Behind Closed Doors: A Letter to Gabrielle Molina

On May 22nd, Gabrielle Molina, a 12-year-old Fil-Am from Queens, NY, took her life. She left behind an apologetic note to her family, which explained that she endured relentless bullying, both at school and on the internet.

Gabby's story is not an anomaly. Across the country, and the globe, bullying has become quite commonplace. According to the National Crime Prevention Council, 43% of all teens in America are victims of bullying. This includes cyberbullying, which is done over the internet and through other digital means.

The accessibility and anonymity associated with the internet allows hurtful messages to be sent and seen instantaneously. Thus, the internet incubates open battlegrounds for bickering, name-calling, and downright nasty arguments. These attacks appear on social media sites, comment sections and forums.  Today, kids and teens have technology at their disposal, and can engage in unethical conduct, often without care or knowledge of the consequences. In the wrong hands, this technology becomes dangerous, and in Gabby's case, deadly.

Though we cannot blame Gabby's peers entirely for her passing, they did trigger her decision. As kids, we're taught the following phrase: "Sticks and stones may break my bones,  but words will never hurt me." But what if this isn't the case? Our words certainly have the ability to inflict greater pain than we intend.

In addition to cyberbullying, we must consider the state of Gabby's mental well-being. Kids and teens, like adults, may be living with a mental illness. Often overlooked or unidentified, these illnesses intensify, especially without attention or proper treatment.

As mental health becomes more visible in today's media, I'd like to send out a plea for help. Earlier this month, President Obama held the National Conference on Mental Health. The conference brought various mental health professionals and advocates together, in hopes of addressing the conversation at a national level. While there has been some criticism of the conference, I have faith that we're headed in the right direction. In addition to the conference, the Obama administration launched MentalHealth.gov, a comprehensive site for those seeking mental health services and resources. Furthermore, there are many other organizations out there that have been supporting and advocating for those living with a mental illness. My hope is that this conversation continues, and is not forgotten by the media. I believe it is up to us to equip ourselves with the right attitude and knowledge in order to truly change our culture's perception of mental health. We have to realize that anyone around us could be suffering in silence. By understanding the stereotypes and stigmas against mental health, we can help our friends, family, and even ourselves, during difficult times.

In the meantime, here's a letter I wrote to Gabby. It's signed "The World." I hope you will all join me in being part of that world.

Dear Gabby,

We’ll never know how much you suffered nor will we know the truth. We’ll never know just how hard you tried to live freely in your youth. We know it must have been hard to fight the demons deep within. We know you couldn’t take the pain, nor the hell you were living in. But there are some things that you should know, even if it may be too late. Please know that we are sorry that you endured such cruelty and hate.

We apologize that we did not filter the toxins from our freedom of speech. The jagged grains tossed from our own hands went beyond our reach. For the poisonous words and bullying crept right into your very heart; You were physically and mentally tortured, your peace was ripped apart. We apologize that we’ve progressed to this: crimes can reach us in our homes. Perhaps unwelcomed claims and criticisms are worse than sticks and stones.

We apologize that our society has taught us how to turn a blind eye, For media and pop culture tells us to keep quiet when all else goes awry. We know cultural expectations left you amongst many doubts and fears, And that you were afraid ask for our help, lest a soul witness your tears. We are aware that we did not help you, we may have ignored the signs. We are sorry we did not think to look beyond the curtains nor the blinds.

We hope one day you’ll forgive us, and that you do not blame yourself. Because we’re all responsible for each other’s happiness and health. For now is the time to be courageous for those who have only an ounce of hope. It is us who must speak out, and broaden our conversation and our scope. We should help others out of the darkness, the shadows and the grief. We will stand up for all, friend or foe, who cannot find their own relief.

For each of us have been touched by mental pain, illness, or misdirection. So we have the responsibility to elevate and change our perception. We must encourage those around us to find the solace that they seek. We must be a beacon for those who’ve fought until their body’s left them weak. It is our hearts you have touched, though it’s been a tearful goodbye. We know we might not erase the stigma, but hey, it’s worth a try.

With Love, The World

Photo credit: Classic Soul Radio

Racism & Discrimination in the Fil Am Community

by Carlo Limbog, UniPro Community Building intern When we think about racism and discrimination towards Filipino Americans, we may fall into the trap of believing the situation isn't quite as bad as it may have been historically. But ask any Fil-Am and he or she will probably be able to rattle off at least a handful of times where he or she has felt marginalized or victimized because of his or her ethnicity and the fact that it still strongly exists today is a major concern. We, being strong & hardworking citizens that contribute a lot to our society, do not deserve to be undermined by the so called “majority.” The Filipino community has endured major discrimination ever since the first Filipino settlements at Saint Malo, Louisiana in 1763. The Naturalization Act of 1790, which granted the right of U.S. citizenship solely to “free white persons,” immediately alienated the first-ever “Fil-Ams.” Because of this, our very own people were treated poorly under the demeaning attitudes of the Americans. Despite our substantial representation within the United States, our population is still subjected to discrimination to this day. We are the second-largest Asian American population in the U.S. At a staggering four million individuals, yet we continue to face the daily “microaggressions” used by our fellow American citizens.

