Issue 26, April 2020
More stories on the web @ TheFilAm.net
Ilya Amatorio Bergenfield’s first lady is an RN FilAms helping FilAms
In a time of COVID-19
Marvel’s Harry Go
And his tale of 2 childhoods
Letter from the Editor
Why calling it 'China Virus' hurts our community
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he virus called Covid-19 is a public health pandemic that has darkened many countries around the world. Broadway in the city of our dreams has turned eerily quiet since the outbreak, and Times Square, the tumultuous heartbeat of New York, is silenced as the disease tightened its claws on the gasping lungs of its people. It is like someone designed a crippling ailment that attacks the desire of people to huddle together. The term “social distancing” is a tangled phrase. It strikes at the notion of being together to sing, to dance, to party, to celebrate the joy of life. But why keep your distance? Nothing seems to bring home the sense of dark foreboding than the image of the Fearless Girl on Wall Street wearing a face mask. Connolly’s pub sat forlornly empty on St. Patrick’s Day when patrons would normally belly up to the bar where the spirits ran freely. Buses and subways are disinfected, and riders stand far from each other, adding to the sense of loneliness you feel in a city of strangers. In the middle of this dark mood, we cannot give in to our dark impulses and deepening sense of despair. As
The Fearless Girl wears a mask. Internet image FilAms who help other FilAms, we inspire one another with a basic truth: Together, we can be powerful than the petty hate around us. As a community, we need to rise together and fight the misguided
stereotyping against Asians. We need to assert that we are not spreaders of the virus, and there is no need to avoid us. We need to contribute to the understanding that while the virus may have originated in China,
Contributing Writers Tricia J. Capistrano Ludy AstraquilloOngkeko Joel David Mariel Padilla Wendell Gaa Maricar CP Lindy Rosales Hampton Danielle Vania Angelito Cabigao Bonus
Founding Editor Cristina DC Pastor Address P.O. Box 8071 New York, NY 10116
Contact Thefilamny@gmail.com
The FilAm is a publication of A&V Editorial THE FILAM |
it should not be called the “China virus” because it feeds on xenophobic fears that resulted in Asians being sprayed with Febreze and Asian children being bullied in school. The World Health Organization, in 2015, has called on authorities, leaders, and media to exercise caution in naming infectious diseases “to minimize unnecessary negative effects on nations, economies and people.” Naming them after the countries of origin “has had unintended negative impacts by stigmatizing certain communities or economic sectors.” The White House chooses not to listen. Now is a time to affirm our humanity in binding up the public health crisis the world is going through. A time to exercise the simple virtues of reflection and humility. Time will come when the ‘boys of summer’ will eventually return to fill our ballparks and the lights will come on again on Broadway. Life will return to normal, and so will the vibrancy of this country we call home. We will look back in the Winter of 2020 as a time our nation was tested and our Asian and Filipino communities watched out for each other and stood together against hate. It could be the one good thing that will come out of this pandemic.
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Ilya Amatorio: Nurse leader, mom of 2, first lady of Bergenfield By Cristina DC Pastor
It’s been said: There’s a nurse in every Filipino American household. Over at Bergenfield town, a FilAm nurse just became its first lady.
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lya Evangelista Amatorio, 46, was a longtime clinical nurse manager at Mount Sinai Hospital until she decided two years ago to cut back and spend more time with her growing kids and help with her husband’s mayoral campaign. With a Master’s Degree in Nursing Management and Executive Leadership from Columbia University, she is currently the CEO of the family-owned Apex Healthcare Professionals Inc., and Millennium Healthcare Professionals, both nursing recruitment and staffing firms. Ilya was appointed a member of the Board of Trustees of Care Plus Bergen Inc., a title that speaks to her background and her focus as a first lady looking to engage with the community in health-related and wellness issues. “Care Plus manages Bergen New Bridge Medical Center, the largest hospital in the State of New Jersey and the fourth largest publicly-owned hospital in the United States,” she said. Ilya embraces the role of first lady, always keeping in mind she is there to support her husband who ran on a platform of better infrastructure and financial stability for Bergenfield. “These are the major areas that I know he wants to focus on,” she said. “I don’t doubt they will be able to make Bergenfield a better town,” she said. At the same time, she has her hands full working part-time as a nurse executive, running the family business, and being a mother to two boys, Lance and Andrew.
||How they met
Ilya and Arvin met in 1996 when both were working at the Philippine Department of Interior and Local Government. They attended a training seminar in Ilocos Sur, got to know each other, and began dating shortly after. When she went to the U.S. in 2002, Arvin followed. “When I decided to stay here, he said that he would stay with me. It was an unexpected decision for him. I think his love for me was so strong that he chose me over anything else he had back home,” she recalled. Back home, Arvin was an executive at a telecommunications company, while earning his Law degree
Embracing her new role as first lady. from San Sebastian College of Law. In the U.S. he worked as an adjunct professor in New York City while studying for the New York Bar. He was admitted to the New York Bar in 2006 and maintained a law office in New York City and in Bergenfield to serve New Jersey clients. The family lived in Upper Manhattan until they decided in mid-2000 that a suburban environment in Bergenfield would be a better place to raise children. Elder son Lance is now in seventh grade and Andrew is in Pre-K 3. They attend the same private Catholic school. “Lance is athletic. He is a 2nd degree Tae Kwon Do blackbelt and often competes in state and Tri-State Taekwondo Championships. He is also a varsity basketball player. Both Andrew and Lance swim. Lance plays the drums and is a budding disc jockey,” she said. “Andrew is only 3 years old and is very attached to us.” Ilya’s is no stranger to politics. Her mother Florencia Balingit Evangelista was a former councilwoman in the town of Dingalan in Aurora province. Ilya’s brother Ian now holds the same position. Her father, Ildefonso Evangelista, is a retired City Director of the DILG in Cabanatuan City. THE FILAM |
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The mayor and his lady holding a flyer for a fundraising project for Taal evacuees: ‘We share the parenting duties’ “I was born in Cabanatuan City, and spent most of my childhood in Dingalan,” she said. When Arvin ran, she knew the challenge would be to ably manage her time. She is “fortunate and touched” by the support she receives from residents and volunteers of the campaign. As far as parenting goes, it’s a responsibility she shares with the mayor. “We adjust our time to accommodate our children’s needs. They are our priorities,” she said.
Island doctor Jonas Ebarle: A radiologist in Tortola
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hen Lucien Stoutt – he was hired by my late husband as a butler in 1988 and continued to work for me as a house manager, chauffeur and event planner -- told me he was getting married in his home country of Tortola, British Virgin Islands, my college friend of long standing Dr. Angie Cruz and I decided we would go and attend his wedding. It was our chance to visit Tortola since we both have never been there. The wedding, held in a private club, was very joyful and celebratory in true Caribbean style. Bride Joycelyn and groom Lucien were resplendent and happy. When Lemeal Clyne, one of Lucien’s nephews, told me that his boss in the hospital is a Filipino, I was intrigued to find out that in this island of 24,000 inhabitants, there are at least 500 Filipinos working mainly in the medical field. Dr. Jonas Ebarle came in 2006 to Grenada, then Trinidad and Tobago where he stayed for four years. In 2010, he moved to Tortola where he has been working as a doctor for the past 10 years. In the interview, he told me that he was born in 1965, in Cagayan de Oro, the fourth of eight children -- four boys and four girls. His father was an engineer and his mother a teacher. His parents and grandparents encouraged him to be a doctor of medicine because he consistently got good grades in school. He finished high school and college at the Jesuit-run Xavier University. With a BS degree in Biology, he went to Cebu’s Southwestern University to study medicine. He interned for one year at the biggest hospital then in Cebu, Chong Hua Hospital, until he passed the Board Exam. He worked for four years as a radiologist in Cebu. He moved to Manila and worked for three years at St. Luke’s Hospital. After which, he was elected as a Fellow in Diagnostic Radiology at the Philippine College of Radiology. In 2006, the chance to go to Grenada in the Caribbean opened up. His parents encouraged him to go and seek his fortunes outside of the Philippines. A friend who was his former student in Xavier University where he taught during his residency, invited him to go to Grenada because medical personnel were needed there. However they both ended up leaving Grenada soon after because of unsafe and discourteous practices against the Filipino employees. Dr. Ebarle went to Trinidad and Tobago and worked at the Tobago Hospital for four years. In 2010, upon the invitation of his friend Arthur Lamberang, who was a radiographer in Tortola Hospital, Dr. Jonas was accepted to be the diagnostic radiologist in the hospital.
Filipino medical professionals, from left: Jonas Ebarle, radiologist; Dean Torno, psychiatrist; Glenn Mendoza, dental hygienist; Alma Perias, dental hygienist; Elni Samoramos, pharmacist; and Amadeo de Leon, nurse. When I asked how come there were many Filipinos in Tortola and for that matter in the West Indies, Dr. Jonas reported that in 1999, when the Miss Universe contest was held in Trinidad, our Miss Philippines was accompanied by then Senator Ernesto Maceda. He was able to convince the governor of Trinidad to recruit medical workers from the Philippines, when the governor indicated their lack of doctors and nurses. Thus, began the exodus of Filipino doctors, nurses, medical technicians, pharmacists, hygienists and even accountants to Trinidad in batches of 50. The quota of 500 recruits was reached in a few years. Dr. Ebarle remained in Tortola because it is a safe and peaceful island where crime is low and one sees no signs of poverty like beggars on streets. Although when the cruise ships are out of season (July to September), there is less employment. The people of Tortola basically live a leisurely comfortable island living. In fact, after his term of office ended in January 20, 2017, President Obama and his family stayed for two weeks in the Necker Island, owned by British business magnate Sir Richard Branson. The Filipinos are also owners of grocery stores, and work as accountants, teachers, shop owners,
THE FILAM |
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and nannies. In fact, Dr. Jonas said there is a very active Filipino group, the Community Filipino Association of BVI. When his friend Arthur Lamberang died in 2015 of a massive heart attack, the association raised $10,000 to have his body airlifted back to the Philippines. Dr. Jonas said Filipinos in Tortola are considered gentle, soft-spoken, friendly, reliable, hardworking and fun-loving. They love to get together for ballroom dancing, yearly sport tournaments for tennis, basketball, volleyball, bowling. Although Dr. Jonas never married, he did not feel homesick because he would visit the Philippines yearly when his parents were still alive. He keeps in touch with his seven siblings -- two in Edmonton, Canada, one in California, and the rest in the Philippines – and their families through FaceTime, WhatsApp, and Viber. He would get calls even in the wee hours of the morning. He works long hours. In fact, it took me a month before I could conduct the interview because after his work, he would be so tired and sleep would come easy. And so it is. Filipinos are living well in the island of Tortola in the British Virgin Islands.
FilAms helping FilAms in a time of Covid-19 By Cristina DC Pastor
In a time of calamity, trust the Filipino American community to act quickly and act with heart.
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owerful earthquakes and typhoons in the past have prepared Filipino organizations to efficiently rally their members to fundraise. But in a time of Covid-19, a fast-spreading virus that has forced the shutdown of cities and countries around the world, individuals are giving of themselves in ways that are truly meaningful and of service. Activist Kalaya’an Mendoza offered to be “grandson for a day,” as he called on friends in the Jackson Heights, Elmhurst, or Woodside neighborhoods of Queens to message him if they needed someone to do their errands. “If you or any of your elders need support with picking up groceries, running errands, and preparing for whatever is coming, please message me directly,” he posted on Facebook. “If your Lola, Lolo, Momo la, Popo la, Dadi, Dada, Abuela, Abuelo, Nai Nai or YeYe needs someone to do a run for them please let me know, hella on the real. I’ll gladly be their grandson for the day.” Michael Cruz, a K-12 History teacher in Newark, offered to help children with their school work. Using language used by other educators in the teaching community, he posted on Facebook: “While you are homeschooling/remotely/ digitally educating your kids, if you need assistance with understanding something that has been assigned to your child, or if you need more resources, just give me a shout. I am a teacher and would be happy to answer questions.” Michael has additional experience teaching English Language Arts.
