in early December 2023. Part of the larger campaign called Atin Ito!, the goal was to deliver supplies and Christmas gifts to kababayans in the contested West Philippine Sea. Group members also wanted to see for themselves how Chinese Navy vessels engage in a dangerous dance with Philippine Coast Guard vessels and those of Filipino fisherfolk. How did the mission go? Read participant Robert Francis Garcia's account, "Defying Goliath in the West Philippine Sea."

We continue with our information campaign on Anti-Asian Hate with this feature on Los Angeles' foremost Fil-Am organization, Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA), and its Clinical Program of Mental Health. SIPA's staff of three therapists and three social work interns have their hands full in tackling "the painful consequences of anti-AAPI hatred," as described by PF's LA correspondent Anthony Maddela in "SIPA Helps Stop the Hate."

Anti-Asian Hate Watch

Sacramento senior citizen center combats anti-Asian hate with escorted shopping trips
https://www.aol.com/sacramento-senior-citizen-center-combats-130000098.html 

Wing Luke Museum staff recount horrifying moments when hate crime suspect broke into building with sledgehammer
https://ustimespost.com/wing-luke-museum-staff-recount-horrifying-moments-when-hate-crime-suspect-broke-into-building-with-sledgehammer/

A Texas high school is piloting the state’s first-ever Asian American studies course. Could politics stand in its way?
https://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/19/asian-american-studies-texas-round-rock-isd/

Finding mental health care is difficult for Asian Americans
https://asamnews.com/2023/12/19/shortage-culturally-competent-asian-american-therapists/

Bonneville Elementary community spreads messages of love after hate crime vandalism
https://ksltv.com/608760/bonneville-elementary-community-spreads-messages-of-love-after-hate-crime-vandalism/

Funding provided by the State of California.

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Staff

Racism: Can We Talk?

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We know how it is to walk on eggshells when we have to talk about politics and religion with our families and friends. It's a lot easier to take the cop-out route -- not to bring up anything controversial when we gather with people we love. But in the past two months, ever since we saw the gruesome video of George Floyd dying in the hands of the police and witnessed the emergence of Black Lives Matter and nationwide anti-racist protests, we have been forced to reckon with anti-Black attitudes in our midst, be it in us or in our circles. Add to this the alarming increase of pandemic-induced racist rants directed at Asians, including Filipinos, and we know that it's time to have a conversation about racism. But how do we do it without breaking filial bonds?

Last week we posted the written versions and the audio recording of Positively Filipino's first webinar on the historical roots of the Filipino colonial mind and of white supremacy in the US. Both provide an abbreviated but very timely education on how we were "programmed" to look at white as the superior race, and how White supremacy was legalized and embedded in US history -- the better for us to understand how we feel and why we should care. 

In case you missed the lectures, here are the links:

https://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/the-colonial-legacy-of-racism-among-filipinos

https://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/white-supremacy-and-black-oppression-in-law-and-society

Last Monday, our second webinar focused more pointedly on "A Difficult Conversation," which tackled the prevailing racist attitudes among Filipinos and how to start a constructive conversation with our families about the issue. Our panelists, Professors Evelyn Ibatan Rodriguez of the University of San Francisco and Anthony Ocampo of Cal Poly Pomona, provided enlightening and valuable insights on the topic.

Next week, Thursday, July 23, join us with immigrant activist Jose Antonio Vargas and immigration attorney Lourdes Tancinco for our third webinar: Immigrants in the Time of Racial Unrest, Pandemic, and Trump