Issue 34, December 2020
Alexandra Trese Netflix’s new ‘aswang’ fighter
Citizenship Test
BalaSole’s Roberto Villanueva Diversity in dance
Photo by Eric Bandiero
Will have 20 questions
Letter from the Editor
Remembering those missing from our lives
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ow can one be merry when the stench of death covers the land? You look around any family’s table and there may be an empty chair. The evergreens may be all lit up but the lights are not enough to make this time of the year a truly joyful one. Sure, there may be families who are avidly awaiting to be reunited at the holiday table, but they are being counselled by experts to avoid air travel and limit social interactions due to COVID-19. Some may be dreading the reunions and the grief it would provoke as they remember a family member’s passing from the pandemic. There is an ineffable sadness about this holiday, as we remember those who are missing from our lives. Millions of Americans are in lockdown, have no jobs, while hundreds of thousands are sick and dying. Like the suicidal George Bailey in Frank Capra’s “It’s a Wonderful Life,” the country is despondent. COVID has sucked the air out of the gaiety we normally associate with Christmas and the New Year as we gather – champagne in hand -- for the communal countdown of saying goodbye to 2020. A Times Square send-off seemed like an inappropriate thing to do. Also, an unhealthy act as people gather in close proximity, with or without as mask. It has been a horrible year all around, the Latin phrase “annus horribilis” is most apt.
The world over is seeing a plague year with very little in the way of a glimmer of cheer. It is difficult to go around high-fiving all a “Merry Christmas” when more than 250,000 of our fellow Americans have died from the pandemic,
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
the number rapidly approaching the casualty toll of Americans during World War Two. It is hard to summon any form of cheer when a specter of death spreads with terrifying speed through our communities in the U.S., while our friends, family and kin are also suffering in the Philippines. There will be those who will bravely declare we should all be happy for the blessings of being alive, healthy, and remaining employed. The hopeful among us will say a prayer of thanks that a vaccine is almost near even though the when and the logistics of who gets it first remain in debate. What should we remember of Christmas 2020? We, at The FilAm, like to believe in Christmas as a reminder of living by the values that our Faith embodies. Loving our neighbor as we love ourselves. Looking out for the poor and the orphans. Caring for those who have less in life. Being men and women for others, to echo the Jesuits. Christmas is a constant reminder that everyone is capable of kindness, that we as a people will not allow the social ills of systemic racism, intolerance, bigotry to continue in society. Christmas is our Clarence Odbody, the guardian angel that should see us through the end of 2020 and as we usher in our hope for a better 2021. Happy holidays from all of us at The FilAm.
Contact Thefilamny@gmail.com
The FilAm is a publication of A&V Editorial THE FILAM |
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Mother’s ‘tinupig’ and memories of Christmases past
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By Richard Cuanang
y holiday season in the United States usually began at Thanksgiving afternoon — always after work. While waiting for the guests to arrive, we erected the Christmas tree at the front door by the stairs. I have always been fascinated with the live tree, and I made it a point to adorn them with gold and silver pear and apple ornaments and dancing lights. The big ceramic pot was our base providing elegance and grandeur to our tree. In the Philippines, my childhood Christmas was both simple and elaborate. We would start with us siblings scouting for the tallest maguey flower along the mountains of my northern Ilocos Norte province. On September 1st, the Christmas carols would be blaring from radios, signaling the start of the world’s longest Christmas. The holiday songs, the aroma of coffee and rooster crowing at the crack of dawn would rouse us from sleep and break the solemnity of our house. Putting up a Christmas tree was a monumental chore: First, we would buy bars of Perla soap and grate them. The flakes would be sprinkled around our tree to look like snow. Decorations using tiny toys, paper poinsettia flowers, and candies were hung with care – from top to bottom. Once our tree began to look “dressed” and festive, happy smiles would fill the room. The Christmas spirit would be shared by our family, especially my mother and my grandmother. December 16th was usually the last day of school. Students wore their most colorful clothes for the class party. Students would be clustered in groups and assigned a dish to be shared with the class. In one such party, one of my classmates tried to take a pork barbeque, causing a mishap that led to the platter flying in the air. Many of us came down on the floor to pick up the sticks of barbeque and put them back on the serving plate. This incident has remained our class’ best kept secret. My mother’s official “Christmas show” would start after we were off from school. We would gather unhusked coconut and banana leaves for her signature “tinupig” and “tinubong” delicacies. It was my job to prepare enough wood for our improvised oven. We would soak the rice to soften the grains, split the coconut and rinse the leaves. We would extract milk from the grated coconut and mix it with molasses and melted butter. By 12 noon, the first batch of “tinupig and tinubong” would be ready. By 3 p.m. mother would drive to the downtown market to sell “bilaos” of her famous delicacy. Our kitchen would be getting a rest while she’s away. To get ready for Noche Buena, my sister would start
bringing out the pots and pans, while grandma would start to prettify the dining room bringing out the hardly used embroidered table cloths. By 11 p.m. everyone would be dressed and gathered at the dining room. We would invite the neighborhood children into the house to join us while we all listened to carolers. My grandmother could be seen smiling with the comforting sparkle in her eyes. It was her belief the grace of the Lord had blessed her household. Me and my siblings would then go caroling in the dark around the neighborhood, the barking dogs drowning out our a cappella singing. People would tell us we were their first visitors and we were always thankful that they received us in their homes. The end of the season was like a rollercoaster. We would do everything all over again on December 30th and 31st for the New Year Noche Buena feast as we welcomed the coming year wishing everyone a prosperous and healthy life. Flashback memories of the simple joys of our Ilocano customs sometimes make me want to break out in song – “You Raise Me Up” is quite fitting. They bring me back to the meaningful traditions I shared with my family. I couldn’t be more thankful. Richard Cuanang worked in New York City’s food and restaurant industry. He is a graduate of the Mariano Marcos State University in Batac, Ilocos Norte.
Children caroling as depicted in Philippine Christmas card THE FILAM |
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Tinupig (top) and Tinubong are holiday staples in my Ilocano family Christmas
On Global Filipinos: Losing my friends to COVID-19: DI Dodie Potenciano (Part 2) Because I was tall for a Filipina and I love to dance during Filipino Gala nights, a good friend Nena Lozada Smith introduced me to Dancing Instructor Dodie Potenciano.
