FILAM April 2023

Bretman Rock His book talks of race, skin whiteners

Harvard’s Tagalog course Linked to expanded U.S. presence in PHL

Adrian Ong

The violin is a dear ‘old friend’

Photo by Lito Sy

Hate crimes and the Asian American perception

Just when we thought anti-Asian hate crimes are on the decline because we have not seen them in the headlines lately, two members of our Filipino American community were recently assaulted.

Cecille Lai and her son Kyle were beaten up on March 2 at an intersection in Queens as they were coming out of a car to cross the street. Three months earlier on December 19, 2022, Milagros Dela Cruz Llamas was sucker-punched on a subway platform in Brooklyn knocking her down to the platform concrete.

While we are being fed information that crime in New York City is up some and down some -- rapes and homicides are down, robberies are up – “hate crimes in New York City have increased 76%” in 2022 compared with data from 2021, according to a CNN report.

Hate crimes committed against the Jewish people increased, says the report, and crimes against the Black community “doubled.” Hate crimes against Asians were down 32% compared to 2021, adds CNN.

The numbers may look promis-

ing, but for some Asians who have internalized this fear of being violated, the perception remains: They do not feel safe in the city that is also their home. We are personally aware of several members of the community who no longer take the subways or do not leave their homes unchaperoned.

In the three years that Asian Americans were irrationally blamed for the spread of COVID19, we in the community continue to feel our personal safety is not exactly high on the totem pole of priorities for New York City officials and law enforcement.

While the case of Cecille Lai appears to be a rarity with the quick arrest of two youths who hurled hateful words against her and her son, many cases have remained “active.” The seeming lack of enthusiasm in how hate crimes against the Asian community are treated is striking. It is also disturbing. In some cases, there is seemingly a rush to judgment by the police to downgrade a hate crime committed against an Asian person to charges of a lesser degree.

The Asian community’s perception that Official New York -- meaning Mayor Eric Adams down to the lowest beat cop -- does not care about their personal safety may seem unfair. But such belief is pervasive in the community and reinforcing the stereotype of the silent, invisible Asian. Are our bruises not being seen? Are our cries not being heard? Is the shame we carry around as we are paraded around the city not resonating?

We do hope that Mayor Adams and the police force he leads can reverse this view by Asian Americans that their personal safety is not important.

Milagros Dela Cruz Llamas; Cecille Lai. Photos by Robert Mendoza and Lindy Rosales

Bretman Rock on gender, race, and skin whiteners

By Tricia J. Capistrano

For middle-aged Filipino Americans like me who are turned off by graphic sex and cursing, I ask you to give this kababayan’s collection of essays a chance.

The first few chapters are a pleasant surprise— getting ready for church every Sunday, the chaos of having Lolos, Lolas, Titas, and cousins, playing with the chickens and dogs, running around playing balay balay (Ilocano for house-house)-didn’t you do that too? Manananggal, Tiktik, and Tiyanaks–Bretman mentions them as well.

We then get to know baby Bretman, who from the beginning was gender non-conforming. He writes that his family and his hometown of Sanchez-Mira, Cagayan, accepted him as he was. “It became an everyday thing: me driving my toy truck to the marketplace with my squad of sequined Barbies riding shotgun. We’d park at my auntie’s stall and I was just that kid with an electric car and Barbies.”

The influencer, comedian, athlete, and TV host then writes about his parents’ separation, how he ended up in Hawaii, and how he surprisingly became world famous in his teens.

As for the writing, viewers of Bretman’s YouTube videos and MTV series will find the tone and the multiple interruptions reflect Bretman’s personality. Adorably, the essays are peppered with Tagalog and Ilocano words.

On page 185 of the hardcover version, Bretman writes an ode to weed. An excerpt:

So while other people do shots, I rip bong hits

I love being high

I am much happier when I smoke weed…

I grow weed

Weed is not bad

Because Bretman wrote the book for an international audience, I didn’t expect him to speak out about the extrajudicial killing of suspected drug users in the Philippines. Perhaps the drug’s

prominence in the book is a masked protest? Bretman is an example that you can smoke weed and contribute to society.

Bretman also writes about his brown skin and the Philippines’ love for skin whitening products. While hosting the Ms. Universe pageant in the Philippines, Bretman noticed that he was the only one on stage who was brown.

When he was chosen as Nylon magazine’s cover, in interviews, he said it was an opportunity to be a model for moreno children. Having grown up with mestiza cousins, I am sensitive to our native

country’s colorism as well.

Family, acceptance, colorism, drug use— could these really be the issues of a shallow social media influencer? In “You’re That Bitch,” Bretman goes pretty deep.

Tricia J. Capistrano’s essays have appeared in The Philippine Daily Inquirer, The Philippine Star and Newsweek. She is the author of “Dingding, Ningning, Singsing and Other Fun Tagalog Words.” Her essays were chosen as the Best Personal Essay by the Philippine American Press Club in 2017 and 2018.

World-famous influencer. Facebook photo

'You're That Bitch' HarperCollins Publishers February 14, 2023

“If you’re a bottom, you’re gonna have to learn to douche correctly,” writes Filipino American influencer Bretman Rock in his recently released book, “You’re That Bitch and Other Cute Lessons About Being Unapologetically Yourself.’

Harvard’s Tagalog language studies being linked to U.S. military expansion in the PHL

By Rene Pastor

A ‘The FilAm’ Exclusive

Harvard University has announced plans to open a Tagalog language program along with Philippine Studies, in a move linked to the expansion of the U.S. military presence in the region.

The letter, dated March 7 and addressed to the Harvard Philippine Forum, was signed by James Robson, James C. Kralik, and Yunli Lou of the Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations, Harvard College; and Professor Victor and William Fung of the Asia Center, Harvard University.

Says the letter: “There is increasing urgency…to better understand the histories, cultures, languages and economies of Southeast Asian countries.” The program will concentrate on the teaching of three Southeast Asian languages, Tagalog, Indonesian and Thai.

Harvard describes its offer to teach Tagalog as “historic.” It says, “This is also a somewhat historic moment, since Tagalog has never (to the best of our knowledge) been offered at Harvard University in its nearly 400-year history.”

China has already denounced the planned increase in U.S. military presence in the Philippines and slammed Manila for rekindling its military relationship with Washington.

“There has been increased reporting about how the U.S. is reasserting its presence at military bases in the Philippines as a way to deter China's influence in the region,” the Harvard letter says.

