Cranking up ‘American Filipino’ history month early

Just as ethnic people tend to go hyphenated (don’t you find the dash so sexy?), so is one of America’s ethnic celebratory months.

In the US, for whatever reason, Hispanic Heritage month begins on September 15 and goes through October 15, a half and half spill-over into the month of October that we know as Filipino American History month.

Established by the Filipino American National Historical Association, the grassroots historical organization known as FANHS, the whole month of October is recognized as Filipino. But the dovetail makes for a weird historical coincidence.

That’s what colonization was about, right? Spain into the Philippines. And that’s why for better or for worse, I am a Guillermo. They branded me. (Though, as most of you know, I do say my name “Gil-yermo,” the Filipino way).

Like colonialism, it’s all meant to confuse.

Fortunately, we live in a world where we can self-define. Just ask the Census.

I used to say we were “As-panic,” for Asian Hispanic. But as you can see, there has been no mad rush for Aspanic History Month.

I still think it’s an apt description of us Filipinos burdened by Catholicism and Spanish mantillas.

But really I think we are really ready for my other pet term. Hence, I’d like to renew my call for the naming convention that applies to most of us overseas Filipino who live in America.

We are “American Filipino.”

Actually, if you live in Belgium, I can hear you saying, “What about me, pare?”

OK, you can be a Belge Filipino.

The formula is simple: “(insert place) Filipino.” You can even drop the hyphen. No umbilical needed.

I don’t do this to be a troublemaker or to force you to buy new business cards, Mr. VP of external affairs of the Filipino American Accountants of Florida.

But Filipino American is so old school. We need a modern 21st-century name.

Literally, we turn the old moniker on its head and we have something new. Downright revolutionary.

If you’ve already bought into the global Filipino idea (and if you are reading this you are complicit and know Filipinos are everywhere), then it’s time to be bold and true to how we think of who we are and where we are.

We are Filipino who happened to end up somewhere outside of the Philippines.

Hence, inserting the locator first to modify the noun Filipino makes a lot of sense.

Where are you? Africa? Australia? Saudi?

Then call yourself a (Insert place) Filipino.

In America? You’re an American Filipino.

Notice I don’t get into your papers or your documents, if you’re an immigrant, émigré, born there, second, third or fourth generation.

What’s in your heart? Are you Filipino? Or don’t you care?

But if you are Filipino you know it. And that’s all I care about. We may live in different places, which may determine unique concerns. American Filipinos will be different from say Australian Filipinos, or Aussiepinos.

But deep down, the unity phrase, bringing all of us together is my construction “(location) Filipinos.”

Just imagine that concept that eludes Filipinos everywhere. Unity.

People always find something to separate us. But the only word that binds us is that F word. Nothing else.

My construction also makes sense grammatically.

Filipino American seems to modify American, and that’s what you are.

But that tends to separate all of us by some bureaucratic definition: the immigrants, the undocumented, the native born. And then someone asks you for your papers and you risk deportation.

But if we put the emphasis were the punchline belongs–at the end–then all that paper work doesn’t matter.

Maybe it will for those nativist yahoos who say we should be All-American and chastise me for tribalism. Sneakily, American Filipino appeases them.

I say, “Look, I put American first!”

That should shut them up.

But as I said, American Filipino just makes more sense for those of us here in the biggest overseas population of Filipinos world-wide.

I just want to put the emphasis where it belongs—the last word, Filipino.

That’s where the last blood drop falls.

Of course, I’m in the minority. And because of that I still must occasionally use the FA construction vs. the modern AF form.

Come hear me defend my linguistic revolution this Sunday, September 21st at the San Francisco Main Library where I’m part of a reception and program from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

It’s actually the announcement of the library’s showcase of The Alvarado Project’s latest incarnation, “Compositions.”

You’ll recall Ricardo Alvarado, the photographer savant of Filipino life in San Francisco in the ’50s and ’60s, when most people thought Filipinos were invisible.

Alvarado’s artistic black and white photographs document American Filipino life like it mattered. They were discovered and lovingly archived by the artist’s daughter, Janet, a few years back. Since then, they have been on display at the Smithsonian and have toured the country. They will be on display at the Main Library all month.

