PETER’S PINOY PATTER — December 2021
Bridge Generation News
BG Personality of the Month, Estrella (Ravela) Alamar, 85: Best known for her extensive collection on the history of Filipinos in Chicago, Estrella was born in the Windy City on October 9, 1936. She grew up in the Hyde Park neighborhood — the future site of the Barack Obama Presidential Center, currently under construction. Her father, Florentino Alamar, who immigrated from the Philippine province of Nueva Vizcaya in 1922, studied law at DePaul University but was unable to find work in his chosen field due to prevailing discriminatory policies. He subsequently found work with the U.S. Postal Service. By 1935, he had saved enough money to send for Estrella’s mother, Ambrosia Galutera — one of only 50 Filipinos allowed to immigrate under the restrictive provisions of the Tydings-McDuffie Act. A school teacher in Nueva Vizcaya, her mother was also barred from working in her chosen profession. She turned to dressmaking — a practical occupation for the Alamar family of four girls.
Estrella and her sisters were raised in what then was common practice among Filipino parents — learn how to be American but also learn basic Filipino values. The children grew up speaking only English but followed Filipino customs. They participated in dancing and played the piano at cultural programs at school and at Filipino community events. They encountered racial discrimination, which often left them confused about their ethnicity. She described this period of her life as being “Filipino on weekends and American during weekdays.” Estrella also described herself as “independent” after working her way through college in obtaining a bachelor’s degree from DePaul University and a masters from Governors State University. Like her mother, Estrella became a school teacher and taught first grade students for 30 years.
As the oldest child, she regularly accompanied her community-active father to Filipino functions. Estrella attributes her early exposure to Filipino events for developing her large collection of Chicago photos, artifacts, and newspaper articles — currently in countless boxes that occupy much of her home. In 1999 she co-founded a museum for the collection with her late husband, Justo Alamar, that closed after three years due to the lack of funding. Today, there is a strong possibility for her dream of a site for her collection becoming a reality. The old family home in southside Chicago is now planned to be turned into the Ravela Family Museum.
Estrella’s collection was not her only Filipino American activity. She was founding president of the Filipino American Historical Society of Chicago (FAHSC). In 2012, she was a founding member of the Greater Chicago Chapter of the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) along with former FANHS national president Gil Pilapil, historian Barbara Posadas, and sisters Jane, Ethel, and Fran Alayu. Estrella also co-authored the book Filipinos in Chicago in 2001 with Willi Red Buhay, that made ample reference to her collection. A regular attendee of FANHS national conferences, she looks forward to participating in the August 2022 conference in Seattle.
A Long Awaited Birthday Celebration
October 16 marked the 88th birthday celebration of my kumadre Connie Pasquil — a long awaited event because of Covid restrictions. The outdoor setting amid the greenery of the Grand Island Winery was perfect with clear skies and mid 70s temperatures. Connie’s beautiful family was there in full force. Fully vaccinated peers that I had not seen for years greeted one another as long lost friends — which, of course, we all were.
Ralph Yngojo, 93 — RIP:
Ralph was born on July 1, 1928, in San Francisco, CA where he spent most of his life. During his growing up years, he played high school ball at Lowell High School as well as basketball for the Filipino American Mango Athletic Club during its halcyon days of the late 1940s. He also loved tennis, passing on his love for the game to his two children. Music was another personal passion. He was a Frank Sinatra and straight ahead jazz aficionado, and possessed an extensive jazz collection. An accountant, he possessed a broad background in Fiscal Management, Budgeting and Cost Accounting. Ralph married the former Virginia Robles in 1949 with whom he enjoyed 73 years of marriage. He passed away on November 7 in Princeton NJ.
Living Legends:
Congratulations to online magazine Positively Filipino for its series “Living Legends: Part 1” by publisher Mona Lisa Yuchengco! (http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/living-legends-part-1). The list honors “pioneers and barrier breakers — the first Filipino Americans to be distinguished in their respective fields and who paved the way for those who came later.” The initial list consists of Elected Officials, Authors, and Sports. The Bridge Generation is well represented. Of the twelve honorees on the initial list, seven are Bridge Generation Filipino Americans — Larry Acera, elected official/businessman; Vangie (Canonizado) Buell, author/folk singer; Ben Cayetano, Governor of Hawaii; Roman Gabriel, North Carolina State football All-American and Los Angeles Rams quarterback; Peter Jamero, author/historian; Ronald Quidachay, Superior Court Judge; and Dolores Sibonga, Seattle City Councilwoman/journalist. Two were children of Bridge Generation parents — Tim Lincecum, SF Giants pitcher; and Raymond Townsend, UCLA All-American and National Basketball Association guard. Others were Philippine-born Erik Spoelstra, Miami Heat head coach; David Valderrama, Maryland House Representative; and Velma Veloria, WA State Representative/labor activist.
