Multiracial, Multiethnic, and Filipino American Adoptees

Hello! :) Long time no blog. I'm very sorry I have been neglecting you all, but here I am, once again. Today's topic is what the title says: Multiracial, Multiethnic, and Filipino American Adoptees. 

Remember how I mentioned the book we're reading in this English course I'm taking? It's called Filipino American Psychology by Kevin L. Nadal. My group and I presented on the topic aforementioned. To view the presentation as I speak of certain topics, just click the "play" button. Or to look at it alone, you may go to "more" then click "fullscreen" to watch it blown up.

First and foremost, I would like to explain the title of our presentation. I'm sure most of us are aware of of a section of either a test that includes a scantron, a section when voting, a section when filling out paperwork, just a general area where it asks for one to state their race.. Correct? Well, in certain cases, people are biracial or multiracial. In other words, people can be more than just one race. Therefore, people have to choose one race over the other if there is no option to choose more than one (which there rarely is). Now we chose this sort of title instead of a regular title because it is a pathos appeal. Not only does the presentation speak to our audience, but it makes you feel something if you have been in such a scenario. Also, this chapter mentions how people have had to choose a certain race. Unfortunate, right?

Next, I would like to interpret the visual of the presentation. It is a circle, and moves round-and-round like a Ferris wheel would. This is because the chapter focused on many multi/biracial and multi/biethnic statistics and stories, so it was complicated to come up with distinct topics. So to break it down, my group decided on a circle because it flows, just as the information throughout the chapter, and intertwines all the information. 

Now I will discuss my own part of the presentation I had to present during class. Interracial Relationships. 

History:

• In pre-colonial and colonial Philippines, Filipinos married outside of their race -- Chinese, Indian, Muslim, Missionaries, Spanish Colonizers
• In the early 1900s, Filipinos moved to the Westcoast
• 15:1 ratio of Filipino American men to Filipino American women

Anti-Miscegenation Laws:

Laws in California as early as 1850...

• Whites not allowed to marry outside of their own race
• In 1880, CA passed laws that prohibited Mongolians from marrying whites (including those of Mexican and European descent)
• Mongolians: referred to Asian descent

Anti-Filipino Sentiment:

Filipino men views as sexual competition for Whites

• Many white women interested in Filipino men because respectful -- didn't abide by dominant, masculine gender roles
• Not many Filipino women were around
• This was around the time of the Great Depression, many whites lost their job 
• Filipino men still had menials jobs (ex. farm workers) and were thought to have been stealing jobs
• Stereotype: Filipino men were hypersexual and sexual deviants -- this made them targets of discrimination
• While there were laws in place to prevent interracial marriages, there were many attempts to keep Filipino men at a distance from white women

Loving vs. Virginia:

• Interracial marriage for Filipino Americans and other groups were debated in the court system
• In 1933, the CA Supreme Court ruled Filipino Americans to be "Malay"" instead of Mongolians -- allowed them to marry whites
• In 1948, extensive repeal of anti-miscegenation laws -- allowed interracial marriages

Contemporary:

In present times...

• Trends in interracial and interethnic marriage noticeable differ for Filipino Americas more than other Asian Americans
• Endogamous: least likely to marry within their ethnic group
• Higher rates of interracial marriages than Asian Americans; Filipino women > Filipino men
• Differences between racial and ethnic group between men and women: 
• Men: White, Hispanic/Latina
• Women: Black, Hispanic/Latino

And there you go for my portion of the presentation! Any questions? Feel free to comment. Thank you! :)

Uncomfortable comfort women

Ah. Yet another presentation from a fellow SWCC Professor, Professor Duril. Today's discussion was on "comfort women". Well, the word "comfort" is connoted negatively in this case. It acts as a euphemism--an indirect word to replace one that is too harsh or blunt. 

Enough of somewhat background information! So during World War ll, there were multiple women--Filipino, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese, Indonesian, and Malaysian--whom were forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese. It is, in fact, a rather disturbing topic for the reason that it's quite hard to believe, but as Professor Duril was saying, it should be heard. Honestly, I'm surprised that when typing "comfort women" in the search engine for Google, that related topics came up. Especially after learning that the Japanese were trying to deny it for so long, still are as a matter of fact. This case has been ignored and taken out of multiple history books and contexts. People such as Ikuhiko Hatu, a Japanese historian, are denying such a tragic event.

