PETER’S PINOY PATTER — APRIL 2021
Bridge Generation
(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 Bridge Generation individual will be a recurring feature of this blog. This issue features Henry “Hank” Dacuyan)
Henry Henrique Dacuyan was born on January 28, 1932 in Winton CA to Filipino immigrants Felix Dacuyan of Leyte and Florencia Catiel from the island of Siquijor. Like most boys growing up during the Great Depression, he spent much of the time playing in the great outdoors of his central California countryside, helping out at his parent’s farm labor camp, and working in the fields at the tender age of twelve. Friendly and outgoing, he was popular in school.
Hank’s companions were with other Filipino boys, with one exception — a big and strong puti (white) neighbor named Elmer Willhoite. He and Elmer, who would go on to become a football All-American guard at the University of Southern California and a Rose Bowl hero in 1952, were inseparable. Elmer even helped Hank with his daily campo chores — chopping wood to heat the metal tub in the outside bath house, disposing of basura (garbage), etc.
As a youth and well into his adult years, Hank was a natural-born, effortless, and all around athlete. Whether it was basketball, softball, tennis, volleyball, or swimming — he excelled. Even in marbles — boyhood friends remember him walking away with all the marbles in “winner take all” competition. He was a pitcher and shortstop for the champion Livingston “Dragons” fastpitch softball team, a boomba spiker in volleyball, and a long-distance swimmer. During his 70s he still was able to cover the tennis court with accurate lobs and smashes.
Basketball was the sport in which Hank really excelled. Despite his height of 5’7″, he could score and rebound with the big boys as a forward on the Merced High School championship basketball team in 1950-51. Shortly thereafter, Hank enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. He had the good fortune to be stationed at Hickam Field, in Honolulu HI and play on its championship “Padres” basketball team in 1953 along with California pals, Joe Muca and Clem Morales. At Hartnell College (Salinas CA) during 1955-57, he was an outstanding starter — this time as a jump-shooting guard.
However, it was in the rough and tumble Filipino Youth Club basketball tournaments when he invariably was selected an all-star, that Hank experienced greatest renown. He starred on the first Livingston Youth Club “Dragons” basketball team in 1948 along with older brother Trongkilino “Chunky” Dacuyan, Frank Padin, Richard Gacer, Ralph Raagas, Sonny Pomicpic, and Herb Jamero. At the time, the San Francisco “Mangos” dominated the youth club circuit. But during the 1950s, the “Dragons” became the youth club circuit’s premier team when holdovers Hank and Sonny were joined by Patrick Alcordo, Al Baguio, Joe Muca, Don Del Pilar, Fred Pomicpic, George Jamero, Flo Hipolito, Apollo Bacaylan, and Art Villarruz.
Hank’s life’s work was in education. He spent 68 eventful years teaching at several South Bay school districts and in his hometown of Winton CA. He was also community-minded. Among his many affiliations: President of the Central Valley Chapter of the Filipino American National Historical Society, Chapter President of the California Retired Teachers Association, Atwater Tennis Club, and member of the School Board, Historical Society, and Recreation Commission — all in Winton.
Hank passed away on May 28, 2019 after a long illness. Many former youth club athletes and fans were among the overflow crowd at Hank’s June 19, 2019 Celebration of Life in Atwater. He was preceded in death by his wife Rita; his parents; and siblings — Trongkilino Dacuyan and Rosario Calagos. Surviving family members include wife Dioselyn; children — Stephen, Sydney, Juliana, Alex, and Kenny; grandchildren — Catiel, Celeste, Alexis, and Orion; great granddaughter Leyella; and sisters — Andrea Gimeno, Helen Villarruz, and Connie Gin-Alcordo.
Another Passage:
It is with a heavy heart to report the passing of Dale Tiffany on February 2. Dale was an integral member of the “Filipino American Young Turks of Seattle” — who, through advocacy and political action — helped bring the Filipino community into the Seattle socio-political mainstream during the 1970-80s. Soft-spoken and constructive, his thoughtful contributions were a welcome counterpoint to the often raucous discussions engaged in by other members of the group. He joins the following departed “Young Turks” in heaven: Fred Cordova, Bob Santos, Terrie Jamero, and Roy Flores, and the Rev. D. Harvey MacInyre.