He said he can tutor on a variety of subjects. National Vice President of JCI USA Joyce Andes David just enlisted her entire family to help tutor kids “or just keep them in check” in their homes. “Our kids are willing to do a video chat with other kids needing help. We will be hosting a virtual study group. I consider our kids very smart as all are straight A students and/or carry a 4.0 GPA,” she said, pointing out she did not mean to brag, only to “vouch” that her children could be trusted to help with school work. Artist and filmmaker Panday Banale has been delivering hot meals to seniors in Brooklyn and Queens. “It’s my service to humanity,” said this queer activist who co-founded the Kilawin Kolektibo community of lesbian Pinays in the 1990s. Ugly Kitchen and several other Filipino restaurants may have closed their dining areas but are continuing to serve through take-out orders. Ugly Kitchen has offered its own delivery service that goes to customers in Midtown Manhattan, the Upper West and Upper East sides hankering for Filipino comfort food. Said Chef Aris Tuazon, “I will do my best to deliver your food…I appreciate all your help and thank you for always being there for us.” At a time when a little goes a long way, these individuals have stepped up and reached out because as a community — that’s what we do. Kalayaan puts it this way: “We have to care and protect one another in the ways our Ancestors would have.”
THE FILAM |
Joyce Andes David; Kalaya’an Mendoza Aris Tuazon; Michael Cruz
Panday Banale 5
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Cheap eats in NYC: Not for tourists only
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By Krizia Daya
’m always asked, “Where should I take my friend or relative who’s visiting from out of town?” And my first response is to ask, “What’s your budget?” Indeed, few other cities in the world can rival New York City in terms of extravagance, and this definitely extends to food. One can find two slices and a soda for three dollars at almost any pizza place in Manhattan, and then there’s Masa that charges $500 per person not including the drinks. There are the obvious tourist traps, such as Grimaldi’s Pizza, Shake Shack (although I would recommend them anyway), and Papaya Dog. But if you have the money to spare, I’d say go for Eleven Madison Park, the third best restaurant in the world for 2016. New York City has anywhere from 25,000 to 30,000 eateries. Everyone has his or her own preference, which is usually dictated by geography: Is it close to your apartment, your office? There are also five boroughs, all with their own flavors, but tourists usually stick to Manhattan, and lately Brooklyn. Then there’s the issue of what kind of food do you want? Italian? American? Filipino? Mediterranean? And so on. Let me begin with cheap eats. Tacos are always best from the taco trucks, but Empellon is a nice, fancy taco place. I’ve gone back time and again for their queso fundido (melted cheese with different things like shishito peppers). The halal chicken over rice is always a winner, and if you’re with a tourist, Halal Guys with multiple locations throughout the city is a safe bet. For hot dogs, I’d stick to Papaya Dog, although I love Shake Shack’s shackcago dogs. The best Chinese dim sum are in Flushing, Queens. But if you’re sticking to Chinatown in Manhattan, I prefer Shanghai Asian Cuisine on Elizabeth Street for its incredible soup dumplings, or Nom Wah Tea Parlor just because it’s cute. A surprisingly authentic but cheap Italian place is my favorite Spaghetti Incident. You can tell the authenticity of any place if people of that nationality eat there. Italians come here in droves. I love the chitarra with homemade mozzarella, and it goes for just $13.
A fresh serving at Blue Ribbon Sushi
Seafood pasta at Roberta’s If you prefer to find these cheaper eats all in one place, you can always visit the Plaza Food Hall across from Central Park on 5th Avenue and 59th Street. My favorite lobster rolls of all time can be found at Luke’s Lobster in the food hall. Lady M, famous for its mille-feuille (thin crepe layered cakes), is there. So is Francois Payard! Anything that comes from Payard is a winner. The last time I went, I had this raspberry mousse cake that I’d kill to have again. It was that good. Speaking of dessert, there’s also the famous cronut at Dominique Ansel THE FILAM |
Bakery in the West Village, and Grom’s gelato (my favorite flavor is the Crema di Grom). Laduree is an upscale tea and pastry place, and I love their rose macarons. Magnolia Bakery has a wonderful banana pudding. In terms of pizza, there’s lower-end pizza and real restaurant-style pizza. I’d recommend Joe’s Pizza on Carmine street in the West Village or Artichoke pizza with multiple sites in the city for the lower end. My favorite mid-range pizza place is John’s Pizzeria of Bleecker Street, also in the West Village. It’s been at this location forever, and still serves 7
real brick oven-baked pizzas. The crust is thin as paper. Speaking of Italian, tourists love Eataly, which is a real marketplace with restaurants throughout and a restaurant bar on the roof. We ordered soft shell crab at the seafood restaurant downstairs, and they gave us one crab for $26, if I remember correctly. The next night we went to Birreria, the rooftop restaurant bar, ordered the softshell crabs, and got two for the same price. Birreria also has excellent bar food. I’ve run into Chef Daniel Humm at Eataly a few times, but I’m always too star-struck to ask for a selfie. Some of my favorite mid-range restaurants are Benoit NYC by Chef Alain Ducasse for French bistro fare, Kunjip in Koreatown for traditional Korean cuisine, The Boil for Cajun fusion seafood on Chrystie Street, and Danji in midtown for Korean fusion and tapas. For those who love oysters, the best oyster happy hour is definitely at Cull and Pistol at Chelsea Market. Most places offer one or two choices of oysters, but Cull and Pistol goes all out and offers around 10 different types, all at a happy-hour price. Be sure to get there early because the lines are long. For ramen, there’s a little place on 14th Street and 1st Avenue in Manhattan I’m fond of called Kambi. I used to live in the area, and it was my go-to place. Tourists usually stick to Hell’s Kitchen spots, like Totto Ramen and Ippudo. They rank the same in my book. For higher end sushi, I prefer Sushi Inoue in Harlem, because they serve this incredible shiroebi (sweet, white shrimp that can only be found in one prefecture in Japan). If you have the budget, Sushi Yasuda is quite nice. For Mediterranean food, you can never go wrong with Taboon in Hell’s Kitchen. It’s been there for over 15 years for a reason. So much food, so little time. Krizia Daya is an NYC-based food adventurer, singer, and nurse. She graduated from the University of the Philippines and completed her postgrad at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. She is currently Community Development Vice President of JCI Philippines-NY. Contact her through her website, Kriziadaya.com, on IG @krizia_daya, or on Facebook: Krizia Daya.