Okay, now I will explore this intense topic. I think I should start by letting you know that these women were not aware that they were going to be enslaved. Due to the Japanese who were light on volunteers, the women thought they were going to be factory workers or nurses. Boy did they think wrong. Instead, these women were being forced into sex labor. Another way how these women were "collected" was simply being abducted from their homes. Other women were just lured. The Japanese army basically recruited women by force. These women would constantly get raped. No warning. No secluded area. The filthy Japanese men would rape them whenever they had the chance; whenever they felt like it. Against barbed wire fences. Pulled aside for a quick fix. Just wherever. It didn't matter to these men pigs, whether it was public or not. 

Above, you see a young Chinese (comfort) woman being interviewed by an Allied officer. She looks awfully weak and skinny. Luckily, the topic is becoming louder as women who were silent for about half a century are speaking up.

Thank you for your time everyone! :)

Discoveries. Battles. Legends.

During Professor Aronson's English class today, we had Professor Tuyay, a fellow SWCC member who teaches a class about Asian-American Sociology, give us a presentation. Tuyay focused on the Filipino background information, and I found it to be really intriguing. In one part of his lecture, he spoke of three people: Christopher Columbus, Ferdinand Magellan, and Lapu-Lapu. Since the presentation happened in a matter of 50 minutes, information was limited. So I took the liberty of doing some research of my own as well because I really wanted to learn more about these individuals. I'd like to mention in advance, this is quite a lengthy post, so I apologize. :)

The date is not when he "discovered America", it
was the year this day was established by Roosevelt.

I have a few images that evoke sarcasm in regards to Christopher Columbus' "discovery" of America, which I seem to agree with as a matter of fact. To summarize my answer to this question of whether he founded America or not is simple, no. That is all. Thank you. Just kidding! :) Anyway. People had lived here long, long, long before his existence. He is known for is death and destruction. Columbus is also seen as a symbol of slavery, and the celebration of his arrival likened to a celebration of Hitler and the Holocaust.

Many people are surprised to learn that Christopher Columbus and his men enslaved native inhabitants of the West Indies. They forced the natives to convert to Catholicism, and were violent in order to gain riches. Before his first voyage to the Americas, he had a contract with King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain that explained how profit was important to him and he wanted some of the riches if he found any--10% to be exact. So he enslaved native people in order to be his servants. On his second voyage, he even began exporting slaves in order to receive profit since he wasn't gaining any money. Columbus ignored the plead of not being able to send slaves anymore in order to keep getting Ferdinand and Isabella's support.

It is said that the origin of syphilis--a sexually transmitted infection caused by the spirochete bacterium Trepomena pallidum--was due to Columbus. (Or, one out of two hypotheses as to how syphilis emanated.) Now, I'd rather not post a picture of what syphilis because it is disgusting--no offense to anyone who has it; search images up if you dare though. It was proposed that him and his crewmen carried it to Europe after their voyage to the Americas. 

Now who is this handsome fellow to the left, you ask? That is Ferdinand Magellan. In 1519, he sailed around South America in order to reach the Spice Islands where the Spice Girls once lived. Only joking people. :) He sailed across Atlantic Ocean into the Pacific Ocean.  He was the first to circumnavigate the earth. But he was unable to finish the voyage as he was killed during the Battle of Mactan in the Philippines. On the voyage of circumnavigation, the Spanish realized that America was not connected to Asia. 

How did the death of Magellan go, you ask? Well let me tell you! There's so much to say. About a month after reaching the equator, Magellan and his crew reached the island of Homonhon in the Philippines. 

This image depicts the Battle of Mactan

He then was guided to Cebu by Rajah Siaiu, someone whom he traded with as well.  A man named Rajah Humabon of Cuba was kind to Magellan and his crew. Humabon had an ally named Datu Zalu, and they convinced Magellan to kill their enemy, Lapu-Lapu. (Ah, see where this all begins to tie in? *Light bulb flashes on*) In my opinion though, Humabon and Zalu were just trying to get Magellan to do their dirty work. But hey, it worked. So Magellan tried to convert Lapu-Lapu to Christianity, but he didn't give in. A few weeks later, Magllan attacked Mactan. But Lapu-Lapu led 1,500 Mactan warriors armed with native weapons in battle against Magellan, his crew, and their guns. Ultimately, Lapu-Lapu and his people tore him up, and the ocean stole away the remainder of his body. Because after this little attack, Magellan's body was missing for good.

