On January 20, 2017, Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 45th US President and overnight the United States changed its outlook to be more inward looking and having a more nationalistic stance. President Trump touted during his campaign to build a wall between US and Mexico. He recently enacted executive action limiting travel from certain countries but was overturned by the courts. He wanted to put America First.
Association of Southeast Asian (ASEAN) member countries (photo courtesy of International Business Review)
Firing Up Regional Brain Network of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Report February 2017
However, on the other side of the world the Philippines and nine other Southeast Asian nations that comprised the Association of The Association of Southeast Asian Nations[7] (ASEAN) have a totally different outlook. The Philippines and ASEAN countries are opening up their borders, not building walls. They are promoting skilled migration, not enacting travel bans. They are promoting a slogan of unity “one identity, one community,” not “me first.”
The Philippines and all the ASEAN countries recently relaxed travel restrictions between them. Now they are poised to see a massive expansion of both the demand for and supply of skilled migrants that are willing and able to move.
ASEAN member states have recently signed to ease the intra-regional mobility of skilled professionals in the tourism and six regulated occupations (accounting, architecture, dentistry, engineering, medicine and nursing). Close to 15 million ASEAN workers are employed in these professions could be affected, accounting for about 5 percent of total regional employment.
“The convergence of these mega-trends represents unique opportunities for human-capital development and brain circulation, as this report explores and which promotes intergovernmental cooperation and facilitates economic integration among its members,” said Migration Policy Institute (MPI) Senior Policy Analyst Jeanne Batalova, the lead author of the report.
The report covered that whether ASEAN can enter the age of brain circulation is far from certain and that many challenges remain including ongoing brain drain to the US and other developed countries. However, I think that the Philippines and ASEAN countries are moving to different projection of growth and not following the lead of the Trump Administration of isolation and walls.
Given diverging demographics, rising educational attainment and wide variation in economic opportunities, countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations realize that they have to capitalize on their skilled immigrant workforce to stay and contribute to their countries’ growth. With the number of college-educated ASEAN emigrants in Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries rising from 1.7 million in 2000 to 2.8 million in 2010-2011, brain drain is recognized as an obstacle to economic and social development. Brain waste, or the under-utilization of highly skilled workers, remains an unstudied issue in ASEAN.
Filipino architects in Brunei? Singapore engineers in Malaysia? Thai accountants in Cambodia and Vietnam? These skilled migration are already happening on the ground and will be expanded. Is the ASEAN recipe of promoting skilled migration a better formula for growth, prosperity and peace? Or is the Trump recipe of borders, walls and nationalism would win the day? Time will tell.
1. The entire landmass of the Philippines is made up islands, making it the second-largest archipelago in the world.
In fact, the Philippines has approximately 7,500 islands with only 2,000 of them inhabited and nearly 5,000 still unnamed on global maps. (Source)
2. There are about 175 languages spoken in the Philippines, with 171 of them considered “living,” while four tribal dialects have no known living speakers. The country’s official languages are Filipino (based on Tagalog) and English, with Cebuano and Ilocano also popular in some regions. (Source)
But when Filipinos interact with tourists and foreigners, it’s easy for them to speak English since it’s the fifth largest English-speaking nation behind the U.S., India, Pakistan, and the U.K. (Source)
3. About 11% of the population of the Philippines – more than 11 million people – work overseas. In fact, the Philippines is the top supplier of nurses in the world, with about 25% of all overseas nurses coming from the country. In the United States, Filipinos are the second-largest Asian-American group behind only Chinese. (Source)
4. Filipinos are crazy about basketball! You’ll see makeshift hoops erected on every street corner, young men commonly wearing NBA jerseys, and local teams playing in every community hall. Their professional league, The Philippines Basketball Association (PBA) is the second oldest in the world after only the NBA! In fact, a good number of players with U.S. college and NBA experience come to play in the PBA. (Source)
5. Filipino’s also love boxing with a passion, and when their most famous native son, Manny Pacquiao, fights, it’s like a national holiday. In fact, Filipinos are so supportive of “PacMan” that every time he has a boxing match, the Philippine National Police report that street crime drops to zero in Metro Manila, and the same is true in most of the country. (Source)
6. The Philippines produces and exports more coconuts than any country in the world, shipping off about 19.5 million tons of the fruit (called “buko”) every year. (Source)
7. While most of their Southeast Asian neighbors practice Buddhism, the Philippines is the only Asian nation that’s predominantly Christian, with 90% practicing that religion (and about 80% of its population, Roman Catholic) because of its Spanish colonial influence. (Source)
8. Filipinos are very social, spending as much time as possible with family and friends. But they also stay in touch these days by exchanging a whole lot of text messages. In fact, it’s estimated that Filipinos send about 400 million text messages every day, adding up to about 142 billion texts per year, earning them the designation “the texting capital of the world.” (Source)
That’s more than the total number of daily text messages sent in the U.S. and Europe combined. (Source)
9. One of the most remarkable geological formations in the world, the Taal Volcano consists of an island (Luzon) that contains a lake (Taal Lake) with a smaller island in the lake (Volcano Island) with a lake on that island (Main Crater of Taal Volcano) with another tiny islet (Volcano Island) inside! (Source)
10. The Philippines population crossed the 100-million threshold in 2014, ranking as the 12th most populous country in the world. With an annual growth rate of about 2 percent, it’s also one of the fastest growing countries in the world. (Source)
11. Manila, the capital of the Philippines, ranks as the city with the highest population density in the world (and some of the worst traffic congestion!). In fact, Manila spans only 24 square miles but has 1,660,714 residents, giving it a population density of 55,446 people per square mile. (Source)
Metro Manila, comprising several other conjoined cities, stands at more than 12,877,000 people, making it one of the most populated metropolitan areas in the world. (Source)
12. The Philippines island of Palawan has been named one of the best island in the world by Condé Nast Traveler, Travel & Leisure, and other publications, thanks to its jaw-dropping natural beauty. Visitors can explore white sand beaches, swim in lagoons, enjoy island hopping in Coron and El Nido, find some of the best scuba diving in the world, and even traverse the underground river in the capital, Puerto Princesa, a UNESCO world heritage site and the second longest underground river in the world. (Source)
13. The country suffered one of the largest volcanic eruptions in history on June 15, 1991, when Mt. Pinatubo erupted only a couple of hours from Manila. The blast was so powerful that it shot 10 billion metric tons of magma and 20 million tons of toxic sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere, 25 miles high. (Source)
Mt. Pinatubo’s sent such a big mushroom cloud of ash into the atmosphere that it created a haze of sulfuric acid all around the world for two years, causing global temperatures to drop by 1 degree Fahrenheit! Tragically, the eruption killed at least 847 people, injured 184, and left more than 1 million people homeless, as well as forcing an American air force base to be abandoned and relocated soon after. (Source)
14. Jeepneys are a unique form of transportation that many people in Manila and other places in the Philippines use every day. In fact, jeepneys were born from the thousands of army jeeps that the U.S. military left after World War II. Resourceful Filipinos extended the cabs to accommodate about 18 passengers for hot, bumpy and dusty rides through the streets.
