Kwentuhan, Part 1: Undressing the Fragments

“Storytelling is the most important part of any culture. It is the way we pass on our values, our dreams, our memories, our ancestry, our history, our herstory. It is a tool to keep our culture alive,” writes Renee Rises. She continues, “Every day a person tells a story. In every culture, in every country, we live our lives and we share stories daily. About our day, about our best friend, about our youth, about teaching, about creating art, about the closeness of our family, our struggles, our foods, our literature.... Stories live everywhere.”

It is precisely because of this - the undeniable power of storytelling - that UniPro launched the Kwentuhan initiative. Celebrating Filipino American History Month and the unique stories of our community, Kwentuhan promotes four different theatrical productions, all the original work of Filipinos in NYC, all showing through October and November 2014. The first of these shows is Renee’s Undressing the Fragments.

On Friday, October 24 at the WOW Cafe Theater in NYC, I attended the premiere of Undressing the Fragments, a non-linear theatrical production that delves into the lives of 14 characters in one act and 16 scenes. Although they are all Filipino American, Renee captures the diversity within our community by portraying the characters as very unique individuals; they experience different hardships and joys, they relate to their ancestral heritage in their own ways (if at all), and they have varying (and sometimes conflicting) values. On top of the struggles of trying to build lives of happiness and success, as members of the Invisible Minority navigating between (at least) two worlds, the characters must face the reality and helplessness of being oceans away from their motherland as it is ravaged by Super Typhoon Haiyan. Renee explains:

"Undressing the Fragments is a play that explores the diversity of the Filipina/o American community during the time of a natural disaster, during Typhoon Haiyan. It brings about various issues that impacted the community before, during and after the storm. While the play takes place during the most catastrophic typhoon to ever hit the Philippines, it explores issues that Filipina/os in America face as families, friends, educators, activists, soldiers, mothers, wives, brothers, sisters and humans. There isn't one issue it focuses on, it's many; hence-- fragments. There are so many pieces to our identity and I wanted to capture as many voices and lives as I possibly could in a small amount of time. I wrote the play while travelling in California from San Francisco, to LA, to San Diego, to Chicago and back to New York. I listened to many Filipina/os across the country and I listened deeply. I wrote with all of their stories in mind."

The play succeeds not only in engaging the audience in the characters' complex emotions, but also in challenging us with thoughtful, uncomfortable, and at times unanswerable questions. "What does it mean to be a Filipina/o in America?" states the show description. In this play, it means everything from college PCNs to playing with light-skinned dolls that contrast so starkly with your own skin color, and from superstitions to the ugliness of shame in your queer family member. This latter scene, when a young Pinoy reveals his sexual orientation to his much-respected Kuya, was an "Oh, shit" moment for me; suddenly my Filipino American-ness smacked me in the face and I found that I was fighting to keep myself together. Although it is not a scenario that I have experienced personally, the scene expressed so much about the respect, pride, and social acceptance that Filipino American families value so dearly, and which may also become a weight so heavy that it forces the family - the foundation of Filipino culture - to fall apart.

Just as meaningful as the play was the post-show talkback, when Renee and the actors conversed with the audience about what we had just seen. What surprised us? What affected us? We spoke about the significance of the spotlight highlighting the teen-aged Jessica, the youngest character in the play, who will share with other Filipino American youth the honor/burden of carrying forth and building upon our community's traditions, successes, and shortcomings. We spoke, of course, about Typhoon Haiyan, raising the same question we've all heard over and over again since last November: What can we do to help? Well, what CAN we do? We're here in the States, miles away from the land that many of us, perhaps, know very little about. Are we obligated to join relief and rebuilding efforts on the ground? Should we organize our own fundraising events? Where should we send the funds?

Of the many questions asked and thoughts shared during this discussion, Renee's poignant reflection on Haiyan resonated with me the most. She explained how the destruction of Hurricane Katrina had blown her away upon seeing it firsthand as a volunteer. To think that Haiyan's level of devastation was much worse, and that this time, she looked like the victims.... This inexplicable connection that she feels to Filipinos – kapwa – made an enormous sense of guilt and helplessness well within her for being in NY rather than in the Philippines. But as Undressing the Fragments actress Jana Lynne Umipig responded, yes, we ARE here. We must be fully present where we are, remembering the reasons why our families migrated here, and innovating ways to maximize our impact as a united community. True to life, Undressing the Fragments leaves the focus of that impact as yet to be determined.

As for the overall message Renee wants the audience to take away? “I want the audience to make decisions for themselves. The message? Filipinos are... unique. We're beautiful. We're diverse. We're complex. We struggle. We're brown. We're yellow. We're friends. We're enemies. We're artists. We're talented. We exist. We have dreams. We have hopes. Aspirations. We work together. We are solidarity. We struggle. We listen. We learn. We love. We are human.”

To read more from Renee Rises, check out her three-part story in The FilAm Magazine:

• Part 1: The first wave of Asian American actors were Filipinos
• Part 2: Here Lies Love’ provides full-time jobs to FilAm actors
• Part 3: Coming soon!

For more Kwentuhan, support our community’s artists and attend the rest of the shows, and return to our blog for exclusive interviews with the creators:

• Luis Francia’s The Beauty of Ghosts (directed by Claro de los Reyes)
• Carlos Celdran’s Livin’ La Vida Imelda (directed by Ralph B. Peña)
• Nicole Maxali’s Forgetting the Details

Lastly, to get involved in NYC community efforts to commemorate Typhoon Haiyan and discuss climate justice, attend the "Remembering Haiyan" community forum + vigil on Saturday, November 8, 2014.

Special thanks to Kirklyn Escondo for interviewing Renee!

With Every Name, A Face - EPYC

To the left, right, and in front of me was a new face. I was in a circle with individuals I have never met before. And even before we learned names, we sang in unison:

“This may be the last time,

this may be the last time,

this may be the last time we stand in this circle.”

We looked at each other again, but this time not as strangers. Singing that song made us acknowledge the moment we shared. Thus, there was an essence of barkada, a connection that would be highlighted throughout the conference weekend.

The workshop was called “Writing for Social Justice” hosted at the Empowering Pilipin@ Youth through Collaboration Pre-Conference to the 11^th National Empowerment Conference in San Diego, California.  Renee Rises was the workshop facilitator, who adapted the song from a colleague and in turn, adapted it from a Negro spiritual. It was the first time I sang in a workshop, second time to sing in a group that day, and hopefully not the last time at an advocacy event.

Thanks to the good folks at UniPro, EPYC, and NaFFAA, I was given the chance to speak on the Regional Student Leaders Panel at the EPYC Pre-Conference. It was an overall empowering experience, where different Filipin@-American youth leaders shared their stories, best practices, challenges, and passions. I felt as if everyone was energized from SoCal’s sunrays and the interaction within the convention center. My primary role at EPYC was to speak in the first panel on behalf of the Filipino Americans Coming Together (FACT) Conference. I coordinated its 21^st installment with Grace Geremias and the Philippines Student Association at the University of Illinois last November.

Even though I was a designated speaker and my nametag said “Workshop Presenter”, I caught myself throughout the day oscillating between the role of speaker and attendee. During my hour answering questions and presenting FACT on the Regional Student Leaders Panel, I was a speaker. Listening to and singing with Prof. Ramirez, I was an attendee. While my fellow panelists spoke I was an attendee. I related to their stories. Each of the panelists’ presentations seemed representative of their respective regions. We had differences in how geography and the population of surrounding Filipin@s affected topics of our events. We had similarities in advice to network, apply initiative, and to take advantages of the surrounding resources. Later, I had the chance to speak to some of the panelists one-on-one. We were swapping event-planning tips as if they were recipes.

Kristine Maramot, Marc Densing, Neil Miran, Miko Jao, and Marian Sobretodo: If you are reading this blog post, we should write a book!