Okay, now this is my great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great (how many "great"'s should I include?) uncle, Lapu-Lapu. Totally kidding! Although that'd be awesome. Who knows though? We could be related by the tiniest sliver. Or not.. :) He is, in fact, Lapu-Lapu. Very indigenous looking indeed. This great man was the ruler of Mactan. From all the information that I just mentioned, I believe it's very credible in calling him a "great man".. Wouldn't you agree? His real name was Datu Kalipulaku. He was known as the first native to resist Spanish colonization. He is also recognized for bringing Christianity to the Philippines. In the province of Cebu, they even dedicated a shrine, AND a city named after Lapu-Lapu. 

Interesting legends: 

1.) "Some natives believe that in his final years, Lapu-Lapu did not die, but turned into a stone, and is forever guarding the seas of Mactan. Fishermen in the island city throw coins at a stone shaped like a man as a way of asking for permission to fish in the chieftain’s territory."

2. ) "Another story passed on by the natives of the land says Lapu-Lapu became the statue placed on a pedestal at the center of the plaza. The statue faces the old city hall building where the mayors used to hold office and once held a crossbow in the immortal stance of someone about to shoot an arrow at an enemy. The people of the city decided to change this crossbow with a bolo after a succession of three mayors died due to a heart attack."

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME! I'D APPRECIATE FEEDBACK, FOR THIS TOOK ME ABOUT TWO HOURS TO DO. THANKS EVERYONE. :)

How times have changed... Or have they?

As I've mentioned before, Maria Clara is the "ideal woman" for Filipinos. Appearance-wise, her hair is pulled back, in a sleek sort of bun with a floral/pin/etc. in her hair. She wears a large dress that symbolizes virtue. Personality-wise, she is respectful in all ways. She believes in being chaste and she follows all the rules. The black and white image depict this "Maria Clara" female. 

Although times have changed in the Philippines with what they wear, this whole concept is still believed. In Miss Philippines pageants and different events, they still wear these dresses with shoulder padding and a conservative look. Now, it's 2011. Times really have changed. I have been one hell of an Americanized Filipino my whole life. Never quite following the rules--the rebellious type. My parents would question my actions at moments, but I didn't mind them. As you could see, I do not dress like Maria Clara. Not like any of us would really nowadays... But my point is--although I am a Filipino female, speaking for all Filipino females (even females in general), not all of us are going to abide by this archetypal image of society. I'm not proper. In my picture, I'm laughing. I'm not going to be boring and stand like I have a stick up my ass, with a bland face. 

Bringing up another point--society. How they want us to look. I will talk about the Philippines since this is a blog dedicated to just that. What's the difference between someone who is a size 2 as opposed to a size 10? The Filipino channels (GMA, TFC, etc.) have females hosts/backup dancers who are all thin-looking. Maybe they fit a modern version of "Maria Clara"... ? Maybe it's just popularity and viewers? How about the males of the shows? Is there no ideal image for males? Hmmm... On a second note, have times changed? 


Questions? Comments? Agree? Disagree? Come on in and tell me, I don't bite. :)

What is Filipino?

Above a "prezi" presentation that different members of my bayan and myself composed.  To view it, press play. It is on chapter 2 of the book our class has been reading, Filipino American Psychology by Kevin Nadal. I spoke about it as well as included a picture of it in my very first post!

The presentation consists of:

1. Influences of Spanish Culture

• Ruled by Spain for 400 years 
• Catholicism was their religion
• Males were dominant; abusive as well
• Women catered to men
• Major pride
• Very close with one another--especially if you were in the P.I.

2. Influences of American Culture

• Before being colonized by the U.S., the P.I. didn't have a set curriculum 
• Filipinos with thick accents would be discriminated--thought as uneducated
• Filipinos were taught "American Dream"--making them believe they could achieve anything; more opportunities
• American Dream would lead to gossip
• The gossip would cause competition between opportunities

3. Filipino Values

• How Filipinos react/act/feel with one another

4. Fading Away from Filipino Roots

• Either dismissing the Filipino culture all together
• Being influenced by other cultures
• Confused on which culture to stick to--leading to acculturative stress

For any questions, feel free to ask! Thanks for your time. :)

Socrates & Maria Clara

Hello everyone! :) I'm taking a Philosophy 101 class, as well, and we just finished learning about Socrates. (Although I really wouldn't like to call it "learning" because, no offense--although it would still be taken offensively--this professor does not do Socrates justice. Or any other topic, as a matter of fact. But this is beside the point...) In English class with Mr. Aronson, we have been discussing several poems on a woman/concept named Maria Clara. I would like to take some time to jot down some similarities between these two people. 