The term “microaggression” typically involves subtle insults and implications against specific minorities including us. We all have been exposed to different types of microaggressions at some point in our lives; some more than others. I can speak from my own personal experiences too. Growing up in a predominately white community, my family and I have always been told that “we spoke good English.” It was almost as if it were a shock to some people. In grade school, I was also put into ESL classes simply because my parents’ primary language at home was Tagalog even though I didn’t speak the language nor understand it.

Sure, we can all live by the cliché “sticks and stones” saying, but such racism still have a negative effect on our professional and political status in our society.

Being subjected to these microaggressions creates a sense of alterity, or “otherness” in our society. We’re creating a rank of distinct groups not in terms of numbers, but by power. By ignoring these subtleties, we’re enabling this behavior to continue on.  We need to pay more attention to these everyday occurrences and actually take a stand against the people who continue to speak negatively about us.

These microaggressions have, in addition, escalated into more blatant forms of racism. For example, in 2006, Filipina nurses Wilma Lamug and Elnora Cayme and the rest of the Filipino staff at the Delano Regional Medical Center were singled out for violating the hospital’s “English-only” policy by speaking Tagalog in the building. After being reprimanded, the situation only got worse for the Filipino workers. The rest of the staff ridiculed their Filipino colleagues by mimicking their accents and even ordering them to stop talking in all areas of the hospital, even in break rooms and hallways. Hospital management also threatened to monitor them with audio surveillance and suspension for those who were caught speaking Tagalog. The case was brought to court which resulted in a $975,000 settlement fee brought upon by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission against the Delano Regional Hospital.

Another instance of blatant racism was an anonymous hate letter sent out earlier this year to Filipino families living in American Canyon, CA. The letter addressed to resident Maria Aida Ignacio Brandes targets the entire Filipino population calling the Filipino community “filthy” and “unwanted.” The letter continues to attack Brandes and her interracial relationship, stating that “we are attempting to have our community a law abiding one, without having yet another gang of Filipino scum such as yourself and married daughters who have attempted to assimilate into this once clean non-Filipino dominated area in American Canyon…” Brandes then reported the letter to the authorities who went under investigation to determine whether or not it violates hate crime codes.

Serious offenses like these should inspire Filipino Americans to take action when their rights are being violated no matter how big or small. Just because the majority population may alienate us as a typical minority, does not mean we have to fulfill that role in our society. With our strength in numbers and strong political voice, we need to work together as a striving community to continue fighting against discrimination. We earned our right as Americans just like any other individual who has worked hard to make a living in this country. By no means do we deserve to be subjected to any form of racism or hate in our own country.

The Horrors of Sex Trafficking

by Nikki Nalundasan, UniPro Community Building Intern As members of the Filipino American community, it is our job to be knowledgeable of what is going on in our mother country and to make sure awareness is brought to all disturbing issues.  One of these issues is sex trafficking, which is “the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining a person for the purpose of a commercial sex act.”  The Philippines is a popular destination and transit country for men, women, and children who are exposed to sex trafficking and forced labor.  It is also a major exporter for these “workers,” while other countries especially the US are major importers. Being in these different countries, these Filipino women live a life in domestic servitude and often face rape and violent physical and sexual abuse.  In addition, they are often subject to threats, inhumane living conditions, and withholding of travel and identity documents.

Not only do sex traffickers from the Philippines export these women to different countries, but they also conduct internal trafficking.  In the Philippines, people are trafficked from rural areas to urban centers including Manila, Cebu, the city of Angeles and other urban areas.  Thousands of victims experience forced prostitution every day in well-known and highly visible business establishments.  Child sex tourism continues to be a serious problem in the Philippines with sex tourists coming from all over the world, including the US, to engage in the commercial sexual exploitation of children.  In addition to having an established organized crime network, the main causes of sex trafficking are poverty, population growth, and high unemployment rates that lead some parents to see child “labor” as a way to cope with their unfortunate financial situations.  Some women who are in similar situations also see prostitution as the only way to make ends meet.