“As the US increasingly recognizes the geo-political and economic impor-

tance of Southeast Asia, it will need to educate and inform the next generation of leaders on how best to understand and engage with the region. Traditionally, Harvard has played an important role in educating and advising government and private sector figures engaged with other parts of the world. To play a similar role for Southeast Asia, Harvard will need to further expand and develop its expertise on the region.”

The letter says Harvard Provost Alan Garber is scheduled to travel to Manila and Singapore in the coming weeks, a sign that Harvard is recognizing the importance of Southeast Asia. The finer details of Harvard’s plans were not mentioned in the reporting by The Harvard Crimson, the campus newspaper.

“We hope that this initial commitment to language instruction will be an important first step in moving the larger initiative forward and that the Harvard administration will see the virtues of supporting our efforts,” the letter states.

The letter outlines in detail the three-year, nearly $1 million commitment to create the institutional foundation for the program. The university will hire three preceptors to teach the three Asean languages. The courses will be offered in the Fall of 2023.

“We are optimistic that there is interest in the region to endow SEA language instruction, including the Tagalog preceptor, to ensure its continuity and excellence…

“We are excited to be able to move Harvard’s engagement with Southeast Asia and the Philippines forward one more incremental step, but now is not the time to become complacent.

We have much more work to do on other fronts, including developing and offering content courses on the Philippines, working towards hiring (and endowing) a professorship in Philippine Studies, increasing cultural programming, initiating a post-doc program to invite scholars from the

Philippines, and bolstering the Asia Center’s research and language grants program which is one of the few sources of funding for travel to the region available to students, etc. We will continue to work with potential donors in the region to fund these aspirations.”

The Crimson report which is widely shared on social media

The letter is sent to the Harvard Philippine Forum.

Attack survivor Cecille Lai: ‘Why do we have hate for each other?’

By Lindy Rosales

On March 10, exactly a week after Cecille Martinez Lai and her military veteran son Kyle were attacked viciously in a Queens intersection, she came back near the scene of the crime to speak at a rally in support of her family.

At the time of the rally, two suspects have been arrested. The NYPD identified them as 18-year-old Natalie Plaza and 21-year-old Elijah Fernandez, both from Queens. One of the speakers stated that the police know who the third suspect is and the manhunt for him continues.

In a quavering voice, filled with emotion, Cecille said, “I’m just confused. I just don’t understand why we have hate for each other.”

She continued, “I try to process it in my mind and in my heart; why this is happening? I just want to put it out there to our local government…I would say (our efforts are) probably not enough. We have to raise awareness. We probably should educate more, in schools, the internet, social media.

“I decided to come here to show strength from our community. That we should start speaking out, because people are thinking (hate crimes) are not happening anymore. Or that they’re done. They’re still happening.”

Corona Plaza is a busy thoroughfare right below the 103rd stop of the 7 train with a small raised platform surrounded by shops, delis and street vendors. On this platform, government officials and the Queens community came together to speak in support of Lai and her son amid the cold and rainy weather.

“We’re here today to express our outrage and our devastation at yet again another hate crime against a member of our Asian American community. An attack on one of us, is an attack on all of us. Ms. Lai and her son are not alone in this,” said Shekar Krishnan, Queens City Council (D) member representing Jackson Heights and Elmhurst.

Also present was Congresswoman Grace Meng, the only Asian congresswoman from New York. In the early hours after the incident, Meng was in contact with Lai and the 115th precinct.

She said, “Hate and ignorance will not be tolerated in Queens, NY or anywhere in this country. Whenever one of us is attacked, we all stand together and condemn the perpetrators. And we have to continue to call that out. But we as Asian-Americans come

together to say we are Americans too.”

Assembly Member Jenifer Rajkumar (D, 38th district) noted the “astronomical rise” in antihate crimes. “This is an epidemic that we must end today.” She represents South Queens and has introduced a bill in Albany to establish the firstever Asian American Commission that she said

would address the needs of the community. Queens Borough President Donovan Richards said, “This county will always stand together in the face of hate. A mother and her son should be able to walk across the street. To walk their neighborhood free of fear and free of an attack all because of who they are.”

Jo-Ann Yoo, executive director of the Asian American Federation (AAF), found out about the attack when she received a text message from Council member Shekar Krishnan. Yoo spoke to Cecille and promised that the community will always stand will her and support her in her pursuit for justice.

“The violence against our community did not stop with COVID, and it’s not over,” she said. Yoo said her staff is working with the witness who helped Cecille at great risk to the staff. AAF has established a GoFundMe fundraiser for Lai. State Senator John Liu, for his part, said, “What happened to Cecille and her son, just walking on a street, it could have been any of us. This young man served this country as a Marine, but it didn’t matter. They were attacked. They were attacked based on the way they looked.”

New York State Assembly Member Steven Raga thanked the Lai family for coming forward and making their story public. “This is a sad moment.”

Attorney Lara Gregory, founder of the Filipinos Against Racial Action, was requested by the Lai family to speak at this event.

She said, “The Lai Family is in pain, but even if they are in pain, they have no anger in their hearts. When two men and one woman hurled insults against their Asian heritage, immediately after, one man tried to help Cecille and another person took a video, and that’s what Queens is all about. We stand with one another, we help each other. When they were brought to the hospital, just like any mother, all she thought about was her son, her son who now suffers a skull fracture.”

Kalayaan Mendoza, an advocate for community safety and the director of Mutual Protection at the Nonviolent Peaceforce, echoed the speakers. “Please start building, start advocating, start fighting for a better and safer and more just world for all of our communities. The only way through this is when all of our communities are safe”.

Bryan Lozano, who lives in Queens, said “I think it’s really important for our community to come together especially when heinous acts are happening in our community. We have to do something more tangible about it.”

Anti-Asian assault survivor Cecille Lai arrives at a rally denouncing the attack on her family. Behind her is New York State Senator John Liu.

A message for peace. Photos by Lindy Rosales

Communities, companies come together for bystander intervention training

By Cristina DC Pastor

One would think that in such a situation, one would at least lift a finger to press the emergency button. No one did. Instead, everyone sprinted out when the train doors opened, like horses at the starting gate of the Kentucky Derby.

At the time of Noel’s attack in 2021, very few have heard of the concept called “bystander intervention.” With so many Asian Americans becoming victims of harassment and physical violence over the last couple of years, bystander intervention has become a part of our survival toolbox as members of society. Some people who witness harassment in a public place want to take action to protect the victim, but many don’t know how.

Bystander intervention strategies can be summed up in 5 Ds: Distract (the harasser), Delegate (bring in another person to help), Document (record the attack in a safe place or take notes), Delay (check in on the victim when it’s safe), and Direct (confront the harasser). Distracting the attacker by singing in a loud voice, for example, is one of the ways to ease tensions.

