How Do You Celebrate Filipino American History Month?

By: Lou Maningas Cabalona

 

When the House passed the Bill to recognize the celebration of Filipino American History Month, it resolved that October 2009 and every October thereafter be a time of reflection and remembrance and, lifting from the resolution, “a time to renew efforts toward the research and examination of history and culture in order to provide an opportunity for all people in the United States to learn and appreciate more about Filipino Americans and their historic contributions to the Nation”

Since 2009, Filipinos all over America have had the privilege of being a part of this unique “fiesta”.

How do you celebrate Filipino American History Month? In four simple words. Filipino – Are you proud to be Filipino? There are many ways we express our pride during FAHM. You can “wear” Filipino. With the upsurge of apparel and accessories that have the map of the Philippines, the three stars and the sun representing the Philippine flag or witty phrases in the Tagalog language, it is the easiest way to show your Pinoy Pride.

You can also “speak” Pilipino. Any day is a good day to learn a new language, especially if you have not been exposed to Tagalog, Bisaya, Waray or any other Philippine language. Nowadays, I am sure there is a plethora of apps and websites that you can go to to help you get started! You can also “speak” Pilipino by talking to your friends about things Filipino. Like, how the Philippines is the hottest vacation spot in Asia right now, that Filipino Cuisine is hitting mainstream in NY and CA, or simply how you secretly really love balut!

But how about “being” Filipino? What do I mean by that? Did you know that Filipino Americans can be Filipino citizens without losing our American citizenship? If you were born Filipino, you definitely have right to reacquire it.

If you were born to somebody who was once Filipino, there is a chance you can also become Filipino. While you are considering becoming a Filipino Citizen, would you also consider registering to vote in the next 2016 Philippine presidential election? Now, more than ever, the country needs its intelligent citizens to choose the right leader for the nation.

Dual Citizenship and all its perks (including voting) is a privilege that is available only to select Filipino Americans. The best and most fulfilling ways to show your Filipino pride is by truly being Filipino.

American – One of the things I learned as I was studying for my US Citizenship Civics Test is that one of the rights we have living in the USA is the freedom to petition the government. It may sound funny but this came as a shock to me.

Growing up in the Philippines, petitioning the government, I thought, was an act of retaliation. It is something that citizens do as a last resort to get people to rally for their cause when injustices seem to fall on the government’s deaf ears. On the contrary, here in our country, petitioning the government is part of the core rights people exercise often to help the government serve its people better.

As an American living in the United States, especially this October, I encourage all FilAms to contact their legislators for a cause they believe in. If you don’t have anything in mind, here’s a suggestion.

The Illinois Domestic Workers Bill of Rights is being debated over in the Senate. This bill will give individuals working in the household – housekeepers, nannies, caregivers or home health aides who care for individuals with a disability, the sick or elderly — the right to earn minimum wage, receive overtime pay and sick leave, meal and rest breaks, and provide a right to recourse for physical and verbal abuse, among other important worker protections.

We, as Americans, have the opportunity to help get this important bill passed, for the many Filipino caregivers in the country. If you want to know more, check out www.afirechicago.org.

You can also watch a musical play adaptation by CIRCA-Pintig and SamaSama Project entitled Piketlayn Cantata by Joi Barrios. The cantata which is part of a series of plays billed as Tug Of War II aims to tackle serious issues regarding Filipino workers’ rights through songs.

A “talk back” at the end of each show will serve as a forum for audiences to ask questions or share their thoughts about the topics. The cast includes yours truly, Louella Cabalona as Biyang, Ruben Pactol as Pedro under the direction of Allan Sargan. Piketlayn opens October 24 through November 8 at Moooh Dulce, 2602 W Fullerton Ave, Chicago. For more info, check out www.SamaSamaProject.com or www.CircaPintig.org

History – I am amazed that as time goes by, I am finding out more and more accounts of Filipino Americans who played an integral part of the History of America.

I have come to know personalities, such as labor leader Larry Itliong and Philip Vera Cruz who, 50 years ago, led Filipino grape farmers in Delano, California in the historical strike that created the United Farm Workers union with Cesar Chavez which eventually paved the way for many reforms in favor of farmers.

I am amazed to learn about Manila Village in Louisiana where the first permanent Filipino settlers in the USA built houses on stilts and taught locals how to produce dried shrimp in 1763. To this day, dried shrimp is still produced by the Cajuns of Louisiana.

There is also Victoria Manalo Draves, a Filipino American Diver who overcame ethnic prejudice to become the first American woman to win two gold medals in Diving in 1948. She is also the first Asian American to win an Olympic Medal.

There are still many stories that we have yet to hear about – – stories of heroic acts of World War II Filipino soldiers, extraordinary feats and noteworthy accomplishments of Filipinos in the arts, in sports, education, journalism, business and government. We all can play a significant part in preserving our Filipino American history simply by putting a spotlight on these stories that deserve to be heard, read and seen.

This October, would you make it a point to find one of these stories and share them on social media?

Month – The House of Representatives approved, not a day nor a week, but a whole 31 days to celebrate our History as Filipino Americans. It emphasizes how important it is to reflect on where we started and how far we have come as a people.

During this time, I urge everyone to take advantage of the events being put together by many volunteers – students, community organizers, businessmen and artists. Let this month of October be the start of a whole year long process of going back to our roots, finding out how we came to be Filipinos in America and eventually, Americans who are also truly Filipino.

Waiting in line with husband, Baron, to get a commemorative picture by the US Flag after my US Citizenship Oath Taking Ceremony.

Getting a commemorative pictures with Vice Consuls Alena Grace S. Borra and Ricarte Abejuela III after my Filipino Citizenship Re-aquisition Oath Taking Ceremony.

Dual Citizen couple, Louella and Baron, taking the first step in exercising their right to vote by Registering as Overseas Voters for the Philippine Presidential Elections in May 2016

 

The cast and crew of Piketlayn Cantata (clockwise from top left) Visual Arts Director, Tattianna Howard, Louella Cabalona as Biyang, Mary Ann Espanola as Enchang, Rosemarie Tom as Supervisor, Director Allan Sargan, Technical Director Edwin Martinez and Musical Director Baron Cabalona. Ruben Pactol (not in picture) plays Pedro