Historically, police departments have had a history of tense and even hostile relations with communities of color, with the Los Angeles Police Department as one of the most notorious.  Looking back as far as the 1960’s and 1970’s, the LAPD has had police chiefs at the helm whose approach to law enforcement was not only aggressive, but paramilitary.  What emerged in the later decades from the 80’s into the early 2000’s was an LAPD culture that was “anti-gang” equipped with policies with the intent of harassment, beatings, killings, and making lots of arrests.

Three years ago when we released our third podcast episode – “Filipino American Gangs in SoCal: Where are you from and where are you now?” – we wanted to look back at a time when gang crime was at its peak in California and how it affected Filipino American lives. On this episode, we wanted to extend that conversation. But, this time, we reflect back through eyes of our guest, decorated LAPD Gang Detective, Craig Marquez.  Craig talks to us about growing up in Hawaii, becoming a cop, and, of course, Filipino American gangs.  We look back what policing was like in the 1990’s and early 2000’s, and discuss what it’s evolved to today.  TFAL talks about gang injunctions, the “Rampart Scandal,” systematic oppression of communities of color, and we even share our own experiences growing up not only fearing gangs, but fearing cops.

Whether or not we have mixed emotions about the law enforcement system as a whole, we hope we continue to remain vigilant and hopeful that law enforcement can truly protect and serve ALL people.  Having the presence of Filipino Americans, like Craig, in law enforcement can perhaps be a small step in getting there.

Listen through the embedded player below, download directly here, or subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts here. For folks who are on Spotify, you can take a listen to us here.

Have any opinions about Filipino American gangs and law enforcement?  Leave a voicemail at (805) 394-TFAL (8325) or email us at thisfilipinoamericanlife@gmail.com.

While at San Diego Comic Con this year Elaine and Producer Mike were lucky enough to speak with Scott Lost, former professional wrestler turned comic book artist. Scott is one of the founders of Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, an independent wrestling company that has alums such as TJP, the Young Bucks, Kenny Omega, Ricochet, AJ Styles, Samoa Joe, and more.

After leaving professional wrestling behind Scott founded Accidental Aliens, a San Diego based art studio, creating stories with characters that he always wanted to see in comic books. 

This episode is also a special cross over episode with the new Pencil Neck Geeks podcast on the Geek Say What network. PNG podcast comprises of Berto Ponce (Balut Club founder), Elaine from TFAL, and Justin Mallari of Geek Offensive. PNG podcast will be coming out soon, so follow the show on instagram (@PNGpodcast) for updates!

On August 10, 1999, Buford O. Furrow, Jr., a white supremacist, shot and killed JOSEPH ILETO, a Filipino American postal worker in Chatsworth, CA, after firing 70 shots inside the North Valley Jewish Community Center with a semi-automatic weapon.  Ileto had just delivered mail to a home when Furrow approached him and asked if Ileto could mail a letter for him. Furrow then shot Ileto nine times. Furrow later admitted that he shot Ileto because he worked for the federal government and “looked Latino or Asian.”

In this episode, half of the TFAL crew talks to members of the Ileto family – Ismael and Deena Ileto – and discuss keeping Joseph’s memory alive through their advocacy against hate.  Also, joining the Ileto family is Stewart Kwoh, longtime national Asian American community leader.  Listen as they discuss Joseph’s tragic killing, their thrust into community advocacy, their plea to the Filipino community to stop being complacent, and the frustration towards the lack of political accountability for the ongoing hate-fueled mass shootings that seemingly have no end.

Listen through the embedded player below, download directly here, or subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts here. For folks who are on Spotify, you can listen to us here.

If you remember that day or you have an opinion on hate crimes and mass shootings, email us at thisfilipinoamericanlife@gmail.com or call our voicemail at (805) 394-TFAL (8325).

Do you still mano po?  Do you still call your siblings ate/kuya or manang/manong/ading?  Do you know the recipes that your grandparents used in their cooking? Do you miss the local Filipino restaurant or store that no longer exists?  Do you wear barongs or baro’t saya? What markers of Filipino culture do you still preserve in your family and community?

As Filipino Americans, many cultural practices that many of us grew up with may be slowly fading away.  Some may completely vanish, but others may still be preserved.  Many practices may even take on new forms, yet keep the same meaning behind them.  Change is inevitable in this fast-paced world, but what cultural practices get preserved in our community and why?  In this episode, the TFAL crew discusses some cultural practices that our parents and grandparents may have passed on to us, but are slowly changing due to the realities of living in the United States.