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e was a terrific dancer and I would hire him as my DI whenever I would attend dancing parties of the Filipino community in New York. When he had a stroke four years ago, he would call me on Christmas, New Year, Valentine’s Day. When I returned his call days after February 14th, his phone was disconnected. That was the time my good friend Angie Cruz told me that Dodie has passed away in a nursing home. I was distraught and regretted Dodie dancing with that I did not return his call immediately. daughter Chona at Juliet Payabyab introduced me to his younger her October 2015 sister Vicky Potenciano Vitug who told me that wedding. Dodie was named after their father’s brother Diosdado Potenciano, a pharmacist and an unsung hero as a guerrilla who died in the hands of the Japanese. Dodie inherited his jolly and compassionate disposition. Their older brother Reynaldo as an engineer, and the oldest brother Julian as a Certified Public Accountant immigrated to the United States in early 1970s. Rey became a U.S. citizen and petitioned for their parents, Esperanza (Angeles) and Laureano Potenciano, now deceased. Vicky said, “Both of them were hardworking. My mother owned and operated a grocery store and passenger jeep back in the Philippines. My father worked in Citibank in Manila.” In 1976, both of them immigrated to the U.S. and settled in Queens. Dodie and Vicky, both still single at the time, were petitioned by their parents and arrived in Queens in 1983. “My mother volunteered at a senior center where she later became the social work interpreter because she spoke eight languages. She was also an advocate for the poor and disenfranchised seniors. She used to travel with her senior friends to Albany and lobby for their many With younger sister Vicky at the nursing home during social causes. Our father, by then retired, was Christmas 2017. my mother’s chaperone and avid supporter. They were a very loving couple and devoted parents to Vicky continued, “Dodie was way too smart but us,” said Vicky. restless; a happy-go-lucky person; he lived for Dodie went to Arellano University but never finished today and was never concerned with his future. He his studies. He went to three other colleges and univer- was always a One Day Millionaire. He would spend sities because he could never decide what he wanted all his money in a day. To him, Life was too short to do. He worked as an electrician in Manila City Hall to worry about anything. He used to say, Live for before his immigration to the U.S. today because tomorrow may never come.” THE FILAM |
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How did Dodie become a dancing instructor? “Dodie was a born dancer,” shared Vicky. “When we were kids, he would just dance for hours. What’s amazing was that he was self-taught. He learned the steps just by watching. He was gifted. It was this obsession for dancing that pushed him to become a Dance Instructor. In fact, he left a high paying job as a Long-Haul Truck Driver to become a DI. He was not happy as a truck driver.” He had two daughters from his previous relationship. His younger daughter Zaza died of cardiac arrest when she was very young. His only surviving daughter Chona remained in the Philippines and was raised by our family. Vicky continued, “Since Dodie’s job situation is unstable, I provided the financial support for his daughter for over 20 years. Proud to say that she finished college and is now, happily married with one son.” In 2015, Dodie married Generosa “Rose” Ompoc from Queens. A friend of Rose had invited her to a ballroom party in Woodside. Shy by nature, she was reluctant to join but eventually relented. That evening turned out to be a blast. She met the man of her dreams. She said this “stranger,” a man in a suit, asked her to dance. She said she found him irresistible. He was very charming, polite, and “pogi.” She didn’t know why she felt her heart beating fast and felt her face “flushed.” She thought: Love at first sight. The following months went by so fast. They started dating. And the more she got to know him, the more she wanted to be with him forever. They were married July 1, 2016. Unfortunately, a month into the marriage their happiness was cut short. On August 7, 2016, Dodie suffered a stroke. His right side was paralyzed and he required extensive rehabilitation. Upon discharged from the hospital, he was sent to a Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. On April 20, 2020 he was taken by ambulance to New York Presbyterian after he was infected with the coronavirus at the nursing center. He died on April 24. When Vicky visited Dodie for the last time, bringing him dishes he liked to eat, “He just grabbed me and gave me a tight hug.” “You are my best friend. Thank you for all you do for me,” he told his sister. “I think it was his way of saying goodbye,” said Vicky through tears.
How I met Dr. Jose Rizal at the Brooklyn Bridge By Nestor Palugod Enriquez
The Statue of Liberty over the Hudson River greeted our Navy ship to New York City more than 50 years ago.
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y eyes eagerly scanned the New York skyline as I was waiting for the Liberty Call announcement. The panoramic view from the water was incredible. I held the image in my mind a little longer as I stepped ashore…Liberty Call, Liberty Call… Manhattan Island is a liberty paradise for any sailor. In just few hours, I would be staring at the bottom of my beer glass, feeling refreshed, a common experience for sailors after a few days at sea. A few more glasses were enough to rewind my memory back to another time in the same zone. “Bottoms up” easily put me in the mood for taking more liberties of my past life. Over a century ago in 1886, Lady Liberty first stood on the harbor, joining the Brooklyn Bridge as an icon of New York. I met Dr. Jose Rizal on my liberty tour in Mid-Manhattan. Other icons I encountered included the equestrian monument of Lieutenant General George Washington in Union Square in 1856 and another statue located in Greenwich Village. These were part of the landscape near Madison Square Park where Rizal once lived. Rizal said: “Was in New York; big town, but there everything is new. I visited some memorials to Washington, the great man who, I think, has no equal in this century.” I was surprised to hear his admiration for the revolutionary George Washington rather than Jefferson. Rizal would distance himself from violent revolutions the likes of Bonifacio’s. George Washington was the American general of the war for independence in the battlefield and father of the country. Rizal had many gifts. He supplemented his numerous writings with almost Instamatic sketches of the places he visited. At the time, the Brooklyn Bridge was completed in 1883 and became the longest suspension bridge in the world. There were already Filipino sailors boarding around Brooklyn Navy Yard during that time. The architecture remains a marvelous sight in East cityscape. Charles Adams Platt, a prominent New York etcher, painted the bridge in 1888, but I have been looking for the copy of the rough sketches by Jose Rizal. It took me years, and I finally found a copy of his sketch. I sobered up as I saw the Gothic twin towers and steel suspension cable. I drove over this bridge many times as I lived in Brooklyn later in my life. It is the
A portrait of Rizal as artist. Photo: buhayrizal.com.ph
Rizal Day: December 30, 1896 is the date the National Hero was executed at Bagumbayan in Manila. THE FILAM |
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same as it was when Rizal left in New York on board the City of Rome, the Titanic ocean steamer of the 1880s. The portrait is worth thousands of words without language to understand or speak. City of Rome is said to be the second largest ship in the world. On board the ship they published a periodical at the end of the voyage. “There I became acquainted with many people, and as I carried a yo-yo with me, the Europeans and Americans were astonished to see how I could use it as a weapon of offense…I was able to speak to all of them and understand them in their own languages,” Rizal wrote in one of his letters. The luxury steamer brought Rizal to Liverpool. He took the train to London and spent 1888 Christmas with the Beckett family. Again, he showed his engraving skill when he etched Gertrude Beckett. He was in love, in the language of Shakespeare. He had many gifts, and I was fortunate to have his company on my Cinderella Liberty excursion in the Big Apple. Nestor Palugod Enriquez is the long-time president of the Filipino American National Historical Society New Jersey. He has served in the U.S. Navy.
Ret. Ambassador Virgilio Reyes Jr.: PHL diplomats are mostly ‘kind’ people By Cristina DC Pastor
Former Philippine Ambassador to Italy Virgilio Reyes Jr. said Filipino diplomats are mostly “kind” people and if there are “cruel” ones, they would be the exception.
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he FilAm sought comments from Reyes, who served in the foreign service for 35 years, on the case of Ambassador to Brazil Marichu Mauro. She was caught in a series of Brazil media videos laying a hand on her housekeeper. Reyes, who retired in 2014, spoke obliquely without directly addressing the case. He said, “As our representatives abroad, diplomats should represent the highest standards of kindness, ethics and treatment of fellow human beings.” The Mauro case called attention to the notoriety of foreign diplomats who have figured in the maltreatment of domestic workers who work for them. Among the cases that attracted media attention involved: • a Filipino envoy to the UN accused by is Filipino housekeepers of human trafficking; • a Filipino diplomat in Korea accused of molesting a Korean staffer; • a German diplomat sued by his Filipino housekeepers for nonpayment of overtime and violation of New York Labor Law; • a Kuwaiti diplomat sued by a trafficked Filipina domestic worker; • IMF’s Dominique Strauss-Kahn (who enjoys diplomatic immunity) charged with the rape of a hotel maid;
Ambassador Marichu Mauro is recalled to the home office. Photo: Philippine Embassy in Brazil
Retired Amb. Reyes: ‘Each person is responsible for his or her own behavior.’ • an Indian diplomat accused of trafficking by the family babysitter; • a Korean consul general sued by a domestic servant for violation of labor laws; • a World Bank economist sued by a Tanzanian woman who worked in her home. Said Reyes, “I do not think there is anything about the job that would make diplomats abusive towards their helpers.” However, he added, “Each person is responsible for his or her own behavior. Some are kind, others may be cruel. I believe the latter would be an exception among Filipino diplomats.” He said the Philippines officially THE FILAM |
supports the international Human Rights codes that govern nations and individuals. “As part of their duties, diplomats are obliged to defend their fellow citizens against exploitation by foreign or Filipino employers. It would be ironic if an ambassador, the highest representative abroad of our country, would himself or herself be abusive to staff.” However, if any Filipino diplomat is proved to be guilty of abuse or exploitation, Penal Code sanctions apply, he said further. When informed that retired diplomats – through the Career Officer Corps (COC) and Retired Officers’ Association (ROA) — have 7
expressed support for Mauro, he said he has not heard of the COC when he retired in 2014. While he is a member of the ROA, he said their statement was “not consulted with and circulated to its members and therefore cannot be considered official.” Reyes’s first foreign assignment in 1988 was in New York where he was Second Secretary at the Philippine Mission to the United Nations. He was assigned to the First Committee (Issues of Peace and Security) under Permanent Representative Claudio Teehankee. He served as Minister Counselor to Yangon in 1994, and as Ambassador to South Africa from 2003 to 2009. In his final posting in Rome, he was conferred the Order of the Star of Italy, the highest honor given by the Italian government to foreign nationals. He has written two books in retirement: “A Memory of Time,” which is a collection of essays; and the novella “Nuestro Perdido Eden.” The Philippine Consulate in New York organized a virtual launch for both titles on November 23.
