On Being Filipino: Finding Our Core in the Big Apple

By: Lou Maningas Cabalona

 

Two women are coming out of the US Citizenship naturalization ceremony. One lady recognizes the other as a kababayan (fellow countryman) so she walks next to her, inquiring, “Huy, Pilipino ka?” (Hey, are you Filipino?). The lady, seemingly excited to have found a new friend, looks up, smiles beamingly and says in a thick Filipino accent, “Naht a-knee-moor!” (Not anymore!).

First time I heard this joke last Saturday from Ms. Loida Nicolas Lewis during an informal “talent showcase” with FYLPRO delegates after dinner at her beautiful home in Manhattan. She invited us, the delegates of the Filipino American Young Leaders Program (FYLPRO), who converged in New York the first weekend of June for the organization’s strategic planning for 2015-2017.

FYLPRO began as a yearly immersion program that was established in 2012 by Ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines to the United States of America, Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. and Mrs. Victoria J. Cuisia in cooperation with the Ayala Foundation Inc. to identify, each year, ten outstanding young professionals in the Filipino communities across the United States. Beginning last year, the delegates have taken steps to formally organize as a nonprofit aimed at supporting the immersion program as well as serving as a support system for delegates who want to pursue legacy projects in political advocacy initiatives, cultural and tourism promotion programs, social entrepreneurship activities, education innovations, Filipino-American heritage projects, and voter awareness and education drives, among other things.

The delegates, now 40 in all, make up a diverse group from different states including Guam, holding top positions from various industries and having varying levels of familiarity with the homeland – from folks who have only visited the Philippines once to some who have lived and studied in the country.

Leveraging these qualities that make each of us unique, the organization has committed to upholding the core values of integrity, innovation, collaboration, compassion and pride in being Filipino, values that will serve as our pillars as we continue to work on initiatives that will uplift the Filipino whether here in the US, in the Philippines or anywhere in the world.

For all 18 of us present at dinner, it was a relaxing and fun evening that ended with special musical performances, jokes, storytelling, Baron on the piano, with me singing our favorite Filipino songs like Waray Waray and Balut Penoy and Kit Zulueta and Mike Dahilig from Hawaii teaching all of us how to dance the Hu Ke Lau!

But business, of course, had to be taken care of first. Earlier that evening, we gathered in her living room overlooking Central Park, the same room that hosted President Obama in a fundraiser recently. After Ms. Lewis gave each guest a chance to tell the group about themselves and what their passionate about, she also shared her passion for helping shape the future of the Philippines by supporting the right government leaders and encouraging others to do the same.

She summarized the achievements, or lack thereof, of every President after the 1986 People Power Revolution all the way up to the current President Noynoy Aquino. She also shared her confidence in his party successor, Secretary Mar Roxas, describing him as a man of humility and integrity, once giving up the post of President when there was a clamor for NoyNoy to run. She dismissed opinions of Roxas being unfit since he was not “masa” (of the masses, loved by the masses) citing there have been many “masa” former Presidents who did not do the country any good.

In the end though, she requested one thing that she wanted us to take away. No matter who we support, she said “As young leader, I don’t expect you to only vote, you have to campaign for people to vote”.

It was also the weekend of the Philippine Independence Day celebration in NYC, dubbed to be the biggest Independence Day celebration outside the Philippines. Madison Avenue was closed off from 24th Street to 40th Street on Sunday for the much-anticipated parade highlighting numerous Fil Am organizations in NY and in the US. The parade was hosted by respected Filipino actors, Michael De Mesa and Cherie Gil introducing all the groups that took part in the festivities. Sitting by the VIP Section were Filipino American representatives of the government in various US cities including Jersey City Council President Rolando Lavarro and Mahwah Town Councilman Jonathan Wong alongside Philippine government officials including Dept. of Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. Del Rosario, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, Consul General Mario De Leon and Ambassador Cuisia.

By Madison Square Park, the sweet smell of barbeque and sisig wafting from a whole block of Filipino food stalls surrounded the crowd estimated to be over 10,000. Hundreds of families and groups of friends set up a picnic on the grounds while enjoying Filipino songs from local Fil Am celebrities and visiting Philippine artists. Filipino-owned businesses, social clubs and nonprofits also set up shops for the curious or those seeking services or goods from folks who have a perennial smile. It’s as if I was in Taste of Chicago, only that it was ALL Filipino.

It was a wonderful sight to see tens of thousands of people gathering together for an event that celebrates the Philippines’ unique culture and emphasizes the impact of our people as part of a global power city. We have something in common in our core. I met so many new Filipino friends on this trip.

I also got introduced to and inspired by a few young community workers, members of UniPro, Pilipino American Unity for Progress, who have done great work in unifying and engaging young FilAms in advocacies that should matter to Filipinos. That weekend, they also had the UniPro Summit and they were over 200 strong.

Regardless of age, educational background, how long or little they have lived in the homeland, whether they are active leaders of the FilAm community or just avid spectators of anything Filipino-ish, I found that we are all just like the two ladies who had just become US citizens.

Our environment may change how we speak, how we look and even how we think! But despite all of these seemingly dividing factors, it is clear; It is in our core as Filipinos to desire to connect with our kapwa (fellow), to think of each other’s well-being and to celebrate with friends.

So what would you say if someone asked you, “Hey, are you Filipino?”

Ambassador Cuisia and Mrs. Vicky Cuisia (center) with the FYLPRO Executive Board (L-R) Anthony Guevarra, JR Calanoc, Rachelle Ocampo, Louella Maningas Cabalona, Bea Querido and Ryyn Chua (Photo Credits: Bea Querido

Official Photo op after dinner with Ms.Loida Lewis (center) and 18 out of 40 delegates all over the USA (clockwise fr L-R) Ryyn Chua (CA), Jason Tengco (DC), Mike Dahilig (HI), Jan Paul Ferrer (IL), Ed Santos (NY), Steven Raga (NY), RJ Diokno (DC), JR Calanoc (CA), Ryan Letada (NY), Anthony Guevarra (TX), Melissa Medina (DC), Louella Maningas Cabalona (IL), Adette Contreras (NY), Bea Querido (WA), Jen Coliflores (MA), Rachelle Ocampo (NY), Kit Zulueta (HI) and Abbey Eusebio (IL).(Photo Credits: Bea Querido).

Baron and Louella Cabalona doing a selfie after performing a few Kundiman and Filipino folk songs for Ms. Loida Nicolas-Lewis and guests

 

The FYLPRO representation at the New York Philippine Independence Day Parade on Madison Ave. Left of Louella in a turquoise gown is Ms. Loida Nicolas-Lewis and Consul General Mario De Leon of NY. To her right is Ambassador Jose and Mrs. Vicky Cuisia (Photo Credits: YetBo LoveRita)