For example, there was a story on ABC news back in February about Arthur Benjamin, a 49-year old man from Texas who owns the Crow Bar near the coastline of Subic Bay in western Philippines.  Caught by hidden cameras, Benjamin admitted that he has had sex with underage girls and partakes in their sexual exploitation with foreign older men.  His girlfriend was only 16-years old and he said, “She needed a place to stay, I needed a place to do her. I bought a bar for her.”  Fortunately, this man has been arrested and his establishment is shut down.  However, this is one of the many bars in the Philippines that participate in sex trafficking. It’s really sad that young women like this are forced to become prostitutes just to get by.

Grace Grande, known as a modern-day concubine, is currently dealing with three different legal issues after leaving her abuser, Patricio Antonio, a very well connected and wealthy politician. She decided to be Antonio’s mistress due to her economic burdens and therefore had no choice but to agree to the relationship. Within those few years, Grace faced emotional, physical and sexual abuse. In 2007, she decided to leave him and start a new life with her two sons in Los Angeles, California.  However, leaving wasn’t that easy for Grace and now faces issues of extradition (which is the where one country transfers a suspected or convicted criminal to another country), asylum (the ability to stay in the U.S.), and risks losing custody of her two sons. Grace and her two sons have been harassed ever since she has been in the U.S. Antonio is basically doing everything he can under his political power to make her come back to the Philippines where he can abuse her even more.

It’s situations like the Grace Grande case and the acts of Arthur Benjamin that make us, as Filipino Americans, realize that sex trafficking should be put to a stop. Considering all the political corruption and poverty occurring in the Philippines, it may seem impossible to eliminate sex trafficking. However, it is our responsibility to create awareness within our society in order to stop this ongoing problem.  These are young women and children who have to sell their bodies just so that they can support their families financially. There are parents out there who literally sell their children to these sex traffickers because they need money. Women shouldn’t have prostitution be their last resort when they are facing financial problems. We should make efforts to improve collaboration between victim service organizations and law enforcement authorities to stop sex trafficking. Being in the FilAm community, we need to recognize the importance of this issue and do something about it. This problem is happening back in our country and our home. Just because these women are thousands of miles away doesn’t mean that their problem isn’t our problem too.  As a true Filipino American community, we should be able to support them and help them escape from this disgusting situation.

Education Equality in the Motherland

Since 1925, the basic education system in the Philippines has been surveyed and reformed countless times. However, such reforms haven’t exactly proved to be successful. The current Philippine education system, which was modeled to reflect the K-12 system in the US, continues to face much critique. Some argue for a decentralization of the basic education system by installing school-based management, as to cater to the needs of each particular socioeconomic environment and other influential factors. According to the World Bank, Philippine primary school enrollment is relatively high. UNESCO reports that literacy rates are also high. However, the education system continues to struggle with lack of resources, understaffed schools, and managerial and organizational issues. Secondary school enrollment is usually lower. As of 2012, the Department of Education (DepEd) made school compulsory. Though enrollment may be higher than it has been in the past, there is a severe lack of employment opportunity for after graduation.

Many activists and reformers are pushing for efforts to revitalize the education system, such as Teach for the Philippines; they continue to work toward education equality throughout the PI. However, how can a nation create larger, systemic change to a problem that countries face across the world?

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was formed in 1967, is currently pushing for regional economic collaboration by 2015. Member countries include Brunei, Burma/Myanmar, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia , Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines. It is even a goal to use English as the primary language of communication, which is why there’s a major push for language acquisition across ASEAN. However, according to a 2008/2009 report, the Philippine Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM) notes that the country has a poor performance of improving the education system, unlike many other Asian nations. This creates even further concern for the future of the Philippines.

In addition to primary and secondary school reform, there is also a call to address higher education. As ASEAN promotes the movement of goods, services and labor between its member countries, the Philippine Daily Inquirer raises and important question: “What does this mean for our students who will be graduating from universities in a few years and will then be looking for work?”

As employment opportunities are already scarce, not just in the Philippines alone, but across the Philippine diaspora, I wonder what will happen to my friends and family. The struggle to find work continues to grow more competitive. Some of my relatives and family friends, despite attaining a higher degree back in the PI, are now domestic helpers or working in retail, for example. How is this fair, when such hardworking individuals are forced to find work outside of their expertise or training?

Many Filipinos have migrated, leaving behind families in search for work. Something must be done to reverse this “brain drain”, and I believe should be continuous support and investment in education. We need the youth of the PI and the larger Pilipino community to know we believe in them by providing them with the tools needed to succeed in a global community, and not just for economic gain.

That Moment When Immigration Reform was "Trending" in the United States

by Kirklyn Escondo, Director of Community Building New York, NY - On the afternoon of Wednesday, May 22, 2013, 18 Million Rising organized a "Twitter town hall" to engage the Asian American Pacific Islander community in a virtual dialogue regarding the highly contended immigration reform bill. Approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee just last week, the bill will require 60 out of 100 votes to pass the Senate, at which point it will surely be debated to shreds at the Republican-controlled House of Representatives.