In quarantine
Juggling isolation and the need to run errands for survival
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she had to go to the grocery store for food shopping. She stayed in the car while her sister-in-law got the groceries. She was on her eighth day of self-quarantine as of the time of our interview. She had no cough, no fever and monitored her temperature every day which averaged 97 to 98 degrees daily. She continues to take supplements and vitamins. Her manager calls their group daily as some kind of roll call as all of them are on self-quarantine. Her other colleagues have not shown any symptoms. Unfortunately, she is in possession of the company emergency cellphone and continued to take calls as they come. It was supposed to be a two-week rotation to hold the company emergency phone but she’s had it for three weeks due to the quarantine. She and co-workers are expected to come out of isolation on March 27, unless the city locks down
By Lindy Rosales
eople Under Quarantine. They are the unwilling martyrs in the global health emergency resulting from the spread of the deadly Covid-19 virus. I spoke with two of them and learned of their dilemma while being in a state of self-containment. Elna Bicar of Teaneck, New Jersey, went into self-quarantine heeding the call of Teaneck Mayor Mohammed Hameeduddin on March 14 urging all residents to restrict their movements. The call was made by the mayor when the corona virus cases rose to 18, the highest total in Bergen County at that time. While the quarantine was not a mandatory order, she thought it best to comply to “practice safety, stay in the house if you don’t have to go out.” A retired Registered Nurse, Elna has been listening to the TV for updates about the corona virus, anticipating with dread that sooner or later it could hit close to home. “I think the mayor made the right decision to encourage its 40,000 residents to observe voluntary quarantine,” she said when interviewed by The FilAm. She said she had a bad feeling when she started hearing about cases being reported on TV and in newspapers. Her gut feel told her to be prepared for the worst. “I started to fill up our pantry with food, other goods and medicines,” she said. As the government response increased in urgency, she was ready. Her son is home as the schools have closed and shifted to online classes. She is thankful her family is okay. But she continues to worry about her daughter and son-in-law who are both registered nurses. They still use public transportation as they continue to work in their respective hospitals. “They are at the frontline of this battle. Bless them for their dedication as Florence Nightingales,” she said. Her advice to others: “Magtulungan tayo para maibsan ang pagkalat ng corona virus.” Janine Ursua, who lives in Jersey City but works in an office in midtown Manhattan, is another person in self-quarantine. With cases of corona virus infections rising by the day, Janine has stopped using the PATH train to go to work and started taking the bus. “Talagang pasakit,” she shared. On a Thursday last week at around 2:30 p.m., her department received a call: “We need to go, somebody is positive…Now. Right away.” As she recalled, “There was panic in the entire
Elna Bicar of Teaneck, N.J.: ‘It was the right decision.’ building. I had to go up and see the supply officer, get a mask and hand sanitizer.” Everybody who works in the building was sent home and advised to go into self-quarantine for 14 days after a co-worker tested positive for the virus. Her other co-workers were already out of the building. She was one of the When in isolation, one can be gripped by panic and worry. last ones out as she had to call her family, explained the situation, told them she was or whatever external circumstances arise. She was on her way home while she checked her office for any feeling anxious as she heard some people get their office materials she might need to bring home. Her symptoms late. She has done her own research and family had to clean everything in the house, spray constantly checks the Centers for Disease Control and sanitize. Luckily, her sister-in-law was visiting and Prevention website for updates. She is aware of at that time. the symptoms, who to contact if she ever needs help, At first, Janine tried to confine herself in a room, and has the important numbers saved on her phone. but it was such a challenge with a 4-year-old and A word of advice from Janine: “It doesn’t hurt a 10-year-old in the house. She ended up isolating to follow if you are asked to quarantine even if you her mother-in-law instead who is 87 years old. Her don’t feel anything, but you are concerned for others husband continued to go to work while her sister-in- who might be vulnerable. The situation is getting out law decided to stay with them in the house. One time of hand. We have to do our part.” THE FILAM |
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COVER STORY
Harry Go’s tale of two childhoods By Cristina DC Pastor
'It's really a family inside, and that's what working at Marvel is really like.'
He met future wife Renee Rivas in high school.
In Harry Go’s photographic memory, what he remembers as a little boy growing up in the Philippines are unblurred images of living in a house on a hill, bringing spiders to school, and sitting in his father’s car which was technically an old jeepney painted blue.
Marvel characters for classmates and even made some extra cash on the side. In Cebu, he would watch the X-Men cartoon every Friday at 8 p.m. “It would be an event with my sister and I to always tune in to watch it every week because it was literally one of maybe two cartoons we would get where we lived. So, when I moved here, it was something I already had in common with the rest of the kids. I knew who Wolverine and Gambit were and could easily geek out with classmates about them,” he said.