Listen through the embedded player below, download directly here, or subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts here. For folks who are on Spotify, you can take a listen to us here.

What aspects of Filipino culture have faded away?  What aspects do you still practice? Let us know by leaving a voicemail at (805) 394-TFAL (8325) or email us at thisfilipinoamericanlife@gmail.com.

(Photo credit: thinkingwithb.blogspot.com)

Did you know that Paleontology is more than just dinosaurs? If so, YAY for you! When the opportunity to talk to a Filipino American paleontologist came about it got Elaine excited to talk all things dinosaurs, which is exactly what happens in the beginning of this episode.

Luckily TFAL talks story with Gabe Santos, Filipino American paleontologist on staff at the Alf Museum of Paleontology based out of Claremont, CA. Gabe shares his journey from bio major to paleontology and how a trip to the Natural History Museum inspired this whole process. He is also the founder of Cosplay for Science, a STEAM-powered science community initiative that reveals the real hidden science in fandoms that was featured in this article: Teaching Science Through Cosplay.

Listen through the embedded player below, download directly here , or subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts here. For folks who are on Spotify, you can take a listen to us here.

Have you ever thought about being a paleontologist? Are you a cosplayer using your talents for education? Let us know by leaving a voicemail at (805) 394-TFAL (8325) or email us at thisfilipinoamericanlife@gmail.com.

“Don’t play out in the sun.  You’ll get too dark!”

Most Filipinos have heard this phrase from parents or elders numerous times when they were children.  For Filipino Americans, this phrase might strike a chord as an example of Filipinos’ preference for lighter skin.  For some, it may conjure up memories of being bullied, traumatized, and socially excluded for having darker skin.  For others, the phrase may simply be a reminder of how to maintain a certain privilege for having lighter skin.  Regardless of one’s memory of that phrase, skin tone has unfortunately shaped all of our lives.

Colorism, the prejudice and discrimination based on skin tone, is a centuries-old practice of class stratification in many societies.  In the Philippines, light-skinned folks have a tremendous amount of social privilege compared to those who are dark-skinned.  Filipino celebrities, for example, go to great lengths to maintain the light-skin tone in contradistinction to their largely dark-skinned audience.  As such, colorism has fueled a multi-billion dollar world-wide industry based on skin-lightening products.  But where and how did it originate?

Colorism predates European colonialism and has been prevalent in many complex societies all over the world where field and domestic labor under the sun is not valued highly.  The practice of binukot among the Panay Bukidnon, for example, where young women were shielded from the sun in order to attract higher suitors, predates Spanish arrival in the Philippines. Nonetheless, three centuries of colonialism has solidified and exacerbated colorism in Philippine society.  Colorism is a sad reality and it affects many people, including Filipino Americans.

However, folks like Asia Jackson and her #MagandangMorenx movement and the backlash from colorist ad campaigns from skin lightening products have made inroads into trying to change the cultural perception that light-skinned is better.  Many Filipino and Filipino Americans have been slowly changing the discourse around skin tone with phrases like “Brown is Beautiful” and owning the term, kayumanggi.  It’s an uphill, yet necessary battle.

Joanne Rondilla, SJSU Professor

In this episode, we talk about our experiences with colorism and where we’ve seen it manifest.  Then, we speak to Joanne Rondilla, Assistant Professor of Sociology and Interdisciplinary Social Sciences at San Jose State University, who has done extensive research on colorism in the Philippines and in the United States.  Listen as she discusses the history of colorism in Philippine society, the “secret” of the skin-lightening industry, the limitations of “colonial mentality” as the sole explanation for colorism, and suggestions on how to deal with colorism in your family.  It was a tremendous privilege to have Joanne on TFAL and we hope you enjoy the episode as much as we did.

Listen through the embedded player below, download directly here, or subscribe to us on iTunes here.

What are you experiences with colorism?  Do people tell you that you’re “too dark.” Let us know by leaving a voicemail at (805) 394-TFAL (8325) or email us at thisfilipinoamericanlife@gmail.com.

Finally, a special shout out to our TPALs who emailed us some of their comments and questions.  Here’s a picture of TPAL, Toni Geurts, and her beautiful mother: