To introduce Stephanie Chrispin as UniPro New York's new President, we sat down with her for a few questions to get to know her better, and her thoughts on the upcoming year.
"Katapatan Nga Ba" by Sam Dizon
The Pledge says, Philippine society is “loving, of God, of the environment, of its people, and of its country,” but how true is this? Do we love our God when we turn our churches into marketplaces? Do we love the environment when we continue to litter and pollute our surroundings? Do we love our people when crab mentality remains within us? Do we love our country when everyone aspires to migrate?
"Why Donald Trump Is Good for America" by Anthony Castro
Maybe the best thing about this election is that we're finally speaking about emotions and angers that people in this country have. Whether you're frustrated with the 1%, upset with the politics of Washington, wanting our country to create more jobs, or looking for more social equality - that is all good. If you feel strongly about something or want to fight for something, keep fighting.
"No More Silence – Why Black Lives Matter to Pilipinos Too" by Stephanie Chrispin
Coping and managing are my biggest priorities right now. I’ve always used my identity as a bridge between my Black and Pilipino communities, but I’m tired of using Black death as a conversation-starter with the latter. No matter how much I work with and identify as a Pilipino-American, I never forget my Blackness. Blackness supersedes any of my other identities because it’s the one that can get me killed.
"Hiya" by Samantha Dizon
Before Western colonizers even arrived in the Philippines, “shame” prevailed in our households. But the “shame” that Dr. Kevin Nadal wrote about in his book "Filipino American Psychology" is based on honor; as in, we have “shame” because we want to show society the best version of ourselves and of our families to preserve this honor.
Experiencing the Asian Hierarchy Firsthand in a Korean Hagwon
When Sierra Adkins, a Filipino-American, worked as a teacher in South Korea, she was encouraged to not disclose her Filipino heritage. A colleague explained to her that Filipinos are “ranked lower socially” because Filipino immigrants in South Korea commonly take maligned gigs as nannies or prostitutes. This is the story of her experience in South Korea.