“Keep working!” A faceless voice shouted from the distance, causing everyone to put their heads down and exaggerate the movements of their tools as they labored. It had been like this since 1942, the start of the Second World War. At this time, Japan was occupying the Philippines. Just a year earlier, the Philippines had gotten word about the attack on Pearl Harbor. Only ten hours after the news spread, Japan was occupying our precious land, starting on December 8, 1941. This day is still well remembered amongst the people–being persecuted, killed, and overworked in the fields.
“It feels like we have been working for years,” some men stated nonchalantly. But not my great-grandfather Ambrosia. To Ambrosia, this was not a joke. He had started a union with the workers to demand they stop overworking the Filipino people. As hard as he tried, it did not work. The Japanese had so much power that not even a union could overcome them. He fled his beloved home for the safety of his wife and children. He traveled by boat with his family from the Philippines to Wahiawa, Hawaii, to work the pineapple plantations. It was here that he raised my grandma, Betty Anderson. My great-grandfather, Ambrosia Alcaraz, makes me proud to be a Filipino, and I celebrate him for Filipino American History Month.
There are others around campus who are also stoked for Filipino American History Month. There are so many contributions Filipinos have made to America. Dawson Par (computer science, junior), President of AFIA, reveals some of these contributions. One contribution Dawson mentions is entertainment. Olivia Rodrigo, Bruno Mars, and Lea Salonga have all influenced pop culture and modern trends. Dawson describes that, “Growing up in Filipino environments, they shared their experiences and exceptional talent with the world.”
The second contribution Dawson recognizes is how Filipinos contributed to the American economy. