PETER’S PINOY PATTER — NOVEMBER 2019

Bridge Generation News

Ferdinand V. Galvez

(Today’s Bridge Generation – now in their 70s, 80s, and 90s – are a rapidly declining population. Over the years, most members of these American born children of the first wave of Filipino immigrants have passed away. To remember their contributions to the history of Filipinos in America, a deceased BG individual will be a recurring feature of this blog. This issue features Ferdinand V. Galvez, educator and community leader.) Ferd was born in Roseville CA on February 6, 1929 and passed away on May 26, 2006 after a long struggle with dementia. One of ten children of Pedro and Maria Galvez, Ferd’s formative years were spent in the then mostly rural community of Roseville, twenty miles north of Sacramento. A good student at Roseville High school, he also was heavily involved in extra-curricular activities. After high school graduation in 1946 he joined the U.S. Army, serving with the Airborne Division in Japan. Always focused, Ferd wasted no time following his army discharge, quickly enrolling at Sacramento State University where he earned a bachelor’s degree. In 1953 he began his illustrious career in education as a teacher — all in the geographically (but not ethnically) diverse San Juan Unified School District. Teaching in a schoolroom did not last long. Recognizing his talents and skills, the school district promoted Ferd to principal of Pasadena Elementary School in 1960. Thus began a string of principalships in a variety of SJUSD elementary and high schools. While serving as principal during the day, he went to Sacramento State at night where he earned a master’s in education in 1965. His formal education was not over — in 1975 he received a doctorate from Nova University and went on to serve as SJUSD Director of Secondary Administration. Ferd was active within the wider Sacramento community: a member of the Comstock, Kiwanis, Lions Clubs as well as the American Legion; an appointee to the Sacramento County Commission on Aging and the California State Venereal Disease Advisory Commission. His successful career and wider community activities never interfered with his participation within the Filipino community. He served as President of the Filipino Community of Sacramento and Vicinity and was a member of several Filipino organizations, including the Cabelleros Dimas Alang. In 1971 he was instrumental in getting the Sacramento community to host the Filipino Youth Activities of Seattle’s spectacular drill team. Ferd was a strong supporter of youth organizations, especially the Sacramento Filipino American Youth Club. There, young pinoys and pinays could enjoy Filipino American basketball and volleyball tournaments which then flourished in Northern/Central California and meet other Filipino youth at the dances that took place afterward. I was privileged to know Ferd well in the nine years my family resided in Sacramento. I witnessed first hand his devotion to education and his unwavering commitment to the Filipino Community. At his passing, the Filipino American community and a multitude of students and educators expressed their appreciation for Ferd’s impact on their lives.

Octogenarian Connie (Viernes) Pasquil of Walnut Grove continues her busy ways. In September alone she traveled to Southern California, helped organize the Siquijor Protective Association Reunion in Stockton, went to Sacramento for a FANHS reunion, and displayed plants and hand-made crafts at St. Anthony’s Church Fall Festival in her home town. Another trip to the Philippines with her effervescent daughter Mona Rogers is in her immediate future.

Joe and Jillian Jamero

Joe Jamero of Livingston CA, in the process of recuperating from an exhausting trip to his ancestral home of Garcia-Hernandez, Bohol in the Philippines, received uplifting news from his granddaughter, Jillian Jamero. On Sept 27, Jillian, a starter on the Air Force Academy Falcons women’s soccer team, helped her team beat Fresno State 1-0 to run its record to 5-1 and on top of the Mountain West Conference standings. After scoring a long goal against San Diego State on October 19, she now has scored six goals for the season

Happy November Birthdays

Connie (Adlao) Suan
Gregg Bambo
Carol (Labuga) Holcomb.

Pinakbet — News From Across America

George and KellyAnne Conway

Conservative Filipino American Republican George Conway, successful New York City attorney, has represented some of the most high-profile cases in America. But he is best known as the husband of Kelleyanne Conway, senior counselor to the President. Recently, he said Donald Trump should be impeached if he pressured the President of Ukraine to find dirt on former Vice President Joe Biden. It was the latest in a long list of his criticisms of the President. In his October 12 opinion editorial in the Washington Post: “There is a cancer in the presidency,” Conway wrote in April; in June he described one of Trump’s briefs as ‘spectacularly anti-constitutional’; in July, he called his wife’s boss ‘racist’, as well as ‘boorish, dim-witted, inarticulate, incoherent, narcissistic and insensitive.'” Then, last week he achieved a new high with a 12,000 word article in Atlantic Magazine titled, “Unfit for Office.”

