AAP(I belong): How Vilma and Liz Kari transformed a personal tragedy into a platform of truth and love

by MOMAR G. VISAYA / AJPress

AAP(I belong) is one of those, created as an aftermath of a vile hate attack that almost broke the spirit of a devout Catholic, Vilma Pardo Kari. Today, it is a safe space to share stories of racism, hate, and belonging.

It was probably one of the most viral and brutal antiAsian hate attacks in 2021, as the security video was shared by millions and became headline news across the world. Vilma was the victim who was reluctant to come out in the open out of hiya, the Filipino word for shame. She did not want her name to be associated with the story. She did not want the humiliation and the stigma of being a victim, she did not want her friends and relatives across the diaspora to know that it was her.

“I was ashamed of myself. I did not want my name to be out there, to be associated with that shame,” Vilma recalled. “Then I finally came to the realization that all shame are not equal, that being a victim is not to be ashamed of.”

“Many nights I would wake up in the middle of the night crying, asking God, ‘Why me?’. I questioned my faith and asked Him ‘What did I do to deserve this? What have I done to You?’,” she shared. “The outpouring of love from complete strangers, friends, and family emboldened me. The messages of hope, prayers, well wishes, and support gave me the courage to be strong and do something.”

Liz was instrumental in convincing her mother Vilma to change her mindset and take back control of the narrative. She also told her that it was important for them to come out and express thanks to the countless people who have been sending messages of love, including financial support, through GoFundMe.

During the first few days after the attack, Liz established the account to raise funds for her mother’s healing and recovery. She did not realize that it would become her source of strength as friends, relatives, and even complete strangers began sending heartfelt messages of support. What she realized was that it has become larger than the attack, that there was an opportunity to do something good out of this.

“Lying on that hospital bed, I pondered my mortality. I did not know the extent of my injuries, I just felt excruciating pain in my body and legs and

I thought I was going to die,” she recalled. “Was I ready to die? I did not want to leave the world like this so I said a little prayer and begged God to save my life.”

The organization’s name is a response to Vilma’s attacker who screamed “F*ck you, you don’t belong here, you Asian!” before hitting her multiple times.

“Creating AAP(I belong) was a dream in itself,” Liz told the Asian Journal. “I have been working a corporate job for many years and was beginning to feel the need to find a bigger purpose in life – then my mom’s attack happened. AAP(I belong) manifested itself from the raw kindness and genuine care from the community.”

The organization’s immediate goal has been to create greater awareness of AAPI issues through open dialogue or self-reflection as a result of viewing the anonymous stories posted on their website. AAP(I belong),