Fantasy ‘aswang’ series Trese coming to Netflix
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By Wendell Gaa
hilippine folklore and mythology have captivated me for a long time. It was in my pre-teen years when I learned about mythical creatures, such as the blood-sucking aswang, our version of the vampire, and the monstrous tikbalang, considered to be the Filipino equivalent to the half-man half-bull minotaur of Greek mythology. These very monsters happen to be characters in “Trese,” a new dark fantasy animated series which is expected to be released for international viewing on Netflix in 2021. “Trese” is based on the black and white horror/crime comics series created by writer Budjette Tan and artist Kajo Baldisimo. The series chronicles the life and trials of Alexandra Trese, an enigmatic female detective who investigates crimes of a supernatural origin throughout Metro Manila. We can anticipate Alexandra to follow the line of strongwilled, self-reliant and highly determined women protagonists in the horror-dark fantasy genre, such as “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” Being Filipina, she will no doubt add a unique cultural flavor to heroines of popular culture. Together with a couple of friends of mine who have set up a podcast called “Talking Geek Weekly” which discusses various topics on popular culture, be it of the horror, fantasy, superhero or science fiction genre, we had the honor of interviewing “Trese” creator Budjette Tan. He shared with us his fascinating journey to the conception of his dark fantasy comic series. “Trese” represents the Philippine dark legends which both Tan and co-creator artist Kajo Baldisimo grew up with based on the stories passed on to them by their families. Although Tan is now based in Denmark, it was clear through his narration to us that he has not forgotten all the famous Filipino mythical creatures which he heard about as a child. “We just really wanted to tell the stories that we grew up with, but with
a different twist,” he said. “Growing up in the Philippines, we heard a lot of stories about the aswang, tikbalang, and tiyanak (demon child), even though we lived in the city, whenever we would see a mound of dirt on a street corner, or if we were passing through an open lot with a mound of dirt, I would be told you always have to say ‘Tabi Tabi Po’ (asking permission to pass through), because supposedly on that mound of dirt there would be a house of a duwende (goblin/dwarf) or nuno sa punso (mountain goblin). Hence we were told to always ‘ask permission’ upon passing by these ‘houses’ because to do otherwise would result in us becoming seriously ill.” These mythical creatures which will feature prominently in “Trese” can expect to be given a tough time committing crime in Manila thanks to the relentless efforts of the series’ heroine, who is described as a modern woman with an old soul deeply attached to the supernatural underworld. Alexandra’s favorite attire seems to be a black button-down Chinese-style trench coat. The crime-fighting weaponry at her disposal are guns and a magical short sword with wavy edges called a Sinag, which was used by the Muslim tribe Maranaw of Mindanao. Like any typical comics hero, she does have a day job. She is a manager of a nightclub called The Diabolical which serves the best kapeng barako in town. Her personal life is beset with a complex relationship with her father Anton, who used the soul of her deceased twin sibling to create the Sinag given to her. At a young age, it is discovered that Alexandra has psionic potential, which she uses to aid her father in investigating supernatural mysteries. As an adult, she takes on the mantle of defending the citizens of Manila from evil forces by helping the city police. Similar to how Batman is called upon by Commissioner Gordon in Gotham THE FILAM |
‘Trese’ creators writer Budjette Tan (right) and artist Kajo Baldisimo. Tan aptly described the heroine as a woman with a rather complicated background and upbringing. She is “a child of paradox and possibilities.” There is the question of whether she will bring good or bad luck to the city as she struggles with her shifting loyalties to the dark and the light. These are recurring themes throughout the series. The “Trese” comic series has won accolades in Manila, including the Best Graphic Literature in the 29th National Book Awards in November 2010, the Filipino Readers’ Choice Award for Comics/Graphic Novels in 2012, and the 2014 National Book Award for Best Anthology in English. As a viewer, Alexandra Trese is the supernatural detective with I am doubly excited to see a deceased twin sibling. how the animated world of City in times of need, Alexandra is “Trese” unfolds on Netflix next year, enlisted by law enforcement official and to explore the character of AlexCaptain Guerrero to solve the city’s andra the supernatural detective to supernatural mysteries. greater depths. 8
Naturalization ceremony at the White House. YouTube photo
Effective December 1, citizenship test will have 20 questions
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.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced on November 13 plans to implement a revised version of the naturalization civics test. The agency first announced plans to revise the civics test in July 2019. USCIS revised the civics test as part of a decennial update to ensure that it remains an instrument that comprehensively assesses applicants’ knowledge of American history, government and civic values. The civics test is administered to applicants who apply for U.S. citizenship and is one of the statutory requirements for naturalizing. Applicants who apply for naturalization on or after Dec. 1, 2020, will take the updated version of the test. Those who apply before Dec. 1, 2020, will take the current version of the test.
