FILAM May 2020

Issue 27, May 2020

Ping Panlilio

Lives lost

Looking for a home for his thousand Sto. NiĂąos

To COVID-19: A grateful tribute

Arlene Cornejo-Isidro Calm in the face of crisis

Letter from the Editor

Community newspapers and the struggle to survive

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or the community media which gives voice to local and ethnic communities across the country, the virus that has erupted in their midst has decimated their lifeblood and actually threatens to make them extinct.

Community newspapers have seen their advertising revenue shrivel as small businesses hunker down for their survival. Even before COVID19, the newspaper industry is already fighting competition from the Internet and social media resulting in the closure of traditional newsrooms and loss of jobs for journalists. With the public health threat posed by the coronavirus, traditional distribution outlets for community newspapers -such as restaurants, ethnic groceries, churches, and community centers -- have mostly closed leaving many print copies untouched and unread.

Community newspapers serve a vital role at this, and at any other time. For Filipino Americans in the New York Tri-State area, they’re a source of information about the pandemic, how to protect themselves, and where to find the resources for loved ones who are ill. They want to know, all the way down to the littlest

Two years of The FilAm of details, when the stimulus checks are arriving, what airlines will bring them home to the Philippines, where they can buy Filipino food in Brooklyn, Queens or the Bronx, how they can renew their passports, whether immigration lawyers are still open for business, and other questions not generally addressed by the mainstream newspapers. Not being able to grab a copy of their favorite newspaper gives them a sense of unease and isolation, not being able to feel "how

my community is doing at this time."

But shrinking advertising and vanishing distribution networks are making it difficult for some of us in the community media to keep going.

The likelihood of the Post Office closing over budget issues is the final nail on the coffin as it cuts off a source of information to our faraway subscribers.

The times don’t bode well for the immediate future of our industry.

Supporting the small businesses

Contributing Writers Tricia J. Capistrano Ludy AstraquilloOngkeko Joel David Mariel Padilla Wendell Gaa Maricar CP Lindy Rosales Hampton Danielle Vania Angelito Cabigao Bonus

Founding Editor Cristina DC Pastor Address P.O. Box 8071 New York, NY 10116

Contact Thefilamny@gmail.com

The FilAm is a publication of A&V Editorial THE FILAM |

that have been the main pillars behind many in the community media is not exactly high on the list of priorities for most. Newspapers that are mostly dependent on advertising from restaurants, car dealerships, hair salons and spas, small banks, and the Classifieds are now on survival mode. By most estimates, from 30 percent to 50 percent of advertising have gone away on account of COVID-19. There is talk of some newspapers mulling over a GoFundMe crowdfunding campaign.

We, at The FilAm, will try to keep going in the fervent hope that the disease will gradually go away and all will be back to normal. No one knows how soon that will happen. We are committed to serving the Filipino community, but must confess that we need your support in this time more than any other. Subscription or advertising is greatly appreciated.

Business may be slow but surely there are causes we advocate that people should know about. Talk to us.

With that in mind, we are seeking support for all in the community media so that we all stay around and keep on reporting. Community journalism is an indispensable part of our collective immigrant experience.

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It’s over when the fat lady sings

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n Ramona Diaz’s 2003 eponymous film, there is a scene where the former first lady—still quite a looker—spends an inordinate amount of time drawing her cosmic views on a pad. But these are comic rather than cosmic, made up of New Age blather. Fond of circles, she fills page after page with diagrams of the human and divine order.

Her words are as revealing as, if not more so than, what her critics have and continue to say about the fantasy world she inhabits, and her role in the human rights abuses and financial thievery committed under martial law, when she and Ferdinand Marcos ruled the country as their personal fiefdom.

Flash forward to the present. Lauren Greenfield’s The Kingmaker has an older and heavier but still impeccably groomed Imelda being driven in her van through the streets of Manila. Doling out cash at a stop light to the impecunious, she remarks with a straight face that during martial law the city had no beggars, that contrary to all the bad press the regime got, it was essentially a paradise.

As telling as that fabrication is, what is even more telling is the money bag always at hand, held by a factotum. At a children’s hospital, Imelda hands out thousand-peso bills to the cancer-stricken kids and their parents—an unintentional but ironic representation of a measly giveback to the very same masses from whom she and her late strongman husband stole a conservatively estimated $10 billion over two decades.

She’s proud of having befriended dictators such as Muamar Gaddafi, Saddam Hussein, and Mao Tse-tung. At one point, in an opulent, albeit tackily furnished living room, she complains of government harassment, and the sequestration of their material goods by the Philippine Commission on Good Government (PCGG), from paintings to jewelry. In an emotional outburst she complains that though she has more than a hundred bank accounts she is unable to access any of them. One wonders at the sheer number and where all that cash is coming from. She’s certainly the richest poor girl I know of.

By Luis H. Francia

‘Perception is real, and the truth is not.’ – Imelda Marcos

The film attempts to portray what lies behind the façade of the Iron Butterfly?

Then there is Calauit Island. Part of the Palawan archipelago, it was declared by the Marcoses as a game reserve in 1976. Having taken a fancy to wildlife she saw while on a trip to Africa, Imelda had shipped to the island animals such as giraffes, zebras, and gazelles. In the process 250 families were evicted and relocated to another island with hardly any resources. One islander drily remarks that the Marcoses preferred the animals to live humans, Through such details, rather than any one momentous revelatory scene, does Greenfield portray what lies behind the façade of the Iron Butterfly. With her helmet of hair, punctilious attention to appearance—she frets over the size of her belly—, powdered, perfumed, clad in THE FILAM |

a red terno and attended to by a retinue of aides, the former first lady views all the world as a stage. Like a veteran thespian, with the perpetual mournful air of a victim, she spouts lines that have been uttered countless times—lines that are for the most part unmoored from reality but that she has come to believe, utterly.

Her hopes for a restoration of la vida loca she pins on her son, Bongbong Marcos, whose aspirations to the presidency constitute a significant part of the film.

Were he to succeed in his late father’s footsteps, Imelda would be the power behind the throne, hence the film’s title.

But the pampered son seems to lack his father’s political bones, whining on camera about how, wanting to fly back 3

to Manila from wherever he was, all he could afford was economy class. Alas, the contemplation of being with the hoi polloi was simply too much to bear. He cajoled a friend into providing him with a first-class ticket.

To achieve the presidency means an alliance with President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, a professed admirer of the late dictator and bogus war hero, who allowed the burial of his corpse at the Libingan ng Mga Bayani, or National Heroes Cemetery, an insult to a nation that suffered grievously under the conjugal dictatorship.

Greenfield includes footage of the marginalized killed in Duterte’s grim and brutal war on drugs. Earlier, Imelda anoints herself as the caring mother of the people, miming scooping up the masses to gather unto her bosom. It’s a grandiose and empty gesture, with nary a mention of those bereft of their loved ones due to this immoral and misguided war, a visceral link to the extrajudicial killings carried out when she and her husband were in power. It is a connection she can never make, a circle she will never draw.