“Bystander intervention can be done in a way that is safe, and even as little as a knowing glance can reduce trauma for the person being harassed,” said Emily May, president and co-founder of Right To Be organization at the first intercommunity workshop on bystander intervention organized by Right To Be and Wells Fargo held March 9 at AMC’s Times Square movie theater.

The event featured diverse communities discussing solutions to the rise in racial and religious harassment. It was hosted by NBC News anchor Richard Lui, and included speakers from Asian Americans Advancing Justice-AAJC, T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights, and Wells Fargo. Right to Be reports that bystander intervention education has proven to be effective in empowering the public to take action. It says:

• 98.8% of attendees leave workshops feeling like there is at least one thing they can do to help next time they witness harassment

• 76% of attendees who saw harassment after attending a workshop reported that they intervened

“As Asian hate spiked with the onset of COVID19 pandemic, we knew we needed to do more,” said Marita Etcubañez, senior director of Strategic Initiatives at AAJC. She said her organization has trained more than 150,000 people on how to safely intervene.

Right To Be’s Emily May said harassment in various forms -- from covert racial microaggressions in everyday life to overt gender discrimination -- happens anywhere including the workplace. “Oftentimes, we want to diffuse the situation but don't know how.”

She said knowledge of intervention techniques will “empower the public with the skills they need to navigate instances of harassment as a bystander.”

“Our goal is to transform bystanders into allies!,” she declared.

NBC journalist Richard Lui echoed May. “In my reporting on anti-Asian hate and attacks against black, Latino/a and LGBTQIA+ communities over the past 10 years, I've seen how bystanders want to help but aren't sure how.” He said the need to train people how to safely intervene is “greater than ever."

Kimberly Bertz, head of DE&I Strategy and Employee Affairs, stated how bystander intervention is important to Wells Fargo. She said, "As an organization that operates in many cities and neighborhoods where hate incidents have occurred, this also is a concern for Wells Fargo. Bystander intervention workshops are a great way of celebrating belonging, because they create a sense of unity and connectedness among individuals, while reminding us all of the important role we play in keeping our communities safe."

Gigi Dixon, head of External Affairs Engagement for Wells Fargo, said the bystander intervention platform is a way for her company to “listen” to its employees and to the country.

“We are listening, understanding the issues, the challenges, and coming together as allies and individuals to make a difference,” she said, “and to create “safe communities that are welcoming for our people.”

Subway attack survivor Noel Quintana: ‘Nobody came to help.’ Screen shot from Makilala TV

‘Transforming bystanders into allies.’ Photo Unsplash

Speakers at the first intercommunity workshop on bystander intervention. From left NBC’s Richard Lui, Gigi Dixon of Wells Fargo, Emily May of Right To Be, Rabbi Becky Jaye, Kimberly Bertz of Wells Fargo, and Marita Etcubañez of Asian Americans Advancing Justice-AAJC

When Filipino accountant Noel Quintana was slashed across the face on February 3, 2021, he staggered out of the crowded train with blood all over, later muttering to himself, “Nobody came to help.”

Three months before Cecille Lai and her son were attacked on March 2 by three car-riding youths in Queens, Milagros Dela Cruz Llamas, 70, had an almost identical experience in Brooklyn.

On December 19, 2022, six days before Christmas, she was on the platform of York Street Station near the Brooklyn Bridge at around 8 p.m. She was preparing to take four flights of stairs to go up and walk to her employer’s apartment three blocks down. She walked past an empty police station booth when a “big black guy” pushed her as he passed by. He pushed her so hard Milagros – known as “Tita Miles” in the Filipino community – was knocked down and landed on the station platform. She was lucky to be carrying a backpack that cushioned her back and head from what could have been a perilous fall on the concrete platform.

Milagros Dela Cruz coping with unprovoked assault: ‘Why me?’

By Cristina DC Pastor

“I was shaken, terribly shaken. I was trembling,” she said.

The man did not say anything and continued to walk away. There were people on the platform, waiting for the F Train, who witnessed what had happened. Milagros was grateful to two MTA women workers who came to her aid. They helped her going up the stairs as they called 911. They stayed with her until 911 came. One of the women took a photo of the attacker as he was walking away and was able to capture only his back. Milagros said the MTA woman with the camera was also trembling, fearful the man might return. Looking back, she suspected the man may have intended to push her down the tracks. But she was lucky there were train riders who served as barriers.

“The big black guy shoved me so hard. He’s tall. All I remember is his shiny jacket,” she said when reached by The FilAm.

NYPD crime investigators arrived on the scene and took her statement. Milagros declined to seek medical assistance. “I told 911 I could walk, I’m ok. I just want my son to be there.”

Son Temi, who works as a medical assistant, arrived not too long after and found his mom at her employer’s apartment three blocks away. “When I reached the apartment, I felt I didn’t have any bruises. The backpack protected my back and my head,” she said.

That same evening, Temi took her to the emergency room of Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital where Milagros has her medical records. The CT Scan showed she suffered “mild fracture of sacrum,” a spine condition that has yet to fully heal.

“I felt achy all over after I was discharged but I had no bruises,” she said.

Asked if she thought the assault was triggered by the suspect’s anti-Asian sentiment, Milagros gave an emphatic “yes.”

“That was the first thing that came to mind,” she said. “Look at me, I look Chinese, and I’m small,” she said. “My son said I look fragile.”

“When I was in the ER, I was thinking, Why me?” she said musing how an act of violence was committed against a woman who was simply on her way to work. Then she remembered all the Filipino women who were similarly attacked

under different circumstances -- on the way to church, while riding a subway, coming out of a restaurant, leaving the Philippine Center.

| Christmas dinner

Milagros made sure she had a normal Christmas with her family a week later. She cooked some Christmas dishes and tried to put on a cheerful face. “I cooked despite the aches I was feeling. The doctor said it’s best to be mobile.” When she was well enough, she called a couple of close friends to unburden.

It's been three months and Milagros has not taken the subway since the incident. She now works for a new family in Gramercy; she is a baby nurse. Temi takes her to work and picks her up in the family car.

Her advice to women? “Vigilance. Anti-Asian hate is still very much around.” She offered this reminder to all women of her age. “I was targeted because I was Asian.”

Her assault remains an open case and is under investigation by the Brooklyn Transit Police.

The healing continues. Tita Miles has not taken the subway since.

York Street Station where the crime happened. Photo: Unsplash

7,600 nurses bought fake diplomas in fraudulent scheme: DoJ

More than two dozen individuals have been charged in the Southern District of Florida for their alleged participation in a wire fraud scheme that created an illegal licensing and employment shortcut for aspiring nurses.