As time went on, drivers adorned the jeepneys in colorful and creative designs to help them stand out, with flashing neon lights, paintings of favorite superheroes, basketball stars, cartoon characters, religious sayings, and just about every other gaudy decoration you can imagine. Still costing only about 8 Pesos (20 cents U.S.), about 50,000 jeepneys run daily in Manila alone, billowing thick clouds of black smoke. They don’t have set routes, so passengers just jump on a jeepney going in their direction, pass a coin forward to the driver, and ring a bell when they want to get off. (Source)
15. Filipinos LOVE their shopping malls! In fact, they serve as community hubs since they’re clean, safe, and, most importantly, air-conditioned. Aside from the usual stores they also have countless food venues, gyms, grocery stores, banks, health clinics, nightclubs, parks, concert amphitheaters, and even churches inside their malls. In fact, the Philippines is home to three of the ten largest shopping malls in the world, The Mega Fashion Hall of SM Megamall (third-largest in the world, encompassing 5,451,220 sq ft), SM City North EDSA (fourth largest) and SM Mall of Asia (tenth largest). (Source)
16. Even among the countless natural wonders of the Philippines, the island of Camiguin stands out since it’s home to the most volcanoes per square mile of any island on Earth. Only about 14 miles long and 8.5 miles wide, Camiguin holds the distinction as the only island on the planet with more volcanoes (7) than towns (5). It’s now a great tourist destination with white-sand beaches and friendly locals, but don’t worry – the volcanoes have been dormant since the 1950s. (Source)
17. Travelers and vacationers flock to the paradise island of Boracay, known for having one of the best beaches in the world with powder-like white sand. Only 3.98 square miles, the island still receives about 1.5 million visitors from home and abroad every year, making it the most popular destination in the Philippines. In fact, Boracay has celebrated as the best islands in the world in a Condé Nast Traveler reader’s poll, as well as highlighted in Travel + Leisure Magazine, CNN, the New York Times Travel, and others. (Source)
18. Typhoons wreak havoc in the Philippines nearly every year, and in 2013, it was Super Typhoon Haiyan (called Yolanda locally) that ripped through the archipelago. Haiyan brought the strongest winds ever recorded at landfall as well as the strongest one-minute sustained wind speed of 195 mph. Sadly, it was also the deadliest typhoon in Philippines history, killing at least 6,100 people and displacing millions according to government reports (although locals estimate the death toll to be closer to 15,000, and a thousand people are still missing). (Source)
Coincidentally, I was living on Boracay when Typhoon Haiyan slammed the Philippines, and you can watch my home video of it here.
19. Politeness is an art form in the Philippines. Most foreigners will be referred to as “sir” and “mam” no matter their age. You’ll see younger people refer to the women and men a little bit older as “ates” and “kuyas” (sort of like aunt and uncle, respectively).
Filipinos respect and cherish their elders, and that shows in many ways in everyday life. For instance, seniors are addressed as “po” after please, thank you, and other exchanges, with the younger person taking the elder’s hand and touching it to their forehead in a charming display of reverence called “mano.”
Elderly, disabled, and pregnant women even have their own line at banks, restaurants and taxi queues, allowing them to bypass the crowd.
However, their politeness can go a little too far, as you’ll rarely hear a Filipino come out with a direct “no” answer when you ask them a question, a trait that can create many challenging and hilarious situations for the foreigner! (Source)
20. Filipinos are warm, happy, and have a great sense of humor! In fact, the Philippines is one of the happiest countries in the world, ranking near the top on Gallup’s index. (Source)
Filipinos also have an uproarious sense of humor, as joking, lighthearted banter, and even singing makes every day in their presence a true blessing. As some Filipino friends have pointed out to me, it’s an inherent trait that helps them cope with such poverty, hardship, and natural disasters. No matter the reason, life in the Philippines is all about smiling, laughing and enjoying every moment with those around you!
These are just a small portion of incredible facts about the Philippines, which I find one of the most remarkable countries on earth.
Contact me if you’d like more information about traveling to the Philippines!
The Philippines has long been particularly vulnerable to extreme weather. But in recent years the nation has suffered from even more violent storms like Typhoon Haiyan. On average, about 20 tropical cyclones enter Philippine waters each year, with eight or nine making landfall. And over the past decade, these tropical storms have struck the nation more often and more severely, scientists believe, because of climate change. In addition, two factors unique to the Philippines – its geography and development – have combined to exacerbate both this threat and its devastating consequences.
Climate Change Displacement Is Not Hypothetical
Climate-related displacement is not hypothetical: An average of 21.5 million people per year have been displaced since 2008 by natural disasters, and thousands more have fled slow-onset environmental hazards. While migration can serve as a safety valve to adapt to changing conditions, few orderly, legal channels exist for climate migrants (also known as environmental migrants), as this article explores (Migration Policy Institute, February 2017).
Will Dix and Dale Asis enjoying unseasonably warm weather during Chicago’s winter season February 2017
On February 18, 2017, Chicago and the Midwest was hit with record-breaking temperatures reaching 64 degrees Fahrenheit (CBS Local News, February 2017). Winter temperatures normally hover around the freezing mark, 32 degrees Fahrenheit. So Will Dix and I went outside and enjoyed the unseasonably warm weather. Is this just an anomaly? Or is this part of larger climate change happening worldwide?
Climate Change is Real
Many critics agree that climate change is happening and will affect cities and countries around the world. In 2015, the Climate Reality Project, a non-profit Washington, DC based organization involved in education and advocacy related to climate change reported the Global Climate Risk Index. They listed the Philippines as the number one most affected country by climate change. This is thanks, in part, to its geography. The Philippines is located in the western Pacific Ocean, surrounded by naturally warm waters that will likely get even warmer as average sea-surface temperatures continue to rise.
To some extent, this is a normal pattern: the ocean surface warms as it absorbs sunlight. The ocean then releases some of its heat into the atmosphere, creating wind and rain clouds. However, as the ocean’s surface temperature increases over time from the effects of climate change, more and more heat is released into the atmosphere. This additional heat in the ocean and air can lead to stronger and more frequent storms – which is exactly what we’ve seen in the Philippines over the last decade.
Geography
The Philippines also lacks natural barriers; as a collection of over 7,000 islands there is almost nothing standing between them and the sea. In addition to their coral reefs, one of the best buffers against typhoons are the Philippine mangrove ecosystems. These mangroves help mitigate the impact of storm surge and stabilize soil but have disappeared by almost half since 1918 due to deforestation (an issue for another day). Since 2010, the Bayanihan Foundation has been planting over 30,000 mangrove seedlings in Liloan, Cebu to combat deforestation and climate change.
(standing second from right): James Castillo, foundation board member, leads youth participants in planting mangrove trees in Cebu, Philippines
Other natural factors, like regional wind patterns or currents, can also increase the risk of tropical storms. Geography again plays a role here, as these factors affect different areas of the country differently, due to their unique circumstances. The graphic below from a report by the Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources shows how the various regions in the Philippines can face a range of climate threats, based on where they sit on the map.
The map also shows the regions most vulnerable to sea-level rise, another detrimental effect of climate change that can be exacerbated by the storm surge from tropical storms. Sea levels in the Philippines are rising at about twice the global average. And when especially strong storms like Typhoon Haiyan make landfall, this higher sea level contributes to storm surge that can rise upwards of 15–20 feet, displacing thousands or even millions of citizens in coastal communities. Which brings us to our next topic: development in the Philippines.
Development
Developmental factors have made it difficult for the Philippines to prepare and respond to disasters. Evacuation plans, early warning systems, and shelters are critical to dealing with extreme weather events. Warning and relocating thousands or millions of citizens when a storm is approaching would be a massive hurdle for any country – and in the case of a developing nation like the Philippines with nearly 100 million citizens spread out across thousands of islands, the hurdle becomes bigger still.Then there’s what these storms mean for the Philippines’ economy. According to a 2013 statement from government officials, a destructive typhoon season costs the nation two percent of its gross domestic product (GDP). It costs another two percent to rebuild the infrastructure lost, putting the Philippines at least four percent in the hole each year from tropical storms. And when you’re a nation aspiring to grow and create better lives for your citizens, this regular hit to the economy is the last thing you can afford.
James Castillo (standing center) leads youth in a film making workshop
This is not an easy problem to fix, but we need to try. The first step is educating citizens both in the Philippines and around the world about what the nation is facing, and about the practical clean-energy solutions available that can begin to address the harmful effects of climate change in the Philippines and beyond.
Since 2010, Bayanihan Foundation board member James Castillo has been conducting youth leadership and education workshops on environmental sustainability and climate change.
Climate-related displacement is not hypothetical
Since 2008, an average of 21.5 million people per year have been displaced by natural disasters, and thousands more have fled slow-onset environmental hazards. While migration can serve as a safety valve to adapt to changing conditions, few orderly, legal channels exist for climate migrants (also known as environmental migrants) (Migration Policy Institute, 2017).
The following blog entry is written by Jeselle Santiago, 2015 NEXTGEN Fellow that traveled with the Bayanihan Foundation. In 2017, Jeselle will be learning about non-profit management and administration with the Bayanihan Foundation as part of her Internship as she completes her Master degree in Social Work at Loyola University Chicago. Jeselle will also be helping prepare the next cohort of 2017 NEXTGEN Fellows to the Philippines in June 20 – July 4, 2017.