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arry, 34, a lead producer at Marvel Entertainment, was born in Ozamiz City in Misamis Occidental, but spent his early childhood in Cebu. At the age of 8, his family emigrated to the U.S. Harry’s coming-of-age would continue in New Jersey, in a town called Clifton where David Henry Chase, the creator of “The Sopranos” once lived. How his two childhoods intersected gave him a different way of looking at the world and contributed to his development as a creative professional. Growing up in an immigrant family with parents who have a multiethnic background reinforced his “unique advantage.” “My time in the Philippines almost felt like another life, a previous life,” said Harry in an interview with The FilAm. “We had to boil our drinking water and dealt with electricity 'brown outs' almost every week, but it was a wonderful childhood and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
His upbringing in the Philippines would gradually give way to a whole new world in the U.S. filled with assorted friendships, cultures, social norms, and lifestyles. Over time he embraced much of it but kept his Asian identity intact. “A lot of our years growing up in the Philippines were spent in a gated compound, so my sister and I only had each other to run around with. And when we immigrated to the U.S., for a few years we also really only had each other to play with as we were making new friends,” he said. “Not only did I have my own experiences as an immigrant from the Philippines, that experience was also colored by the multiple cultures that my familial heritage consists of,” he said, pointing out that his parents have Filipino, Chinese and Japanese lineage and that the Go family speaks Cebuano, Ilonggo and some Fukien language. It was comics, music and art that helped with his assimilation in American culture. He would turn to drawing THE FILAM |
||Marvel intern
His first job straight from Fordham University – where he earned a degree in Business Administration & Marketing in 2008 -- was at Marvel Entertainment. At that time, Marvel was just about to release “Iron Man” and was not yet the pop culture juggernaut that it is today. “I started as an intern and by the time I graduated, I had built great relationships with some incredible people. Folks like John Cerilli, Jim Boyle, and Marvel's President Dan Buckley, were incredible mentors who looked out for me as I started my career,” he said. He eventually became part of the newly formed 10
digital content department in 2008 and after graduation worked his way up to becoming a producer. “Back then, only people who were into comics really knew what Marvel was. I remember telling friends in college that I got an internship at Marvel and some had no idea what that was.” Part of his job then was producing live event coverage for red carpet premieres and interviewing celebrities. He transferred to HBO and worked as an associate producer. After three years, he went back to Marvel when “the irresistible pull brought me back.” “Everyone outside knows Marvel as a gigantic corporate entity that is taking over pop culture so every time I mention that I am a producer for Marvel, there's always this moment of wide-eyed acknowledgment,” he said. “But everyone inside knows that what it's really about are the people who work here, how much we care about the brand, and the creative relationships that have allowed us to collaborate on incredible things. It's really a family inside, and that's what working at Marvel is really like.” He is currently the executive producer for a documentary series going on Disney+ and producer for the Marvels podcast starring Cliff “Method Man”
Smith, Ethan Peck, AnnaSophia Robb, and Seth Barrish. He had also produced podcasts and short videos where he would take on alternating roles as director, consulting producer, or one in charge of budgeting. Marvel has always had a strong connection with Filipinos, declared Harry. Among the FilAms who have illustrated for Marvel – now owned by Disney – include Whilce Portacio, Mike del Mundo, Kim Jacinto, and Leinil Yu. Harry himself devoured Marvel comics growing up in the Philippines. “I learned how to draw by copying Marvel art. I would draw the same covers and pages over and over as a child, poring over every detail. I also credit reading Marvel comics with teaching me how to tell a story. Something I now have to do every day as a documentary producer,” he said.
||His ‘co-conspirator’
His wife of three years was a girl he met in high school but did not date until they were in college. Renee Rivas, a lawyer, is
the daughter of former Bergenfield Mayor Robert Rivas. The Go and the Rivas families are close having known each other for 15 years. Harry’s parents – Dely Po Go, the president of Nursing Network LLC., and Harry Go Sr., share a natural rapport with Rivas, who made history as the first Filipino mayor elected in New Jersey. Harry and his sister Hadel, who is slightly older, remain affectionately close, having shared a childhood that straddled two cultures. Hadel is completing her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine at Rowan University. “She's one of the few people I have an almost telepathic connection to. We can sit in a room silently and know what each other is thinking,” he said. Some of his fondest memories with Hadel was making their own bubble liquid by squashing gumamela flowers, and feeding the wild goats that strayed into their backyard in Cebu. “I can't even remember one time where we had an argument. What we have is more of a lifelong friendship than just a familial tie,” he said.
THE FILAM |
Harry and sister Hadel growing up in the Philippines. Their parents Harry Go Sr. and Dely Po Go come from a multiethnic background.
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Retired Navy surgeon is Washington’s top adviser on COVID-19
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ov. Jay Inslee on March 22 named retired Navy Vice Admiral Raquel C. Bono as Washington state director for COVID-19 Health System Response Management. Bono is currently a senior fellow with the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. As the former chief executive officer and director for the Defense Health Agency, Bono led a joint, integrated support agency that enabled all branches of the U.S. military medical services to provide health care services to those engaged in combat. She is the first woman surgeon in the military to hold the rank of vice admiral. “Vice Admiral Bono will help bolster our existing coordinated response to the COVID-19 pandemic across our state’s health care system,” Inslee said. “She brings an impressive medical background, a long and distinguished military career and a deep understanding of complex medical delivery
systems. Her expertise will help us ensure that we can meet the needs of Washingtonians who are sick, or will become ill from COVID-19.” The appointment is effective immediately. In this role, Bono will advise the governor, his staff and state agencies on actions needed to address the capacity and strain across the health care system. She will work closely with acute care facilities, long-term care facilities, clinics, tribal facilities, and the federal government to assess and address the greatest needs. Her role will include work to ensure medical staffing needs are met, as well as develop standard protocols across facilities and coordinate with the state Emergency Operations Center to operationalize statewide efforts. “I am honored and delighted to join Governor Inslee and the Washington state health care community in their collective leadership and expertise to develop a model of care for all Washingtonians and others during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Bono said.