Footage of protests then and now against martial law; interviews with Vice-President Leni Robredo, a critic of both the Marcoses and Duterte; and activists tortured by the Marcos regime, provide a counternarrative. One of them states, plaintively, that she doesn’t mind the return of the Marcoses from exile, but why give Imelda a platform to speak?

Her question will echo in the minds of many viewers, encapsulating a dilemma facing anyone who attempts a portrait of a justly maligned public figure: Does one then, in Imelda’s case, play into her agenda, or on the other hand provide enough of a nuanced and complex picture to undermine her credibility?

Much as I wanted at times for Greenfield to be tougher on her, the film is smart enough to give Imelda enough rope to hang herself, while at the same time allowing a chorus of voices to expose her dark neurotic side, for which a whole country suffered.

This article originally appeared in the Philippine Daily Inquirer and is being republished with permission from the author.

RN Gem Scorp:

‘As a nurse I felt helpless’

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em Scorp, a Registered Nurse at one of the hospitals in Queens, tested positive for the coronavirus in the early days of the outbreak in New York City. At the time, Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) were scarce leaving many hospital workers vulnerable to infection.

He has since recovered and is back at the hospital working long hours together with many Filipinos who comprise about 80 percent of the hospital’s health care staff.

He became an RN in 2002 working in the pediatric unit for four years in the Philippines. In 2006, he came to New York and worked 16-hour days for six years. He worked in various hospitals and nursing homes to support his families in the U.S. and in the Philippines.

Sponsored by a hospital in Houston, he moved to Texas in 2015 where he shuttled back and forth through six hospitals. “In Texas I had a full-time job, a part-time job, and a per diem travel nursing job all at one time.” In 2018, he came back to New York.

Presently, he works three different jobs, as a CAT SCAN and Interventional Radiology RN, a Long‘It was overwhelming.’

Term Caregiver, and a Homecare/Travelling Nurse in different areas of Queens and Manhattan.

In these excerpts from his interview with Emil Guillermo on Emil Amok Podcast in April 11, Gem talked about what it is like to be a frontliner, a Filipino, and a Christian and how they helped toward his healing.

“In the beginning of this pandemic, in the hospital where I worked, I could not understand how a patient in ICU was talking to me one night and the next day, he was dead. It was puzzling that the virus attacked not only the upper respiratory system, but a patient would be admitted into the hospital for heart pain or stomach trouble or difficulty in breathing. It seemed that the virus was mutating. It was overwhelming.

“We did not have enough PPE during the first few weeks of the pandemic. In fact, it was incredible that during that time there would be Code Blue (a patient is dying) every 30 minutes. We had not seen anything like this pandemic. Now it is probably six times Code Blue during my shift.

“I felt helpless because my duty as a nurse is to help our patient get well, give comfort to the family but this time, how could we comfort the family who could not even be with their loved ones during their last moments.

“We have a good team at the hospital where I work. Doctors and nurses work together. Whatever Gem wearing his PPE protective garment in the radiology room. we have inside of us: talent, skills, experience but THE FILAM |

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it seemed in the beginning that it was not enough.

“I caught the coronavirus during those first days. I had high fever for three days, and I had chills. I felt my bones were softening. I did not tell my wife. But I took antibiotics. I had studied medicine in the Philippines and I did research on what worked in Russia and Malaysia. Besides, we Filipinos are herbalists. I learned that the virus dies at 130 degrees Fahrenheit.

So I isolated myself in our extra room, used my son’s tent and turned on the hair dryer to 110 degree. I breathe in the hot air in the tent (almost like a sauna) and it opened up my sinus and the virus instead of going to my lungs went to my stomach which is acidic and the virus could not survive in the stomach. Also I chewed raw garlic because it acts as anti-virus. Onion is anti-bacteria. I smelled sliced onion for a few seconds and held my breath. I placed sliced onion in my room because it acts as an air cleaner. Ginger is anti-inflammation and boiling it for tea, I drank lots of it. I also drank plenty of warm water (not cold) with slices of lemon because it makes the water alkaline which helps the body. Food like bitter melon (ampalaya) is good because it loosens the phlegm where the virus hides. Any food that strengthens the immune system is good. I took the natural approach and became well after a few days. I went back to work.

“However, I am separated from my family. I cannot hug nor kiss nor be with them because I do not want to infect them.

I am very sad. The hospital knowing this has allowed us to stay in the hotel near the hospital.

“Our union, the NY State Nurses Association (NYSNA) is very strong and fought for us to have the right protection and supplies. So it is much better now.

“Filipino hospital workers are nearly 80 percent of the hospital personnel where I work. We support one another and among ourselves we lighten up the situation by telling Filipino jokes.

“I am glad I am a Christian. In the hospital, before we start, we pray. I go to the bathroom and kneel down and ask God because only God can help us. Faith is holding us Filipinos together.”

Jaygee Macapugay sings of love and ‘kilig’ in short film

By Cristina DC Pastor

Theatre actress Jaygee Macapugay (School of Rock, Here Lies Love) is thrilled to share The Language Lesson, her debut musical short film about a student who has a secret admiration for her English professor.

T

he Language Lesson is one of the songs from Paulo K Tiról’s musical production On This Side of the World presented by Prospect Theatre Company at the Greenwich House Theater in February. The song defines the Tagalog word ‘kilig’ as an unexpressed feeling of romantic thrill.

You know that feeling when someone you like is nearby, and a ticklish tingling trembling begins when she looks you in the eye?

And the butterflies in your stomach start to lift you off the ground.

Deep inside you can’t stop screaming; still, there not the slightest sound.

And the smile in your heart is a thousand times bigger than a smile could ever be.

That’s ‘kilíg,’ as we say in Filipino.

“Working on Paulo’s music has been one of the greatest privileges of my career,” said Jaygee, who is the film’s producer.

“I wasn’t sure if I should release the film because I didn’t want to be insensitive to the coronavirus crisis affecting the world. But this film, shot on location in New York City, celebrates diversity in the arts right now – a Filipino American story written by a Filipino American composer and featuring a FilAm choreographer, Asian American leads, and 14 gorgeously diverse actor/dancers. Even our producer, band, hair/make-up team, and craft service are comprised mainly of artists of color.”

Produced in collaboration with Bev’s Girl Films, The Language Lesson is directed by Garth Kravits (Gettin’ the Band Back Together, The Drowsy Chaperone) and features choreography by Karla Puno Garcia (Hamilton).

Continued Jaygee, “Editing the film prior to today’s release made me nostalgic for last month, where my friends and I were all in a room, creating in a space where we weren’t worried about social distancing, hand sanitizing, or even hugging. But no virus is going to stop artists from creating. I see that every time I look at my Facebook or Instagram timelines. Most importantly, our film is about the feeling you get when you fall in love, and I think there’s never a bad time for the world to hear a message about love.”

The Language Lesson stars Jaygee Macapugay as Jenny, Deven Kolluri as Professor Nadal.

Carol Angeli, Taylor DeNapoli, Aaron Jay Green, Rashaan James II, Jessie Lawyer, Natalie Leonard, Kaleo Nadal, Luana Psaros, Anastasia Shulgina, Katie Shults, Michael Sylvester, Miles Wilkie, Virginia Wing, Minami Yusui are featured as students/dancers.

