PETER’S PINOY PATTER — NOVEMBER 2016

Musings

 Like many Americans who voted for Hillary Clinton, I am still feeling the pain over the shocking election results of November 8. It is unfathomable to me that America has elected Donald Trump.  As Senator Elizabeth Warren said, “He is a demagogue who is also a racist, a sexist, a xenophobe, and a bully.” To me, the presidential election was another stark reminder of the pain I experienced when I was discriminated against in housing, employment, and education. But, of course, racism continues to be alive and well in America.  I will leave it to political pundits like Senator Warren, Van Jones, and Michael Moore to analyze how and why this assault on American democracy happened.  Today, I choose to focus on what Trump’s election means to me and what actions Filipino Americans may decide to take.

Let me begin with six basic truths arising from the presidential election: (1) Donald Trump is unquestionably America’s President-Elect. (2) It is equally clear from the popular vote that most Americans prefer Hillary Clinton as their President. (3) Trump’s consistent message from the outset of his campaign has been bigotry — toward Mexicans, Muslims, LGBTQ community, disabled, women, and people of color. (4) All demographic sectors of the white electorate were responsible for Trump’s election — not just non-college Caucasians and those residing in rural America. (5) The resultant strong support from white Americans is a confirmation that they endorse, at least implicitly, the bigotry of the President-elect. (6) Trump’s victory coupled with Republican majorities in both the Senate and House gives him the power to do almost anything he has promised, including the following matters of particular relevance to Filipino Americans — weakening of civil rights, eliminating the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), opposing minimum wage hikes, deporting all undocumented individuals.

In view of the above, what can we do as Filipino Americans?  First, we should not continue to despair or be negative. Instead, I suggest taking one or more of the following positive steps:  (1) Fight hard as reasonably practicable against any threat to the dignity and human rights of any individual(s) living in America. (2) Assure that our children have a realistic notion of what it means to be brown in an America that can often be racist and uncaring. (3) Value and support women and girls in your family; be vigilant for their safety.  (4) Keep in touch with one another  individually and/or through organizations — not only for support but to assure that our rightful place in America is not infringed upon. (5) Support those causes you believe in through volunteering and/or contributing. (6) Encourage coalitions with other ethnic groups.  Our numbers are too small to go it alone; also the powerful have historically controlled minorities by pitting them against one another.  (7) Demand that our elected representatives in Congress work with the Trump Administration on possible common ground issues such as: jobs, infrastructure, affordable college, fixing the Affordable Care Act, phased-in deportation.  Whatever you do, be guided by First Lady Michelle Obama‘s advice, “When they go low, we go high.”

Time can only tell if these suggested action steps will be successful.  However, in the 86 years that I have been privileged to be on earth, I have seen an America that has been able to recover from the Nixon, Reagan, and Bush-43 years. I pray that the Trump years will also pass without significant harm to our great country.

Bridge Generation News

Jazz On The Green 2016:  An enthusiastic crowd of more than a hundred supporters of the Pasquil Family Foundation gathered on October 15 to honor Josie (Tenio) Canion, jazz vocalist/pianist icon.  The event, at the picturesque Grand Island Vineyards in Walnut Grove CA, was clearly an artistic success.  Josie was at her singing best as she entertained her fans with a repertoire of new and nostalgic tunes.  Equally entertaining were her daughters, Georgie, Reggie, Jamie, and Stevie, whose beautiful rendition of “All The Things You Are” gave rise to misty eyes among many in the audience. (You may remember the girls performing and recording in a quintet with youngest sister Jody as The Third Wave in 1970 when they were just 10-17 in age.)  “Jazz On The Green 2016” had the typical Pasquil Family Foundation touches of class — lots of delicious food (advertised as “a light snack”), gourmet wines, meaningful seating arrangements, and brief remarks from pinoy West Sacramento Mayor Christopher Cabaldon, Assemblyman Jim Cooper, and your faithful blogger. Proceeds from this latest Foundation fund raiser will continue to provide hot breakfasts to more than 700 children at the Pasquil ancestral home in Siquijor, Philippines.