Climate Strike March

New York City Filipino Americans joined the world-wide Climate Strike March on September 20, focusing on Philippine issues such as the plight of indigenous people losing their ancestral lands. The march was inspired by 16-year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, who started the climate strike movement. Over four million people filled city streets around the world — billed as the largest ever protest against the threat posed to the world by rising temperatures.

Filipino Community Village for Seniors

A longtime dream finally became a reality in Seattle on September 18 when more than 200 Filipino community members led by Capital Campaign Co-chairs Alma Kern and Velma Veloria along with elected officials celebrated the groundbreaking for the Filipino Community Village. The $30-million Village, located adjacent to the Filipino Community Center, will have 95 units of affordable housing for seniors and will include the Innovation Learning Center — a state-of-the-art computer laboratory providing technological access to young people.

Rodel Rodis

Kudos to veteran politically savvy Rodel Rodis of San Francisco for his energetic efforts on behalf of Filipino American candidates for public office. The latest occurred in September when he hosted fundraising events for Gina (Ortiz) Jones, the favorite to win the sprawling Texas Congressional District that includes El Paso, and T.J. Cox, freshman Congressman from the California Central Valley.

I met Rodel in 1971 at the very first Young Filipino American Peoples Conference and will always be thankful for his leadership in getting me back to my native California in 1989.

Closure of Long-time Ludi’s Restaurant

Sad to learn of the closing of “Ludi’s” restaurant in downtown Seattle in August. Since the 1930’s Ludi’s and its predecessor diner operating under the name of “The Turf” have been one of the few downtown places serving Filipino food. It has always kept its prices low and its welcome mat open to all – “rich or poor, privileged or suffering from addiction,” said owner Gregorio Rosas. (The new hotel across the street charges $8 for a cup of coffee while coffee with toast costs $3 at “Ludi’s”).

Newest Marvel Comics Filipina Superhero – Sea Hunter

After introducing their first Filipina superhero “Wave” in March, Marvel Comics is debuting a new Filipina superhero named “Sea Hunter”. (Thanks to comic book writer and artist Whilce Portacio).

Vallejo Native H.E.R. Wins Grammy Awards

According to the “Asian Journal”, 2019 is shaping up to be quite the year for Grammy-winning singer/songwriter H.E.R. After winning two Grammy Awards in February, on August 30 the 22-year-old Vallejo CA native (born Gabriella Wilson) released a compilation mixtape called “I Used to Know Her.” She currently is in the midst of a country-wide music festival tour.

Filipino Americans Killed in Santa Barbara Boat Fire

Among the 34 persons that were killed in a boat fire off the Santa Barbara coast on Labor Day were five Filipino American family members from Stockton CA: Michael Quitasol, daughters Evan, Nicole and Angela, and his wife, Fermisa. Only the five crew members, above deck at the time of the explosion, escaped from the fully engulfed 75-foot commercial diving boat.

Musings

Is excluding People of Color in favor of White Nationalism/Supremacy in America’s Future?

(My August blog first posed this question after pointing out examples where the Trump Administration’s inflammatory words and policies only targeted People of Color — not Whites. Part II concluded that White Nationalism/Supremacy is alive, well, and growing. Part III, explored the aftermath from the perspectives of the President and the People)

Part IV: My conclusion: Yes, White Nationalism/Supremacy is in America’s future but its ascendancy may be brief. As this blog is being written: polls show that 52% of Americans believe the President should be impeached and removed from office; the House of Representatives is considered certain to reach a finding of impeachment; five of some of Trump’s most egregious executive orders were recently overturned by the courts; Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell calendared dates for an impeachment trial. While removal from office is not expected until early 2020, the effective end of the Trump Era and thus of White Nationalism/Supremacy may be in sight

Museum Funding Countdown — minus 1 year, 6 months and growing

When will the Board of Trustees, Filipino American National Historical Society — who have program and fiduciary responsibility — provide critically needed financing to assure keeping open the Filipino American Museum in Stockton, the historic center of Filipino immigration?.

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