According to three recently unsealed indictments returned by a South Florida federal grand jury and two informations filed by federal prosecutors, defendants engaged in a scheme to sell fraudulent nursing degree diplomas and transcripts obtained from accredited Florida-based nursing schools to individuals seeking licenses and jobs as registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical/vocational nurses (LPN/VNs).

The bogus diplomas and transcripts qualified purchasers to sit for the national nursing board exam and, after passing it, to obtain licenses and jobs in various states as RNs and LPN/VNs. The overall scheme involved the distribution of more than 7,600 fake nursing diplomas issued by three South Florida-based nursing schools: Siena College in Broward County, Fla., Palm Beach School of Nursing in Palm Beach County, Fla., and Sacred Heart International Institute in Broward County. These schools are now closed. Each defendant faces up to 20 years in prison.

“Not only is this a public safety concern, it also tarnishes the reputation of nurses who actually complete the demanding clinical and course work required to obtain their professional licenses and employment,” said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Markenzy Lapointe, who added that “a fraud scheme like this erodes public trust in our health care system.”

Crimes such as these unfortunately continue to spring up, especially in this area.

“Health care fraud is nothing new to South Florida, as many scammers see this as a way to earn easy, though illegal, money, “said acting Special Agent in Charge Chad Yarbrough, FBI Miami. “What is disturbing about this investigation is that there are over 7,600 people around the country with fraudulent nursing credentials who are potentially in critical health care roles treating patients. Were it not for the diligence and hard work of the investigators on this case, the extent of this fraud may not have been discovered.”

The charges speak to the purpose of a nursing license which is to protect the public from harm by

setting minimum qualifications and competencies.

“The alleged selling and purchasing of nursing diplomas and transcripts to willing but unqualified individuals is a crime that potentially endangers the health and safety of patients and insults the honorable profession of nursing,” said Special Agent in Charge Omar Pérez Aybar of Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “In coordination with our law enforce-

ment partners, HHS-OIG continues to aggressively investigate bad actors who so brazenly disregard the well-being of others in order to enrich themselves fraudulently.”

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov – U.S. Department of Justice

‘There are over 7,600 people around the country with fraudulent nursing credentials who are…treating patients.’ Photo: Unsplash

Adrian Ong and his ‘old friend’ the violin

By Maricar CP Hampton

Adrian Nicolas Ong grew up in a typical Filipino family that scoffed at careers in the arts for their children. Although they were in support of him playing the violin, his parents would prefer that his professional career be in the field of medicine or health care.

“y parents were constantly reminding me that playing the violin was just a hobby,” he said when interviewed by The FilAm. “They wanted me to become a dentist.”

The Ong family lives in Quezon City, where both his parents Jeanne and Alan Ong work as dentists. His younger sister Jamie is a classical singer.

Follow his dream he did. Today, Adrian, 22, is a resident violinist of the FilAm Music Foundation founded by award-winning classical pianist Victor Asuncion.

“Adrian has been on my radar for a few years now because he was already kind of making waves in the classical music scene even in the Philippines,” recalled Victor when asked how Adrian was chosen to become one of the foundation’s scholars. “I first invited him to play a concert for my foundation when COVID hit. We played a full concert but it was streaming. We did a webcast. Then he was heard by some of my artistic advisors for my foundation and so they recommended he be given the opportunity to perform at Carnegie Hall.”

The thought of performing at Carnegie Hall never crossed his mind, but Adrian is beyond grateful. He

Msaid, “The foundation has given me numerous opportunities to perform for which I am very thankful for.”

What the foundation does for its young talents is to encourage them to do their best and to foot part of the cost of their performances. While some up-and-coming musicians pay rent at high-end venues like Carnegie, Adrian will be presented as a “young artist having his debut recital” at Carnegie Hall -- at no cost.

| 4 years old

Adrian was 4 years old when he was introduced to the angelic sound of violin music. He was in the lobby of a hospital and heard violin music on TV. He was so enamored with the sound that he sort of became obsessed. He never forgot the sound. The violin was the only instrument he ever wanted to play. At 9, he started playing. His first teacher was Mellissa Esguerra.

“I can’t remember who was playing but what I do remember is the kind of music it was creating,” he recalled.

He auditioned and was accepted at the Philippine High School for the Arts (PHSA), where he trained under Gina Medina-Perez, a renowned violinist. “She still inspires me to this day,” he said.

The PHSA is a special school located in Mount Makiling, Los Banos where young people gifted in the arts

‘The X Factor is there.’ Photo by Lito Sy

Adrian and FilAm Music Foundation founder Victor Asuncion playing Beethoven at the Evanston Chamber Music Society Concert Series in Illinois.

Photo courtesy of Victor Asuncion

study on full scholarship and are given a stipend. At age 17, he played with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra for his performance debut in Manila.

His passion for music led him to the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan where he finished high school on a full scholarship. His violin teacher there was Paul Sonner.

“It was not an easy decision for my parents to let me go considering the distance and the expenses,” he said.

Little did he know his dream of studying abroad was about to take off. “I really wanted to learn different techniques and styles of violin playing from renowned musicians who I can observe up close,” he said.

A dedicated and disciplined musician, Adrian spends up to six hours daily practicing and making sure he plays “my old friend” with mastery and ease. It takes time and patience, sometimes almost a year to prepare for a recital.

He explained: “It can be an old piece that I studied years ago that I would revisit, and it feels like it’s the same but isn't the same because of my new experiences. I would play it differently from

when I was younger.” “Mental practice and meditation” help him focus before coming on stage.

Adrian is currently a senior at Mannes School of Music at The New School in New York City. He is under the tutelage of Stefan Jackiw, a noted violinist who is part-Korean, part-German.

In between studies, he would do independent recording for private organizations. He recorded the single “Inay" for the Jesuit Communications Foundation which was nominated for an Awit Award in the Best Instrumentalist category. He recently won an audition to become a part of the prestigious Asian Youth Orchestra that is slated to go on tour in Europe and Asia this summer.

Musing on his future, he said, “The life of a musician can be very unsure, so I explore different avenues whether it's chamber or orchestra or playing as a soloist and try to make the best out of it.”

Victor sums up what sets Adrian apart from some young artists.

He said, “He has this quiet maturity about him not just in his playing but also in the way he carries himself. He is a very intuitive musician and is really good in interpreting classical music. The X Factor is there.”

The parable of the artist and the businessman

By Cristina DC Pastor

An unknown but talented painter and a wealthy businessman met initially through an act of kindness. Their story would develop into a tale of exploitation, shame, and crime that had New York State law enforcers and the Philippine Consulate involved.

This story happened in 2015. We are republishing it because of lessons we all can reflect on.

The businessman offered to shelter the artist in his Upstate New York home when he heard this elderly portraitist was looking for a place to stay. Needless to say, the artist was grateful beyond words. He stayed in this unoccupied house for about eight months paying only for utilities.

Unknown to the artist, however, the businessman was in the process of selling his home. The businessman did not inform the artist that the house would soon have a new buyer. Why he did not heads-up the artist is something for the courts to investigate.

When the artist came home one night, the lock had changed and he could not get in. He saw an open back door and tried to get in. Someone called the cops on the artist, who was accused of being an intruder. He was taken to the police station where he gave a statement. He also pleaded with them to let him stay the night in the station because he had

How an act of kindness developed into a tale of exploitation and crime.

no place to go. He was allowed to crash on an empty bench by the lobby of the police station.

The artist turned to friends and fellow artists in the NYC community. Some did not return his calls,

others did and offered to help. One of them asked, “Where are your paintings and tools?” The artist did not even think about those; his main concern was his survival. Until it dawned on him: His paintings are his survival! He filed a case of theft against the businessman.

The businessman made conflicting statements. He has admitted to some people that he had the paintings — some of them but unframed. To others, he denied the paintings were in his possession. He maintained before investigators that he did not have them and did not know where they are.

The artist, who was being cared for by a Filipino priest, insisted all his belongings — including his paintings — were gone when he returned to the house that fateful night. He wanted them back, hoping to sell some for his expenses.

Sadly, not many in the Filipino American community were aware of this woeful tale. Some friends of the artist were trying to pass the hat for him; others have built this thick wall of apathy and indifference.

This story was shared with The FilAm by a friend of the artist who tried to help. We have not heard about the artist since. He was 70 when this happened. We can only hope that he was able to receive justice.

With his parents Jeanne and Alan Ong and younger sister Jamie celebrating a family birthday. Photo courtesy of Adrian Ong

Calendar of Events

May 16

Limang Daang Biyaya: Celebrating the 500 Years of Philippine Christianity (by the Filipino Apostolate, Archdiocese of Newark)

Epiphany Roman Catholic Church

247 Knox Ave

Cliffside Park, N.J.

May 21

OMTA Awards: Outstanding Mother – Teodora Alonso Awards (by the Knights of Rizal, Long Island & Ladies for Rizal, Long Island)

Leonard’s Palazzo of Great Neck

555 Northern Boulevard

Great Neck, N.Y.

April 1

Parokya ni Edgar: Pogi Years Old Melrose Ballroom

36-08 33rd Street

Long Island City, NYC

Contact Vince: 347-705-2967

April 20

Bayani Series: Rizal and History in the Age of Disinformation with Prof. Ambeth Ocampo

Philippine Center Kalayaan Hall

556 Fifth Avenue, NYC

April 24 to 25

Post Acute Care...Superheroes in Scrubs (31st Annual New Jersey Association of Director of Nursing Administration Long Term Care, Inc. Conference in New Jersey)

Bally's Atlantic City Hotel & Casino Atlantic City, New Jersey

May 12

Maria: Honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary & a Mother’s Day Celebration (by the Filipino Apostolate, Archdiocese of Newark)

St. Aloysius Church

691 West Side Avenue

Jersey City

May 13

Padayaw: Padayon Pagsayaw

(meaning Continue Dancing) by PAFCOM Conlon Hall

18 N William Street

Bergenfield N.J.

May 14

Deadline to apply to PAFCOM Scholarship

Contact for details: Pafcomnj@gmail. com; 347-932-6631

May 27

Celebrate the Power: Pentecost celebration (by the Filipino Apostolate, Archdiocese of Newark)

Our lady of Mercy Church

40 Sullivan Dr. Jersey City

July 16 to 23

44th PNAA National Convention & Cruise

Aboard Royal Caribbean Wonder of the Seas

July 16 to 24

Very Important Pinoy (VIP) Tour

Contact the Philippine Consulate General in New York for details

October 24 to 27

Journeying Together: Communion/ Participation/ Mission 4th Assembly of the National Association of Filipino Priests USA, New Jersey-New York

BOOKS

The SAGE Encyclopedia of Filipina/x/o American Studies

Two-volume set

Edited by Kevin Leo Yabut Nadal, Allyson Tintiangco-Cubales & E.J.R.

David

Singer Zeyoncé: Proud to be Black and Brown

Brown family legend has it that Zeyoncé didn’t have a name for two to three days when she was born on December 30,2001 in Milpitas, Calif.

The family was big fans of Beyoncé Knowles who was then still with Destiny’s Child and not yet the celebrated icon that she is today. Her parents named their daughter Zeyoncé surprised to see their youngest of four siblings would one day aspire to follow in the superstar’s footsteps. Zeyoncé is happily basking in the glow of her borrowed name down to the diacritical mark

Zeyoncé Brown grew up in a music-loving biracial family. Her American father, Alex, a building maintenance mechanic from Virginia Beach, VA, comes from a family that sings at a church choir. He plays percussion and sings karaoke. Her mother Linda, who comes from San Andres Bukid, is equally music-minded. She loves to listen to old Filipino songs and she has a mother who was prone to whistling.

“Both my parents’ families love to sing and dance,” she said when interviewed by The FilAm. “My mom told me my Lola Iday can whistle an entire song. I think I got the whistling from her. She died a week before I was born,” said Zeyoncé.

The up-and-coming singer is pursuing a musical career that is moving along steadily and nicely. She performed at a show with Pokwang and K Brosas on March 18 at the San Mateo Performing Arts and at another concert with Vice Ganda on April 22 also in California. She has appeared in concerts with Lani Misalucha, Nonoy Zuniga, Jed Madela and Louie Reyes, and has received invitations to sing the Philippine National Anthem “Lupang Hinirang,” as well as the “Star Spangled-Banner” in local community gatherings, sporting events and Filipino fiestas.

But Zeyoncé is biding her time.

In between singing gigs, she engages in other activities like promoting social justice causes. She is literally a poster child against human trafficking, appearing in a PSA campaign sponsored by the San Jose Police Department promoting the End of Human Trafficking: “Victims of Human Trafficking needs Support not Shame” is her message.

“For doing advocacy to end human trafficking, the San Jose Police Department hired me and other different nationalities like Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese, Taiwanese and other Asians,” she said. “My posters are written in Tagalog. They are displayed in San Jose Mineta Airport, billboards and buses.”

| Tagalog songs

Zeyoncé started singing at age 6. “I can sing Tagalog songs,” she said proudly.