Jeselle Santiago, 2015 NEXTGEN Scholar, will be working with the Bayanihan Foundation as part of her Internship completing her Masters Degree in Social Work at Loyola University Chicago
There are no words that I feel could adequately capture what the Bayanihan Foundation Worldwide has come to mean to me. Truly, my experience as one of their first NEXTGEN scholars has been transformative to say the least, and a catalyst for clarity that moved me to my current life’s path in the field of social work. Our trip to the Philippines two summers ago (2015) awoke my dormant Filipinx soul and reignited my passion to spend my life in servant-leadership roles. Since returning to the U.S. from that trip, Bayanihan’s Executive Director Mr. Dale Asis has graciously taken me under his wing and given me the honor of being involved in various service projects such as sending balikbayan boxes of books to local Philippine schools in Iligan; spearheading fundraisers such as the kamayan (traditional Filipino feast) hosted at my family home; contributing to the development of a Filipino/Filipino-American history workshop series “Filipinx X-Plore our History”; and even co-creating a Filipino focused giving circle “Community Power Giving Circle.”
2015 NEXTGEN Fellow Jeselle Santiago collected used books for elementary school in Iligan (October 2015)
At the time I joined as a NEXTGEN Scholar that summer 2015, I had just graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) with my Bachelors in Psychology and Minor in Asian American Studies…but after that milestone, I lacked clear direction about what to do next with my life. Now, only about a year and a half later, the possibilities of what I can do seem limitless.
I am proud to say that I am now a second year Masters of Social Work (MSW) student at Loyola University Chicago–specializing in Mental Health, sub-specializing in Migration Studies, and pursuing my certificate in Nonprofit Management and Philanthropy. Time has flown by, and I can’t believe I’m due to graduate this coming December 2017! In the meantime, I have the privilege of continuing my involvement with Bayanihan and have leveled up from volunteer to formal intern!
(left to right): Dale Asis, Serena Moy of Asian Giving Circle; and Jeselle Santiago Fall 2016
As an intern, I will focus on developing our Community Power Giving Circle; contributing to the growth of the next NEXTGEN cohort; and working on policy advocacy for mental health issues affecting Filipino-Americans and Asian Americans overall. Up until this point, I had humbly been volunteering with Dale as I could, but felt constrained in capacity with competing responsibilities as a full-time graduate student with two jobs. Now that we have formalized my role with Bayanihan by connecting it to my MSW program and legitimizing it as my advanced level fieldwork experience, I am excited to have structured time for me to focus on our efforts towards Bayanihan’s mission of “Filipinos abroad helping Filipinos at home.”
I would like to close this post by taking a moment to step back and acknowledge that I could not have done this all on my own. Perhaps it sounds cliché, but I mean it when I say that my current path was made possible by the generous support and love I have warmly received from so many folks I’ve met along the way, folks including those of you reading this right now. Thank you, sincerely! Maraming Salamat, po!
This Summer 2017, the Bayanihan Foundation will sponsor partial and full travel accommodations for up to seven young adults (18 years old and up) to visit the Philippines for 14 days. Travel scholarship opportunities [valued up to $4,500 each] will be awarded based on merit and financial need; scholarship funds go towards international airfare to Manila from Chicago, domestic transportation in the Philippines, meals, lodging, and sightseeing. Anticipated costs that participants are expected to cover on their own: passport and/or visa costs, incidentals, souvenirs, travel vaccinations (please consult your doctor), and travel insurance. Participants are encouraged to fundraise $300 to $1,000 or as much as they can for their own service projects.
Learning Outcomes:
Diaspora philanthropy (sharing resources with your homeland)
Service projects (contribute in sustaining community with action)
Visit family & friends; immerse in Filipino culture ([re]connect with your roots)
NEXTGEN SUMMER 2017 TIMELINE
By Saturday, April 15
Complete online application to participate
Sunday, April 30 (IL) and/or
Sunday, May 21 (CA)
Attend Bayanihan Foundation events centered around NEXTGEN selected scholars (announcement ceremony!)
Between April 30 – June 20
Work on “Filipinx X-plore Our History” orientation workshops online (stay tuned for more information)
Send one recommendation letter to Bayanihan’s Executive Director, Dale Asis via email at dale@fdnbayanihan.org or mail to 2020 N. California Ave., Suite 7 Box 147, Chicago IL 60647. Use NEXTGEN Notarized Release Form.
Selected participants are expected to attend an announcement event and complete the orientation workshops to be provided online. Please mark the following dates on your calendar and plan to attend an announcement event either:
Sunday, April 30, 2017 in Chicago, IL
OR
Sunday, May 21, 2017 in Los Angeles, CA
We hope you join us!
For any inquiries, you may contact Coordinator [and NEXTGEN alum] Jeselle Santiago via email at jsantiago3@luc.edu.
The continued rhetoric of the Trump administration of closing the borders, building a wall and blaming Mexican immigrants (and all immigrants for that matter) as criminals was getting to me. I thought I better pack up, put my notions of bayanihan (community giving) in hibernation and maybe emerge from my cave in 2020 when this is all over. However recently, I’m having second thoughts. I’m beginning to believe that despite all the negative news, glimpses of community giving are emerging. The Filipino ritual of giving and helping each other could not be squelch and perhaps provide hope and renewal in the age of Trump.
Last June 2017, I went back home to the Philippines to attend my aunt and uncle’s 60th wedding anniversary. When I get back to Chicago, I was eager to bring back dried mangoes to my friends and colleagues. Some of my co-workers were even anticipating these gifts from the Philippines, a remembrance of home.
Dried mangoes from the Philippines, a favorite ‘pasalubong’ – a souvenir, a gift given to someone
The precise beginnings of the pasalubong ritual are difficult to identify. Dr Nestor Castro, anthropology professor at the University of the Philippines, believes pasalubong is a pre-Hispanic practice, given that the term is indigenous to the Filipino language and that early Philippine communities engaged in long-distance trade (BBC Travel, July 2017).
Fellow anthropology professor at the University of the Philippines, Dr Michael Tan, agrees, writing, “…I suspect it referred to a time when travel was difficult, making the return more emotion-laden. The more distant and the more difficult the place one went to, as in the case of many of our overseas Filipinos, the more important it was to bring back something.”
This implicit recognition of reciprocity – that the person who receives pasalubong is expected to give pasalubong in return – is an essential part of the ritual. Expressions of appreciation and reassurances of joy for the person returning home are also expected (BBC Travel, July 2017).
Store of pasalubong(souvenir) in Batangas, Philippines (photo courtesy of BBC Travel, July 2017)
This pasalubong ritual I think is a major extension of community giving within the Filipino culture. At the end of our summer picnic last 4th of July, my mother insisted that every guest of her backyard barbecue take home a Tupperware of pancit (Filipino noodles) or baon. These extensions of community giving – pasalubong and baon continue to flourish despite the negative news and pulling back of the welcome mat of the Trump administration (CNN News, July 11, 2017).
My partner, Will Dix and I bought sundresses back as gifts to our mothers, they were both ecstatic to receive their pasalubong. Our small gifts was more than a ritual. It was an extension of bringing something home to them. “We should not underestimate the resiliency of culture,” Dr Castro added. “The longing for pasalubong connects Filipinos to their notion of home and heritage.” I think these extensions of giving through pasalubong, baon and bayanihan continue the spirit of community giving that no autocrat could squelch.
Dale Asis (seated far right) joins 60th wedding anniversary of Luz (seated middle) and Vic Saavedra (seated second from right) in Iligan City, Philippines (June 2017)
In May 2017, I joined my aunt Luz and uncle Vic Saavedra’s 60th wedding anniversary in Iligan City, Philippines. During this festive family celebration, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte imposed martial law in Iligan City and the island of Mindanao to crush militant rebels in nearby city of Marawi (BBC News, July 2017). Legislators in the Philippines have voted overwhelmingly to extend martial law to deal with an Islamist insurgency in the restive island of Mindanao. The island is home to a number of Muslim rebel groups seeking more autonomy. Martial law allows the use of the military to enforce law and the detention of people without charge for long periods. This a sensitive issue in the Philippines, where martial law was imposed by the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos for much of his rule. Leaving Iligan, we went through many checkpoints and delays as we head towards the local airport.