Happy December Birthdays: Rose (Bucol) Jamero, Connie (Muca) Jamero, Rosemary (Quitiquit) Figueroa, Clem Morales, Mike Nisperos, Paul Paular, Phil Ventura.
Pinakbet — News Across America
Filipino American Historical Tidbits:
In 1781 Antonio Miranda Rodriguez, of Filipino ancestry, was one of the founders of Pueblo de Nuestra Senora Reina de los Angeles, now known as the City of Los Angeles……….. In 1974 Thelma (Garcia) Buchholdt was the first Filipino/a American elected to a U.S. legislature.
Did You Know:
San Antonio TX Mayor Ron Nirenberg is of Filipino as well as Malay, Indian, and British heritage from his mother’s side and of Jewish descent on his father’s side……… Joe Koy will bring his Filipino culture-centric humor to television with the ABC-TV sitcom Josep. The stand-up comedian, whose jokes on stage and in Netflix specials have resonated with Filipinos internationally, will star in the title role. The half-hour sitcom, currently in development, will follow the life of a hard-working Filipino American nurse………… Family physician Recto “Rick” F. DeLeon, MD., of Modesto CA received the California Medical Association’s most prestigious award, the Frederick K.M. Plessner Memorial Award…….. 
Long time activist and University of Washington alumni Frank Irigon recently was honored with the university’s Charles E. Odegard Award. The Odegaard Award honors individuals whose leadership exemplifies the former UW president’s work on behalf of diversity………… Only three Filipinos born in the Philippines have played in the National Football League — Eugene Amano, guard, Tennessee Titans; Fred Jones, linebacker, Buffalo Bills/Kansas City Chiefs; and Tim Tebow, quarterback, Denver Broncos/New York Jets………… UC Berkeley professor Catherine (Ceniza) Choy has written a new book, Asian American Histories of the United States, which will be published by Beacon Press. Born and raised in New York City, Dr. Choy resides in Berkeley.
Musings
White Supremacy in America, (to) It Has Always Been About People of Color, (to) Equitable Justice for People of Color, Part XXI:
(A Tale of Two American Cities: Two recently completed court cases discussed below are representative of this blog’s long concern — now in its 21st issue — over America’s treatment of People of Color, including Filipinos.)
On November 19, a Kenosha WI court found White vigilante Kyle Rittenhouse “Not Guilty” on five charges for killing two men and seriously wounding another with an AR-15 at a Black Lives Matter protest on August 25, 2020. The verdict came with the considerable help of more than $2 million contributed by far-right billionaires and millionaires that enabled the Rittenhouse’s defense team to retain an O.J. Simpson consultant who was instrumental in Simpson’s acquittal for murder in 1995. Billionaire/millionaire money also enabled the defense to stage several mock trials. The mock trials before “pretend” juries produced effective strategies for Rittenhouse’s testimony. With the knowledge thus gained from mock juries, his testimony before a real jury “was probably the most important factor in the jury ultimately letting him walk.” (Washington Post, November 11, 2011).
On November 24, three vigilante White men on trial for chasing, cornering, and then killing unarmed jogger Armaud Arbery in Glynn County GA (55% black) on February 2020, were found guilty of felony murder by an 11 White:1 black jury. Justice finally came for the killing of a black person in the Deep South! However, the guilty decision only came after: (1) The White prosecuting attorney (subsequently indicted) initially determined it was not necessary to interrogate, arrest, or charge the three men. (2) It took three months after Arbery was killed before the men were booked and jailed.
Why wasn’t Aubery’s defense well-bankrolled like Rittenhouse’s? Aubery’s family and supporters were not persons of wealth. Unlike the Rittenhouse case, they could not afford mock juries and expert consultants. Fortunately, Arbery’s case was aided by a leaked videotape in which one of the killers inadvertently provided damning evidence. Moreover, attorney Linda Dunikoski delivered a flawless case for the prosecution. Without the leaked video and Dunikoski’s skills, the three killers likely would have been found “Not Guilty” as have many other black men and youth in America.
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR
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