She sang three original compositions written specifically for her by celebrated composers Vehnee Saturno (“Dapat Na Ba”), Marcus Davis and Mikee Misalucha (“Labo Mo”), and Jin Chan, who is also Sarah Geronimo’s composer (“No Way”).

“Music means a lot to me. It is my way of expressing myself and being able to relate to other people,” she said.

She was coy when asked about her “signature style.”

“I really don’t have a particular thing that I do on stage as a signature move, but I always love to connect with the audience,” she said. “Finding my style is something that I am working on, one that fits my personality that shows the Filipino side and African American side of me.”

She’s proud to be both Black and Brown, she told The FilAm.

“I love both of my parents’ cultures. They are similar in many ways. There’s a lot of love on both sides, and they both have big families,” she said. And of course there’s music that binds both families as one.

For Zeyoncé, being able to move her audience to groove with her is something that is gratifying to a performer.

“It really makes me happy when I see the audience is happy and enjoying my performance. When they applaud and connect with me, then I know I did an awesome job, that is a wonderful feeling,” she said.

That she is attracting the attention of notable composers can only mean this biracial Pinay shows enormous promise as a vocalist. Success takes time, courage, and patience, she reminds herself. “In God’s perfect time.”

Zeyoncé singing her original single ‘Labo Mo’ at South Border and Neocolours concert in October 2022.

Her PSA campaign against human trafficking.

The Brown family, from left: Sister Zabrinàh, dad Alex, brother DannieBoi, mom Linda, niece Danniela and Zeyoncé

Congen decries ‘cult of personality’ in welcome reception

By Cristina DC Pastor

The March 18 Welcome Cocktail Reception, organized by the Philippine Independence Day Council, Inc. (PIDCI) and Hiraya Foundation, was well attended. The audience was treated to a mini concert from the Kayumanggi Chorale, who sang a medley of Kundiman, pop (“Manila” by Hotdog), and Broadway (Les Miserables’s “One Day More”) songs.

New York State Assembly Member Steven Raga set the jocular tone of the afternoon when he welcomed the new Congen. He said, “Congen, you’re coming into a community that’s very talented, proactive, very engaged, and (who) like to party. I hope you have the energy to keep up with this dynamic group.”

Nora Galleros, president of PIDCI, said the organizers wanted to give the Congen a warm welcome with a serenade to show “how united we are as a community in New York.” She shared how PIDCI is under a lot of pressure to mount a memorable 125th Independence Day Parade on June 4. Addressing her “bashers,” she urged them jokingly not to be too critical. “Yung mga bashers…We are doing our very best.”

In his speech, Congen Senen acknowledged the “warm welcome” from the community.

“Hope this will set the tenor of the next few years of our tenure here in New York,” he said. “Because of the warm welcome you have extended to us (he mentions also Deputy Consul General Adrian Cruz who is a newcomer to NYC like him) we have felt at home right away.”

But a statement he made early in his remarks was quite a surprise. He said, “We do not subscribe to a cult

of personality.”

Some in the audience looked at one another, thinking, could he be throwing shade at someone?

When contacted by The FilAm to seek clarification, he said, “There was no intention at all to throw shade on anyone.

He said he was talking about “the position we occupy, the office we represent, and the people we serve…It’s not about us, anything else is secondary.”

The speakers urged unity and called for working together as partners to uplift and protect all Filipinos across the Northeast.

Consul General Senen Mangalile: ‘We felt at home right away.’

Photo by Marivir Montebon

The well-applauded Kayumanggi Chorale

A packed audience at Kalayaan Hall welcomes the new Congen. The FilAm Photos

Two months after he became head of the Philippine Consulate in New York, Consul General Senen Mangalile was accorded a fitting and felicitous welcome by the Filipino community.

Most people who commit violence do not have mental illnesses

By Julia Tong

“It’s important for the public to keep in mind that the majority of folks with mental illness do not have any violent tendencies,” says clinical psychologist Dr. Michi Fu, who specializes in cross-cultural mental health issues.

That assertion aligns with findings from organizations including the American Psychological Association and MentalHealth.gov which agree that most people who commit violence do not have mental illnesses.

Fu says misconceptions surrounding those with mental health challenges can worsen the already heavy stigma around mental illness, potentially discouraging people from finding help. “There’s a lot of damage to be done if we continue to point towards mental illness as the reason why these people acted.”

The back-to-back mass shootings in Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay in late January came within just days of one another, the former claiming 11 victims and the latter seven—mostly migrant farmworkers. Both shooters were older Asian men, a rarity in an otherwise troublingly familiar narrative of mass shootings in this country.

| ‘Systemic pressures’

Dr. Jenny Wang is a clinical psychologist and national speaker on Asian American mental health and racial trauma in immigrant communities and communities of color. She says prevailing misconceptions about people with mental illness—that they are more prone to violence—obscure the root causes of violence, from a lack of gun control legislation to issues of poverty, including food insecurity, housing and the need for a livable wage.

While not a direct cause of violence, these “systemic pressures,” Wang notes, can, in isolated cases, compound existing traumas that an individual is experiencing, making it “difficult to understand the consequences of their actions when they are under intense stress.”

And trauma can be experienced across entire communities, as is the case for many Asian Americans who in recent years have watched as members of their community have been the targets of often violent crime and racist attacks.

“In order for there to be trauma, you don’t actually have to be a direct recipient of that violence,” says Fu. “You can just engage in watching the media.”

Yet despite the prevalence of mental health challenges among Asian Americans, studies show they remain among the groups least likely to seek treatment. Carrie Zhang, who founded the Asian Mental Health Project

(AMHP), says cultural taboos and language play a large role in preventing people from seeking help.

“Growing up, it was really hard to communicate things, not just because of stigma, but also because of language barriers,” recalls Zhang, who while receiving counseling and therapy in college says she struggled to open up to her family about her own mental health challenges.

The breakthrough moment came when she was interviewed about her experience by a Chinese-language publication. Zhang says reading her account in Chinese allowed her parents to connect their own experiences with hers.

“My dad was like, ‘You know, actually, I think I experienced anxiety too.’ And I was like, ‘Holy crap, (that’s) the first time he has ever talked to me about this,’” she recalls.

| Seeking care

Recognizing the signs of mental illness in a loved one is an important first step toward providing support. Those signs include disruptions to daily functioning: unusual sleeping and eating patterns, being unable to get out of bed, social isolation, or mood swings. Signs that these symptoms have escalated into a crisis, however, include a preoccupation with ideas of dying, or speaking as if there’s no future.