At EPYC, I felt reactivated and empowered. After four years of involvement in Asian American advocacy, sometimes I feel like I have seen and heard it all. The same issues get brought out; similar calls to action are established. However, it surprises me when the sense of urgency continues to come back when I congregate with other advocates like last Thursday. I am surprised to learn that I am not too world-weary yet, and that pushes me through any burnout.

Going back to the moment I felt in the “Writing for Social Justice” workshop, I only wanted to stay in my seat and get to know everyone else in the workshop even more. We could not, for there was a timeline to follow. In the hour allotted to us, we managed to write passages of who we are, where we are going, and who we were becoming. Every single person in the room shared their story. In that room we were connected, but the moment could not last- there were more stories to share in other rooms.

Often times it is said that one can only discover passion but cannot learn it. I believe experiencing feelings of barkada on the panel, in the workshops, or speaking to someone on the way to lunch are ways to drive passion to appear. We connect causes to the faces we meet, then faces to names we learn, and then names to a humanity we share.

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Jeselle Obina was the Co-Coordinator of the 21^st Annual Filipino Americans Coming Together Conference at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She hopes to see you at the 22^nd FACT Conference this upcoming November. She is a recent graduate with a degree in Advertising. She is currently a Bronze Cohort of Designation Chicago and is seeking opportunities as an art director. Connect with her on LinkedIn or Twitter. 

Five Instagrammers You Should Follow (and who also happen to be Pilipino)

Instagram has revolutionized social media. It’s a vehicle to share stories, connect people, and exchange dialogue. Here are five Instagrammer you should be following (if you aren’t already).

1. @ejsamson - EJ Samson

Guys - here’s an account full of chests that your girlfriend will actually WANT you to look at. With his signature posting style, GQ Digital Director EJ Samson showcases perfectly crafted combinations of pocket squares, shirts, ties, and jackets. His looks have even gotten him featured on Huffington Post and Business Insider - no big deal. Not to be mistaken as just another Instagram account dedicated to men’s fashion, @ejsamson is actually the opposite. In fact, hashtags like #ootd, #style, and #suitandtie never even make an appearance in his captions. You will, however, find witty puns and wordplay. Here’s a guy who (just like all of us) enjoys posting everyday moments to share with followers... he just happens to be really well-dressed while doing so.

2. @geenarocero - Geena Rocero

Geena Rocero is a fashion model who, after delivering a TED Talk earlier this year, came out to the world as transgender. The T in LGBT is still a concept that most people struggle to understand. It is because of this that Geena founded Gender Proud, an organization that brings advocacy and awareness to transgender issues. Her Instagram account isn’t a portfolio of her latest editorial shots, instead it is a personal glimpse into the story of a woman who is lending her voice to represent the transgender community’s fight for acceptance and equality. It is a ticket to join a journey rooted in courage that has brought her to places like the White House, the United Nations, and even South America. It is a chance to walk alongside not just a fashion model, but more importantly, a role model.

3. @nealsantos - Neal Santos

Raised as a concrete city boy in the Tri-state Area, one would think that Neal Santos would be a pro at Instagramming sky scrapers and zooming taxi cabs. However, Neal’s mastery lies in capturing the rural hometown feel in a very urban Philadelphia -- the place he now calls home. His portraits of locals are honest and touching.  His food posts are way too classy to be called #foodporn (one might even call them ‘sacred’). @nealsantos makes you want to eat your veggies... and then ask for more. He has a way of snapping photos that make elements come to life in ways you didn’t know you could experience them -- as if you could actually hear the sunshine, smell the colors, and taste the silence.

4. @bjpascual - BJ Pascual

BJ Pascual is one of the youngest yet most accomplished fashion photographers in the industry right now. Although based in the Philippines, BJ is also making waves internationally. His Instagram mostly depicts samples from his body of work, with a few occasional sprinkles of the photographer himself appearing in front of the camera. BJ’s editorial photos coupled with his everyday snapshots depict an artist always at work. He has a way of translating his subjects’ style into sentences and expressions into edicts. Who needs to flip through pages of magazines when you can just follow @bjpascual and keep scrolling... and double-tapping?