Dale was a close, personal friend for more than fifty years. A devoted family man, he also possessed a strong passion for civil rights. He was the only “Renaissance Man” I knew personally. He wrote beautiful poetry and produced remarkable paintings. Dale was equally knowledgeable in discussing business and politics. The artfulness of his remodeled home is a testament to his skills as a carpenter and plumber. Farewell, dear friend. May you rest in peace.
Pinakbet — News Across America
Filipino Hoaxes:
The February 8 landing of a mechanical rover on Mars reminded me of the June 25, 2019 Esquire magazine article on Filipino hoaxes. At the time it was widely believed that the first lunar rover that landed and maneuvered on the moon in 1971 was designed by a Filipino engineer — Eduardo San Juan. Not true, according to Esquire. This was not the only hoax perpetrated by a Filipino. The ballyhooed Tasaday stone-age tribe of the Philippines, the yo-yo, the M16 rifle, and the fluorescent lamp — not one was invented by a Filipino!
Did You Know:
Just 17, singer/songwriter Olivia Rodrigo became one of the youngest persons to attain a No.1 Single on the Billboard Hot 100 for her smash hit “Driver’s License.” Moreover, she was named by Time as one of “The Next 100 Influential People”……….. Speaking of young persons, singer/composer 23 year old
H.E.R (aka Gabriella Sarmiento Wilson) received the song of the year Grammy for “I Can’t Breathe” — in tribute to the murdered George Floyd…….. The family of 30 year old U.S. Navy veteran Angelo Quinto filed a wrongful death claim on February 18 against Antioch CA police, claiming cops put a knee on his neck while he was having a mental health crisis in December…………. Documentary director/producer Marissa Aroy was named as “Asian Centennial Distinguished Film Fellow in Residence” at the College of William and Mary. In 2014, she was nominated for an Emmy for “Best Historical Program” for the documentary The Delano Manongs………… Filipino American History: Helen (Agcaoili) Summers Brown (RIP) was the first Filipina American to graduate from UCLA with a BA in 1935. She founded the Filipino American Library in Los Angeles and was a delegate to the first conference of the Filipino American National Historical Society in 1987, serving several terms on its Board.
Musings
Is Excluding People of Color in Favor of White Nationalism/Supremacy in America’s Future? Part XIV
Readers will recall this blogger’s long tirade against the hate spewed by White Supremacy and other right wing extremist groups towards People of Color, particularly Filipino Americans. For five generations in America, Filipinos have borne the scars of racial, employment, housing, and educational discrimination. From the early 1900s when Filipino sakadas underwent discrimination under White plantation owners in Hawaii; to the omnipresent “No Filipinos Allowed” signs in Stockton during the Great Depression; to the failure of government to honor promises made to World War II Filipino soldiers; to the present-day anti-Asian violence, such as the horrific face-slashing of elderly Filipino Noel Quintana in a New York City subway.
Today, I’m feeling a bit more optimistic about the future. Just days after his inauguration, President Joe Biden announced the launching of a government wide effort to combat right wing extremism as a threat to national security. And in a nation-wide speech on March 19, he spoke of his commitment to eradicate mounting Anti-Asian violence.
On the other hand, Time magazine’s March 15 issue described the Biden Administration’s task to combat White Supremacy and far right extremism as “daunting” and asks, “How to confront them without infringing on their civil rights?” Following are highlights of Time’s excellent report:
- In most situations, hate speech is protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
- Domestic terrorists comprise White Supremacists, neo-Nazi’s, Proud Boys, Oath Keepers, and anti-governmental militias.
- Since 9/11, domestic terrorists have been responsible for three times as many attacks on American soil as Islamist terrorists.
- But in 2019 only 20% of FBI counter-terrorism agents were assigned to domestic terrorism.
- The Trump Administration dismantled most of the federal government’s programs countering White extremism.
- Law enforcement has tools to investigate domestic terrorism, yet often chooses not to use them.
- Trump’s oft-expressed support of far right extremists melded them into the Republican Party.
- Crackdowns on far right extremist organizations only emboldens them and increases their membership.
- Law enforcement alone cannot solve the problem; preventing individuals to join far right groups must also be prioritized.
Time’s conclusion: “Biden has promised to unite the country while delivering the “defeat” of white supremacy and domestic terrorism. It’s not clear it’s possible to do both.”