A Philippine policeman mans a checkpoint along a highway in Iligan City, Mindanao (May 2017, Photo: AFP/Getty Images)
Like many Filipinos at home, those overseas largely voted for Duterte. So as soon as I got back to the US, I wanted to find out some answers on key questions in my mind:
Why does President Duterte continue his surging popularity in the Philippines, despite the setback of the insurgency in Mindanao?
What kind of migration policies does he support? Is he like the other Philippine presidents that actively promote out-migration to continue the flow of remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFW)?
Will his tough on crime stance hinder Bayanihan (community giving)?
Philippine President Duterte greets displaced residents of Marawi City affected by local insurgency (June 2017, photo courtesy of Xinhua Chinese news agency)
Behind the headlines of the brash President Duterte, I was surprised that his polices were thoughtful and departs from his predecessors. Beyond the media hype of get tough, macho stance, his policies seem more optimistic, in fact, looking ahead. His presidency’s development plan is unprecedented that it situate a development agenda within the longer-term AmBisyon Natin 2040 (Our Vision 2040; literally, ambition), which reflects the aspirations of Filipinos for themselves and their country (The Philippines Beyond Labor Migration, Asis, 2017).
Duterte’s long-term view for the Philippine development plan (PDP) is novel. These development plans are typically anchored on the six-year cycle of each administration and nothing more. The new PDP explains, “As one of Asia’s better-performing economies today, the Philippines is in a more favorable position than it has ever been in the last four decades. No longer weighed down by an unmanageable fiscal deficit and more secure in its political legitimacy, the government can now afford to think about national goals based on a longer time horizon.” The Duterte administration’s target is to achieve annual GDP growth of 7-8 percent in the medium term, and the PDP aims to cut the poverty rate from 21.6 percent to 14 percent overall, and from 30 percent to 20 percent in rural areas. It also seeks to reduce the unemployment rate of 5.5 percent by 3-5 percentage points by 2022 (The Philippines Beyond Labor Migration, Asis, 2017).
The new development plan also gives special attention to overseas Filipinos by incorporating international migration issues, often referring to migrants directly, throughout. It gives attention to the special circumstances of migrants and their families, and aims to protect their rights and improve their well-being, strengthen their engagement in governance, ease their participation in the country’s development, and ensure their smooth reintegration upon return.
Last March 2017, Duterte visited Thailand and he spoke to almost 2,000 overseas Filipino workers. The Philippine President said, “My dream for the Philippines will not be reached overnight, but we can start it. In 10 years, you don’t have to travel abroad to find a job.” (Manila Bulletin, March 2017). This is a departure from other Philippine presidents that actively pushed Filipino workers to find employment abroad and keep sending vital remittances back to keep the country fiscally afloat. Limited employment opportunities affected many higher skilled Filipinos, forcing Filipinos to migrate by necessity and not by choice. And their emigration results in brain drain, which deprives the country of human capital important for development. (The Philippines Beyond Labor Migration, Asis, 2017).
On the other hand, Duterte’s long-term plans calls for strengthening the long-running Balik Scientist (Return Scientist) Program and similar schemes. He is open to the idea of tapping foreign experts, including overseas Filipinos, for institutional capacity building and development expertise. This is an important policy pivot. The Bayanihan Foundation believes in connecting the expertise of Filipinos abroad, promoting return migration and reversing the brain drain. However, it remains to be seen, if Duterte will keep up the momentum to maximize the development potentials of migration, while continuing to look out for the well-being of migrants working abroad (The Philippines Beyond Labor Migration, Asis, 2017).
(left to right): E Armea of Kaluluwa Kolectivo and Marc Butiong, NEXTGEN Fellow distributes food packages to indigent Filipino Muslims in Iligan City, Philippines July 2015
In June 2015, I traveled with young Filipino Americans to the Philippines as part of the Bayanihan Foundation’s NEXTGEN Program. The NEXTGEN Fellowship Program is designed for young Filipino Americans to learn more about their Filipino heritage and connect them to the foundation’s sustainable projects in the Philippines. In August 10, 2017, I will be traveling for 10 days with two young Filipino Americans, Marc Butiong and Camillo Geaga as part of the Bayanihan Foundation’s 2017 NEXTGEN Program. Marc, Camillo, and I plan to visit historic sites in the Philippines; learn more about their Filipino heritage; connect them to the foundation’s sustainable projects; and potentially give back to the community, locally and globally.
Marc Butiong
Marc Butiong from Chicago, IL
“I’m Marc Butiong. In May 2015, I graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) with a degree in Business Management and minor in Finance. I work as a Sales Analyst at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. I hope to pursue a career in healthcare administration after completing graduate school. I split my time between Chicago and Detroit where I support multiple nonprofit initiatives including the Bayanihan Foundation.
As a recipient of the first NEXTGEN scholarship back in 2015, the program provided me the opportunity to visit the Philippines for the first time and understand my Filipino identity. For this year’s trip, I’m looking forward to reconnecting with the country and exploring more of its rich history to share with the Filipino community back home.”
Camillo Geaga
Camillo Geaga from Berkeley, CA
“I’m Camillo Geaga from Berkeley, California. I am completing an Associate degree (AA) in Liberal Arts and Humanities at Los Angeles City College. I will be joining this year’s NEXTGEN program and this will be my first time to visit the Philippines. I’m excited about my experience to travel to the Philippines in the hopes of cultural enrichment, education, and further participation with the Bayanihan Foundation.”
During our 10-day trip, we plan to:
Visit historic sites related to precolonial Philippines; colonial sites under Spain and the US; Philippine revolution for independence; and to World War II;
Connect with community groups like the Visayas Mindanao Resource Development Center (VMPRDC) and their local efforts for community sustainability. The Bayanihan Foundation has been connected with VMPRDC for the last six years;
Plant mangrove seedlings in Liloan, Cebu, as part of the thousands of mangrove seedlings already planted to combat climate change;
Complete the two new hospital lobby areas for the JP Rizal Memorial Hospital in Calamba, Laguna, the only charity hospital in the Laguna area. These hospital lobbies were donated by many donors from Chicago, IL; and
Relax and enjoy the Philippine islands, including visiting an active volcano, Taal.
Taal volcano, one of the most active volcanoes in the world (photo courtesy of Philippine Primer.com)
Interested in joining the 2018 Bayanihan Foundation’s NEXTGEN Program? Applications for travel scholarship will be available late fall 2017. So stay tuned! In the meantime, take a look at the history links and Voice Thread presentations to learn more about Philippine precolonial history, its colonial past, and its diverse culture and heritage.
Members of the Visayas Mindanao People’s Resource & Development Center (VMPRDC) assisted participants of 2017 NEXTGEN Program to plant mangrove seedlings in Lapu Lapu City, Cebu
In August 2017, I traveled with the participants of the 2017 NEXTGEN program, Marc Butiong and Camillo Geaga. During our visit, we demonstrated ‘kawang gawa’, the age-old cultural trait of helping others.
We planted mangrove seedlings in Mactan island with the local community supported by the Bayanihan Foundation’s partner, Visayas Mindanao People’s Resource Development Center (VMPRDC).
Fisher folk community leaders from Barangay Mactan in Lapu Lapu City, Cebu explains their dire situation of displacement as informal settlers in rapidly changing Cebu
We learned about the challenges of the informal settlers and fisher folk community that are being engulfed by the rapid tourist and economic development around Cebu. We also heard the struggles of the struggling street vendors of Cebu’s Carbon Market. I think we demonstrated that the tradition of kawang gawa of helping others is alive and well.
BEFORE 2014: Makeshift hospital lobby of the Calamba Municipal Hospital
AFTER 2017: Renovated hospital lobby of the JP Rizal Memorial Hospital, courtesy of the donations of ‘The Adorables’ and the many donors of the Bayanihan Foundation
2013
In 2013, I visited Calamba, Laguna, the hometown of my late cousin, Peter Aldeza. Calamba is located 100 kilometers south of the capital, Manila. I found out that the only charity hospital in Calamba, JP Rizal Memorial Hospital, did not even have a proper hospital lobby. The hospital serves over 20,000 indigent patients every year and it’s the only medical facility for miles that provides charity care. All indigent patients have to wait out in a makeshift shed with a few corrugated metal sheets attached together as a roof and a few slabs of wood as benches. I wondered what happens when it rains and the patients have to wait out in the open?