THE FILAM |
“We are very pleased to have the expertise and leadership of Vice Admiral Bono in our coordinated efforts between the public health and health care system as we continue to respond to this unprecedented public health crisis,” Secretary of Health John Wiesman said. “Her leadership will enhance our response on behalf of all Washingtonians.” Bono obtained her medical degree from Texas Tech University and her bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin. Bono served in operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm as head of casualty receiving for a fleet hospital in Saudi Arabia. Upon returning, she worked as a surgeon at Naval Medical Center in Portsmouth and as a surgical intensivist and attending surgeon at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. Bono’s leadership roles include service as deputy director for Medical Resources, chief of Naval Operations, and as command surgeon for the U.S. Pacific Command at Camp Smith in Hawaii. Her personal decorations
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The Philippine-born Raquel Bono is the first woman surgeon in the military to hold the rank of vice admiral. include three Defense Superior Service Medals, four Legion of Merit Medals, two Meritorious Service Medals and two Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals. — Office of Washington State Gov. Jay Inslee
Calendar Please note some schedules are subject to change depending on circumstances related to COVID-19. Check with the organizers.
||April 15
||May 20
Sonata and Serenade with Raul Sunico and Aurore Quintard Philippine Center Kalayaan Hall 556 Fifth Avenue NYC Contact: Salosalo Autismo
Deadline for submission of entries to Pinoy Koro Olympics The 2nd FilAm Choral Competition will be held October 24 at BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center, 199 Chambers Street NYC Contact: Kayumanggichorale.org
||May 22 to 24
||April 28
||June 7
Consular outreach in the Greater Philadelphia Area (Applications for: New Passport, Passport Renewal and Dual Citizenship) Contact: Philippine Consulate New York
||May 3
Winter/Spring Final Performance and Graduation of students of The Filipino School of New York & New Jersey Bergenfield High School Auditorium 80 S. Prospect Avenue Bergenfield, N.J. Contact: Venessa Manzano at info@ filschool-nynj.org or 774-257-4669
||May 9
of Events
UNIFFIED: Empowering Educators for the Challenges of the 21st Century Astoria World Manor 25-22 Astoria Blvd., Astoria Queens Contact: uniffiednewyork@gmail.com Launch of Filipino American Cancer Care (FACC) Inc. Workhouse Arts Center 9601 Ox Rd., Lorton, Virginia
||June 13 to 14
||June 21
Arrieta and Fortuna in Harmony: An evening of solo piano and art songs Christ and St. Stephen’s Church 120 W 69th Street NYC Contact Kimberly: 917-670-6395
Fil-Am Expo 2020: Celebrating Filipino American Excellence Dulles Expo Center Chantilly, Virginia
Sayawan Na! Queens Philippine Folk Dance Program Ilocano American Center 185-14 Hillside Avenue Jamaica, NYC Contact: Venessa Manzano at info@filschool-nynj.org or 774-257-4669
||June 24
Friends in Concert Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall 881 7th Ave., NYC Contact: FilAm Music Foundation
||July 11
Soul Funk Jazz featuring Madz Johnson D'Haven 58-02 37th Avenue Woodside, Queens
Retro Manila in New York featuring John Robinson and Jon Tupaz Melrose Ballroom 3608 33rd Street, Long Island City Contact: Synergy Production & Marketing at 917-858-2356 THE FILAM |
||September 15
||September 20 to November 15
Deadline for nominations to the 2020 Presidential Awards for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas Contact for details: Philippine Consulate New York, newyorkpcg. cultural@dfa.gov.ph
||June 19
Filipino American Festival, Inc. Bergen County Overpeck Park 199 Challenger Rd., Ridgefield Park, N.J.
Deadline to apply to the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program Contact: scholars@iie.org
||June 15
Mother’s Day Ball by the Filipino Social Club of NY, Inc. D’Haven 58-02 37th Avenue Woodside, NYC
||September 6
||July 15 to 18
FANHS National 18th Biennial Conference Waikiki Marriott Beach Resort & Spa, Hawaii 13
‘Very happy and proud,’ says grandpa of Nutcracker’s Charlotte Nebres By Cristina DC Pastor
Charlotte Nebres, the 11-year-old ballerina who played the young heroine Marie in “The Nutcracker,” comes from a Filipino family in Bacnotan, La Union, whose elders were priests, educators, and doctors.
C
harlotte is the middle daughter of U.S.-born Joe Nebres, whose family is from the Philippines, and Danielle Nebres who is from Trinidad. She has two siblings, Libby, 13, and Nathan, 5, according to grandfather Dr. Jose Nebres, who, at 74 years old, continues to practice geriatric medicine in Upstate New York. “I am called ‘lolo’ (grandfather in Tagalog) by Charlotte,” Nebres said in an email interview with The FilAm. “Lolo is very close to Charlotte and her two siblings.” Dr. Nebres is the younger brother of Fr. Bienvenido Nebres, S.J. who was president of Ateneo de Manila for almost 20 years. They have a sister, Josefina, who is a directress at St. Theresa’s College in Quezon City. He said his son Joe, Charlotte’s dad, was born and raised in Albany. He has an undergraduate degree in Biology and Music from Tufts University in Massachusetts and a Juris Doctor from Albany Law School where he specialized in patents and trademark law. He works as a manager for Verizon Media. He has an older sister who is also a doctor. “He has some musical talent. He was a drummer with a band from high school till college,” Dr. Nebres said. Both his parents are doctors who graduated from the University of Santo Tomas in1969. Joe has been to the Philippines but not his family, he said. “They are looking forward to visiting soon and have a chance to meet their dad’s family.” His mother passed away in 1994, and Dr. Nebres remarried a woman who resides in New York City. He said “it was a complete surprise” to the family when his granddaughter was chosen to portray Marie. “Charlotte is a very talented artist on top of her dancing skills.” He has seen “The Nutcracker” with the family. “Charlotte was superb. Truly a joy to watch. I’m a very happy and proud Lolo.” Charlotte, a ballet student at the School of American Ballet (SAB) is being hailed in the ballet world for being young, being black, and a likely successor to Misty Copeland. Copeland is the
first African American female principal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre, a prestigious national dance company. “The first black lead in NYC Ballet’s ‘The Nutcracker’,” reads the New York Post headline. “Seeing a black girl as Marie in ‘The Nutcracker’ is ‘huge,’” says CBS News. “Charlotte Nebres is the first black Marie, the young heroine of ‘George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker, at New York City Ballet,” is the opening line in a New York Times feature article. Dr. Nebres said the issue of diversity did not sink in right away. “(Our reaction was) Just pure joy and pride,” he said. “Her Filipino heritage not being mentioned as prominently as her mom’s heritage…could have been mentioned better.” As Marie, Charlotte leads a cast of more than a 100 performers and children in George Balanchine’s ‘The Nutcracker.’ The children are students of the School of American Ballet, the official school of the NYCB.