There will also be two other programs in October at the library, one featuring original musical compositions from American Filipino jazz artist Mel Magdaluyo.

There’s also a literary event featuring American Filipino writers like Peter Bacho, Oscar Penaranda, and one Emil Guillermo (Don’t call me Guillermo Emil).

The literary event is on October 9, and will also feature me doing part of my original solo theatre performance, “Emil Amok: Flip City,” about San Francisco American Filipino life.

But come by for the kick-off reception, Sunday, Sept. 21, at 1pm-3pm at the San Francisco Public Library.

It’s free.

Infobox:

WHAT: History Month Celebration reception in honor of The Alvarado Project’s “Compositions.”

WHEN: Sept. 21st, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

WHERE: SAN FRANCISCO MAIN PUBLIC LIBRARY, CIVIC CENTER

FREE ADMISSION, LIGHT REFRESHMENTS

The full slate of events:

Sept. 21st, 1pm

Opening Reception – “Compositions: A Filipino American Experience”

Join The Alvarado Project and the San Francisco Main Library, for the premier of “Compositions,” the photo exhibit featuring Filipino American photographer Ricardo

Ocreto Alvarado’s historical San Francisco Filipino community. Revisit the spirit of friends, neighborhoods and listen to sounds of the surroundings and hear stories highlighting

memories of the ‘old-time’ Filipino community. Janet Alvarado, the photographer’s

daughter and exhibit curator, will give an overview of this new undertaking, which builds

on the Smithsonian-traveled “Through My Father’s Eyes.”

Oct. 4., 1pm: “Heart of the City: The San Francisco Filipino Experience”

Kicking off Filipino American History month, San Francisco State University Professor Daniel

Phil Gonzales–one of the foremost Asian American Studies experts–begins our exploration

of what it meant to be a Filipino in the City after World War II—in the era between the first Filipinos and the increasing wave of immigration from the Philippines. From the perspective

of a Native San Franciscan, Gonzales and others share their tales of mid-century Filipino

life in the City by the Bay. Through words, music and images, they are living proof of how

the American Filipino community took shape.

Oct. 9, 6pm/ Literary event – “Claiming Our Stories: An Anthology of Intergenerational Writings”

Introducing “Claiming Our Stories,” the anthology gives insight and context of the evolving Filipino American community. Complementing the historical images in The Alvarado Project’s “Compositions,” listen as personal perspectives reveal the heartbeat of a community

and showcases voices of an engaging group of established and emerging Filipino American writers. Writer/editor Emil Guillermo adds the world debut of his one-man play, “Emil Amok,”

an autobiographical solo theatrical performance of life as an American Filipino in San Francisco.

Oct. 28, 6pm:

The Alvarado Project presents Maestro Melecio Magdaluyo’s “Sounds of the City”

“Sounds of the City,” composed by Melecio Magdaluyo, a master musician and Bay Area treasure in the Jazz scene, contributes original music inspired by the images of Ricardo Alvarado. Magdaluyo’s compositions soulfully provide sonic expression of the rich Bay Area Filipino American experience in Kearny Street, Downtown, and the Fillmore. Filipino

contributions to the musical landscape are shared in sound and word by John Santos, founder of The Machete Ensemble, Jazz artist Jo Canion, photographer Lewis Watts, and Janet Alvarado. This program is proudly sponsored by the San Francisco Art Commission, The Alvarado Project and the San Francisco Public Library.

Nov. 8, 1pm: “Defending Our Stories” – Commemorating our Veteran’s

“Defending Our Stories” honors courageous Filipinos ensuring the survival of families

and communities on both sides of the Pacific, from General MacArthur’s landing in Leyte

Gulf ending WWII in the Pacific Arena, to the devastation of Supertyphoon Yolanda. Celebrating the 70th anniversary through SCR 20 “Leyte Landing Commemoration Day” (October 20, 1944), hear special recognition of Filipino contributions in the military’s 1st and 2nd Filipino Regiment and subsequent generations. Meet members of the Walter Scott Price family of Tacloban, Leyte, and Mrs. Norberta Alvarado, founding member of the Leyte Association of Northern California (est. 1965).

—

Emil Guillermo

[email protected]