Still, it can often be difficult to find culturally competent professional care for many immigrant communities. One option open to Asian Americans is to reach out to one of the handful of organizations dedicated to offering care to the community. These include the Asian American Psychological Association, Asian Mental Health Collective, Yellow Chair Collective, and Entwine Community.

Wang stresses, however, that pressuring people to find professional help can sometimes be counterproductive. She suggests that as an alternative first step community members can help to undo prevailing mental health stigmas by being more “vulnerable with the more human aspects of who we are.”

She continues, “When we do that, I believe that we give other people what I like to call the gift of going second. When I go first and share my story… it creates space for others to do the same,” she says. “It has that ripple effect within our community.”

Other approaches to addressing communal or personal trauma can include things like radical self-healing, community-based care, or volunteering, says Zhang. “It’s important for us to honor our own particular styles of self-care, and to keep in mind that being in community can be part of that.”

– Ethnic Media Services

Experts stress the evidence linking mental health and violence is weak and that people with mental illnesses are more often themselves victims of violence. Photo: Julia Tong/EMS

Community Op-ed: Thinking outside the box on affordable housing

By Mayor Eric Adams

Last year, we declared that New York City would lead the way on housing in America. Our city must remain a place where everyday New Yorkers can find and afford a place to live. We have set a moonshot goal of building 500,000 new homes for New Yorkers over the next decade—and to achieve this goal we must fight for new housing, new zoning, and innovation.

People say New York City doesn’t have enough space for new housing— but there’s space everywhere if you look hard enough. Since the pandemic, we’ve seen office buildings lying empty or entire floors that are vacant. We can convert those existing spaces into homes that New Yorkers earning a wide range of incomes can afford.

Converting vacant offices into apartments will bring life back to our business districts and allow people to live close to where they work. The “New” New York Action plan, which Governor Hochul and I introduced last year, calls for office conversions to revitalize our downtowns and keep our city vibrant.

Additionally, we have made affordable housing a central part of our working people's agenda.

We released our Housing Our Neighbors plan to get New Yorkers into safe and stable homes more quickly. And we launched our

Get Stuff Built plan to speed up construction of new housing in all five boroughs.

But we've said from the beginning that we cannot solve this problem without help from New York State. That's why we are so grateful for the partnership of Governor Hochul. She has included a number of key investments and policies in her proposed budget that will help us address the housing crisis. These investments and policies need to be included in the final budget that will be passed by the state in the coming weeks.

As state lawmakers consider the budget, we will continue to make our case for Albany to eliminate rules that make office conversions nearly impossible, and remove the state cap that prevents us from building more housing in midtown Manhattan. We will also be pushing for an incentive to help property owners make much needed repairs in exchange for keeping homes affordable far into the future.

We have already been talking to our partners in the State legislature in Albany. Without their assistance, we simply will not be able to build affordable housing at the rate we need. But if we work together, we can get critical support for NYCHA residents, create a pathway to safety for dangerous basement and cellar apartments, and make a number of other important changes and investments in the affordability of our city.

During the 1920s, we built 750,000 new homes—more than three times the number of homes built over the past 10 years. We can do it again. We must do it again for the sake of New York City and of all New Yorkers.

Brooklyn apartment buildings.

Photo by Wes Hicks on Unsplash

Homeownership still unattainable for some Asian Americans despite wealth

Homeownership rates in the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander in the middle- and lower-income levels are far below equal non-Hispanic Whites and comparable to those of the Black and Hispanic communities.

The 2023 State of Asia America report published by the Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA) also showcased how high home prices are driving AANHPI people from traditional urban centers. The report was released on March 16.

A national nonprofit trade organization, AREAA is celebrating its 20th year. It has 44 chapters and 18,000 members nationwide. Its findings will be shared with Capitol Hill and federal agency leaders during AREAA’s Diversity and Fair Housing Summit in May.

“The report puts into perspective what is occurring today within the AANHPI community,” said Kurt Nishimura, president of AREAA. “While we are the fastest-growing diverse sector in the nation, those in our middle and lower incomes are not keeping pace in homeownership levels with those for the non-Hispanic White sector. We are also much more comparable than previously discussed to the Black and Hispanic middle- and lower-income households.

The State of Asia America report breaks down AANHPI homeownership rate by income levels going beyond the overall AANHPI levels of 61.9%. The U.S. Census’ American Community Survey reports the AANHPI middle- and lower-income levels, those who make 140%-or-less of a local market’s Area Median Income (AMI), join their comparable Black and Hispanic communities in being far behind non-Hispanic Whites in homeownership rates.

Income

vs. affordability concerns

The reports found wealth is not necessarily the driver of high homeownership levels. While several subgroups within the AANHPI community have increased household income over the

last several years, those living in the West and Northeast still find homeownership largely unattainable.

In 2021, Vietnamese communities had a 10% increase in household income, but of those families, only 1% can afford a home in the West and 6% can afford a home in the Northeast.

The propensity to live in some of the nation’s most expensive markets has made homeownership challenging for AANHPI people. The U.S. Census reported that the South saw its AANHPI population grow by 25.2 percent between 2010-2022, while the Midwest increased by 40.5 percent.

The State of Asia America Report also found that Washington, Florida, and Virginia generated 56.9 percent of all AANHPI inbound migration from 2010-2019.

Houston is one of the specific markets attracting increased numbers of AANHPI people. According

to the National Consumer Reporting Association, more than half of the “mortgage ready” AANHPI popu -

lation in the metro can afford the region’s $344,000 (Realtor.com) median home listing price. The group defines “mortgage ready” as those 45-and-under without a current mortgage, with a credit score of 661-plus, a debt-to-income ratio not exceeding 25% and other factors.

“While so many in our community settled in such places as California and New York, eventually created household wealth and are considered ‘mortgage ready,’ they simply cannot afford a home,” Nishimura said. “This imbalance is leading to migration away from these areas. It’s not surprising that the South and Midwest are attracting our community. Hopefully, we will see AANHPI homeownership rates rise in these regions.”

Ethnicities and homeownership

All but seven studied AANHPI ethnicities fell below the overall U.S. median family income, reported by the U.S. Census to be $70,784. Only Vietnamese and Chinese Americans exceeded the nation’s 65.9% homeownership rate.

The 1.88 million Vietnamese Americans have a 69.2% homeownership rate, the highest of any AANHPI group, despite an $82,900 median income which is 59.46% lower than Asian Indian Americans who have a 62% homeownership rate. Vietnamese Americans have one of the highest rates of multigenerational housing among AANHPI subgroups, allowing more household members to contribute to rental and housing payments.