“USCIS has diligently worked on revising the naturalization test since 2018, relying on input from experts in the field of adult education to ensure that this process is fair and transparent,” said USCIS Deputy Director for Policy Joseph Edlow. “Naturalization allows immigrants to become fully vested members of American society, with the same rights and responsibilities as citizens by birth, and offering a fair test, which prepares naturalization applicants for these responsibilities, is of upmost importance to our agency.” The revised test includes more questions that test the applicant’s understanding of U.S. history and civics, in line with the statutory requirements, and covers a variety of topics that provide the applicant with more opportunities to learn about the United States as part of the test THE FILAM |
preparation process. The revised test will not change the passing score, which will remain at 60%. Candidates must answer 12 questions correctly, out of 20 in order to pass. USCIS will maintain the current guidelines for statutorily established special considerations for applicants who are 65 years old or older and have at least 20 years of lawful permanent resident status. These applicants will be asked 10 questions and must answer a minimum of six questions correctly in order to pass. The test items and study guides can be found on the Citizenship Resource Center on the USCIS website. USCIS piloted the test with community-based organizations and volunteers across the country in summer 2020. The data collected from this pilot was used to help USCIS make determinations about the language 9
and grammatical structure of individual test items, linguistic and cognitive weights assigned to each test item, and to identify those items appropriate for applicants who are 65 years or older, have held lawful permanent resident status for at least 20 years and are granted special consideration by statute. For more information on USCIS and its programs, please visit uscis.gov. — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
COVER STORY
BalaSole founder Roberto Villanueva: Always on his toes
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By Maricar CP Hampton & Cristina DC Pastor
oberto Villanueva came to New York when he was 14 years old. Half the family was already in the U.S. His father and a sister joined him on his first and longest plane ride. The first thing he remembers on arriving in 1984 was the cold weather. To a recently arrived immigrant, a breezy fall felt like a freezing winter. “It was a bit of an environmental and culture shock initially,” said Roberto, the inspiring founder of the BalaSole dance company. “There would be the snow. It was delightful to see at first, until I experienced its ability to hinder and inconvenience people.” It would be the start of his familiarization with America, the frigid western weather and the absence of a housekeeper to keep the home humming nicely. He marveled at the culture and the way Americans live their lives individually, distinctly. Eventually, he learned basic life skills and “things got easier.” What kept him resolute through the early years were his parent’s strict upbringing and his love for dance. “My love for dance started during late childhood, although it was very informal in nature--basically at family parties in the Philippines just imitating movements I saw on television shows,” he said in an interview with The FilAm. “I had no understanding of the movements' roots and techniques. I just felt happy every time I danced to lively pop music.” At the State University of New York in Buffalo, he came to study dance formally, taking up a course in Dance Performance. “My love for dancing was reaffirmed at that point,” he said. Roberto acquired the techniques and came to know the long history of dance from when it was a form of religious ritual, a foreboding of war, or an expression of pleasure to some cultures. Along the way were challenges bigger than his pursuit of becoming a dance artist. One, an injury which comes with the territory
of pushing one’s body during competitions. Two, dancing as a career did not pay very well. The third hurdle was insurmountable and “heartbreaking:” His Filipino height prevented him from joining major dance companies. “I was rejected many times earlier in my career as a concert dance artist due to my short height of 5 feet and 3 inches and small built weighing only 103 pounds, which was considered undesirable in comparison to male dancers who were much taller and bigger in built,” he recalled matter-of-factly. “I remembered how disheartening that felt.” In 2010, BalaSole was born, and Roberto, its founder, assumed the role of Executive & Artistic Director. “I wanted to establish a company that addressed a need in the field,” he said. “For years, I observed not enough people of color were represented in dance companies. In addition to the lack of mentorship and collaboration, it occurred to me dancers typically did not have a voice in a dance company because they are expected to only follow exactly what a choreographer tells them to do and when. It also occurred to me a multi-genre/styled dance company didn't exist. After more brainstorming, I thought about the fact most people didn't really understand the field of dance and its similarity to other non-artistic fields in terms of process. The issues of low compensation for dancers, as well as limited opportunities for dance engagement with children and seniors also came to mind.” Roberto’s thoughts drifted toward dancers pushed out to early retirement -- usually before the age of 40 -- because of waning agility. “That's when I realized I had to create a company that addressed all these gaps. BalaSole was birthed in the idea of diversity, equity and inclusion.” Celebrating its 10th year on November 22, BalaSole – with more than 200 dance artists -- has had 20 concert seaTHE FILAM |
Born in Caloocan City and raised in Malabon, Roberto is the Artistic Director of BalaSole; a senior high school student at Niagara Falls N.Y.
‘I’m quite happy with how God made me.’ Photo by Eric Bandiero
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sons performing pieces that ranged from ballet, contemporary, hip hop, flamenco, musical theater and other genres. Two years since its founding, it became the resident dance company of the College of Mount Saint Vincent in the Bronx. It has presented performances at the Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theater, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, the Baryshnikov Arts Center in Hell’s Kitchen, and other venues, showing dance audiences how a company can balance “creativity” and “accessibility.” The New York Times described one performance as a “kaleidoscope of human shapes,” and in one review the Village Voice hailed Roberto as a “small powerhouse.” “I'm pretty realistic when it comes to establishing my goals,” he said. “I'm somewhat calculated in that sense. I only establish goals I know I can achieve. I always do my research, survey the lay of the land, and have a plan of execution before I embark on a journey.” He continues to work full time, serving as chief administrative officer and director of operations for the Fashion Institute of Technology’s communica-
||Risky surgery
BalaSole, a dance company created on the idea of diversity and inclusion. tions and external relations division. He has a part time position as director of dance and adjunct professor at the College of Mount Saint Vincent. On top of which he keeps up with expanding BalaSole’s audience. Last year, he did a mission project in the Philippines providing free masterclasses and perfor-
mances for dance enthusiasts, educators and students from the University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University, and De La Salle University. “BalaSole is my philanthropic and legacy project, and I have been personally funding at least 70 percent of its operations in the past 10 years,” he said.
As this newspaper goes into production, Roberto will undergo surgery to remove a tumor in his upper back. The diagnosis is spinal cord tumor, a rare ailment. “It's a risky procedure with a small risk of me ending up being paraplegic or paralyzed from the chest down. At any rate, I hope that I will be well into a good road to recovery by the time people read this interview,” he said sounding in good spirits. His apartment in Manhattan’s quiet Hamilton Heights section is the perfect place for a much-needed break as he goes into recovery. “It feels like the suburbs with no skyscrapers, and plenty of hilly streets.” But for a workaholic like Roberto, who usually clocks 70-80 hours per week, rest can make one very impatient. In a sardonic reply, he humored his interviewer: “I have some catching up to do in terms of building my retirement savings.”
2 films are generating PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL IN NEW major YORK
||‘Yellow Rose’
directed, written, edited and produced by and After doing the festival route last year — includstarring an openly trans woman of color, Isabel ing the huge XXII Guanajuato International Film Sandoval. The film won Best Picture in 2019 at the Festival (GIFF) in Mexico where it was part of the 25th Festival Cheries Cheris in Paris, France, Best Spotlight on the 100 Years of Philippine Cinema Performance for Sandoval at the 30th Young Critics –“Yellow Rose,” the immigration drama with an Circle Film Desk in Manila, Philippines, and just a week ago, Best Film at the 24th Queer Lisboa in unforgettable soundtrack, came to the big screens Lisbon, Portugal. on October 9. The film won in 2019 the Special Jury THURSDAY BOOK LAUNCH: MONDAY SATURDAY InCONSULATE ‘Lingua Franca,’ the protagonist Olivia (SanAward-Best Narrative Feature at the Asian AmerA Memory in Time & Nuestro Perdido Eden 12 December 2020 at 10 AM Filipino to 3 PM trans woman ican International Film FestivalBy in New York City doval) is an undocumented Ambassador Virgilio Reyes Appointment only and the Grand Jury Prize-Best Narrative Feature who works as a caregiver for an aging Russian expat 23 November 2020 at 7 PM EST wwv.newyorkpcg.org Via Zoom DECEMBER NOVEMBER and Best Breakout Performance for Eva Noblezada Olga (Lynn Cohen) in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn. at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival. Olivia has been anxiously saving money to marry The narrative feature debut of Diane Paragas someone in exchange for a green card. Fearful and TUSDAY EDUCATION FOR FIL-AM FAMILIES stars Eva Noblezada (Hadestown, Miss Saigon) stressedSERIES from previous green card setbacks, things SIMBANG GABI SA KONSULADO DURING COVID-19: in her feature film debut, Tony Award03winner Lea change when she unexpectedly becomes romanto 11 December 2020 HYBRID VS REMOTE LEARNING PM Saigon), (Weekdays) & 3 PM (Weekend) Salonga (Once on this Island, Miss Princess tically involved2020 withatAlex (Eamon 15 December 10 6:30 PM Farren), Olga’s Eva Noblezada in the immigration drama ‘Yellow Rose;’ Facebook Punzalan (Mula sa Puso), Dale Watson (FridayLive /PHLinNY troubled sonVia whoZoom struggles with dependency issues DECEMBER DECEMBER Isabel Sandoval stars in ‘Lingua Franca’ which she Night Lights), Gustavo Gomez (The Walking Dead), and a distrustful family. The film weaves through wrote, directed, and produced. Libby Villari (Boyhood) and Liam Booth (Ghosts issues of identity, civil rights, immigration and Never Sleep). love. Ava DuVernay’s ARRAY acquired the title for RHURSDAY THURSDAY MEMORIAL MASS TO HONOR FIL-AM FRONTLINERS VIRTUAL RIZAL DAY & COMMUNITY MEMBERS PASSED on a HAVE story by Paragas and Andy Bienen. Also proThe film is a timely story about a Filipina teen from WHO release in select theaters Netflix. 17 December 2020 at 6:30and PMon EST DUE TO COVID-19 a small Texas town who fights to pursue her dreams ducing are Cecilia R. Mejia, Rey Cuerdo and Orian In Rotten Tomatoes’ Via Zoom Best Films in 2020 list, ‘Lin03 December Simbang GabiProducers are Olivia De Jesus as a country music performer while 2020 facingImmediately the threat following Williams. Executive gua Franca’ registered 83 percent on Tomato meter, DECEMBER DECEMBER Facebook Live /PHLinNY of deportation. An ABS-CBN Cinematografo 2017 and Karen Elizaga. with the following Critics Consensus: “Lingua seed grant selection, it became the first Filipino Franca brings warmth and humanity to its social ||‘Lingua Franca’ and Filipino American film to be acquired by Sony issue-driven plot with sensitive performances and For more information, visit our website at www.newyorkpcg.org Pictures for theatrical release in the U.S. One of recent arrivals is “Lingua Franca” which writer-director Isabel Sandoval’s gently empathetic visit follow social sites andVenice click on each event flyer. Paragas produced, or directed and & wrote ‘Yellow ourmade historymedia last year at the prestigious touch.” Three-time Tony and Grammy winner Rose’ with Annie Howell and Celena Cipriaso based International Film Festival as the first film Jhett Tolentino is a producer for the film.