The Language Lesson is executive-produced by Lia Chang of Bev’s Girl Films. The creative team includes Garth Kravits (Director, Director of Photography, Editor), Paulo K Tiról (Music & Lyrics), Karla Puno Garcia (Choreographer), Jessica Wu (Unit Production Manager, Live Sound Recording), Eric Elizaga (1st Assistant Director), Jorge Robayo (Grip), Dorothy Bhadra, Giuliana Brandon (Hair/Make-Up), Caylie Rose Newcom (Associate Choreographer), Ali Ewoldt (Production Assistant), Lia Chang (BTS Photography), Jen Dadivas Hong (ESL Consultant) with catering provided

by Jeepney. The film score was recorded live at Yes It Is! Studios by Engineer and Mixer Garth

Jaygee is both producer and lead in ‘The Language Lesson.’

Photo by Corinne Louie Kravits, with Music Director Ian Miller on piano, Chris Peters on guitar, Billy Smolen on bass, Garth Kravits on drums and Jonathan Cuevas on cello.

Special thanks to Kevin Nadal, David McQueen, and Nicole Ponseca.

Actor Deven Kolluri as Professor Nadal and Jaygee as his student Jenny. Photo by Lia Chang THE FILAM |

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Lives cut short by COVID-19: The Filipinos in these pages bravely fought the bizarre and out-of-control coronavirus. Sadly, COVID-19 dashed their lives as they were making a difference in the work place and just being with their families. The virus claimed a television personality, a former Cabinet secretary, scores of health care workers, and regular folks who happened to be in the way of its pernicious path. And with very little warning, our ‘kababayan’ departed leaving behind a legacy of exemplary deeds and warm memories. The FilAm honors all of them. ronment secretary in the administration of then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. He and Cecile have two children, Hexilon and Xilca.

RAYMOND ABEAR. A detective from the Queens Special Victims Squad died April 13 from the coronavirus. He was 43. He is survived by his wife and two children. He joined the NYPD in 2001. Queens Chronicle reported a tweet from 112th Precinct: “You are always in our hearts Ray and we will never forget the smile you always had.”

HEHERSON ALVAREZ. The former Philippine senator died in Manila due to complications from COVID-19. He was 80 years old. His wife, Cecile Guidote-Alvarez, founder of the Philippine Educational Theater Association, also tested positive and continues to get medical treatment.

Alvarez had lived in exile in the U.S. for 13 years during martial law and founded the anti-Marcos Movement for A Free Philippines which later became the Ninoy Aquino Movement. While in exile, he and his wife Cecile lived in New York. He served in the Cabinet of then-President Corazon Aquino as secretary of Agrarian Reform, and from 2001 to 2002, as Envi-

MARYLOU ARMER. The Santa Rosa, Calif. police detective died from complications from COVID-19 on March 30. She was 44. As a law enforcement officer, she was an investigator in the sexual assault and domestic violence unit. She is survived by her husband Mike, and their daughter who is in high school. California Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement, “Detective Armer selflessly and courageously served her community and the people of California.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to her family, friends, colleagues and members of the Santa Rosa community as they mourn her loss.”

GERRY BALASTA. The pediatric occupational therapist & outpatient OT was also a filmmaker. At the time of his passing on April 18, he was CEO at Wonderful Beginnings NY LLC, a

company he co-founded with his wife Lea, a pediatric rheumatologist. Before that, he co-founded the International Film Festival Manhattan. Among the films he had written, produced, and directed are “The Mountain Thief” and “The Solar Champion,” known for their social justice themes. Before he died, he urged everyone on Facebook to “stay safe the best they can and keep their spirits up.

This has truly been a very difficult period for all of us and we are all going through unchartered territories. But I know if we stay together this will all pass and we will make it through.”

LEILA BENITEZ McCOLLUM. Hailed as the First Lady of Philippine television where she reigned from the 1950s to the 70s as co-host of the popular noontime variety show “Student Canteen.” The long-time Manhattan resident died at Mount Sinai Hospital on April 8. She was 89. She is survived by her three sons, Gerry, Gil, and Martin, and four grandchildren. Interviewed by The FilAm in 2015, she said “Student Canteen” was wildly popular it was known as the “Johnny Carson Show” of the Philippines.

LEO DE LA CRUZ. A CarePoint Health physician who worked at Christ Hospital succumbed from complications of the coronavirus, hospital officials said in a statement. He died at the Holy Name Hospital. “It is with a great deal of sadness and heavy heart that we share with you the news of the passing of our beloved attending physician, Dr. Leo De La Cruz,” Dr. Tucker Woods and Marie Duffy said in a statement. “Once you met Dr. De La

THE FILAM |

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Cruz, you would never forget him because of his kind, gentle and fun personality…

He was a good person, a sweet man that was loved by everyone in the hospital.” He was a board member of the Pan American Concerned Citizens Action League, said PACCAL officer Ria Serrano.

DAISY DORONILA. A nurse at the Hudson County jail in Kearny, N.J., for more than 20 years, she died from the coronavirus infection, according to her family. Her daughter said Daisy was initially diagnosed for strep throat on March 16 and was not approved for a coronavirus test. By March 24 she was on a ventilator “fighting for her life.”

ROMEO GRATIL. A retired hospital facilities repairman from New Jersey died from the coronavirus. He was 80 when he passed away on Easter Sunday at the Jersey City Medical Center. “My father died on Easter Sunday and my family rests in the thought that Dad chose this as his day of passing. I told my mother that I had a feeling he would leave us on this day, a celebration of faith he enjoyed and never missed. In its symbolic way, there is peace to be had that Dad leaves us on a day of promise and hope,” his daughter Anna Canoy told Manila Mail newspaper.

A grateful tribute ALI DENNIS GUILLERMO. A nurse at Long Island Community Hospital died after contracting COVID-19. He was 44. Ali was known in the work place as a “fun-loving” guy who loved to sing and dance and make people laugh. “Ali was the most thorough, gentle, kindest, funniest nurse I ever had the pleasure to work with,” nurse Kassandra Cozier said in a newspaper article. He lived in East Patchogue with his family.

OSCAR KING JR. A hospital porter at John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, England, died of suspected COVID-19.

He was 45. He is a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering at Central Philippine University. Alumni from CPU extend their “deepest condolences to the bereaved family and loved ones. Let us also include in our prayers his wife, now also battling the disease, and their daughter Gaby. May God heal, comfort, sustain them in this time of sorrow.”

MARIA MERCADER. A CBS News producer and talent executive, she died of complications from COVID-19 on March 29. She was 54 and a cancer survivor. She had been with CBS for more than 30 years, at one time working

as a producer on the CBS News foreign desk. She started as a page. "A paragon of grit and grace, she embodied the best of the CBS News mission. Millions of Americans learned of the world through her efforts. Now our world is less with her loss. RIP," tweeted former CBS News anchor Dan Rather. In a statement, CBS said Maria – who won an Emmy Award in 2004 for business and financial reporting -- “courageously fought cancer and related illnesses for 20 years, enduring numerous treatments and surgeries…She was an inspiration and a symbol of hope each time she returned to work after the latest medical setback threatened to end her life." The Asian American Journalists Association called her “a dear mentor and friend.”