To those who do not know, Maria Clara is a character created by Jose Rizal, in a novel called Noli Me Tangere. She was a Filipina who was known as the "ideal woman" in the Philippines. She was portrayed as chaste, the epitome of virtue, a faithful sweetheart, a good friend, and an obedient daughter. Maria Clara was highly appraised and everyone idolized her. But her "masochistic", and "easily fainting" character was also criticized as the "greatest misfortune that has befallen the Filipina in the last one hundred years". This is because this whole concept was forcing Filipino women into molding into a Maria Clara.

As a young girl, she would practice religion. When she grew up, she convinced a man named Padro Damaso (who so happened to be her biological father as well) to send her to a nunnery. I think of this nunnery as a prison, for although she chose it, she was alone and trapped. Padre Salvi, the convent's spiritual director, ended up raping her. Unfortunately, through the years of pain, she died in the convent. 

So no thanks to my Phil professor, I will inform you on what I kinda-sorta read about Socrates.  He was a Greek Athenian Philosopher, credited as one of the founders of Western Philosophy. Socrates has become renowned for his contribution to the field of ethics. His students, especially the ones who stuck with him throughout everything: Plato and Xenophon, adored Socrates. They really enjoyed his teachings--slightly talking about religion also, and he was looked up to. But plenty of people thought of him as corrupting the youth--one of the many charges ghat put him to trial.

He was guilty and put into prison, and willingly chose the hemlock for his punishment. Socrates drank the hemlock, a highly poisonous plant, and was instructed to walk around until his legs felt numb. Then after a short while, he quietly died. 

This  picture  depicts  Socrates  (in
white) taking his hemlock to drink.

An animated portrayal of Maria Clara at the nunnery. She is wearing--a now popular amongst Filipinas"--Maria Clara" dress that symbolizes the virtues and nobility of a Filipino woman.

The similarities I see: 

• Her virtue vs. His ethics
• Idolized
• But had negative influences
• Religious practice
• Maria Clara's nunnery vs. Socrates' prison room
• Died within these "prisons"

Agree? Disagree? It's all good! I'm not the Philosopher type. But thanks for reading, everyone! Ta-ta for now. :)

No longer are We invisible...

First and foremost, I'd like to acknowledge the fact that I purposely capitalized the "W" in "We". This represents all of those who are Filipino. Now that I have pointed that out, I will explain my reasoning behind this title.

My apologies for being rude.. Hi again, everyone! :) As I've aforementioned, my class has been reading Filipino American Psychology by Kevin Nadal--wonderful reading. I pointed out some facts from chapter one, but I want to talk about another main issue of this chapter. Invisibility. Before I explore Nadal's ideas of invisibility, here's a poem that we reviewed in class that correlates with the topic:

chamelon brown (excerpt)

change change

like a chamelon do

Yes, this is the chameleon from the movie 
Tangled.. Real-life  chameleons scare  me.

from white to black

from brown to blue

just as to say;

that clothes are not the skin of a man

just as

skin is not the essence

shed that skin

it ain't a part of you

change change 

like a chameleon do

from white to black

from brown to blue

-- Loi Syquia

Okay, now I may begin my rant and diagnosis, if I may. According to Nadal, Filipinos were not always recognized. There was a main focus on the issue of "blacks and whites". What about the other races? Especially Filipinos! The Philippines is it's own island, yet we don't get our own damn "fill-in" on a scantrons and what not? (If you don't know what I'm talking about, there are different tests--SATs, ACTs, AP tests, etc.--even surveys, applications and various other forms that have you indicate what ethnicity you are.) I mean, there's a bubble for "Asian" and "Pacific Islander", but not Filipino...? I don't see why not. Filipinos have been misunderstood, forgotten and invisible. This may force Us in wanting to fit in, and wanting to be like everybody else. 

Now this is where the poem comes in. How I interpreted this poem was that the audience are  fellow Filipinos (Syquia is a Filipino writer, if you didn't know). So when he states "shed that skin it ain't a part of you" he means that it is unnecessary for Us to acculturate or assimilate. Being Filipino is who We are. It is one of our birth certificate traits. We are, in fact, born with it and cannot change our ethnicity. 