invites the Fil-Am Community to join the
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How Gloria Carido Nomura bridges diversity By Peter Jamero
The fourth of five children of Leon and Camila Carido, Gloria was born on February 23, 1941 in Stockton CA. Like many Filipino babies of the times, she was delivered at home by a midwife.
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er father, who immigrated from Bohol, Philippines during the 1920s, worked in the rich agricultural fields around Stockton. Her mother, who came from the Philippine island of Leyte, was employed in a local tomato cannery. For most of Gloria’s early years the Carido family resided in South Stockton, where the large Filipino population was relegated to what then was a segregated Stockton. Her friends, schoolmates, and social life were with other Filipinos. As a result, she did not encounter discrimination. Her first brush with racial prejudice was when the family moved to a Filipino farm labor camp in nearby Walnut Grove for a short time during tomato harvest. At school, she found that students there practiced an ethnic-based hierarchy where Mexican and “Okie” migrant farmworkers were at the bottom, Filipinos were a step up, and local whites were at the top. She got along with all groups, finding she had much in common with all of them. At the same time she learned to appreciate their differences. In retrospect, Gloria believes these experiences laid the foundation for her being able to bridge differences among all people in later years. Gloria is a product of Stockton schools and went on to graduate from Edison High School, Delta College, Sacramento State, and College (now University) of Pacific. She described her formative years as being quiet and unassuming – traits that contrast with her community and civic activities during her later years. This should not be surprising. Throughout Gloria’s youth, her parents were heavily involved with the Dagohoy Lodge of the Legionarios del Trabajo – a Filipino fraternal mutual aid organization — and with their local parish, St. George’s Catholic Church. The Dagohoy Lodge hall was the scene of many fun events for Gloria, especially during the Christmas season when every child in attendance at the annual holiday party received gifts. Her parents’ strong
She became the first Filipina to be elected to the Stockton City Council and served two terms from 1997 to 2004 as Vice Mayor. Facebook photo Catholic faith was passed on to their children. Gloria remembers when she wanted to go to the movies on Sundays, her father telling her, “If you don’t have time to go to church, you don’t have time to go to the movies.” Following her graduation from college Gloria joined the Edison High school faculty. She also found her South Stockton community being threatened by redevelopment. She joined the St. George’s Church Parents Council and then the Neighborhood Association’s “Save Stockton” program, quickly rising as chairperson of both organizations. As chairperson of the Neighborhood Association, she worked closely with the Police Department’s Prevention Partnership Program where she drew the attention of Stockton Mayor Joan Darrah. One day, the mayor encouraged her THE FILAM |
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to run for the Stockton City Council, representing her district. Gloria won the election – the first Filipino/a to do so — became Vice Mayor, and served two terms from 1997 to 2004 until termed out. Gloria enjoyed her years on the City Council, especially her interactions with Stockton’s racially diverse residents. She learned about the issues in her broad constituency. She learned to deal with the political reality that for every position she took, there was always a segment that opposed her. Her least favorite activity — asking residents for money during election campaigns. In addition to her tenure on the City Council, Gloria continued to teach at Edison High where she taught English and history for 18 years before retiring. She takes great pride in teaching and would like to think she had something to do with her students’ achievements after high school. While she was on the City Council, Gloria underwent two heart attacks and had a successful quadruple by-pass — a 20-year survivor. Now retired, her old South Stockton constituencies still refer to her as Vice Mayor. Today, her life may be relatively quieter; but she remains involved – working on behalf of the community and supporting the work of the Filipino American National Historical Museum in Stockton. Peter Jamero was born in 1930 in Oakdale, California, the eldest son of Filipino immigrants. He is active with numerous community organizations including several terms as founding national vicepresident of the Filipino American National Historical Society. His memoir, “Growing Up Brown: Memoirs of a Filipino American,” The author was published by the University of Washington Press in 2006. His latest book is “Vanishing Filipino Americans: The Bridge Generation,” published by the University Press of America in 2011. This piece was originally published in https://peterjamero.net/ and is being reissued in The FilAm with permission, in honor of Filipino American History Month in October.
Remembering Pat Salaver and the ethnic studies program he helped create Labor organizers Larry Itliong and Philip Vera Cruz are honored in murals and history books as important leaders in the Filipino American community. There is one who is rarely mentioned. His name: Patrick Salaver.
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alaver founded the first FilAm student organization, the Pilipino American Collegiate Endeavor, in 1967 to help students not only improve their knowledge and understanding of Philippine culture, but also to create “socially aware” Filipino youth, according to the website Patsalaver.com. PACE was a member of the Third World Liberation Front (TWLF), a student movement that sought to “improve the lives” of Third World students at San Francisco State University (SFSU). Together with the Black Students Union, Filipinos were a significant part of the TWLF strike from November 6, 1968 to March 22, 1969, said to be the longest student strike in history. This mass action led to the formation of the first College of Ethnic Studies at SFSU. The establishment of the CES enabled colleges and universities throughout the U.S. to develop educational classes for people of color. Today there are over 700 CES programs. In 2019, the State of California approved the establishment of ethnic studies at the high school level. He believed Filipinos were a key part in the initial development of ethnic studies in higher education. He and other Filipino student activists wanted “to educate Filipinos to the contradictions and hypocrisies of American society, to gain control of the political, social, and economic bodies now controlling our lives and to present ourselves as a community.”
||Family history
The Salaver family history began in the 1920s at San Francisco’s International Hotel. In the spring of 1969, according to the website,
PACE supported the campaign at the I-Hotel to block the eviction of the tenants. “This is the same hotel that housed his (Salaver’s) adopted father, Canuto, upon his arrival in the U.S. in 1927 until 1940,” says the website. The anti-eviction campaign was also supported by student activists from the TWLF chapters in SFSU and the University of California (UC) Berkeley. In the 1960s, Salaver and his mother Estrella created social and cultural programs for FilAms and newly arrived Filipinos. He is credited for his leadership of PACE in developing tutoring programs in Bernal Heights and Central City, which is now known as South of Market (SOMA). They tutored Filipinos and neighborhood children seeking to attend college especially at SFSU. He received much of his inspiration and motivation from the work of his mother, who was a music director in churches in San Francisco and led Philippine culture presentations in the Bay Area. Salaver is considered the first Filipino to teach Philippine history at SFSU. He taught Social Science 77 – The Filipino-American Experience at the Experimental College in 1969. This is in addition to his leadership at PACE and TWLF. He died peacefully on August 28, 2019, surrounded by his loving family. His wife Marcy was at his side, holding his hands. He left behind a loving wife; his son, Marc Patrick; daughter, Sherelle; her husband, Justin Johnson; a grandson, Asher; four sisters; two brothers; and numerous nieces and nephews. Members of the Salaver family have been activists, business owners, community leaders, artists, and performers.