ALFREDO ‘JUN’ MESCALLADO. The Woodside, Queens resident passed away on April 19 from complications from COVID-19. Jun was quite popular around his neighborhood where he was known to set up a table on Roosevelt Avenue during the holidays selling CDs of Filipino folk songs and Christmas CDs.

RICH NERI CONCEPCION. A photographer from Cagayan de Oro City was found dead in his NYC apartment, according to reports. He was 44 and a “possible COVID-19 victim.” Reports say he went to Elmhurst Hospital to seek medical help because he was not feeling well. He left without being seen by a doctor and because of the long lines. He was found dead by his employer who reported him missing to the NYPD. The police said they found no evidence of foul play.

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ALFREDO PABATAO and SUSAN PABATAO. The couple from Bergen County died due to complications from COVID-19. The family said they passed away separately and never saw each other before their death. He was 68, she was 64.

They died one week apart at the Hackensack Meridian Health Palisades Medical Center in North Bergen. Both were health care workers. Alfredo was a transport aide, and Susana, an assistant nurse at a nursing home, according to NJ.com.

“They are wonderful, dedicated medical front liners, amazing grandparents, loving parents, and wonderful siblings,” the family said in a statement.

SUSAN SISGUNDO. A neuro ICU nurse at Bellevue Hospital, she passed away on April 8 after an eight-day battle with COVID-19. She would have turned 51 a month later, a milestone she had planned to celebrate in her hometown in Bicol. Her colleagues from Bellevue are organizing a crowdfunding campaign to help with cremation expenses and the cost of bringing her body back to the Philippines.

NOEL SINKIAT. A nurse from Washington, D.C. passed away because of COVID-19. He was 64 years old. He worked at Howard University Hospital and was about to retire this year after 41 years of service.

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TOMAS PATTUGALAN. An internist and private practice primary care physician from Queens passed away on March 29 in the emergency department at Nassau University Medical Center, according to a statement issued by his employer Primary PartnerCare. He was 70.

"Dr. Pattugalan loved and cared for his patients, truly exemplifying the profession of medicine, and the critical role of primary care in our country," said Harry Jacob, MD, Chief Executive Medical Officer of Primary PartnerCare. "Being a doctor was not a job for Tomas, it was a calling and a profession.”

DONALD SUELTO. A nurse working in London died in his apartment alone while in quarantine, according to reports quoting the police. He was 51. He had been working for the National Health Service in London for 18 years. He was reportedly infected by one of his patients. He was described as a “dedicated worker…who is devoted to his family and loved his job."

LOLITA TORRES and LOUIS TORRES. Mother and son succumbed to COVID-19 as announced by surviving son Lloyd Torres. Lolita was 73, and Louis was 47. A GoFundMe campaign raised more than $22,000 to help with expenses. "She loved to cook, she fed everybody," Lloyd said in an ABC interview. His brother he described as a “generous and sensitive soul, who lived life on his terms.”

Mahilig ako sa mga numero!

Tungkol ito sa 2020 Census at pondong pampubliko. ‘Di ako accountant, pero gustung-gusto ko ‘pag nag-a-add up ang mga numero.

Kada sampung taon, ine-aim ng census na makakuha ng tama at tumpak na bilang ng lahat ng naninirahan sa United States. Mas tumpak ang data, mas maraming oportunidad na makakatanggap ng pondong pampubliko ang ating komunidad. Iyon ay higit 675 bilyong dolyar kada taon para sa pondong pampubliko para sa mga schools, health clinics at roads.

Magre-respond ako! Kayo?

Kapag sama-sama, mas may lakas, mas may pwersa!

Kumpletuhin ang census sa

2020CENSUS.GOV/tl Paid for by U.S. Census Bureau

How colonial mentality became our Stockholm Syndrome

I

By Metty Vargas-Pellicer

t’s always an ordeal to make a trip home to the Philippines. The 14-hour trans-Pacific flight and another four hours in the air if you’re coming from the U.S. East Coast seem interminable.

I didn’t know why I was making this trip again after just two years. Alone on the beach with nothing planned to do except to sit by the sea and watch the waves come to shore, I was thinking with a melancholy mood: What’s there for me now to come home to? Since mama died, there was no reason to go home to Naga, and outside of the Jubilee activities of the UP College of Medicine there was no other purpose for me to be home. I had been away too long and I didn’t feel at home anymore having no close relations to visit.

So, I’m thinking if I return to the Philippines I will be a tourist and see the Philippines from Batanes to Jolo. Perhaps I can discover the land with a new sensibility and also discover who I am.

Am I Filipino? Who is the Filipino?

I feel different, I think different, and I act different from those I know who never left the Philippines. I became an adult in the USA, and I have become an American citizen, yet I don’t feel I’m American and certainly I’m not treated as an American in the U.S. or in any part of the world.

Am I a different breed then as a Filipino-American?

I must have been an ostrich with my head buried in the sand when I was growing up in the Philippines. I am from Bicol, and frankly I have no idea about the rest of the country. I went to Manila to study medicine in the University of the Philippines, and that’s all I did. I left for the USA after medical school.

My childhood memories of the Philippines during the holidays is religious-inspired, the misa de gallo, dawn masses nine days before Christmas, accompanied by a festive atmosphere of food stalls in the church yard selling puto bumbong and other delicacies and the pastores de belen, caroling in homes after Christmas to commemorate the visit of the shepherds to the manger, and the feast of the Three Kings on the 12th day of Christmas.

The author at right: Is the Filipino American a different breed?

The Spanish-derived religiosity of the Filipinos is pervasive. I was taken aback by a public mass held at the airport and similarly at the shopping malls. In the U.S., Filipinos continue their religious traditions according to the region they come from, such as the Penafrancia fluvial procession of the Bicolanos, the Santo Nino celebrations, and others.

While lounging in my friend’s Antique beach compound I received an education about how different dialects are derived to explain why contiguous regions not divided by any natural barrier, such as mountains or sea, speak very different dialects.

In Panay, oral history transmitted that in pre-Hispanic times datus from Borneo came to the island and occupied different sections of the island and brought the language in toto. The Malay influence in the language can be observed in the various dialects. I wondered if this oral account is historically supported by similar stories in Borneo.

In the Mindanao and Visayas region where the Spaniards made first landfall in Magellan’s time, the Spanish influence in the Chabacano dialect is particularly intriguing. I was also educated about the social hierarchy in these regions, with the elite converging in Iloilo, as the elite class consisted of Spanish descended Filipinos.

Many continue to speak Spanish, and the wealth concentrated among them, as THE FILAM |

being originally Spanish, the group had exclusive access to resources and privileges in colonial days.

Filipinos, it appears, continue to regard these families with awe, curiosity, and adulation reserved for movie stars and royalty. I came from the poor barrio of Pasacao in Naga City, Camarines Sur in the Bicol region, and we only had one Spanish family who sprung from there, yes, the wealthiest in the town, but small fry compared to the Iloilo barons, and since the demise of the patriarch, the fortune had been dissipated by the heirs.