Lady Gaga - Born This Way

Self-explanatory

Skip to 3:00 for singing

P.S. This song will relate to this whole entire book, basically

I hope you enjoyed this little seminar. Thank you! :)

Enter the Realm of a Filipino American Society

Hello and welcome to my beautiful Bayan! :) My name is Jennica Sarmiento and I have been a part of this Bayan for about a month now. If you didn't already know, "Bayan" is the Filipino term for the word "community". My thoughts on what an ideal classroom should be have always been one that makes you feel as if you're in a family. Not only being able to easily communicate with one another, but being able to feel comfortable to a point where you could treat your classmate as a friend-- even a sibling. Within this Bayan, I have felt just this. I have grown fond of my fellow classmates, as well as my teachers, acting the way I do with people I have known for several years; even my own family. 

Let me give you some brief knowledge on the Philippines, as well as what I have learned in class. The Philippines (P.I. for short) is a country in Southeast Asia in the Western Pacific Ocean. Its capital is Manila. The Philippines, also known as Republic of Philippines, is the world's 12th most populous country with approximately 94 million people. Although there are many beautiful places like Cebu (as pictured in the top right corner), there are contrasting places dealing with rising poverty like rural provinces (right underneath). 

This is what I knew about the Philippines-- the basics. But ever since joining this class, I've been learning more than just the basics. I've been learning the history, as well. For example, I have learned about the different generations. There are 1st generation: born in P.I. (18 years and older- grandparents), 2nd generation: U.S born-parents and 3rd generation: children of 2nd generation. Not only that, but there is are 1.5 generation Filipinos, as well, who were 13 years and younger. There are four immigration waves, and the very first one started in the 1600s, known as the Spanish Galleons. The latest wave, which is still ongoing, are the "professionals"--different workers. This last wave are 1st generation Filipinos. Before, the U.S. emphasized blacks and whites, but ever since Filipinos and other races, it has been more diverse and complicated. I learned all of this in reading just the first chapter of a novel we recently started, Filipino American Psychology by Kevin Nadal. I highly suggest you to read it! 

I've been learning more about my culture in this class than my whole life. Evidently, I am one hell of an Americanized filipino. But as of late, I am THAT much more capable of delving into the topic of Filipino American history and what not than my sisters who were both born and raised in the P.I. their first few years of birth. As well as learning about my culture, we've been learning about our identities more. Ralph Waldo Emerson quotes: "To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment." In other words, not allowing others to mold you is an essential achievement. He's stating how we live in a society where people try to hide their true selves in order to fit "norm" society  and impress others. Why I mention this is because it coincides. For me, especially. It really relates to me because I am a Filipino-American, trying to find out more about myself and my culture. With the help of this class, I'm doing just that.

So come join me on this journey to the Philippines. Not physically (maybe one day!), but mentally and emotionally. Now I leave you all with a video of the national anthem of the Philippines instrumental. Sing along with the latest revision of the Filipino and/or English lyrics (1960s). This may be a faster recording. Regardless... Enjoy, and thank you for your time and interest :))))

O sintang lupa,
Perlas ng Silanganan;
Diwang apoy kang
Sa araw nagmula.

Lupang magiliw,
Pugad ng kagitingan,
Sa manlulupig
Di ka papaslang.

Sa iyong langit, simoy, parang.
Dagat at kabundukan,
Laganap ang tibok ng puso
Sa paglayang walang hanggan.

Sagisag ng watawat mong mahal
Ningning at tagumpay;
Araw't bituin niyang maalab
Ang s'yang lagi naming tanglaw.

Sa iyo Lupa ng ligaya't pagsinta,
Tamis mabuhay na yakap mo,
Datapwa't langit ding kung ikaw ay apihin
Ay mamatay ng dahil sa 'yo.

O beloved land,
Pearl of the Orient,
A fiery spirit art thou
Coming from the sun.

Land of our affection,
Cradle of bravery,
To the conquerors
Thou shall never fall.

Through thy skies, air, meadows,
Seas and mountains,
Widespread is the heartbeat
For eternal freedom.

Thy dear flag symbolizes
Brilliance and victory;
Its radiant sun and stars
Will always be our guiding light.

In thee, land of joy and affection,
Sweet life in thine embrace.
Though heaven will it be too, if thou art oppressed
To die because of thee.