5. @zagadago - Marie Zagada

@zagadago is an everyday girl with a paper boutique side hustle and a lover of all things positive and healthy. Moments in our lives happen and sometimes we’re not lucky enough to capture them. Thankfully, @zagadago does it for us. She turns everyday moments into art -- moments like reading books, eating breakfast, listening to music, and yes sometimes even working out. The compositions of Marie’s posts are similar to what one would see in the lifestyle section of magazines, yet she manages to post in a way that is familiar and relatable. Her posts take on different perspectives of sights and experiences that are universal. She never abstracts simplicity, nor does she simplify the abstract. She lives in these moments, and the best part is... we get to join her.

Oh, and umm...

We hear @hoygino posts some good things every now and then too... allegedly.

Photo credits: @ejsamson, @geenarocero, @nealsantos, @bjpascual, @zagadago

EPYC

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens could change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” - Margaret Mead

This quote has always resonated with me since my first time seeing it at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. This quote validated for me the work I was doing. This told me: “Marc, you and your team can and will change the world.”

Just one week ago, I was blessed to have attended the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) 11th National Empowerment Conference - “We Break the Dawn: Master Planning the Future.” Something unique to this year’s Empowerment Conference was the implementation of the Empowering Filipin@ Youth through Collaboration (EPYC) Pre-Conference on Thursday, August 7th. The purpose of this pre-conference institute was to facilitate collaboration between regional Filipino American student organizations and encourage networking and sharing of best practices for student organizing. And it did exactly that.

I don’t know if anyone realizes, but we made history that day. For the first time in history, the leaders of the Filipino Intercollegiate Networking Dialogue, Inc. (FIND), the Midwest Association of Filipino Americans (MAFA), the Southern California Pilipin@ American Student Alliance (SCPASA), Northwest Filipino American Student Alliance (NWFASA), and the Philippine Students - Texas (PST) were in the same room sharing their experiences, tribulations, accomplishments, and best practices of their respective organizations. I was honored to have the opportunity to share the stage with my fellow Filipino-American student leaders from across the country.

Up until that moment, I never realized how privileged FIND was as an organization to have such a big network and an established structure. For the past 20+ years, FIND has been growing larger, evolving and striving to be better with every passing year. I always knew that there were other Filipino-American student organizations in different regions. Last year during my first term as National Chairperson of FIND, I made an active effort to connect with the other regional student organizations. But I never truly got to know them - time, space, and lack of funds separated us from bonding and really knowing the true person behind our public image.

Although I had met two of my fellow panelists before, it was a short, brief encounter that didn’t give us a chance to really delve into the inner workings of each other’s organizations. I spent most of my time at EPYC and the rest of the Empowerment Conference bonding and getting to know these people, young leaders like myself. It was only then that I was truly empowered to make a difference. As I have shared with my fellow leaders before, I was suffering from a tremendous case of community burnout. I was dealing with long-term exhaustion in the Filipino-American student community and a diminishing interest in the work I used to be super passionate about. Even with my self-care time away from community organizing, I still found that the community wasn’t as fulfilling as it used to be. In connecting with these amazing young leaders, I’ve come to the reality that I’m not the only one who’s experienced burnout. These people have helped rekindle my passion and instill in me the Filipino value of kapwa - togetherness, community. It’s not about “me” any more, it’s about “us.”

I would like to take this time out to thank UniPro, the EPYC Coordinators, and NaFFAA for flying me out in the first place. It is truly an honor to have been part of an amazing conference such as this one, both as a presenter and a delegate. I would also like to thank every single person - youth or seasoned leaders - that I’ve met. It was so humbling to have shared this space with you and learn from you all. I hope that I have touched your life in some way just as much as you have touched mine. I am so thankful and grateful for my experiences in San Diego. Those memories are something that can never be taken away. Thank you all for renewing my faith, passion, and drive to make this community better and moving forward.