BEFORE 2014: Makeshift lobby of the JP Rizal Memorial Hospital in Calamba, Laguna
AFTER 2017: Renovated emergency lobby of JP Rizal Memorial Hospital, courtesy of the donations of ‘The Adorables’ and the many donors of the Bayanihan Foundation
2014
‘The Adorables’ throwing a successful fundraiser in 2014: (left to right): Dr. Dorothy Anoina, Eva Torres, Aurora Gagni, Carminda Aldeza and Dale Asis)
In October 2014, I shared this project idea with my late cousin’s wife, Carminda Aldeza. She immediately got to work and recruited other Filipinas to help in putting together a fundraiser to build a proper lobby for the hospital. Carminda recruited 20 other women to help – Ate (older sister) Sally, Ate Chit, Ate Aurora, Ate Aurora, Ate Sionie, Ruth Banatin, Christine Krogmann and countless others, including my mother Shirley Pintado. They put together the best party of the year – a Hawaiian ‘luau’ theme party replete with grass skirts, leis, tiki torches, a roast pig ‘lechon’ and the Aloha spirit. It all happened so fast! In I thought that the party was going to be a small get together honoring my late cousin Peter but it turned out to be the best of the year honoring Pete Aldeza’s memory, his goodwill and his legacy. But most of all, Carminda and the legion of volunteer Filipinas called ‘Adorables’ were the highlight of the party.
2015
Ground breaking ceremonies at JP Rizal Memorial Hospital in 2015 (left to right): Dr. Borlongan, Carminda Aldeza, Dr. Ronaldo Catindig, Jeff & Penelope Krogmann, Christine Krogmann, Evelyn Castillo, Gov. Hernandez, Mrs. Hernandez, Brian Aldeza, Atty. Rebanal, Angelita Alviar & Rosemarie Aranza
In February 2015, I joined Carminda Aldeza and her family in the groundbreaking ceremony of the hospital lobby areas for the JP Rizal Memorial Hospital in Calamba, Laguna, the only charity hospital in the Laguna area.
2017
(left to right): Camillo Geaga, Marc Butiong, and Dale Asis visits the completed waiting lobby for the Calamba Municipal Hospital
In August 2017, the NEXTGEN 2017 participants Marc Butiong, Camillo Geaga and I visited the municipal hospital in Calamba, Laguna. I am proud to share the completion of the hospital lobby. The donation resulted in the completion of the covered lobby for the emergency hospital, the covered waiting area, and the outpatient services lobby. Now, the patients do not have to wait in the elements. Besides the request of additional paint for the emergency lobby awning, mission accomplished.
(left to right): Richard Lee, hospital staff, Dr. Amy Belarmino, Marc Butiong, Dale Asis, Camillo Geaga, and Mahli Sales) presenting an office printer and FAX machine to the JP Rizal Memorial Hospital staff
In addition, the Bayanihan Foundation donated a printer and a FAX machine for the hospital administration use. The completion of this project is especially significant and an important milestone for me. This project demonstrated the persistence, patience and commitment of many people behind the scenes that made this project possible.
Crab Mentality
Filipino crab mentality is the desire to outdo, outshine or surpass another (often of one’s same ethnic group) at the other’s expense.
In this project, I was confronted with intense cultural challenges that I did not expect in my endeavors to raise funds for community projects. These cultural challenges include intense competition among Filipinos and the pervasive ‘crab mentality’ (Nadal: Filipino Psychology, 2009). Crab mentality is the desire to outdo, outshine or surpass another (often of one’s same ethnic group) at the other’s expense. These challenges include fragmentation and distrust and intense competition. I’ve realized that these cultural challenges run deep and might be the main reason Filipinos are not unified to face together larger community challenges including combating poverty in the Philippines, the big gap in income between the rich and the poor and increasing out-migration. Without any solution in mind, I began to accept the crab mentality thinking and just soldier on. This project somehow embodied how Filipinos could overcome deep fragmentation and distrust among each other called ‘crab mentality’. This story renewed my hope on the Filipino community spirit of giving. I slowly evolved from pessimism to optimism.
Special Thanks
I would like to thank a lot of people who made this project possible including the ‘Adorables’ (Carminda Aldeza, Dr. Dorothy Anoina, Aurora Gagni and Eva Torres). They changed my perception from pessimism to optimism. They bonded and worked hard to put together a terrific fundraising party, to raise funds to build a hospital lobby in Calamba, Laguna, in memory of the late Peter Aldeza. They are a living testament that Filipinos could overcome the cultural challenge of ‘crab mentality’ and worked together in Bayanihan, for the common good. Special thanks go to Evelyn Castillo, the Bayanihan Foundation’s Liaison that made multiple trips to Calamba to make this project happen. Special thanks also goes to: Dr. Borlongan and the hospital staff of JP Rizal Memorial Hospital; Dr. Doreen Sales; Dr. Amy Belarmino; Christine Aldeza Krogmann; Sionie Sales; Shirley Pintado; the continued support of the Bayanihan Foundation board and the many donors that supported this project.
“As a familiar story goes, one can leave a basket full of crabs and not worry that a single one of them can ever climb out of it and escape the cooking pan. The moment one succeeds in pulling itself up an inch, there will be a dozen claws that will make sure it doesn’t make it to the top.” (Mejorada: The Filipino Express, 1996)
Honoring Peter Aldeza (left to right): Dale Asis and Carminda Aldeza
In the end, the indigent patients of Calamba, Philippines benefited with new hospital lobbies where they could wait in comfort and not out in the open. I have indeed renewed my spirit. The Bayanihan spirit of community giving, Kawang Gawa is alive and well.
In 2014, Cebu’s Carbon Market was devastated by a terrible fire displacing hundreds of vendors (Inquirer News, January 2014)..
In 2014, Cebu’s Carbon Market was devastated by a terrible fire that raged on for two hours at this city’s premier public market, razing to the ground a whole block of the market in Sitio Warwick Barracks. More than 100 stalls and hundreds of subsistence vendors lost their livelihood and their homes (Inquirer News, January 2014).
Housing settlement of women vendors displaced by a devastating fire in 2014
In August 2017, the 2017 NEXTGEN participants, Camillo Geaga, Marc Butiong, and I visited the new housing settlement of the displaced vendors. They live in a patch of land in Talisay City, about 11 kilometers away from Cebu’s Carbon Market, their place of livelihood.
Displaced women vendors of Cebu’s Carbon Market tell their stories. They were displaced due to a devastating fire in 2014 and still have to be properly resettled.
After the fire, the women vendors organized themselves and formed an urban poor association, through the support of the Visayas Mindanao People’s Resource & Development Center (VMPRDC). We visited these women vendors and their families. They shared with us their heartfelt stories of earning meager wages, barely enough to feed their children. Some of the displaced women vendors of Cebu’s Carbon Market cried when they shared with their heartfelt stories. For the last three years, these women vendors are still waiting for restitution and justice. Without adequate insurance, government assistance or social service protections, these women do not have any other recourse.
Emz Aliviano of Visayas Mindanao People’s Resource & Development Center (VMPRDC)
Emz Aliviano of Visayas Mindanao People’s Resource & Development Center (VMPRDC) showed us the substandard housing conditions of where these women vendors and their children live.
Standing, filthy water surrounded the substandard housing of the displaced women vendors
The lack of proper water drainage creates a public health hazard for the women, their families and their children
I saw that standing, filthy water surrounded the substandard housing of the displaced women vendors. There was clearly a lack of proper water drainage surrounding their homes and that it created a public health hazard for the women, their families and their children.
One water well with inadequate, basic sewer system provides access to drinking water to 67 families
There was one water well that provide access to drinking water to 67 families. It has an inadequate drainage system where the water flows out into a puddle of standing, filthy water.