To be like a Spaniard in looks, in privilege, in association, in upbringing, in education, in manner, and in pedigree is the ultimate pride for the Filipino it seems. To associate with mestizos, to speak Spanish, and be accepted is a mark of belonging.

Even the bastard children of Spanish descended liaisons carry this aura.

We speak of colonial mentality, and how this keeps Filipinos in the bottom of progress and national pride among its Asian neighbors. I am so aware of this thinking and feel I must be always alert to its negative and oppressive forces. It saps creative energy. It shares dynamics with slavery, with traumatized, terrorized or victimized groups. Many are now familiar with the Stockholm Syndrome, a psychological phenomenon used to describe the sympathetic and bonding behavior of hostages to their captors. Colonial 9

mentality is the societal expression of this bonding behavior. The captor is all powerful in reality and there is little hope for resistance. Survival of the captive is dependent on the little kindness and benevolence of the captor. The captive is isolated from other influences by preventing it from learning the captor’s language, there is suppression of indigenous ways by forcible conversion to Catholicism, and over time, the captives begin to adopt the captor’s ways as the better way since it is equated with survival, and eventually seeing its own ways and own characteristics as inferior.

This ultimately extends along racial and genetic lines as the supreme way of identifying or being like the captor. In the Philippines, this is even more pronounced in the ever-increasing preoccupation with achieving Caucasian characteristics by the proliferation of skin lightening products and cosmetic surgery.

It is unfortunate that unlike our Asian neighbors, who have achieved national and cultural identity before being subjugated by foreign powers, the Philippines was a disparate land of unorganized small tribes, with none dominating to imbue the archipelago with a unified kingdom.

We were not a nation nor a culture. We were a collection of regional tribes, to which we identified our allegiance even to this day. Hence, we see ourselves more clearly as Ilocanos, Tagalogs, Bicolanos, Visayan, etc., rather than as Filipinos.

We compete with each other, and undermine each other as part of this tribal one-upmanship. The Spaniards put us under one rule and made us a nation, and as a nation we adopted the colonial identity which we carry to this day. We are still trying to be like a Spaniard, the Filipino is still the Indio.

And the Filipino-American? He is living the American Dream, Hollywood style, all show, no substance, for he exists still as an outsider and his color and ethnic looks in white racist America continue to remind him that he is different in an inferior kind of way. Many individuals of course have crossed the threshold among his friends and those who know him, but until that happens, the Filipino American is judged in America and around the developed world by the color of his skin and by the height of his nose.

COVER STORY

Arlene Cornejo-Isidro: Calm in the face of crisis

By Danielle Vania Bonus

The world is vastly changing with this “new normal,” and the uncertainty of tomorrow leaves us apprehensive or maybe even depressed. COVID-19 has emerged on an epic scale affecting our daily lives; our coping methods are now being tested. Have many of us are prepared for such a time as this?

W

hile her staff was absorbing the enormity of the pandemic, Mary Arlene M. Cornejo-Isidro, owner of three residential health care facilities and a mental health partial care program in New Jersey, decided to calm some nerves. She sent out a heartfelt email assuring her employees and residents that business would continue.

“I don’t panic, and it’s because of grace that I don’t panic. But, I don’t want my staff panicking if something should happen to me. Other than that, I’m ready,” she said in an interview with The FilAm. She grew up in the Philippines and attend Catholic schools, like St. Scholastica’s College and Assumption College. Convictions from her humble beginnings would never allow for money to be at a forefront, and as long as her parents are alive, she would always find a way to give them excellent care.

It was her parents, Engr. Artemio Cornejo and Aida Cornejo, who inspired her to enter the field of healthcare. “I wanted to be able to take care of them back when they were younger. But now, they're much much older,” said Arlene who is the youngest of five children.

“It’s my way of honoring them. I owe it all to them.”

Just after she and her parents arrived in New Jersey, Arlene set off to buy a new home for her family. She entrusted her loan officer to handle the financial matters diligently throughout the whole purchasing process. Before escrow could close, she was required to pay up to $20,000 that was never discussed. Since then, she could never shake off the feeling of being deluded just to make a sale. She vowed to never go about life handling others as carelessly as that loan officer did to her.

“I always want my moral compass pointed in the right direction,” she said.

Shortly after the sale of her home, she found a career as a mortgage broker, a good fit for a marketing major. Being the number one salesperson six years in a row, she became responsible for training the whole team. There was no secret to her methods. It was “plain ol’ honesty” and her can-do disposition.

Even with her success as a mortgage broker, Arlene needed a venture of her own that would allow her to care for her parents, so, she studied up on group homes.

After being in the U.S. for only five years, she extended her assistance to individuals suffering from mental illness and opened her first residential health care facility which provided personal care to its residents,

Faith and fearless attitude: ‘I don’t panic.’ such as food, shelter, supervised health care, and related services. At one point, Arlene owned 90 percent of the partial care homes in Monmouth County, New Jersey and decided to extend her operations by providing mental health treatment, not only to the residents of the facilities but also the community.

In 2012 she started a psychiatric day treatment program, known in New Jersey as “partial care,” which employs a multidisciplinary, multilingual staff in the field of psychiatry, psychology and social work and life skills training. Today, the program provides five hours of mental health treatment a day for a week

‘Business will continue.’ Arlene with her managers and staff at Monmouth Partial Care THE FILAM |

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and caters to individuals with chronic conditions, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. The services consist of psychiatric evaluations, medication monitoring, substance abuse counseling, and education in a supportive setting.

Her facilities are licensed by the state, and she continuously receives referrals from social workers.

She is taking more of a back-seat role in her businesses with the addition of a new Chief Executive and Operating Officer.

Still, she handles the interview, admissions and discharge processes herself.

She considers every one of her 100-plus residents, more than 125 clients, and 65 employees as family.

Despite the milestones and her contributions to the indigent and mentally ill community, there are no limitations to her vision. She continues to build from the fundamental lessons and challenges and understands what is necessary in the process of pursuing something bigger. She plans on building

a community of group homes each focusing on different levels of care.

A small town filled with the necessary amenities that make living easier for her residents would be Arlene’s dream, and she’s not far from attaining it. She stays proactive about the whatifs with contingency plans in place. If the worst-case scenario unexpectedly unfolds, she is prepared.

“I think it’s because of my faith,” she said. “I have so much faith. And we’re Filipino. We are resilient!”

Arlene’s legacy will pass on to her two boys who are now in college. Elder son Rafa is a sophomore at Fordham University studying Global Business.

His brother Anton will be attending Boston College as an Economics major this year. She still finds herself having trouble with the thought of them being far from home, but is proud to have raised well-mannered gentlemen.

Her fearless attitude, ability to execute, and confidence have been reassuring.

THE FILAM |

With her two sons Rafa (left) and Anton, who are both in college.

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Skin whiteners: The pursuit of beauty or superiority?

By Ludy Astraquillo Ongkeko, Ph.D.

Not having received information about more recent phenomena being observed and known in the homeland, invariably, I had thought that ‘whitening’ meant one’s pearls, or simply, one’s teeth.

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ental care on these shores still alludes to whitening in the use of dental aids for health enhancement.