Salaver is considered the first Filipino to teach Philippine History at San Francisco State University. Photos: Patsalaver.com
The Salaver family in a 2008 photo: Pat, Marcy, Sherelle, and Marc
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Communities of color ‘saved American democracy’
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n November 7, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were declared the projected winners of the 2020 elections. Biden was pushed across the finish line by large majorities of voters of color, according to analysts. The Democratic presidential ticket reached that goal mainly because communities of color rejected the Trump Administration by large margins, explained experts who discussed the numbers, the history, and the motivations of electoral choices by communities of color in a briefing with ethnic media. Election eve surveys and exit polling confirmed that Asian Americans, Latino, and Black voters turned out in record numbers to oust the incumbent, and to propel the first woman of color into the White House. According to the American Election Eve poll by Latino Decisions, 56% of whites voted for Trump. A CNN exit poll found a similar number, 57% of whites voting for the President. But voters of color were a different story. According to the LD poll, 70% of Latinos, 89% of Blacks, 68% of Asians and 60% of American Indians voted for Biden. “I want to thank people of color and communities of color for saving our democracy,” said Frank Sharry, executive director of America’s Voice at the Nov. 6 briefing organized by Ethnic Media Services. “Speaking as a white man, I come from a community that voted in the majority for Donald Trump. And if it were not for the African American, Latinx, and Asian American Pacific Islander Community, we would not be celebrating the victory that we’re celebrating today,” said Sharry. It was a very close election, a cliffhanger that lasted from Tuesday November 3rd until Saturday morning, November 7th, when the official numbers made it clear that Biden-Harris had clinched the 270 electoral college votes needed. That polarization and the states in which the Biden advantage played out made it clear that lopsided democratic votes by people of color had an outsize role in the results. Stephen Nuño-Perez, a senior analyst at Latino Decisions, whose firm conducted an election eve poll of ethnic voters in
From left, top: Theodore R. Johnson of the Brennan Center for Justice, John C. Yang of the Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC, and Frank Sharry of America’s Voice. Bottom: Mark Trahant of Indian Country Today, and Dr. Stephen Nuño-Perez of Latino Decisions. key battleground states, said that “it’s extremely difficult to win an election when you have mobilized minorities and Latinos in Phoenix, Las Vegas and Albuquerque.” Latino voters were critical in flipping Arizona blue, he said, pointing to counties such as Maricopa, Pima, and Yuma, which all have significant Latino populations. Latino voters also made their presence known in Florida, handing Biden victories in Miami-Dade, Tampa Bay, Orlando, and Broward County. In Miami, Cuban Americans threw their support behind Trump. Theodore Johnson, a senior fellow at the Brennan Center for Justice, said that a summer of protests for racial justice along with the disproportionate numbers from COVID-19 and record levels of unemployment in black communities, galvanized Black voter turnout in record numbers to remove Donald Trump from office. “That explains why we’re seeing Atlanta change Georgia, Philadelphia change Pennsylvania, Milwaukee change Wisconsin, and Detroit change Michigan,” he said. “That’s the enthusiasm and power of the Black vote.” THE FILAM |
Asian Americans turned out in significant numbers for the 2020 elections. Some 300,000 were first-time voters. Asian Americans turned out in significant numbers for the 2020 election, said John Yang, president and executive director of Asian 14
Americans Advancing Justice. Some 300,000 were first-time voters. Exit polls plus pre-election polls showed there was much more enthusiasm to vote, Yang noted. Between 65%-70% of AAPI voters supported Biden, with 30 percent voting for Trump, consistent with voting patterns in 2012 and 2016. While one-third of Asian Americans live in the 10 battleground states, and it would be easy to attribute the margin of victory in Nevada, Arizona, Georgia and Pennsylvania to the AAPI vote. But Yang said it was the common values that brought Black, Latino, Native and Asian Americans together that provided the margin of victory for Biden in those states. Yang recalled June 16, 2015, when Trump rode down an escalator at Trump Towers to announce his bid for the White House. “That was a defining moment for me and changed my career path. When he talked about illegal aliens being rapists and gangsters and criminals, he was talking about me because I was at one point an undocumented immigrant.” Mark Trahant, editor of Indian Country Today, discussed the impact of the Native American vote, indicating that a large number of Native Americans ran for elected office and that next year’s Congress will have a caucus with three Republicans and three Democrats. “This will give a bipartisan spin on Native issues,” he said. Native Americans were also elected to state Legislatures including Arizona and Kansas. Sharry, of America´s Voice, said that the massive vote by minorities was also a rejection of Trump´s flagstone issue: xenophobia and racism. “An American public was forced by Donald Trump and his extremism to choose, and they chose to come down on the side of refugees and immigrants. This is a statement of what a multiracial majority in America said through this election. They said ‘we want to be a welcoming country. We don’t like Trump’s separation of families.’” – Ethnic Media Services
Filipina author pens a memoir of Tom Godwin, the grandson of a slave
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nvisible History: Growing Up Colored in Cape Charles, Virginia” is a memoir about Tom Godwin, the grandson of a slave, who grew up in Cape Charles, Virginia during the Jim Crow racist era. Written by Metty Vargas Pellicer, a retired doctor, the memoir details the life of Godwin who became the first elected Black member of the Town Council and the first Black member elected to the Northampton County Board of Supervisors. It addresses Black and White relations and the experience of how one lived during a time of racial segregation. “By reading this account of a Black man’s life one may develop a better understanding of why we are still experiencing racial injustice and inequality, after legal barriers had been abolished by the passage of the Civil Rights Act in 1964,” writes the author. The book also presents a narrative of the origin of the town as a railroad terminus connecting to ferry barges across the Chesapeake Bay to Norfolk, through its golden age in the Jim Crow South and its decline with the ascendancy of automobiles and the building of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. The town rises as a tourist destination and its fortunes are chronicled without acknowledgment of the role of the Black community, which was a robust and thriving parallel community, that evolved in response to the segregation of the Jim Crow South. Now, the town is again a tourist destination replacing the Black section with White weekend second homeowners, with the Black presence considerably diminished. Without a recording of its history, its entire memory will be gone, as if it was never there at all. The book is for all who are interested in learning how the community still carries the legacy of slavery in their hearts and how it informs their behavior at present, how by acknowledging their racist beliefs, they can choose to correct them, with actions that help realize the dream of true equality, writes Pellicer. The author, Metty Vargas Pellicer, is a doctor who was born in the Philippines
She lives in Cape Charles and enjoying her retirement with new friends, travel, writing, and exploring the rich history of Virginia’s Eastern Shore.