Toddler waits for clean water in Talisay City, Cebu
Last month, one vendor family lost a toddler to dengue fever, due to the unsanitary conditions of the standing water and the lack of proper water drainage around the homes. The filthy, standing water creates a public health hazard as it breeds mosquitoes promoting dengue fever and other mosquito borne diseases.
Bayanihan Foundation to support these women vendors and provide them clean water for their families and children
Yes, you can help! The Bayanihan Foundation would like to support partner organization VMPRDC and its urban poor women vendors by providing them access to a basic, water sewer system around their homes. This way, the water will not be left standing to breed mosquitoes and other mosquito borne diseases that could affect families and children. VMPRDC will provide the technical assistance and the local community members will provide the manual labor to dig the ditches and provide the basic, sewer system for the community. How much will this cost? You only need to donate $25 to provide access to clean water and help prevent another death of dengue fever. Donate securely online at the Bayanihan Foundation’s PayPal link: https://www.paypal.me/fdnbayanihan
Provide access to clean water to women vendors and their children
(from left to right) Dale Asis, Marc Butiong, and Camillo Geaga enjoying view of the Taal Volcano and the food from Josephine’s Restaurant, Tagaytay
In August 2017, Bayanihan Foundation NEXTGEN participants Marc Butiong, Camillo Geaga and I enjoyed the many food delights of the Philippine Islands. Marc is a self-described foodie and through his excitement trying new foods, I also got carried away trying wonderful Filipino food delights during our visit. Most food lists often highlight the weird stuff which makes Filipino fare seem exotic and inedible. Every cuisine has their share of ‘weird’ foods, even American fare. Have you tried deep-fried Twinkies? Yup, they serve them, as they say, “proud to be Ammerican” at the Illinois State Fair.
Enjoying Fried Twinkies at the IL State Fair (Chicago Reader, 2008)
Here’s my top 10 list of food delights you must try the next you visit the Philippines Islands:
10. Bibingka at Kesong Puti (Filipino pancakes and white cheese made of carabao’s milk). The cheese complements the pancake so well. It tastes better than any goat cheese I’ve ever tasted.
Bibingka at Kesong Puti (Filipino pancake with white cheese made of carabao’s milk at Josephine’s Restaurant, Tagaytay
9. Manggang hilaw na may bagoong (Sliced, green mangoes dipped in anchovy paste). Every island seems to have their hometown favorite of anchovy paste. You can skip the salty anchovies but you should try the crunchy flavor of a fresh, green mango. It is to die for.
Fresh, green mangoes dipped in anchovy paste
5. Turon (fried bananas dusted with brown sugar, rolled in a spring roll). The best street food snack.
Turon, a Philippine snack made of thinly sliced bananas dusted with brown sugar, rolled in a spring roll (Talisay City, Cebu)
6. Fresh guavas. I picked this one right from the tree in Liloan, Cebu.
Fresh guava fruit right from the tree (Liloan, Cebu)
5. Tuyo, itlog, sinangag at pandesal (dried herring, scrambled eggs, fried rice and pan de sal bread). I enjoyed this hearty, Filipino breakfast, a perfect start when you’re going to see the sights of the islands.
Tuyo, itlog, sinangag at pandesal (dried herring, scrambled eggs, fried rice and pan de sal bread with butter) – typical, hearty, Filipino breakfast.
4. Kalamansi juice ‘moxtail’ (a moxtail is a nonalcoholic beverage mixed with natural fruit juices and typically with iced tea). This one is made of fresh Philippine lime (Kalamansi). This one is a perfect refreshing drink I got at Greenbelt Makati.
Kalamansi ‘moxtail’ (a non-alcoholic drink made of fresh Philippine lime juice) (Greenbelt Makati)
(left to right): Marc Butiong, Dale Asis, Vicente Yanesa, and Camillo Geaga at Greenbelt Makati (August 2017)
3. Sweet rice with mango slices (Cafe Cesario, Cebu Airport). Believe it or not I got this at a restaurant in Cebu Airport. It sure beats french fries or potato chips.
Sweet rice with mango slices (Cafe Cesario, Cebu)
2. Make your own halo halo (shaved ice sundae).There are countless variations of halo–halo. Ideally, it’s a layered dessert consisting of shaved ice, evaporated milk, ice cream, and variety of mix-ins. Camillo Geaga enjoyed making his own version of halo halo at Cabalen Restaurant at the local Robinson’s Mall in Manila.
1. Seafood feast from the mangroves in Mactan, Cebu. We were guests of the fisher folk community in Mactan, Cebu and they served us a feast! (left to right clockwise: rice, shrimp, soy sauce, boiled crabs, fried fish, fresh seaweed, boiled bananas, and shellfish from the mangroves).
Seafood feast from the mangroves in Mactan Cebu (left to right clockwise: rice, shrimp, soy sauce, boiled crabs, fried fish, fresh seaweed, boiled bananas, and shellfish from the mangroves (Mactan, Cebu)
I noticed that Philippine cuisine is very regional. It varies as much as the thousands of islands that make up the archipelago. So what’s your favorite Filipino dish? Do you also have a list of top 10 favorites. Let me know. Enjoy!
Philippines’ Igorot Tribe Wearing Loin Cloths, St. Louis World’s Fair 1904
Were precolonial Filipinos ‘primitive’ before the colonial Spaniards and Ferdinand Magellan ‘discovered’ the islands in 1521? Were Filipino tribes consist of ‘savages in loin cloths’ when the Americans came to the islands in 1898? I think it’s time to change that narrative because history matters.
In 1904, the Philippines Exhibit was one of the major attractions of the World’s Fair in St. Louis, MO. Over 20 million Americans attended the fair. About 1,100 Filipinos were ‘recruited’ and presented as part of the “living exhibits” that recreated their native villages. They came from various islands and ethnic groups throughout the Philippine islands. The most popular were the head-hunting, dog-eating Igorot tribe not only because of their novelty, but also for the scanty dressing of the men in loin cloths and their daily dancing to the tom-tom beats. They were also a major attraction because for their apparent appetite for dog meat which is a normal part of their diet (Virginia Pilapil, webster.edu) The ‘primitive aspect’ of Philippine culture was seared in everyone’s mind.
The narrative of ‘savages in loin cloths’ still continues till today. In 2004, National Public Radio (NPR) featured again this “living exhibit” of savage Filipinos in loin cloths. One of the grandchildren of the tribesmen featured said that his grandfather made sure when he returned to the Philippines that all of his children and grandchildren received an education. They highlighted the benevolence of Western culture and how they helped everyone became ‘civilized’ (NPR ‘Living Exhibits at the 1904 World’s Fair, 2004).
Dale Asis moved to tears viewing the Boxer Codex for the first time, a 16th century manuscript that included significant illustrations of rich, precolonial Philippine culture (September 2017)
In September 2017, I saw the 16th century manuscript, The Boxer Codex at The Lilly Library, Indiana University. The manuscript was written c. 1590 and contains precolonial illustrations of the Philippines.
Precolonial ‘Naturales Tagalog’ (everyday Filipinos) in elaborate garb and gold jewelry (September 2017)
The Boxer Codex detailed elaborate pictures of precolonial Filipinos in ornamental garb and gold jewelry, depicting a rich culture and trade with neighboring countries. Precolonial Filipinos, after all, were not ‘savages’ in loin cloths.
The Boxer Codex showed the rich culture, trade, gold, and relationships of precolonial Philippines. Spanish explorer, Ferdinand Magellan didn’t ‘discover’ the Philippines after all.
Boxer Codex Illustrations of people from other countries as far away as Japan (September 2017)
The Boxer Codex included pictures of people from faraway places as far as Japan and Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). It showed precolonial Filipinos potentially have traded with these countries and had a rich relationship with them that influenced their precolonial Filipinos’ beliefs, social organization, trade, gold and culture. Precolonial Filipinos were sophisticated traders after all, not just ‘savages’ in little dug out canoes.
(left to right) Dale Asis, Marc Butiong, and Camillo Geaga visiting the National Museum of the Philippines (August 2017)
Last August 2017, I traveled with NEXTGEN participants Marc Butiong and Camillo Geaga to the National Museum of the Philippines and found out more about the rich, precolonial history of the Philippines.
