FILIPINO/X IDENTITY
Even though I grew up in a majority Filipino-American community and always had a large Filipino group to turn to at school, the public school system and other educational spaces left no room for me to learn Filipino and Filipino American History. Instead, I had internalized racist, colonialist propaganda from my own schools, my teachers, and the media I consume that Filipino people have no history. I realized in order for me to understand who my people were, I had to actively resist against everything that the American state had taught me. I had to take the initiative to unlearn and relearn what it means to be Filipino.
I encourage other Filipino diasporans, no matter how disconnected, removed, insecure, or even apathetic they are to their heritage, to be curious about Filipino stories. In the words of Lyla June (who is Navajo and Cheyenne, and who directed her words towards other Natives, but I add because the Filipino struggle is tied to the indigenous struggle), "even if is it a 1/16th or a 1/32nd, or however much it is, I want you to honor [your Native heritage], because the day we stop honoring that is the day the genocide is complete."
Identity
How I Learned What It Means To Be A Filipino-American by Kevin Nadal
Colonialism and Colonial Legacies
Confessions Of An Inglisera by Ina Barrameda
Empire of Care: Nursing and Migration in Filipino American History by Catherine Ceniza Choy
Why the Philippines’ Independence Day is on June 12, Not July 4
Waste Supremacy by Joshua Luna
Filipinos were Taught to Love Whiter Skin by Mario Alvaro Limos
Why There are Political Dynasties in the Philippines by Mario Alvaro Limos
Martial Law, the dark chapter in Philippine history by Katerina Francisco
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Filipino American History
America Is in the Heart by Carlos Bulusan
Filipinos helped shape America of today by Gabriel Garcia
Manila Village, How Filipino Arrived in North America in 1571
Little Brown Brothers’ St. Louis Blues: The Philippine Exposition, 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair by John L. Silva
Little Manila Is in the Heart: The Making of the Filipina/o American Community in Stockton, California by Dawn Bohulano Mabalon
Why We Need To Remember Stockton, California’s Filipino American Legacy by
Paola Mardo
Filipino resistance
International Women’s Day – Captain Nieves Fernandez
Princess Urduja, Legendary Warrior Princess by Stephanie Gancayco
Migration
Why Are There So Many Filipino Nurses In The U.S.? by Al Jazeera
What’s It Like Living In The Philippines? by Asian Boss
This Filipina Nanny Is Suing Her Former Boss—a German Diplomat to the U.S.—for Labor Exploitation by Dana Ullman
'In Short, I Was a Slave' by Edith Mendoza as Told to Dana Ullman
What you need to know about overseas Filipino workers by Jodesz Gavilan
Undocumented Filipinos by This Filipino American Life
My Life as an Undocumented Immigrant by Jose Antonio Vargas
What they don't tell you when you leave the Philippines by Shakira Sison
Mental Health
How I Learned To Talk To My Filipino Mom About My Mental Health by Malaka Gharib
Celebrating the Rapid Growth of Filipino American Psychology by E. J. R. David
Mixed Identities
'We’ll Always Be Nooksack': Tribe Questions Ancestry Of Part-Filipino Members by Liz Jones
The Mexipino Experience: Growing Up Mexican and Filipino in San Diego by Rudy P. Guevarra Jr.
Actress Asia Jackson Wants to Take On 'Colorism,' Redefine Filipino Beauty by Allyson Escobar
The historic story of our mixing by Jerry Large
Being Half Filipino In The Philippines by Asian Boss
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Queerness
Queer Mythology in the Philippines by Harriette Chan
Lakapati, Transgender Tagalog Goddess of Fertility & Agriculture by Stephanie Gancayco
New York LGBT Community, Supporters Cry Justice for Filipina Trans-woman Jennifer Laude by Bayan-USA
Call Her Ganda by PJ Raval
English Isn’t Enough: The Bakla, Two Spirits, and Hijra by Major Julian
Celebrating My Ancestors: Colonialism and My Queer Identity by Rev. Izzy Alvaran
Liberation Movements
The 19th Century African American Soldier who fought for Filipino Liberation by Michael Morey
Remembering the Buffalo Soldier who fought in the Philippine-American War by Rommel Conclara
Filipino migrants gave grape strike its radical politics by David Bacon
Before Occupy Wall St., there was Seattle's Gang of Four by Enrique Cerna
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Indigenous issues
#LandRightsNow: Protect indigenous peoples and forests by Joan Carling
Philippines 'deadliest' country for environmental, land activists
The Moro People of the Philippines: The 400 Year Struggle for Independence by Amaliah Writes
Indigenous knowledge Systems
Finding Home: Remembering Indigeneity by Julz Palad Soriano Ignacio
Learning Baybayin: Reconnecting with our Filipino roots by Rhea Claire Madarang
Introduction of the Kapampangan Script
Filipino psychology/ Sikolohiyang Pilipino
Filipino Healing Traditions w/ Herbalaria by This Filipino American Life
English Isn’t Enough: The Bakla, Two Spirits, and Hijra by Major Julian
Babaylan: Filipinos and the Call of the Indigenous by Leny Mendoza Strobel
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Media
Rappler - an independent new publication aimed for the Filipino people
This Filipino American Life - podcast explores the nuanced experiences of Filipinos in the United States
Hella Pinay - radical online magazine for Filipina/x women and femmes
Asian Boss Philippines - street-interview news on social topics in the Philippines
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Music (Filipino and Filipino diasporan)
Analysis of Us by Ruby Ibarra on Genius (Listen to the song here)
World Gong Crazy by DATU ft. Han Han and HATAW
Welcome to the Party by Bambu
Wika by Tres Marias
Pinxy Bops (A Spotify playlist of Filipino/Filipino diasporan artists by me)