PETER’S PINOY PATTER — OCTOBER 2020

BRIDGE GENERATION NEWS

BG Personality of the Month – Ernie Cabreana, 90

 (I became well acquainted with Ernie and his sisters, Jo Carlson and Gilbertine Campos, at various Bridge Generation old timer reunions that began in 1989.  I hadn’t seen him for years so I called Ernie on September 9 to wish him well as a fellow nonagenarian.  In the midst of our reminiscing, it occurred to me this would be an ideal time to interview him for my blog.  Following is the result of that interview.)

The oldest of seven children of Filipino immigrants and Hawaiian sakadas Irineo and Maria (Tenequez) Cabreana, Ernie was born on September 3, 1930 in Lompoc CA.  Life was hard but his father worked steadily as a tractor driver for a local produce company.  Ernie’s early life was like many other rural-residing young Filipino Americans during the Great Depression — cavorting in the countryside but oblivious to the hardships experienced by other Americans.

As World War II approached in 1940, the family moved to Oakland to be near Ernie’s father who found work in nearby shipyards.  It was in Oakland where Ernie became a teenage  amateur boxer with the Golden Gloves, ending up as the local featherweight champion. In 1950 his amateur boxing career continued when he enlisted in the  Army at the onset of the Korean War.  Since boxing was encouraged by the Army to provide entertainment for the troops, he was assigned to the Special Forces to box.  For Ernie, the assignment was an opportunity to escape from the more arduous aspects of army life.  His ring success continued as he won the division welterweight championship.

After shipping out to Korea, however, he found himself in a more serious type of physical confrontation – combat.  As squad leader of his infantry platoon, Ernie took two bullets in his leg for which he was awarded a Purple Heart. Fortunately, his wounds were relatively minor.  After his honorable discharge, Ernie returned to the familiar environs of Santa Maria.  There, he met and married Aurelia “Iree” Abenido with whom he had a happy, enduring marriage.  He boxed professionally for a short time. Between bouts, he worked in the fields before landing a job with a frozen food company where he worked for 25 years until his retirement.

Upon Ernie’s retirement, he became involved with local Filipino American history.  In 1992, together with Joe and Marge Talaugon, and Rosalie (Salutan) Marquez, he founded  the Central Coast Chapter of the Filipino American National Historical Society for which he served as its first president.  On October 21, 1995, to memorialize the 1587 landing of the first Filipino on American soil in Morro Bay, the chapter dedicated a historical marker under the shadow of famous Morro Rock.  The dedication drew a crowd of 500 persons including community and government officials, proud Filipino community residents, and 300 FANHS members from across the country.

Ernie is perhaps best known as an avid biker, having been a motorcyclist since sixteen of age.  After his marriage to biker enthusiast Iree, he purchased a three-wheeler — lovingly called “El Diablo” — to accommodate her.  He is also known as the “Godfather of Bikerdahan”.  Since 2009, Filipino bikers and their families from California and Nevada have gathered annually for a summer weekend to celebrate their love of biking.  But the gathering is much more than biking.  Bikerdahan, which has attracted 500 persons in recent years, also emphasizes Filipino culture as well as Spanish and American influences. Exception — the Saturday night dinner where lechon and other Filipino delicacies prevail.  Bikerdahan attendees are not the toughs popularized in movies.  In real life, they represent a variety of professions and occupations. Ernie was an early Bikerdahan attendee and clearly the oldest and best known.  In recent years, failing health may have limited Ernie’s participation, but this year’s gathering is certain to once again offer a toast to Manong Ernie — “Godfather of Bikerdahan.”

Happy October Birthdays: Abe Amen, Angie (Castro) Gamido, Luna Jamero, Barbara Posadas, Delia Rapolla, Art Suguitan, Andres “Sonny” Tangalin, Josie (Tenio) Canion, Don Velez, Connie (Viernes) Pasquil.