I was more than amazed when, during my last visit to my birthplace, I learned the term did not zero in on the dental profession at all. It, honestly and truly, meant skin whitening: whitening of one’s complexion and skin from professional assistance, i.e., from dermatological clinics and aestheticians, licensed or otherwise, and whoever has access to whitening products.

Dermatologists are meant to practice their field: treatment of skin disorders. I learned there are a number of them who no longer confine themselves to the diagnoses of skin treatment per se. Certain dermatologists go farther: they have their own line of beauty products.

There is nothing wrong with being entrepreneurs. But when their clients are told: ‘No other brands would do,’ such businesses are ensured a captive group.

However much I tried to grasp the meaning of ‘whitening’ during my vacation, it arrived only after a few exchanges of conversation when I found out that the term was remote from what I have known about skin enhancements.

Indeed, whitening has taken another meaning when the process refers

Singer-actress Nora Aunor is celebrated for her talent as well as her ‘kayumanggi’ beauty. to ‘evenly-toned whiter skin;’ yes, ‘whiter.’ In simple words, the goal is to seek ‘whiter’ skin, not content with what one received at birth.

Although one is already gifted with a fair complexion, and still aspires to achieve comparatively ‘whiter’ skin, what does the objective lend itself to?

Another tier, what appears ‘far superior,’ perhaps?

THE FILAM |

The Filipina complexion has been a source of envy from many members of some racial and ethnic groups who have found themselves ‘too fair,’ or ‘too white,’ thus tanning one known route to skin color change, has been resorted to by them.

That Filipinas have been on the receiving end of compliments about the natural glow of their beige/brown 13

complexion is not unheard of. Over time, that golden brown skin has resisted wrinkles and lines. Many who love their original color have been the recipients of compliments by non-Filipinos who say the Filipina defies aging because she is gifted with her skin color.

Owing to the kind of pride Filipinas exude complexion-wise, why would certain dermatologists in the home front include skin whitening as part of the regimen they are inclined to provide their clients who seek them in their quest for ‘white’ skin?

Certain products carried solely by those dermatologists who claim skin treatment specialization claim they are ‘tried and true.’ Results are bandied about: “Our products work from the inside out, giving clients evenly-toned, radiantly white skin in as little as two weeks. Unlike other brands, ours are made from premium grade “reduced glutathione, 100 percent imported from Japan.”

I asked one dermatologist what ‘reduced glutathione’ meant. It doesn’t mean ‘less or inferior.’

“It is a term used by well-respected medical practitioners to describe the safest and highest form of glutathione.”

I was informed that ‘smoother, evenly-toned whiter skin’ comes from the use of glutathione.’ Aside from ‘skin benefits,’ I was likewise informed on how glutathione ‘helps strengthen the immune system, removes toxins from the liver, and protects the body from radical damage.’

Reportedly, such skin treatments cost an arm and a leg.

Too, I learned skin whitening treatments are not confined to one gender.

Those who wish to appear ‘whiter,’ or ‘preserve a white complexion,’ belong to what is on the rise: the skin whitening clientele who must ‘faithfully and regularly’ rely on maintenance check-ups.

Why white? Does white imply an element of superiority?

A thousand Sto. Niños looking for a home

By Cristina DC Pastor

Four years ago, more than a thousand Sto. Niño images resided in a cottage-style home in a fine neighborhood in Linden, N.J., next door to a Catholic Church. It was known to legions of devotees as the Casa Sto. Niño or the Divine Child Museum.

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he 1,200 statues belong to antiques He wants the museum to be his legacy. aficionado Marcos Anselmo Panlilio.

Ping has been collecting statues of the Baby A succession of deaths in his family Jesus since he was 8 years old. His first Sto. forced Ping to make the difficult deciNiño was purchased at a thrift shop in the sion to leave his Elizabeth, N.J. home, Malate district for 50 centavos. which is close to Linden. First his father Joe, then “That’s how it started.” Today, the collection his mother Juliet, and then his wife Del. All three is estimated at “1,200 and growing.” Majority died within a period of two months. It was a time of them are with him in Hillsborough, but of intense grief. He moved away and relocated to some are housed in churches across the East Hillsborough, one of the oldest townships in New Coast.

Jersey. His sprawling collection of images is momentarily occupying his renovated basement.

“The museum is in transition right now,” he said.

The basement has been converted into a private chapel where he plans to start online religious services.

His goal is to purchase an abandoned church and make it a permanent museum for the Divine Child.

“It’s costly,” he conceded. But he is looking at compensation awarded to him as a 9/11 survivor as his start-up fund. Ping was diagnosed with cancer after many years Ping Panlilio, a cancer survivor, may have the working at Ground Zero. He owned biggest collection of Sto. Niño images in the U.S. a landscape construction firm that was tasked with rebuilding the In April 2016, Ping and about a hunparks of the World Financial Center, dred Sto. Niño devotees -- led by then Zuccotti Park, and the Nasdaq headConsul General Mario de Leon Jr. -- held quarters. He believes his devotion a procession in front of the St. Elizabeth saved his life. of Hungary Church in Linden. The image “After 9/11,” he recalled to The of the Sto. Niño reached Philippine shores FilAm, “we went back to the sites in 1521 when the explorer Ferdinand and began the process of rebuilding.

Magellan presented it as a gift to the ruler I was there from 2001 to 2010 and and people of Cebu. The Sto. Niño later inhaled all the toxic fumes. I got came to symbolize the Christianization sick, I was diagnosed with cancer. I of the country. Cebu celebrates the feast was awarded some good amount of of the Santo Niño on a Thursday after the money from my exposure there so I Solemnity of the Epiphany. am devoting part of this amount to “We celebrate it on the 27th of April, buy a place to house the collection.” the day they found the image again after it Being ill had given him a moment was lost when Magellan was killed during A sprawling assortment of statues neatly kept in a Hillsborough basement. to reflect. He quit his job to take care the battle of Mactan,” he recounted. of his health and pay attention to his collection.

Although his basement is overflowing with Praying to the Sto. Niño gives Ping so much In 2014, Casa Sto. Niño opened in Linden. The statues, crucifixes, religious artifacts, flowers and joy and spiritual sustenance in times when he is museum attracted ardent followers who came and candles, Ping, 63, continues to grow his collection, feeling physically and emotionally exhausted. He offered donations. Some requested prayers for snapping up images with an interesting story or said, “He gives me everything I ask for, not right special intentions in exchange for their generosity. anything that catches his eye. away, but you know he listens.”

THE FILAM |

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Is divorce on the rise? Family Law attorney examines the impact of lockdowns

By Cristina DC Pastor

The FilAm: What is the effect of mandatory lockdowns on married couples? Has it led to a rise in divorce and separation cases?

Jhanice Domingo: It depends on the marital relationship. I am sure that some married couples are enjoying the extra quality time, and being home with their spouse. But for others who were already in troubled marriages before the COVID-19 outbreak, the significant increase in time together due to a mandatory lockdown is likely to cause increased tension and stress at home. Stressors caused by the pandemic — health issues, disagreements regarding the children, financial stress due to layoffs or reduced wages, etc.– can create problems in a healthy marriage. All the more if there is already a breakdown in communication and lack of trust in a strained marriage, these stressors can cause spouses to become even more estranged and decide to separate or divorce.