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Charlotte with her lolo, Dr Jose ‘Pepe’ Nebres. Photo was taken during a party for the family of the cast hosted by the New York City Ballet after the show.
A spectacular ‘Game of Thrones’ experience
I
By Wendell Gaa
cannot think of any other TV fantasy drama which has so captivated the imagination of global pop culture the way “Game of Thrones” has throughout its entire eight-season run (2011-2019). “Game of Thrones” is a complex drama which deals with themes of political power struggles for survival and dominance. The themes still ring true today in many regions around the world, in much of the same way back in Medieval Europe when there were constant — and often bloody — conflicts between royal families and kingdoms. In spite of the current coronavirus scare which has negatively affected the travel industry, I decided to pay my personal homage to “Game of Thrones” by visiting the filming sites in Northern Ireland where many of its scenes were shot. Being based in Galway along Ireland’s western coast where I have been attending a master’s scholarship program, I traveled by bus to Belfast in Northern Ireland, which is the perfect gateway city to explore GOT’s filming sites. I registered online (www.silverscreen.tours) to join this organized tour group. The rendezvous point near Belfast’s City Hall building was where our Winterfell tour would begin. As we traveled outside of Belfast into the countryside to an area known as Downpatrick, our first stop was Inch Abbey, a monastic site ruin which archaeologists believe dates all the way back to 1177. Historians also point out how a group of monks settled at this abbey and within the area by 1180 and is an example of the thriving early Christian community in medieval Ireland. As we got off our tour shuttle to explore the abbey ruins and take photos, our tour guide Madelyn and our gracious driver Ian handed us “winter cloaks” worn by the Winterfell residents on the show, along with one of the many prop swords used as weapons. After our guide showed to us the
particular “scene” on the show filmed at this site through the technological wonders of her portable iPad, she then happily took our photos wearing our “winter cloaks” and wielding the sword. We then proceeded to the Tollymore Forest Park, which is another natural area in Northern Ireland. Although technically it was late winter at this time of the year, I still couldn’t help but notice how relatively green the tall trees, shrubs and bushes were as we walked through the park along a hiking trail which ran parallel to a small running river. The first discovery of direwolves, large and supremely intelligent wolves which are the loyal pets and sidekicks in GOT’s the House of Starks, was shot here in Tollymore. I’ve heard intriguing stories of how real-life grey wolves were once abundant in Irish forests until they were tragically hunted to extinction in the late 1700s, and, according to Madelyn, the main indigenous wildlife which can be found here at Tollymore now are the red squirrels. We then had the chance to meet one of the dog actors who had portrayed one of the show’s direwolves. We arrived at this small-town public enclosure where we got to meet a Northern Inuit dog by the name of Thor, whose owner also happened to be an extra on GOT. His father and brother were also show extras. Getting to pet the very warm and affectionate dog actor was a personal highlight of the day for me. We then ended the day by touring the Castle Ward estate, a historic site which dates to the 16th century right near the village of Strangford. We walked through to the site’s tower house where I could clearly see how the imposing medieval-look of this structure made it ideal for filming pivotal scenes of the Winterfell kingdom. We were all truly grateful and appreciative to Madelyn, Ian and the rest of the organizers for our very rewarding tour. I would highly recommend to anyone, a fan of the show or not, to visit this part of the world.
The author in a winter cloak.
THE FILAM |
The Tollymore Forest Park in Northern Ireland. 15
How should LGBTQ people navigate the Census questions? By Meghan Maury
Q: Will the 2020 Census collect data about LGBTQ people? A:The 2020 Census will collect information about same-sex couples who are living in the same household. For the first time, the “relationship to householder” census question will include the response options “Same-sex husband/wife/spouse” and “Same-sex unmarried partner.” These response options will result in more accurate and easily accessible information about same-sex couples than ever before. However, the census won’t collect any data about same-sex couples who don’t live together, nor about transgender people, nonbinary people, single LGBTQ people or bisexual people in different-sex couples. Q: What will the 2020 Census tell us about the LGBTQ community? A: Because the census only collects data about same-sex couples and not about the full LGBTQ community, it won’t tell us as much as it could. Data on same-sex couples deduced from earlier decennial censuses did help show racial and ethnic diversity, geographic distribution, total number in a state or region and the percent who have children. Same-sex couples’ experiences don’t always mirror those of the broader LGBTQ population. For example, the unemployment rates of same-sex and different-sex couples are roughly equivalent. However, data on the whole LGBTQ community’s unemployment rates are higher than for non-LGBTQ people. Data for subsets reveal even greater disparities: 14.3 percent of transgender people received unemployment benefits compared to 4.3 percent of cisgender people and 7.2 percent of LGBTQ women receive unemployment benefits compared to 4.4 percent of non-LGBTQ women, according to the Center for American Progress(https://tinyurl.com/ LGBTQdata). Because census data
U.S. Census underscores the importance of collecting data on same-sex couples. Photo: Unsplash provide information only about a small proportion of the LGBTQ community, the resulting data are limited. Q: When did the census first collect data about same-sex couples? A: In 1990, the Census Bureau added an “unmarried partner” response option for its “relationship to householder” question. At the time, LGBTQ advocates launched a campaign (https://tinyurl.com/taskforce1990) urging people in same-sex couples to check the “unmarried partner” box on the 1990 Census. The campaign’s stated mission was “to increase public awareness of the question and pressure the Census Bureau to be more sensitive to gay and lesbian concerns.” THE FILAM |
In 2000, the census once again had an “unmarried partner” category as part of its “relationship to householder” question. Q: How do transgender and nonbinary people navigate the “sex” question on the 2020 Census? A:The “sex” question on the 2020 Census only allows respondents to choose “male” or “female.” For some transgender people and most nonbinary people, this does not give them an accurate way to portray their gender. And even when it does, the resulting data tells us nothing about whether that person is transgender. Unfortunately, most nonbinary and transgender people have been forced to navigate a binary sex question on many forms and surveys in their 17
lifetime. LGBTQ activists continue to advocate for better data collection on the transgender and nonbinary community. In the meantime, they work to ensure that transgender and nonbinary people receive accurate information about how census data are used and compiled so they can respond in the way that feels best for them. Transgender and nonbinary people may benefit from this information: ● The census encourages self-identification. For every census question, including the “sex” question and the race and ethnicity questions, the census encourages respondents to respond with answers that feel most accurate to them. ● The Census Bureau doesn’t compare responses to any other records. Some transgender and nonbinary people have identification documents — like driver’s licenses or birth certificates — that reflect their gender. Others have not updated their identification documents. The Census Bureau respects respondents’ self-identification on the census form and does not compare your census responses to any other document or record. ● If the “sex” question is left blank, or both responses are checked, the Census Bureau will fill in what it assumes is the “correct” answer. If a form appears incomplete or inaccurate, the Census Bureau may follow up to get the form completed. But if it cannot get in contact with the respondent, it uses “imputation,” a process that employs statistical modeling to determine the most likely answer to a question. — Ethnic Media Services Meghan Maury is policy director at the National LGBTQ Task Force, which currently runs the Queer the Census Campaign. Meghan received a law degree from Georgetown University Law School, an associate’s degree from Holyoke Community College, and bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Massachusetts.
