We are Filipino-AmericansSaturday, 25 June 2011 12:15

A Filipino newspaper columnist in Manila wrote earlier this week what I consider as flawedopinion of what “Filipino-American” means.

To that writer, a Pinoy who immigrated to the United States and later on, became a naturalizedAmerican citizen, or one who was born in the U.S. with Filipino-American parents should bereferred to as an American, not Filipino-American.

Joe Montelibano of the Philippine Daily Inquirer wrote in part, “There is actually no need to callthemselves Filipino-Americans because they are Americans and not Filipinos. Even though theyare of Filipino descent, they cannot identify themselves as Filipino citizens, only as Americancitizens.”

There is no disagreement on the citizenship status.

But Joe should not deprive us of our being referred to as Filipino-Americans.

A big majority of us don’t detach ourselves from Filipino ways, much less from adobo, sinigangand kare

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We are Filipino-AmericansSaturday, 25 June 2011 12:15

-kare.

For Joe’s information, even mainstream America tolerates cultural diversity.

Very few Filipinos here in the U.S. give up their “Filipinoness.”

Why is the Filipino Reporter still going strong after 39 years?

Why are there over 2,000 Filipino associations across the U.S.?

Why are American Pinoy and Phil-Am grocery stores in New Jersey still open after more than20 years in business?

Why are Philippine Bread House, Red Ribbons and Jolly Bee thriving?

Why are hundreds of Filipino restaurants around the U.S. surviving and still growing in number?

One strong proof of the Filipino-Americans’ continued attachment to the native country is thecontinued operation of Johnny Air Cargo, LBC, as well as the many Filipino-owned travelagencies and money remittance firms around the country.

It is not an exaggeration to say that 95 percent of customers of above mentioned businessenterprises are Filipino-Americans.

Filipino-Americans across the United States observe Philippine Independence Day every year.

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We are Filipino-AmericansSaturday, 25 June 2011 12:15

In the New York-New Jersey area alone, Fil-Ams hold three such major celebrations annually.

Filipino-Americans are the major donors/supporters of Filipino philanthropic groups that help thepoor in the Philippines, like ANCOP U.S.A. and GK.

Finally, the two major Philippine-owned television stations which operate in the U.S. arepatronized by a big segment of Filipino-American population.

In view of all the above, it is, therefore, incorrect to say there is no need to call ourselvesFilipino-Americans.

***

One of the three major annual celebrations organized by Filipino-Americans in the Northeast inJune is the PAFCOM Grand Parade & Festival.

This is the 21st year that the Philippine American Friendship Committee will be holding aparade, street fair and cultural show.

On June 26, the parade will start at the corner of Claremont and West Side Avenues in JerseyCity at noon.

The parade will end in nearby Lincoln Park where food stalls will be and cultural show will beheld.

Known Filipino actors and singers will be performing at the festival.

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We are Filipino-AmericansSaturday, 25 June 2011 12:15

They are Iza Calzado, Mark Bautista, Jennylyn Mercado and Aljur Abrenica.

***

On the occasion of Dr. Jose P. Rizal’s 150th birthday which we already wrote last week, we’dlike to share with our readers one of the reasons why the Filipino patriot angered the Spanishcolonizers of his time.

I refer to a letter written by Dr. Rizal known in Philippine history as “Letter to the Young Womenof Malolos.”

The letter was originally written in Tagalog.

A fellow patriot of Rizal, Marcelo H. del Pilar requested for the letter addressed to a group of 20young women of Malolos, Bulacan.

The women petitioned their Governor General for permission to open a night school so theycould study Spanish under a teacher of their choice.

The petition was initially rejected.

However, the young women appealed and continued bravely to apply for permission.

Finally, their request was granted but was assigned a different teacher.

The incident caused a big stir in the Philippines and in Spain, which prompted del Pilar to

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We are Filipino-AmericansSaturday, 25 June 2011 12:15

request Dr. Rizal who was then in London annotating a history book.

The date of the letter was Feb. 22, 1889.

Here are two paragraphs lifted from the translated letter which demonstrates how Dr. Rizal feltfor the courageous women of Malolos; how he felt against the Spanish colonizers and hisadvocacy for freedom.

“No longer does the Filipina stand with her head bowed nor does she spend her time on herknees, because she is quickened by hope in the future; no longer will the mother contribute tokeeping her daughter in darkness and bring her up in contempt and moral annihilation. And nolonger will the science of all sciences consist in blind submission to any unjust order, or inextreme complacency, nor will a courteous smile be deemed the only weapon against insult orhumble tears the ineffable panacea for all tribulations. You know that the will of God is differentof that of the priest; that religiousness does not consist of long periods spent on your on yourknees, nor in endless prayers, big rosarios, and grimy scapulars, but in spotless conduct, firmintention and upright judgement.

“You also know that prudence that does not consist in blindly obeying any whim of the little tingod, but in obeying only that which is reasonable and just, because blind obedience is itself thecause and origin of those whims, and those guilty of it are really to be blamed. The official orfriar can no longer assert that they alone are responsible for their unjust orders, because Godgave each individual reason and a will of his or her own to distinguish the just from the unjust;all were born without shackles and free, and nobody has a right to subjugate the will and thespirit of another. And why should you submit to another your thoughts, seeing that thought isnoble and free?”

mcaball241@aol.com

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