TF: How is the COVID-19 pandemic affecting divorced parents who are essential workers?

JD: Courts now have to find the right balance between: (1) ensuring that a parent and child continue to have meaningful parenting time; and (2) protecting the child against the risk of exposure to the coronavirus.

For divorced parents who are essential workers, especially those serving on the frontlines, parenting disputes with former spouses are especially contentious. As an example, many Filipino Americans work in the health care industry as physicians, nurses, medical technicians, nurse aids, etc. Because these jobs impose a greater risk of exposure to COVID-19, the other parent may want in-person parenting time suspended. If a dispute arises where one parent wants to enforce an existing custody/parenting time agreement, and another seeks modification due to COVID-19 related health and safety concerns, divorced co-parents can seek the

For couples in troubled marriages, the significant increase in time together is likely to cause tension. Photo: Unsplash. assistance of a mediator to settle the dispute or file an application in Court.

TF: Aren’t couples ideally supposed to live together harmoniously under any circumstances? You know, for better or for worse?

JD: Ideally, yes. I don’t think anyone gets married with the intention to one day get divorced but the reality is that relationships are complex and it is not always “until death do us part” for everyone. I also think that there is a (false) assumption that every divorce is bitter and ugly. It is not always. In my nearly 20 years of practice, I have seen a wide spectrum of divorce cases.

I have handled very amicable “un-couplings.” I have settled and mediated divorce cases, and I also have tried complex, high-conflict divorces. I think in the Filipino-American community, there is still a stigma attached to divorce and there is significant pressure to stay married at all costs, which can be problematic especially in cases where there is domestic violence.

To this day, the Philippines is still the only country other than the Vatican where there is no legal provision for divorce.

THE FILAM |

Atty. Jhanice Domingo has nearly 20 years of experience on family law and litigation.

TF: As a Family Law attorney, what do you usually tell people who are looking to get out of their marriage?

JD: If you are contemplating divorce, take the time to schedule a legal consultation with a divorce attorney. Divorce is a life-changing decision, and you can’t make such an important decision without first educating yourself about the legal process and without knowing what are your legal rights. Just because you consult with a divorce attorney doesn’t necessarily mean that you ultimately have to decide to get divorced now or even ever. I have done legal consultations for people who thereafter decided to stay married. Some decided it was not the right time for them and then they came back to me months or years later when they were ready.

TF: Is it easier to get a divorce nowadays? Are the courts open to conduct in-person hearings?

JD: In some respects, it’s easier because there are no in-person court appearances right now so uncontested divorce hearings are being conducted telephonically or by video conference.

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Some Family Court judges are even granting divorces “on the papers.”

For litigants who have settled their divorce by way of a marital settlement agreement, they don’t even have to make an in-person court appearance to put through their divorce. Family Courts remain open in New Jersey so those who want to initiate divorce proceedings can still file their complaints. The Family Courts, at least in New Jersey, have made tremendous efforts to minimize delay of ongoing divorce proceedings and to utilize video conferencing if circumstances permit.

Atty. Jhanice Domingo, a partner at Einhorn Barbarito Frost and Botwinick PC, has nearly 20 years of experience on family law and litigation.

She handles high-conflict cases as well as alternative dispute resolution of simpler family law matters. Due to her cultural background, she brings an added level of competence to family law issues within the Asian Pacific American community. She has a B.A. in Psychology, Minor in Women’s Studies from Boston College, and earned her J.D. from Seton Hall Law School. She speaks Tagalog fluently.

Maximizing the mental, emotional and physical health of those in need.

‘One out of 5 ICU nurses is a Filipino’ — ConGen Cristobal

By Lindy Rosales

“These are challenging times. And the pandemic is very much in our midst. Our community has been affected… and affected badly. As of this morning, 50 of our kababayans have died from Covid-19.”

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onsul General Claro Cristobal opened an April 18 press briefing with members of the Fil-Am Press Club with this grim remark. He revealed Filipino Restaurant Week is cancelled, and the Paaralan sa Konsulado might not happen this year. An online wellness program might be launched sometime in May to keep the community engaged but this too remains up in the air. There is “no outlook” on the Filipino Independence Day celebrations and festivities, and Cristobal reiterated his appeal for everyone to continue to practice social distancing and to take care of their heath.

“This pandemic is so close to our hearts as one out of five nurses manning the ICUs is a Filipino nurse,” he said.

“Eighteen (36 percent) of the 50 Filipino American fatalities (reported to the consulate) are frontliners made up of doctors, nurses, therapists, lab technicians and hospital transport workers.”

The fatality rate among frontliners is 1:3 Filipino deaths in the U.S. Northeast, he added.

The consulate has jurisdiction over 10 states in the Northeast Region covering New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont, where 384,000 Filipino Americans live and work.

The consulate remains closed till May 15 and hopes to reopen as soon as NY on PAUSE is lifted, but Cristobal said it will continue to serve the public on an emergency basis. It can be reached via Facebook (PCGinNY) or through the hotline 917-294-0916. The few passports received from Manila had been mailed out, he said. A major change is expected upon reopening with the introduction of an appointment system dubbed as the “Queue-less Appointment and Queuing System.”

To date, the Consulate has received 57 requests for assistance on rebooking flights to the Philippines as well as information on what happens when they land in Manila. Fifteen of the requests

received were for financial assistance due to loss of employment, being on furlough, and the termination of exchange programs.

Below are some questions form the press club members for ConGen Cristobal.

Q: Are there any consular services of urgent nature that can be attended to by appointment before May 15?

A: No, we are not open to the public until we open back.

Q: Will there be any repatriation operation?

A: No. And we don’t expect any generic repatriation goals any time soon.

Q: What is the protocol for Filipinos who die here who have no immediate family members. Is there a way for the family to request help in retrieving ashes or sending them to the Philippines?

A: Of the great number of consular services that we continue to do at this time is the report of death services.

Q: How to report or share information to the consulate regarding the number of fatalities?

A: You can reach us through the hotline, Facebook or through our website. The following information are needed: Name, age, civil status, occupation, next of kin that will help identify the person. Information will be included in the next advisory.

Q: Were any of the 57 requests for assistance received from undocumented kababayans? What assistance if possible can the consulate offer or extend to them?

A: All the 57 who reached out to us were all J-1 visa holders (who are research scholars, professors and exchange visitors). We have so far not any documented requests among what you call undocumented. I don’t know of any specific case. In New York City, services to anybody with any immigration status (all right or not all right), they can come to any city government office.

There is no way that anyone will be rejected if this person seeks assistance.

THE FILAM |

The ConGen Media Hour as aired on Zoom Q: With the 18 frontliners who died, can we share our list with each other so we can have a proper “In Memoriam” for the frontliners because we don’t want them to remain nameless after this war is over. Are you open for collaboration as far as that is concerned?