“It is clear that the AANHPI community is not a homogeneous group, and each ethnicity has different levels of homeownership that are obviously impacted by home prices where they are situated,” Nishimura said. “The Vietnamese and Filipino communities are great examples of those who are thriving in the more affordable South and Midwest. We also recognize there are ethnicities within the AANHPI community where household income is relatively strong, but homeownership rates don’t reflect this success. We clearly have a lot of work to do.”

Capitol Hill and federal agency leaders will receive copies of the report.

A high-end home in New Jersey. Photo: Unsplash

COVID did not halt this food truck from cruising

By Cristina DC Pastor

The Filipino culture of snacking inspired Marisse Panlilio to launch her food truck in Jersey City, New Jersey. Snacks like peanuts or pork rinds are comfort food that evoke nostalgia and connect Filipinos to a past that was pleasurable and familiar. While snacks are usually eaten between meals, some Filipinos snack even right after a heavy meal.

Marisse knew this when she opened Popsie’s Truck in 2016. Popsie’s – more of a van than a truck -- contained an assortment of snacks Filipinos are familiar with: Kuchinta or steamed rice cakes, Empanada (chicken or beef), Taho or bean curd with syrup and sago pearls, Halo-Halo or crushed ice with milk and caramelized fruits, Lumpia Shanghai or egg rolls, Ginataan or dessert made with coconut milk, exotic ice cream, and the ubiquitous Boba Tea.

Years of “brainstorming” with her mother, Juliet Oberlin, gave birth to the idea of opening a food truck business. Mother and daughter loved to cook together and experiment on their own recipes. Popsie’s Truck sold some of the snacks they concocted as a team.

“When I arrived in the U.S. in 1981, I opened a deli and food bar in Roselle Park in New Jersey. It’s very American,” said Marisse. “I’ve always been into food.”

The restaurant closed after a year and a half when she landed a 9 to 5 job at a shipping company. While she followed an uneven career path that took her to home health care, concert producing, and apartment rentals, food was a passion she always wanted to return to. Marisse, 68, is also a concert technical director and deejay known in the Filipino community as Popsie. Her partner Cosette is called Momsie.

The food truck was an homage to her mother because they talked about food and cooking and eating -- a lot. Food was a bond they shared. She would visit Mama Yette in an adult community in Rahway, New Jersey and they would cook together while they talked about family, who came to visit, and how everyone was doing.

“She would tell me, ‘open a small restaurant, a hole in the wall.’ I said rent is tough, Ma, plus utilities,” she recalled.

When Popsie’s Truck opened its doors, it joined Jersey City’s fast-rising village of over 100 food truck operators, according to Roaminghunger.com. Within days of aggressive postings on Facebook with enticing photos, the business took off. People began calling Marisse for orders to be picked up usually after coming home from work.

Her mother died in 2019, the business already in full swing. Marisse had bought a truck, enrolled in a ServSafe course on food handling and sanitation, and registered the business with the local government. Because she also ran a printing business, she carefully designed and crafted her logo which shows Marisse looking like a boss lady with arms folded and wearing a track suit.

“Social media helped me a lot,” she said. “(The business is) gonna be seven years old and we’re still here.”

It’s “grassroots marketing,” said Marisse of her business. “I don’t have a menu because I wanted the food to be different every day. I want them to crave for it. I want

them to ask, ‘Popsie, what do you have tonight?’ And that’s how my food truck evolved.”

The truck opens in late afternoon and serves customers into the night. Business peaks on nights when there is a Superbowl, a Miss Universe pageant or the Oscars on television. Popsie’s is a hit at viewing parties. Sometimes, she is hired at wedding parties to serve Taho.

The truck is parked just outside her apartment so there is no big overhead to worry about. No roaming around and finding the perfect spot in parking-jammed Jersey City. Customers simply call or text and schedule a time to pick up their orders.

Marisse Panlilio runs a food truck selling Filipino snacks in Jersey City. Photos courtesy of Marisse Panlilio

Halo Halo is the Filipino version of shaved ice dessert.

Taho, or bean curd with caramel syrup and sago pearls, is one of the Popsie’s Truck’s bestsellers. It’s a popular treat among Filipinos as they watch the Superbowl or the Oscars.

Regular customers come from Jersey City where there is a big Filipino American community of about 16,000. Orders also come from residents of New York City, just across the Hudson River, and other parts of New Jersey.

When the pandemic erupted, the business ground to a halt. People stayed home and Marisse found herself cooking food with no customers to sell to.

“I don’t want any food wasted. My mother instilled that in us,” she said.

She went to locations around New Jersey that are frequented by Filipinos, like a Costco or an Asian food store. She would park her truck outside or, if she knew the owner, she would set up a table inside the store. Some of her loyal customers would follow her there. New customers would be happy to see her selling traditional Filipino snacks not available in any American grocery store. At least 10 customers in one location would be considered good business for the day because they usually bought food for an entire family or fed visiting friends.

“Pop-ups are OK,” she said. “I don’t worry about rent.” When the truck is not around, people look for it, which makes Marisse very happy.

She said she was totally unprepared for the pandemic. “It was scary because we didn’t know what we were facing.” She was disappointed too because Popsie’s Truck had found its momentum and all of a sudden the coronavirus stopped it in its tracks.

But Marisse was consoled by concerned customers who continued to call and message her asking how she was doing. “It’s very heartwarming,” she said. Marisse said she did not apply for COVID-related financial assistance.

“I did not apply for the business,” she said. “I didn’t have a lot of expenses anyway. I owned my trailer, and I don’t have a storefront.” All she got was a $1,400 stimulus check from the federal government.

During the pandemic when business was slow, she enrolled in a baking and pastry class at the Culinary Arts Institute of Hudson County Community College in Jersey City. She got her certificate on February 14 this year. Since then she has been experimenting with new flavors, ingredients, and cooking techniques. Her customers noted how the dough of her Empanada has a different taste.

After almost three years, she has a different view of the pandemic.

“The pandemic was a big deal. I was able to reinvent myself,” she said, recalling how her mother drilled into her head that “patience is a virtue” and food is where she belongs.

This story was produced as part of the Small Business Reporting Fellowship, organized by the Center for Community Media and funded by the NYC Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment.

Popsie’s Truck is Marisse Panlilio’s homage to her mother Juliet Oberlin who passed away in 2019.

Issue 62, April 2023

7,600 bogus nurses In hospitals treating patients

Cecille Lai, Milagros

Dela Cruz

Anti-Asian attacks are back

Marisse Panlilio

Marisse Panlilio

How her food truck survived COVID

How her food truck survived COVID