COVER STORY
Camille de la Cruz: Young singer with the ‘funny genes’ By Cristina DC Pastor
Young singer Camille de la Cruz is one of many thousands of theater artists who are currently in a state of hiatus because of the Covid-19 public health pandemic.
“B
edwetter,” a musical based on comedian Sarah Silverman’s life as a 10-year-old Jewish girl, has halted production. It was slated to stage at the Linda Gross Theater on West 20th Street from April 25 to June 14. “It was just postponed for a little bit,” said a mildly disappointed Camille, 11, speaking to The FilAm about her first off-Broadway play. “It was not cancelled.” Still a bit of a downer for Camille who debuted last year in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “School of Rock the Musical” national Broadway tour. She won raves for her performance as the introvert student Tomika. Southcoasttoday.com writes how Camille “stole the show when the shy character she plays starts singing ‘Amazing Grace,’ which brought loud cheers of approval from the audience.” She is one of the rising stars in Rockit Academy in Red Bank, New Jersey, a nonprofit organization that develops the talent of young music performers. She has performed in Rockit-produced concerts and held her own beside rock and roll legends the likes of Eddie Brigatti, Ricky Byrd, and Lou Pallo. She has sung in venues, such as The Cutting Room in NYC and the Paramount Theatre in Asbury Park. What is keeping this budding thespian busy in a time of self-imposed isolation are her online classes, writing music, and movie nights with her parents. Camille attends the Hammarskjold Middle School in East Brunswick where she is an above-average student who regularly scores 90s in her tests. She is enjoy-
‘I still need to be told to brush my teeth, take a bath, eat my broccoli.’ Photo by Cecilio de la Cruz
After mass, with parents Cecilio and Anna de la Cruz. ing her school’s Distant Learning program where she said she can attend classes in bed and get a lot of snack breaks. “Distant Learning is fun,” she said. “I love it that I'm in bed working THE FILAM |
on school. Our teachers now just send us work or assignments that we need to do for the day in Google classrooms. Although sometimes it is confusing when I haven't learned how to do a certain Math problem. 18
Before, I could just ask them right away; now I email my teachers with the questions.” After all the homework is done, she sits in front of the TV and enjoys a movie night with her parents. A typical pre-teen, the U.S.-born Camille declared, “I love all the things an 11-year-old loves, like watching TV, making crafts, watching YouTube video about crafts and how to prank your parents.” Her parents Cecilio and Anna de la Cruz are a towering presence in her life. Her theater credits acknowledge “mom and dad for their love and support.” Cecilio shared how he monitors Camille’s Instagram and Facebook accounts for any likely nasty posts. Nothing has been flagged so far. He hails from Bulacan and runs his own auto repair shop in New Jersey. His wife Anna Liu from
Lucena City works in a European bank as an IT delivery manager. Camille confided in true juvenile fashion, “I still need to listen to my parents, and get in trouble most of the times specially when I am not listening. I still need to be told to brush my teeth, take a bath, eat my broccoli.”
||Love of performing
She is not shy about her love of performing, especially delivering comedic laughs to her audience. “My dad told me that when I was just 6 months old, I made all my aunts, uncles, grandma and grandpa laugh by imitating Ernie's (of “Sesame Street”) laugh,” she said. “I believe I am blessed with funny genes!” One needs a good dose of humor when you are teasingly called ‘Camillavirus’ because
you have your parents’ pronounced Chinese features. She just shrugged it off. “Recently someone called me Camillavirus because of the corona virus because I was Chinese. I stood up for myself and I just laughed.” She owes her Asian features to her mom’s Chinese ancestry. For “Bedwetter,” Camille is to play the role of Amy, 10-year-old Sarah Silverman’s best friend and the most popular girl in school. Rehearsals are currently on hold. As she bides her time, Camille meditates on how she is thankful for all the opportunities that have come her way. “I’m really blessed,” she said, “to get so many opportunities and be able to do the things that I love the most and that is performing in front of a lot of people!”
Camille stars in the children’s musical comedy series ‘John Mulaney & the Sack Lunch Bunch’ currently streaming on Netflix. Michael Priest Photography
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is seeking
a responsible person for shipping purposes as well as taking inventory This is a full-time position and pay will be discussed upon interview.
o t s e m u s e r l i a m e Please s u . s n o i h s a f l a b o l G @ l e a h c i M THE FILAM |
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Issue 26, April 2020
LGBT community
Cheap eats
How to navigate the Census questions
Photo by Cecilio de la Cruz
Not for tourists only
Camille de la Cruz
Young singer with the funny genes