Cheers to the community! May we always keep moving forward, breaking the dawn, and master planning our futures as well as the future of Filipinos everywhere. Together, we stand as OneFilipino. Let’s change the world. #iamEPYC #weareEPYC

"It's not about intention, it's about IMPACT." - Leezel Ramos

"Let's stop being organizational leaders in the community, and start being community leaders in organizations." - Steven Raga

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Marc Densing is a rising senior at CUNY Baruch College in New York City studying Corporate Communications with a minor in Asian and Asian American Studies. Representing District Three, he is currently serving as the Filipino Intercollegiate Networking Dialogue (FIND), Inc.’s National Chairperson for a second term. Outside of FIND, Marc also works with young leaders in the community who wish to further their growth through LEGACY | NY, an organization dedicated to the professional development and mentorship of rising and future Filipino-American youth leaders in NYC. In his spare time, Marc loves long walks on the beach and candlelit dinners. #iamEPYC

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All photos courtesy of: Marc Densing

The Movement is Now: Fil-Am Creative Culture

When you hear the words Pilipino American, what do you picture?

Depending on who you are, you might imagine nurses and immigrants, or maybe even college students adding their hip hop flair to the tinikling. Some might imagine their enormously loud and character-filled families. Some might not be able to imagine anything at all.

Now picture this- a bustling community of sprightly creatives, scratching the inescapable itch to catalyze change. There are artists, entrepreneurs, technicians, writers, and everything in between. They are innovators of all shapes, sizes and skin shades, illustrating diversity as vast as the Philippines itself.

That’s what I picture, and I am not alone.

A movement, a creative culture is happening, my friends. I’m talking tectonic plates. Like the shift from Pangaea, but much faster and technologically pumped. Like never before, Asian Americans are gaining momentum in mainstream media outlets. Since 2010, HBO has been showcasing “East of Main Street,” a documentary series featuring the real stories of Asian Americans, in honor of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Just last month, NBC Asian American was launched, providing the community a major news platform specifically catered to our interests. “Fresh Off the Boat” will be premiering this Fall on ABC, making it the first sitcom about an Asian American family to be picked up in twenty years. People are finally starting to pay attention. They’re wisening up and realizing what kind of power the fastest growing ethnic group in America has, with 19 million people strong. And us Fil-Ams (the second largest Asian American group at 3.4 million), are riding the wave.

So why is this a big deal? Growing up, I rarely ever saw faces that looked like mine in TV shows, in movies, or in the news. What does that absence say? That the stories and perspectives of an entire race of people just don’t really matter. Or don’t even exist. I didn’t have champion role models that shared my same background, no beacons of light illuminating what someone like me could be capable of.

As Pilipino Americans, we have to make sure that we see our own faces in glittering stories of success. Our reputation of being the ‘model minority’ has left us neglected and our colonial mentality has had us hiding in the shadows. But no more! We are slowly but surely striding into the spotlight, obliterating stereotypes and showing the world who we really are through the power of our creativity.

The impulse to create and manifest ourselves into something tangible, something that can improve our world is universal. Fil-Ams are no exception to the rule. I’ve been lucky enough to meet and work with Pilipino American change agents through organizations like UniPro, NextDayBetter, and FilAm ARTS, and have been watching this extraordinary network of people who put passion first expand and evolve. Tons of restaurateurs are putting Pilipino fusion food on the map, entrepreneurs are forging cutting-edge startups meant to engage and help the global Pilipino community, and the surge of Pilipino-centered productions of music and theatre have led many to say that we are in the midst of a Pilipino arts renaissance. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

The Pilipino American creative community is a well of talent and ingenuity. We are just as artistic, innovative, and relentless as the rest of them, and the world needs to know that. If we could spotlight and cultivate this culture of visionaries into becoming the norm rather than the exception, imagine what we could build and accomplish. Then imagine the chain reaction.

Photo Credit: partyearth.com