PINAKBET — NEWS ACROSS AMERICA

Did You Know? The respected Los Angeles non-profit agency Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA) is expanding.  On August 27, it announced a rebuilding plan that will expand its headquarters in Historic Filipinotown…………. A portion of California State Highway 35 in Daly City will be named after the late  activist and community leader Alice Pena Bulos.  ………… In August, the Governor of Nevada appointed Cherina de Asis as director of the Office for New Americans, which serves as a central place for refugees and immigrants………… National Football League draft picks: San Diego State’s 6 foot 3, 309 pound center Keith Ismael was the 156th overall pick by the Washington Redskins while Boise State’s 6 foot 3, 265 pound defensive lineman Curtis Weaver was selected 164th overall by the Miami Dolphins………….. The legendary historian and author of “America Is In The Heart” Carlos Bulosan is buried in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Seattle WA.

MUSINGS

Is excluding People of Color in favor of White Nationalism in America’s Future? Part XII

While I have previously written White Nationalism is a growing menace in today’s America, and while Donald Trump condones White Nationalism,  these did not constitute sufficient evidence for me to urge Trump’s ouster — until now.  But Bob Woodward‘s new book “Rage” released on September 9 provides the smoking gun! For almost 50 years, Woodward has been America’s most respected, pre-eminent journalist  In preparation for the book, Woodward conducted 18 interviews with Donald Trump covering 20 hours over six months. In page after page of “Rage”, Trump reveals his hate for People Of Color, “shit hole” countries, Barack Obama, Kamala Harris, Muslims, and immigrants.  And if the written word wasn’t enough, Woodward also released taped interviews in which Trump utters a constant diatribe of anti-POC venom.

Despite the book’s accounts of Trump’s attacks on POC, however, I do not believe they constitute the strongest reasons for him to be ousted. Rather, it is Trump’s failure to effectively deal with COVID-19 that so far has resulted in American 203,594 deaths — the fourth highest mass deaths in U.S. history, behind only the Civil War, World War II, and the 1918 flu pandemic. Moreover, the 203,594 deaths are fast approaching the 261,000 Americans who died in World War I, the Vietnam War, and the Korean War, combined.  “Rage” and its associated tapes offer irrefutable evidence Trump should go.  To wit: On January 28, Trump was briefed by U.S. Intelligence officials of the virus’ dangers, warning it would be the greatest national crisis he would face.  In his February 7 interview with Woodward, Trump confirmed he understood the COVID-19 threat.  He knew the virus was spread airborne.  Yet, in early March he told America it would “disappear.”  He also refused to take remedial action or to take the advice of scientists. Instead, he called the pandemic a “hoax” and disavowed using masks.  Today, Trump’s anti-science positions remains the same.

The U.S. population is 4.25% of the world’s population yet has 30% of the world’s COVID-19 cases and 20% of its deaths. Asked by Woodward why he chose to withhold the pandemic’s danger to the public, Trump said he “wanted to play it down” .  He didn’t want to “panic the public and promote fear” (despite never hesitating to use fear in numerous racist rants). His failure to act responsibly was subsequently estimated by the scientific community to have resulted in up to 75% unnecessary American deaths.  Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden issued a response within minutes of television’s September 9th’s coverage of “Rage”.  He accused Trump of “lying to the American people” and of “dereliction of duty.” Biden also had his own estimate of Trump’s failure to act, “If Trump acted just two weeks earlier 54,000 American lives would have been spared.”  Trump continues to “play it down” and to lie.  The pandemic  issue continues to be “top of the mind” for most Americans. Woodward’s book concludes, “Trump failed the people of America.” I strongly agree!

Breaking News

Three events with serious implications to the preservation of our democracy occurred just before this blog went to press.

The passing of Supreme Court Justice, Ruth Baden Ginsburg, on September 18.

IMPLICATION: Justice Ginsburg’s passing means Trump will probably nominate a conservative justice, resulting in a 6-3 conservative majority in the Supreme Court.  The 6-3 majority is likely to result in upholding Trump’s repeal of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), including its protections for Americans with pre-existing conditions.

On September 21, Donald Trump refused to commit to a peaceful transfer of power should he be defeated in the November elections.

IMPLICATION: In the long history of the United States, there has always been a peaceful transition after a presidential election. However, Trump’s contention that only ballots counted on election night should count, suggests he does not intend to leave the White House quietly.

On September 22, a Kentucky grand jury refused to indict three Louisville police officers for the July killing of Breanna Taylor.

IMPLICATION: Clearing the three Louisville police officers of Breanna Taylor’s killing threatens to continue the national protests  following the murder of George Floyd.  At the same time, it also confirms the need for police reform.

 Vote Early! Vote Trump Out!

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