Filipino American National Museum:  Thanks to Mel LaGasca, director of the new Filipino American National Historical Society’s Museum in downtown Stockton, I enjoyed an insiders tour during the museum’s inaugural open house on October 8.  A predominantly Filipino American throng excitedly viewed the Smithsonian traveling exhibit Singgalot (The Ties That Bind), which details a timeline of Filipino American history.  Other exhibits include displays on agriculture and labor, boxers and martial artists, bikers, an early church group, and a campo bunkhouse display that illustrates living conditions of Filipino farm workers during the 1920-50s.  The Museum will be open every Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm. The Museum’s opening culminates more than twenty years since Stockton was chosen by FANHS to be the site of the nation’s first Filipino American national historical museum.  The opening also reflects years of hard work for Mel and his committee who are to be congratulated for seeing the Museum become a reality. As important, the Stockton chapter is to be congratulated for providing startup funding.  Its major concern now is to obtain additional resources so that the Museum’s lease can continue beyond its scheduled 2018 expiration date.  As stated by chapter president Rich Tenaza in the chapter’s October newsletter, “Stockton laid the groundwork, and National is assuming responsibility for the Museum’s future.”  Filipino American history buffs everywhere strongly agree and look forward for the FANHS Board of Trustees to develop a plan to continue the Museum beyond 2018.

Other Bridge Generation News:  WWII 1st and 2nd Filipino Infantry Regiments hero Domingo Los Banos received special recognition from the Honolulu Filipino Community at its October 15 Gala……………. Also on October 15th, FANHS Stockton chapter held its 17th Annual Community Recognition Award by honoring Nick Catanio, 96.  One of the oldest living members of the Filipino Federation of America, he continues to serve as an adviser to the Stockton branch………….. Rosalie (Salutan) Marquez of Guadalupe CA received the Outstanding Leadership Award  from the Bay-Los Osos Filipino Association……………. I am saddened to report the death of dear friend Adele (Bautista) Urbiztondo, 83, more recently of Las Vegas but a long time San Franciscan.  Readers may recall Adele as a young community queen candidate gracing the cover of the book Filipinos in San Francisco……………..  November Happy Birthdays to: Connie (Adlao) Suan, Frank Antiporda, Gregg Bambo, Carol (Labuga) Holcomb.

Pinakbet — News Across the Country

 Congratulations to Linda Nietes, owner of the Philippine Expressions Bookshop, on her new digs in the Historic District of San Pedro CA.  The increased square footage of the new space is proving to be a great place to display her collection of books and other Filipiniana.………….  Construction began on a $15.5 million park named after Cesar Solis, who as assistant chief is the highest-ranking Filipino American officer in the history of the San Diego Police Department……………….  Danongan “Danny” Kalanduyan, 69, the “Father of American Kulintang Music” passed away on September 28. Danny was brought to the United States to teach kulintang music in the ethnomusicology department of the University of Washington in 1976.  A kulintang ensemble, consists of a main melody instrument (a kulintang) accompanied by two different sized gongs (agungs) and a drum.  Danny’s legacy lives on in many of his former students.  My son, Peter Jamero Jr., was privileged to study under him at the University of Washington in 1980-81, performing with the master in several Kulintang Suites. Peter went on to become the featured kulintang instrumentalist on the Filipino Youth Activities of Seattle Drill Team.  Of the master, he remembered, “His music was incredibly intricate and precise, each note totally structured, not improvised……none of it was written down, everything was learned by ear.”  In 1996 Danny was the first Filipino American to receive the National Heritage Award from then First Lady Hillary Clinton…………….. On September 23, pro football star wide receiver Doug Baldwin of the Seattle Seahawks took a strong stand against police-involved shootings of black men.  He called for states to review all policies of law enforcement agencies and to eliminate the militarist cultures of police departments. Baldwin, who is of Filipino and African American descent, spoke to reporters just days after fatal police-involved shootings in Charlotte NC and Tulsa OK…………… President Barack Obama’s October 1 kick off  message on Filipino American History Month began a flurry of community celebrations throughout America.  Many cities prepared FAHM resolutions including San Francisco where Janet Alvarado was an honoree of the Board of Supervisors for displaying her father’s seminal photographic exhibit The Alvarado Project. Perhaps the most ambitious community celebration was in Los Angeles where the FAHMLA Coalition hosted a month long series of events.