The Monreal Stone was found in Masbate Island. It depicts ‘Baybayin’ pre-colonial alphabet used before the arrival of colonial Spain
The Monreal Stone is not just another piece of stone. It was found in Masbate Island and it depicts the existence of the precolonial alphabet, Baybayin, that was widely used before the arrival of colonial Spain.
Gold of Ancestors Exhibit, Ayala Museum Makati, Philippines
We also visited the Gold Exhibit at the Ayala Museum in Makati, Philippines. The exhibition featured more than one thousand gold objects celebrating the sophisticated cultures that existed in the Philippines before colonization.
(left to right): Marc Butiong and Camillo Geaga enjoying the precolonial exhibit at the National Museum of the Philippines.
I saw the Boxer Codex up close and saw the rich illustrations of precolonial Filipinos in elegant garb wearing elaborate tunics and gold buttons. I saw hundreds of gold objects that were minted and designed before the colonial Spaniards came in 1521. I saw hundreds of objects of precolonial pottery, language, trade, and culture before the Americans colonized the islands in 1898. Did the Spanish explorer, Ferdinand Magellan ‘discovered’ the Philippines when it already had rich, trading routes with countries as far away as Japan and Ceylon (Sri Lanka)? Did the Americans tamed ‘the savage Filipinos’ in loin cloths and provided them with education and Western civilization, as depicted in the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair? I think it’s time to change the narrative. History matters. The islands had a rich culture even before the colonizers came.
(left to right): Marc Butiong and Camillo Geaga visiting the monument of Jose Rizal, the Philippine national hero in Manila, Philippines (August 2017)
Last summer 2017, I traveled with NEXTGEN participants Marc Butiong and Camillo Geaga to several historical sites and museums in the Philippines as we tried to learn more about the history of the Philippines. Unfortunately, Philippine or Asian history is not taught in elementary or high schools in the US.
(left to right): Camillo Geaga, Dale Asis, and Marc Butiong visiting the museum dedicated to Philippine revolutionary leader, Apolinario Mabini in Tanauan, Batangas
We visited several museums and historical sites including the birthplace of Jose Rizal, the Philippine national hero in Calamba, Laguna and the museum dedicated to the Filipino revolutionary leader, Apolinario Mabini. He was known to be the brains behind the Philippine Revolution in 1898. Both Camillo and Marc were asking a lot of questions throughout the trip.
1)The 1898 Treaty of Paris didn’t even mention the Philippine Revolution that was happening at the same time. In June 12, 1898, Philippine revolutionary leaders cried for independence of the islands. However, halfway around the world, the fate of the Philippine Islands were being decided without the voice of the Filipinos. In July 1898, the US fought a decisive battle against Spain in San Juan, Puerto Rico. In December 1898, Spain sold the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Guam, and Cuba to the United States. Spain sold its colonial territories to the US for a bargain price of $20 million (about $500 million in 2017). The US and Spain signed the Treaty of Paris and the islands were sold in the stroke of a pen. The strangest thing is that US historical documents never even mentioned the Filipino uprising for independence happening at the same time.
Agueda Kahabagan of Santa Cruz, Laguna Philippine Revolutionary hero (Mabini Museum, 2017)
2) Filipino women played key roles during the revolution including the battle field. I always thought Filipino women were on the sidelines during the revolution – cooking meals, caring for the wounded, or sewing the first Philippine flag. I was wrong. Filipina women led hundreds of Filipino soldiers in the battle field. Have you heard of Agueda Kahabagan from Santa Cruz, Laguna? She was awarded the title of General during the Philippine Revolution and served under General Miguel Malvar with 500 troops under her command.
Teresa Magbanua of Iloilo, Philippine Revolutionary hero (Mabini Museum, 2017)
How about Teresa Magbanua of Pototan, Iloilo? She earned the title of Captain and was fighting both Spanish and American colonials. Locals nicknamed her one of the “bandits” of Panay Island.
David Fagen, African-American soldier defected to the Philippine rebel side and became a Philippine revolutionary hero (Mabini Museum, 2017)
3) Ever heard of David Fagen (1875-19010)? He’s an African-American soldier that became a Philippine revolutionary hero. David Fagen was one of the African-American soldiers and was part of the US “Buffalo Soldiers” regiment. In 1899, He was assigned during the Philippine American War but defected to the Filipino side in condemnation of the white American excesses. In 1901, the Philippine rebel troops that he joined surrendered but he refused to give up. He’s believed to have hidden in the mountains near the province of Nueva Ecija. David eventually became the symbol of African-American struggle against white American excesses and exploitation of other races (Mabini Museum, 2017).
Balimbing (Carambola) Philippine native fruit
4) ‘Balimbing’ – there’s more than one side to the story. It is often said that history is written by the victors. But according to Filipinos, like the Philippine native fruit, balimbing (carambola) there’s more than one side to the story. I learned that the history of the Philippine Revolution is complex. It had multiple characters and a complicated plot played along with various competing interests. Philippine history, like the fruit, Balimbing has multiple sides and more than one side to its complex story.
Marc Butiong celebrating his birthday in honor of the Bayanihan Foundation
On November 12, 2017, NEXTGEN alumnus and Bayanihan Foundation board member, Marc Butiong celebrated his birthday in honor of the Bayanihan Foundation. What’s so special about this birthday celebration? Marc asked his friends and family to give to the foundation instead of birthday presents. Marc demonstrated the zeal of helping others and the true aspiration of the NEXTGEN Program of developing young people to help others and nurturing their leadership for the long-term. Bayanihan Foundation’s NEXTGEN Program is planting seeds for change and it has blossomed into young Filipino American leaders like Marc.
(left to right): Marc Butiong and Camillo Geaga visiting the monument of Jose Rizal, the Philippine national hero in Manila, Philippines (August 2017)
In August 2017, Marc took charge of the NEXTGEN Program that summer and made sure that the Bayanihan Foundation pushed forward with the program that year. Without his leadership, the program would not have pushed through or would be as successful. After our trip to the Philippines, Marc Butiong and Camillo Geaga were both eager to share what they have learned and are finding ways to fund raise for local and global projects. One of the projects they’re enthusiastically supporting is a local water drainage program in Cebu that benefits 60 impoverished families there. Such a project would prevent further cases of dengue fever and other water-borne illnesses for children and families.
(standing far right) Dale Asis and Marc Butiong talked to family and guests during his birthday celebration (November 2017)
In November 2017, when we got back to the US, Marc Butiong invited his family and friends to a birthday celebration at a local restaurant in Chicago. Rather than asking for birthday presents, he requested his friends and family to donate to the Bayanihan Foundation. Marc and I went around the table explaining to his friends and family the foundation’s mission and the many programs it conducts locally and globally, including the NEXTGEN Program. Marc was eager to share with his friends about the foundation. His enthusiasm is one of the reasons the Bayanihan Foundation’s NEXTGEN Program is successful. And it worked. At the end of the evening, his friends and family raised enough funds to ensure that the Bayanihan Foundation would be able to sponsor partial scholarships for the NEXTGEN Program in 2018.
Jeselle Santiago announces the launch of the Community Power Giving Circle with Shirley Pintado (second from right) and Alicia Santiago (far right) looking on (June 2016)
Marc Butiong is not alone in helping the Bayanihan Foundation. Other NEXTGEN alumni are also pitching in. In 2016, NEXTGEN alumna Jeselle Santiago also opened up her home and invited her family and friends to raise funds for the Bayanihan Foundation. Other NEXTGEN alumni Jane Baron and Camillo Geaga also offered to help the foundation and both continue to be involved. Is the NEXTGEN Program a worthwhile program? Yes. The program continues to nurture young leadership and plant seeds of change. It’s worth investing in young Filipino Americans so they can discover their roots and heritage, travel back to the Philippines, and find ways to help locally and globally.
Marc Butiong celebrating his birthday (November 2017)
And Marc Butiong exemplifies the success of the NEXTGEN Program in planting seeds of change and nurturing leadership for long-term change. In November 28, 2017, the Bayanihan Foundation is joining a national online giving campaign in the US. Would you consider donating to support the NEXTGEN Program and other local and global projects it supports? Your support is critical to the foundation’s continued success. You can donate securely through PayPal at this link.