||Praise for “Invisible History”
Doctor, author and traveling grandma Metty Vargas Pellicer
An account of a Virginia man’s life in the Jim Crow South. in 1942, and immigrated to the U.S. In 1967. She was married to John Pellicer for 35 years until his death in 2004 at age 58. She loves to travel and has compiled her adventures in a book, “Hello, From Somewhere: Stories of the THE FILAM |
Roads I Traveled,” published in January 2015. Her second book, “From Miman, With Love: A Grandmother’s Memoir,” was published in October 2015. This collaboration with Tom Godwin in writing his memoir is her third book. 15
Miles Barnes, noted historian and librarian of the Eastern Shore Public Library for 41 years: “It is an important contribution to the understanding of the Black experience in Cape Charles and on the Eastern Shore. The narrative is always powerful and is especially moving where Mr. Godwin speaks of his family and his faith.” Marion Naar, past president of the Cape Charles Historical Society, Museum and Welcome Center: “A most engaging memoir, at once intimate and universal. The book presents in his own words the vivid, moving life story of a sensitive, intelligent, and gregarious man through a period of great change for Black Americans. Tom’s long life and detailed knowledge of his own family history enables the account to extend from slavery times into segregation, the civil rights era, and the present day. Son of an economically successful family, Tom’s description of life in a small segregated southern town is authentic and not without humor. Through his words one comes as close as would be possible to experience and deal with the daily insults, inequities and unfairness of life for a Black person in a climate of unquestioned white supremacy, but within a town which also contained a vibrant and confident Black community. The account is enriched by the author’s framing Tom’s core personal material in local and national historical context and adding observations from her own Filipino life experience. The book is a captivating read.” Mary Barrow, award-winning author of “Small Moments, A Child’s Memories of the Civil Rights Movement:” “The promise of our future is built on the foundation of our past. This carefully crafted memoir by Tom Godwin is a portrait of what it means to build a foundation. It is an honest portrait of Cape Charles, a small town in Virginia known as the ‘Jewel of the Eastern Shore.’”
Don't let a Grinch steal your package
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elevisions. Golf clubs. Baby clothes. A bottle of gin. Sticky-fingered porch pirates have recently pilfered all of these, and much more. The crooks — also called “box bandits” — scoop up packages delivered to front doors before the recipients retrieve them. Some swoop in on foot or bikes; others skulk in by car. Thieves even have been known to “tailgate” behind delivery trucks. Such piracy shows up on police blotters across the country from Brooklyn to the Bay Area. And television news shows, social-media outlets and online neighborhood groups increasingly publish footage to catch these modern-day buccaneers. Here are tips from law enforcement, the U.S. Postal Service and delivery firms: 1. Retrieve a package as soon as it arrives. Or avoid delivery by using ship-to-store or curbside pickup. 2. Use a tracking feature to check online when a package is scheduled to arrive. UPS, for examples, has UPS My Choice to help track and reroute package deliveries. 3. Request that your package is sent with the “signature required” feature so it can't be delivered without one. 4. If you're not going to be home, set up a specific delivery time when you will be. Or have the package sent to a trusted person who will be home. 5. Choose an alternative pickup location. • FedEx has more than 14,000 sites in the U.S. including FedEx Offices, FedEx Ship Centers and retailers including Walgreens, Albertsons, Kroger and Dollar General. • UPS Access Point locations for pickups include the UPS Store, Michaels, CVS, Advance Auto Parts and self-service lockers. • Amazon uses Amazon Lockers. • For a fee, USPS offers a "Package Intercept" feature, although not all parcels are eligible. 6. If you are leaving town, ask for your shipments to be held. USPS’ free, "hold mail" requests must be for at least three days and for a maximum of 30 days.
Retrieve your package as soon as it arrives Fed Ex accepts vacation holds for up to 14 days; it also will store your delivery for free for up to five days at many locations. 7. Consider a security camera. Some signal your phone, tablet or personal computer if your doorbell is rung. 8. Instruct delivery firms where to leave your package so it isn't visible from the street. It could be the side of your house. Or a hiding place. 9. Get an app. The FedEx mobile app lets package recipients electronically sign for a package, request a vacation hold or choose a hold at one of its locations. Some security cameras let you use an app to watch over your home from your smartphone. UPS lets you track your shipment on its app. 10. Though not common, leading up to the holidays some law enforcement agencies let local residents have packages weighing less than 50 pounds shipped to their stations THE FILAM |
A camera catches this act of porch theft. for pickup later. The Round Rock (Texas) Police Department is hosting "Operation Front Porch” for the third year through Dec. 18. And in Tampa, 16
Florida, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office has debuted "Operation Pinch-A-Grinch,” which runs through Dec. 21. -- AARP
Organizations fundraise for Typhoon Ulysses Malaya Movement called on members, supporters and allies to urgently raise support and relief for those who are affected by the series of typhoons that hit the Philippines. “We urge our chapters, supporters and allies to organize fundraisers, solicit donations and hold activities in support of the peoples’ relief efforts.” For donations, contact malayamovement@gmail.com or visit malayamovement.com.
typhoons in the Philippines, Rolly and Ulysses. “Make it part of your Thanksgiving charities.” Visit their website at handangtumulong.org. St. Paul Alumnae USA has launched a Typhoon Ulysses Appeal soliciting support from Paulinians based in the United States to provide assistance to St. Paul University Philippines and St. Paul Hospital Tuguegarao. According to Sister Adelina Javellana, Administrator of St. Paul Hospital Tuguegarao and Provincial Assistant for Health Care, St. Paul University Philippines was completely flooded and the Sisters were not able to leave the campus immediately after Typhoon Ulysses passed through the region.
Handang Tumulong Foundation, Inc. is accepting donations for those affected by the two consecutive
Ways to donate: PAYPAL: Send your donation to www.PayPal.com to: spmausa@ gmail.com. (Memo: Tuguegarao). ZELLE: Send your donation via Zelle through your bank to: spmausa@gmail.com. (Memo: Tuguegarao). CHECK: Please make your check out to St. Paul Alumnae USA (Memo: Tuguegarao). Mail to St. Paul Manila USA, 4 Park Avenue, Suite 16G, New York, NY 10016. Provide your mailing address, phone number, and email address as well as St. Paul Campus you attended and graduation year. For more information, contact St. Paul Alumnae USA at spmausa@gmail.com. THE FILAM |
JCI Philippine-New York, JCI Quezon City Capitol, and Handang Tumulong are working on a relief operation called Oplan Kaagapay for Cagayan province that has been
Daya, Excelsa de Jesus, and Rock Bottom Band. The livestream was viewed on the Facebook page of Bless the City. Donations can be made through PayPal, Venmo, or Zelle, to blessthecityny@gmail.com. For further information, please contact Mariam Lumabao at 646-651-7967 or Cheryl Ponciano at 646–659-8490. TOFA hosted a virtual charity on November 23 to benefit the victims of Typhoon Ulysses. The typhoon displaced 3 million people in the Philippines, according to the Department of Social Welfare and under a state of calamity due to flooding from the cumulative effects of recent Typhoon Ulysses and the release of water from Magat Dam. The local JCI chapters in Cagayan province such as JCI Tuguegarao, JCI Tuguegarao Ybanag, JCI Tuguegarao Makasta, JCI Claveria, and JCI Tuao -- led by Regional Vice President John Valeriano L. Escobar -- will distribute the relief goods needed in their communities. For more information contact ann. constantinobeck@philnyjaycees.org. JCI Philippine-NY’s “Tugtugan Tulungan,” an online concert to raise funds for Typhoon Ulysses victims was held November 22nd and 29th. The event was led by Pastor Elmer Arroza with support from JCI Philippine-NY. 100% of the proceeds will be going to the typhoon victims. Featured artists included viral sensation Migs Ayesa, Krizia 17
Development. All proceeds will go to the relief efforts of CSTV’s Grateful Tuesdays with chemist Pinky Tobiano and Yeng Constantino. The virtual charity was held over PHLV Radio.