"We're excited to bring together organizers, policy experts, media figures, and the community, who are all part of #18MillionHearts," began 18 Million Rising (@18millionrising). Within minutes, the town hall prompted dozens of Tweets per minute, the hashtag "#18MillionHearts" Trending in San Francisco and Los Angeles and then nationally halfway through the discussion. The complex bill, which left the hands of the SJC with amendments that ranged from reunifying Filipino WWII veterans and their children to making DREAMers eligible for Federal Student Aid, was simultaneously praised and bashed by Twitter users across the nation. The dialogue featured comments by guest "panelists" that included Ai-Jen Poo of the National Domestic Worker’s Alliance, Gregory Cendana of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, Margaret Huang of the Rights Working Group, Pramila Jayapal of the Center for Community Change, Saket Soni of the National Guestworker Alliance and Richard Lui, MSNBC correspondent, who answered a series of questions laid out by the folks of 18 Million Rising.

Senator Mazie Hirono (@maziehirono) of Hawaii, member of the SJC, even dropped in and reiterated her support for the AAPI community - prompting a flurry of comments such as, "We are very proud of & thankful for the amazing leadership of our champion, Sen. @maziehirono during #SJC proceedings!" by Mee Moua (@mee_moua) of the Asian American Justice Center, and "Imagine if there were more people like @maziehirono on #SJC & in Congress. Bill would look a lot different," from Gregory Cendana (@gregorycendana).

Arguably well-deserved praise, since Senator Hirono was responsible for the amendment calling for the reunification of Filipino WWII veterans and their families, along with other amendments that brought attention to specific needs of certain minority groups.

The town hall revealed the community's poignant concerns with the proposed bill, straight from the horse's mouth, so to speak - participants in the dialogue collectively bemoaned the bill's departure from a family-based immigration system to merit-based visa acquisition. "Merit-based #CIR de-prioritizes women and domestic workers who make all other work possible," commented a representative from the Asian American Legal Defense Fund (@AALDEF). Labor organizer Ai-Jen Poo (@aijenpoo) agreed. "Women often work in jobs w/o proof of employment. Need to make sure they're eligible for path to citizenship," she Tweeted. "Many mothers have been deported in recent years & must be able to reunite w/their children & families."

"Good god please consider too how merit-based reform reinforces the model minority myth," added Twitter user Suey Park (@suey_park).

Another concern raised was the bill's exclusion of same sex or LGBTQ binational couples in family immigration. In fact, the LGBTQ community seemed to have been overlooked by the immigration bill entirely. "From #18MillionHearts feed, it seems like a LOT of folks are very concerned abt #LGBT inclusion in #cir13," a representative from 18 Million Rising Tweeted.

Other issues discussed included possible risks posed by increased border security and enforcement. "GOP says need more border security but US already spends $18 billion/year on immigration & border enforcement," commented Margaret Huang (@RWG_Margaret).

Comments on healthcare and due process seemed to have been few and far between.

At the tail end of the town hall, 18 Million Rising asked, "What can we do TOGETHER to pass fair & just immigration reform?" Recommendations included uniting all minority communities under one banner. "Alliance build with Latino, African, African American & LGBTQ communities - this is an American issue!" suggested Twitter user Bicoastal Bitchin (@BicoastalBitchn). "And to include Irish, Latino, and AAPI voices in forums, panels to exhibit a chorus," Richard Lui (@RichardLui) added. He also advised the AAPI community to exercise their electoral rights and promote civic engagement, citing the record turnout of Asian American voters for the 2012 presidential election.

I would encourage many more of these Twitter town halls, where community members can express their thoughts and connect with and learn from the grassroots advocates who are essentially experts in their fields (e.g., now I know Ai-Jen Poo's Twitter handle, yay). It does away with the need for a physical venue and the inevitable scheduling conflicts that affect turnout (you don't have to leave your house! Or put on pants!). In this way, we can initiate a live dialogue that has the potential to become truly global. It lets viewers participate in a discussion across time zones, and allows for a certain anonymity that may just appeal to those who may fear putting a face (or even a real name) to their hard-hitting questions regarding immigration. It utilizes social media to engage the masses by bringing popular attention to important issues in "invisible" communities. Let's exhibit a chorus, and make sure our voices are heard and our concerns "Trending" nationally, globally, and within our communities themselves. And isn't that how the young'uns get their news nowadays, via Twitter Trends?

Sigh. If only we can avoid all the trolling, like this lovely piece of wisdom: "#18millionhearts for One Direction !!!! For 5 Seconds of Summer !!!! For Little Mix !!!! Ed Sheeran !!!!"

#Stopit.