Youth participants planting mangrove trees in Northern Cebu, Philippines
10 – 30,000 mangrove seedlings planted and hundreds of youth trained in environmental leadership to fight climate change in Liloan, Cebu
9 – 12,000 families received emergency food relief packages worth $15,000 distributed during super typhoon Haiyan in Samar and Leyte
8 – 10,000 indigent Filipino Muslim families provided meals during Eid Al Fitr celebrations, with the support of Zakat Foundation of America
7 – 6,000 families and children provided clean water and latrines in Iligan
6 – 2,000 school children impacted by donation of three computer labs and 3,000 books donated to build libraries in four different islands
Planned homes in Dingle, Iloilo sponsored by the PFK Family Foundation
5 – 20 homes built for indigent families in Dingle, Iloilo, with the generous support of PFK Family Foundation and the municipal government of Dingle
Members of the United Philippine Amerasians (UPA) celebrate 4th of July 2014
4 – Organizing and advocacy campaigns including environmental clean-up of former US military bases in the Philippines and Filipino Amerasians, America’s Forgotten Children
(left to right): Marc Butiong and Camillo Geaga visiting the monument of Jose Rizal, the Philippine national hero in Manila, Philippines (August 2017)
3 – Five NEXTGEN Fellows, young Filipino Americans traveled to the Philippines, encouraging their own giving – locally and globally
Renovated hospital lobby of the Calamba Municipal Hospital, courtesy of the donations of ‘The Adorables’ and the many donors of the Bayanihan Foundation
2 – Two hospital lobby canopies were built for a public hospital in Calamba, Laguna
You make the difference!
1- YOU are important. 100% of the foundation’s income comes from individual donors. 97% goes directly to programs. The Bayanihan Foundation is planting seeds of change, nurturing leadership. Would you consider donating? Donate online at http://www.fdnbayanihan.org
For 2018, the Bayanihan Foundation would like to invite you to join us in a yearlong activities of promoting diaspora philanthropy and giving.
(left to right): Jeselle Santiago, Jane Baron, James Castillo and Marc Butiong
In February 2018, the Bayanihan Foundation plans to do outreach in the Los Angeles and San Francisco, CA areas to promote the 2018 NEXTGEN Fellowship. In 2018, the Bayanihan Foundation will sponsor partial and full travel and accommodations for up to seven young adults ages 18 years old and above to visit the Philippines for 14 days in the summer 2018. The immersion trip is coordinated to promote diaspora philanthropy; know more about Filipino culture; learn about the foundation’s sustainable projects; connect and develop the participant’s potential sustainable projects; and connect with relatives and the participant’s heritage.
(standing second from right): James Castillo, foundation board member, leads youth participants in planting mangrove trees in Cebu, Philippines
In the Spring 2018, the Bayanihan Foundation plans to have a house party presentation in Chicago, IL to share the foundation’s work in mangroves and environmental sustainability in Cebu, Philippines. Bayanihan Foundation board members Marc Butiong and James Castillo will share the foundation’s work in planting over 30,000 mangrove seedlings and its continued efforts for environmental renewal and sustainability.
(standing far right) Bayanihan Foundation board member Ted Kirpach urges guests to donate to the Bayanihan Foundation’s Community Power Giving Circle
In the Summer 2018, the Bayanihan Foundation would share updates of the Community Power Giving Circle. A giving circle is a form of participatory philanthropy where groups of individuals donate their own money or time to a pooled fund, decide together where to give these away to charity or community projects. The Community Power Giving Circle plans to center among young Filipino Americans helping and giving to other young Filipino and Filipino Americans in the US and abroad. Learn more the Community Power Giving Circle here.
Mural portraying the toxic contamination left behind by the US former military bases in the Philippines (courtesy of Alliance for Bases Clean Up)
In the Fall 2018, the Bayanihan Foundation plans to host an advocacy panel and film screening about the toxic wastes left behind at the former US bases in Clark and Subic,Philippines. The foundation will also talk about plight of many Filipino Amerasians, often discriminated by the color of their skin and the stigma of their birth. They are the sons and daughters of Filipina women (often though not always impoverished prostitutes) and American military service personnel stationed at the former US military bases in the Philippines.
Stay tuned for exact times and locations for these exciting events with the Bayanihan Foundation!
‘The Adorables’ throwing a successful fundraiser in 2014: (left to right): Dr. Dorothy Anoina, Eva Torres, Aurora Gagni, Carminda Aldeza and Dale Asis)
On October 2014, Aurora Gagni was part of the “Adorables,” a successful fundraiser benefiting the Bayanihan Foundation Worldwide that raised funds for a waiting area for indigent patients in Calamba, Laguna. Unfortunately, on January 21, 2018, Aurora and seven other passengers were killed when the driver of their tour van in Cebu, Philippines fell asleep on the wheel. Local police said, and informed investigators that the van driver had slept only one hour the previous night. Aurora was part of a group of about 100 Filipino-American medical staff who had traveled to the Philippines for a three-day medical mission.
The Bayanihan Foundation and the Filipino American community in Chicago will miss Aurora Gagni tremendously for her generosity and big heart in helping others. In 2014, Aurora joined a group of dedicated women that called themselves “Adorables” with Eva Torres, Dr. Dorothy Anoina, and Carminda B. Aldeza. They successfully raised thousands of dollars that the foundation directed to build two hospital lobby areas in Calamba, Laguna.
Renovated hospital lobby of the Calamba Municipal Hospital, courtesy of the donations of ‘The Adorables’ and the many donors of the Bayanihan Foundation
Aurora and the group of doctors and nurses were traveling to the Philippines at their own expense to help the less fortunate in need of medical care. The group was traveling to the popular Kawasan Falls before medical mission work was to begin, police and family members said. Tragically, the tour van crashed in the town of Alegria in Cebu province. Seven passengers in the van including Aurora Gagni were pronounced dead upon arrival at area hospitals. Three others were listed in serious condition. Photos the police posted online show the crumpled front of the tour van smashed against the tree. The driver of the van survived and was taken into custody.
Friend Carminda Aldeza said, “Aurora loved the mission work. She just really enjoyed it. She’s just that type of person.” The Bayanihan Foundation and the Filipino American community in Chicago will sorely miss Aurora Gagni for her big heart in helping others.
On January 14, 2018, 2017 NEXTGEN Fellow Camillo Geaga spoke at a Bayanihan Foundation fundraiser about his trip to the Philippines. He spoke eloquently and from the heart. Here is an excerpt of how profound the trip was and how it affected him:
2017 NEXTGEN Fellow Camillo Geaga sharing his thoughts about his trip to the Philippines in 2017
“Hello, my name is Camillo Geaga. I was a recipient of the 2017 Bayanihan Foundation NEXTGEN Program. I was born in California and in 2017 was my first time in the Philippines. My trip gave me a valuable and enriching experience of my lifetime. In August 2017, we first landed in Manila International Airport. We visited a public hospital in Calamba, Laguna. Then, we visited the shrine of Apolinario Mabini and Taal Volcano.
My favorite part of the trip was the karaoke at our resort. The karaoke music played on until 4 AM in the morning. We stayed at a resort located below Mt. Makiling in Calamba, Laguna. I was suffering from severe jet lag and I fell asleep so early by 6 PM that evening. However, I woke up to the sounds of karaoke music blaring outside. The music did not bother me. In fact, it showed me an emotional side. The trip fulfilled an emotional longing and affirmation.
(left to right): Camillo Geaga and Marc Butiong exchanging pointers about their NEXTGEN Trip in 2017
But most of all, the trip made me realized that I also had to take care of myself. Before the trip, I have not been taking care of myself properly. Now, I have to take those first steps of being well. I love the rich, fresh foods I ate in the Philippines. I love the bananas. I love the greens – the malunggay leaves, the monggo beans. I love the lugaw (rice porridge with ginger and chicken). I love how fresh the food was. It made me realize that taking care of myself is part of being of a community. The trip gave me as a sense of family. For the first time I had the sense that I belong. I realized how impactful the trip was. A little glimpse there, a little memory here. The journey of the thousand steps begins with healing myself now.”