COVER STORY
Why (some) Filipinos love Donald Trump: A psychologist’s survey
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n January 20, 2021, a new president, Joseph R Biden, will be inaugurated as the 46th president of the United States. It was, arguably, a close victory; his opponent, the incumbent president, Donald Trump, won nearly half (47.5%) of the popular vote. At latest count, 72 million Americans had voted for Trump. That figure is only the second largest garnered by a candidate — Biden’s 78 million was the first largest — in the history of U.S. presidential races. The enormous share of the total vote that went to Trump surprised many in the commentary class, disappointed Biden supporters, and was regarded as validation of their expected win by Trump supporters. Major polling had indicated a much larger margin, as many as double-digit figures, of votes going to Biden than Trump. As well, the continuing increase of COVID rates, in contrast to declines in other countries, was regarded as a measure of government failure to mount an effective federal response, primarily attributed to Trump. Nationwide demonstrations and counter demonstrations protesting the status quo, such as those related to the Black Lives Matter movement and women’s rights, had occurred close to election day furthering expectations of a Trump loss. Why, then, the evident robust level of Trump’s popularity as represented by his 72 million voters? Another equally intriguing question is: How is Trump regarded in the FilAm community? Taking advantage of current interest on this subject, I undertook a small, certainly unscientific, survey of FilAm friends in the New York area prior to and on the day of the election, targeting those who indicated a preference for Trump. Eliciting answers from my sample of convenience was not
By Lirio Sobrevinas Covey, Ph.D.
Studies have shown different brain activity responses between conservatives and liberals, suggesting emotional and energetic responses not based on reason. Photo: WhiteHouse.gov. difficult, as respondents answered my questions without hesitation, given assurances that their responses would be confidential. Notably, the answers boiled down to issues of policy, actions, and character. On policy – Trump was lauded for his advocacy of law and order, exemplified by his willingness to use police and military to quell the recent riots related to the Black Lives Matter movement; his restriction of immigration by limiting entry at the U.S. border; and most ardently, his anti-abortion position. On action – he was lauded for his productive stewardship of the economy which had resulted in a healthy stock market, lower unemployment rate, and lower taxes. On character — a favored positive characteristic stood out: He is seen THE FILAM |
Dr. Lirio Sobrevinas Covey, Ph.D.is a retired Professor of Clinical Psychology at Columbia University Medical Center. 18
as strong, able to stand up to other global strong men, evidenced by his dominance in relations with the leaders of North Korea and China, with reference to its positive impact on the Philippines, their home country. Negative character descriptions were many — a unanimous disfavor of his crude manner of speaking, his disrespect of opponents and critics marking him as unpresidential and unstatesmanlike, his unabashed public denigration of persons with disability, and his inability to show empathy for the needy and poor. Interestingly, such negative assessments of character were regarded as less consequential when pitted against his positive attributes – his presumed accomplishments for the economy, and, more importantly, his pro-life position. I believe it can be said that the views expressed by my sample of FilAm Trump supporters are quite consistent with the views of the conservative class in the general U.S. electorate. A second, deeper question is – what mechanisms underlie the felt affiliations of Trump supporters. Much has been written to explain Trump’s enduring appeal to sectors in the American public. Drawing from this literature, here are some dynamics that I consider plausible. 1. Misinformation –Trump tends to state only good news about himself and his accomplishments, filling an incomplete knowledge base, whether fact-based or not. When repeated again and again, these statements can become regarded as truths that will be unstintingly held even when faced with contrary facts. 2. Fear arousal – Trump’s statements can insinuate potential danger from groups that are not in the cultural mainstream, for example, minorities and immigrants. Such a practice is more frequently seen
among conservatives than liberals. Studies have shown different brain activity responses between conservatives and liberals. Conservatives are found to generate more anxiety-related brain activity when presented with disturbing images. Differences in brain structure have also been noted, for example, a larger amygdala, a structure that causes a stronger response to fear and anxiety. These brain responses can generate emotional and energetic responses that are not readily controlled by reason. 3. Allegiance to a protector. When fear and anxiety are aroused, then assuaged, by a protector, devotion and fealty to the protector can result. Negative perceptions of the protector then become easy to ignore and dismiss. 4. High attentional engagement. Entertainers excel in this ability. Trump’s background as a television star through his highly popular program that lasted for many years – “The Apprentice” — serves him well. Bringing your audience to laughter is a powerful skill; this can generate pleasurable brain sensations and emotions that will make the watcher return, potentially resulting in a visceral connection with the performer. Such a visceral connection can be invulnerable and resistant to logic and reason. Whether these explanations apply to FilAm Trump supporters remains to be explored.
Among all Asian American voters polled: • Asian Americans favored Joe Biden over Donald Trump by a margin of 68% to 29%. • There was no gender gap between Asian American men and women, with 67% of women and 66% of men voting for Biden and both groups supporting Trump at 31%. • T he only ethnic group to favor Trump were Vietnamese American voters, by a margin of 57% to 41%. The breakdown of voters by ethnicity was as follows: Ethnicity Vote for Biden Vote for Trump Arab 84% 15% Asian Indian 72% 26% Bangladeshi 91% 8% Cambodian 56% 42% Chinese 65% 31% Filipino 60% 38% Indo-Caribbean 86% 14% Korean 57% 42% Multi-Asian 79% 18% Other Asian 66% 30% Pakistani 89% 7% Vietnamese 41% 57% Data from an exit poll conducted by the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund of 5,424 Asian American voters in 13 states including Washington, D.C.
New comedy series about a gay Pinoy in Nashville
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comedy series, “Trying Hard,” created by and starring newcomer Maki Bonifacio, debuted on October 11 – which is National Coming Out Day in the U.S. — on YouTube. “Trying Hard” follows the intimate story of Maki, a gay professional from the Philippines, as he navigates the Nashville, TN dating scene while trying to overcome insecurities, family pressure, and challenges brought about by race and his status as a foreign worker. There are occasional references to immigration procedures, with Maki voicing how tough it is to acquire a work visa. The Philippine-born Bonifacio, 29, worked as a news producer for broadcast company GMA Network from 2011 to 2014. Their team coverage of Super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) won a George Foster Peabody Award in 2013. He moved to the U.S. the following year to study M.S. Television Management at Drexel University in Philadelphia. After graduation, he relocated to Nashville to work at CMT, a CBS Viacom cable channel. To find his way around the Music City, he took improv classes
at Third Coast Comedy Club where he ended up performing regularly. “I have a background in improv comedy,” Bonifacio told the FilAm. “I want to pursue acting, writing and producing. I want to tell more Filipino stories on international platforms.” His eight-episode series tackles a variety of issues surrounding queer foreigners in the U.S., such as cultural and language barriers, identity crisis, stereotypes, body image, and assimilation. “’Trying Hard’ is based on my experiences but it’s not (entirely) my life story,” he said. In the first episode, Maki meets Barry at a bus stop on Valentine’s Day and they agree to swap contact info. Some interesting episodes include unconventional ways to meet potential dates; and the pressure to find love where Maki’s character realizes that “dating is hard AF.” Bonifacio said he is currently single and focusing all his energy on the web series. He said dating in the U.S. and dating in the Philippines are definitely different. “If the person I’m going out with is not Filipino or does not have any Filipino background, THE FILAM |
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Maki Bonifacio stars in ‘Trying Hard,’ a web series he created on YouTube. I have to adjust because American and Filipino cultures are different.” He would like to see better representation of the LGBT community so “we can tell more complex and diverse stories.” Episodes are released on YouTube every Wednesday at 8 a.m. Eastern Standard Time.
Issue 34, December 2020
Metty Vargas Pellicer Pens the memoir of a slave’s grandson Typhoon Ulysses Organizations pass the hat to help
Donald Trump
Why (some) Filipinos love him