CROSS TALK: Transnational Filipino Stories in Sight and Sound - 1

Summary

This video script narrates the rich tapestry of Filipino-American experiences, from the historical connection through the Spanish-American War to contemporary life. It features a mayor's journey from the Philippine Scouts to leading a city, a single mother's struggle with societal stigma and community support, and an immigrant's tale of seeking opportunities in America. The script highlights the challenges of balancing personal and professional life, the importance of community, and the resilience of Filipinos adapting to new environments.

Takeaways

• 🇺🇲 The speaker's connection to the Filipino community began with his grandfather, who fought in the Spanish-American War and the Philippine-American War, and married a Filipina.
• 👵 The grandfather remarried another Filipina after the first wife's death and brought her to the United States in 1928, which contributed to the establishment of the speaker's family in America.
• 🎓 The speaker joined the army as a Philippine Scout in 1946 and later moved to Angeles City for training, which led to a life change and a desire to move to the U.S. for a fresh start.
• 🏡 The speaker wanted to move his children to the U.S. to provide them with a more stable environment and to be part of a community with similar circumstances.
• 👨‍💼 The speaker is currently the mayor of Daily City, which has a majority Filipino population, and also works as a criminal defense attorney while volunteering in the community.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The speaker's parents, both born in the Philippines, moved to the U.S. in 1986 due to the political situation and lack of opportunities in the Philippines.
• 🌟 The speaker's parents sought the American dream and the opportunities it promised, despite the hardships they faced upon arrival.
• 📚 Cynthia Redo, another speaker, is an assistant principal at San Mato High School and the fourth of six children, sharing her experience as part of a large Filipino-American family.
• 🗣️ The grandfather learned multiple languages and dialects, including Chinese and Spanish, and embraced Filipino customs, which helped him integrate into the community.
• 🏠 Finding housing was initially difficult for the speaker's family, but they were able to rent a house in West Oakland through a connection, which became a hub for the growing Filipino community.
• 👶 The speaker faced challenges as a single parent, balancing work, childcare, and helping children adjust to a new school and environment.

Q & A

What was the speaker's grandfather's initial connection to the Philippines?

The speaker's grandfather joined the Tennessee Volunteers and went to the Philippines to fight in the Spanish American War. He stayed on through the Philippine American War, married a Filipina, and had children, including the speaker's mother.

Why did the speaker's grandfather marry another Filipina after his first wife's death?

The speaker's grandfather married another Filipina and brought her to the United States in 1928, continuing his connection with the Filipino community and raising the speaker.

What career did the speaker pursue after a personal life change?

After the speaker's marriage broke up, they decided to move to a new place for a fresh start and joined the army as a Philippine Scout in 1946.

What position does the speaker currently hold in Daily City?

The speaker is currently serving as the mayor of Daily City.

How does the speaker describe the challenges of being a mayor of a city with a majority Filipino population?

The speaker mentions the challenges of governing a city of 110,000 people, most of whom are Filipino, and balancing this role with other responsibilities such as being a criminal defense attorney and volunteering in the community.

What is the speaker's background regarding their parents' immigration to the United States?

The speaker's parents immigrated from the Philippines in 1986 during the Marcos regime, seeking better opportunities and the 'American dream'.

How did the speaker's parents feel about their life in the Philippines before immigrating to the United States?

The speaker's parents felt there were no opportunities in the Philippines and were influenced by stories of opportunities in America, which motivated them to immigrate.

What is Cynthia Redo's profession and where does she live?

Cynthia Redo is an assistant principal at San Mato High School and she lives in San Leandro.

What was the speaker's grandfather's experience as a Buffalo Soldier in the Philippines?

The speaker's grandfather, a Buffalo Soldier, stayed in the Philippines for years after the war, learning multiple dialects, the customs, and the language, and he particularly enjoyed the food and the people.

What challenges did the speaker's family face upon arriving in the United States?

The speaker's family faced challenges such as finding housing and dealing with a language barrier, but they were able to establish a social life through the Filipino community in West Oakland.

How did the speaker's family adapt to life in America, especially regarding cultural differences?

The speaker's family adapted by learning to speak out and express themselves, despite facing cultural misunderstandings and the social stigma of single parenting.

What is the speaker's perspective on the role of the community in supporting single parents?

The speaker acknowledges the social stigma single parents may face but also highlights the support system provided by the Filipino community, which helped them cope.