A: First thing, quick answer is No. Second thing, is to remind you of very

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strict privacy rules in the U.S. You are aware communication between relatives may not be as easy as before in the current situations. And one fear, in several of the cases that I know, we cannot identify the relatives. And we cannot release any names without first notifying the next of kin. That is one difficulty and I intend to uphold such rules.

COVER STORY

Helping low-income women find jobs in the fashion industry

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By Cristina DC Pastor

t took a lot of twists and turns before Grace Alignay finally found her bliss.

She studied Pre-Med and was sickened by the sight of blood. In her indecision, she joined the U.S. Army where she acquired technical skills but no college degree.

After military service, she moved to New York from Florida, where she decided to get a Business degree with a goal towards becoming an entrepreneur.

She heard about Custom Collaborative, a training institute and business incubator for low-income and immigrant women looking to work in the fashion industry as dress makers, designers, business owners, or pattern makers.

She signed up for the 14 week-training which gave her the foundation to learn about the creative and business sides of the industry. Grace knew right away this is where she wanted to be.

Fashion as a trade is evolving, said Grace in an interview with The FilAm. The offshoring

of production to low-cost countries in Asia or Eastern Europe is becoming an “outdated” business model. As a result, more fashion brands are looking to bring production back home, “closer to consumers.”

From her year-long experience with Custom Collaborative, she learned that fashion manufacturing in New York is facing a “labor-shortage crisis.”

“Aging workers retire without a trained workforce to replace them,” she said. “Since 2001, fashion manufacturing jobs have declined over 60 percent in New York City, yet the local fashion industry still accounts for $9 billion in total wages and nearly $2 billion in city tax revenue.

The demand for workers with specialized production skills will only increase.”

Custom Collaborative was founded by Ngozi Okaro, described in its website as an advocate for socioeconomic justice. She believes that fashion has not addressed important issues, such as

Grace Alignay served in the U.S. Army before joining Custom Collaborative. acceptance of body size as well as its responsibility toward a sustainable environment.

Grace’s role is that of a Cooperative Leader.

Aside from teaching women cooperative and workforce principles and business skills, she is helping six other founding members develop the confidence to assume positions of leadership in the field of fashion. It could be in the area of marketing the cooperative or negotiating with their workers. The idea, she stressed, is for women to “realize their true potential.”

“Our women are smart, dedicated, hard-working creatives who love fashion,” she said. “Our founding members are a diverse group of women dedicated to helping empower other women. Seventy percent are mothers, 40 percent are survivors of domestic violence, 85 percent are immigrants.”

Historically, she explained, fashion jobs have provided a reliable pathway to economic stability, for women and immigrants.

“Fashion production is well suited to subcontracting and home-based labor, allowing more flexible work schedules,” she noted.

‘Smart, dedicated, hard-working creatives who love fashion.’ Photo: customcollaborative.org THE FILAM |

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||Military service

Grace’s family – with roots in Cavite and Navotas — came to the U.S. by way of U.S. military service in the Philippines. They landed in the DMV (D.C., Maryland, Virginia) area. Grace was born in Washington D.C. Her mother, LTC Arsenia Alignay, is a retired officer in the U.S. Air Force.

“I wanted to serve the country of my birth, open up to new challenges, and broaden my horizons,” she replied when asked why she joined the Army. After five years in the service, she used the G.I. Bill to earn her Accounting degree.

||Runway shows

Custom Collaborative, which is developing its cooperative arm, has its own runway shows. “We do our own shows at each graduation ceremony,” she said.

The coop sells its garments and accessories through its website and also through specialty boutiques, like NiLu in Harlem. “We also produce for local fashion designers who sell through their own channels,” she said.

A fashion pack rat, Grace is collecting interesting fabrics and upcycling them. She is conscious about wearing only clothes she has designed and made. She said, “That is where I would like all my garments to come from now on.”

New York is facing a ‘labor-shortage crisis’ in apparel manufacturing.

Ipagpapatuloy ang 2020 Senso sa field sa Hunyo 1

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aparating na ang 2020 Senso at marami pang mga sambahayan sa buong Amerika ang tumutugon araw-araw.

Sa kasalukuyan, mahigit 70 milyong sambahayan ang tumugon, na kumakatawan sa mahigit 48% ng lahat ng sambahayan sa Amerika.

Dahil sa biglaang pagkalat ng COVID19, inaayos ng Kawanihan ng Senso ng U.S. ang mga operasyon sa 2020 Senso upang: • Protektahan ang kalusugan at kaligtasan ng publiko sa Amerika at ng mga empleyado ng Kawanihan ng Senso.

• Ipatupad ang patnubay mula sa pederal, pang-estado at lokal na awtoridad.

• Siguraduhin ang kumpleto at wastong bilang ng lahat ng komunidad.

Pansamantalang sinuspinde ng Kawanihan ng Senso ang mga aktibidad ng pagkolekta ng data sa field ng 2020 Senso sa buwan ng Marso.

Isinasagawa na ang mga hakbang upang muling patakbuhin ang mga field office simula Hunyo 1, 2020, bilang paghahanda para sa muling

pagpapanumbalik ng mga operasyon ng pagkolekta ng data sa field sa lalong madaling panahon kasunod ng Hunyo 1.

Ang mga personal na aktibidad, kabilang ang lahat ng pakikisalamuha sa publiko, pagbibilang, gawain sa opisina at mga aktibidad ng pagproseso, ay isasama ang pinakakasalukuyang patnubay upang itaguyod ang kalusugan at THE FILAM |

kaligtasan ng mga tauhan at ng publiko. Magiging kabilang dito ang inirerekomendang personal na pumuprotektang kasuotan (personal protective equipment o PPE) at ang mga gawain ng pagdidistansya sa mga tao.

Sa oras na makumpleto ang pagkolekta ng data para sa 2020 Senso, sisimulan ng Kawanihan ng Senso ang mahaba, masinsin at masusing 19

pansiyentipikong proseso upang lumikha ng mga bilang sa pagbabahagi, impormasyon sa muling pagdidistrito, at iba pang mga produkto ng data ng estadistika na tutulong sa pagbibigay ng patnubay sa daandaang bilyong dolyar sa paggasta ng pampubliko at pribadong sektor kada taon.

Upang masiguro ang pagkakumpleto at kawastuhan ng 2020 Senso, humihingi sa Kongreso ang Kawanihan ng Senso ng legal na remedyong 120 karagdagang araw ng kalendaryo upang ihatid ang mga panghuling bilang sa pagbabahagi.

Sa ilalim ng planong ito, palalawigin ng Kawanihan ng Senso ang panahon para sa pagkolekta ng data sa field at sa sariling pagsagot sa Oktubre 31, 2020, na magpapahintulot para sa mga bilang sa pagbabahagi na maihatid sa Pangulo bago lumampas ang Abril 30, 2021, at ang data ng muling pagdidistrito na ihahatid sa mga estado nang hindi lalampas ng Hulyo 31, 2021.

Opisina ng Pampublikong Impormasyon census.gov 301-763-3030 / pio@census.gov; Kumonekta sa amin sa social media

Issue 27, May 2020

Imelda Marcos

Is the lockdown

From Queen to Kingmaker

Causing a spike in divorce?

Grace Alignay

Helping women get into the fashion business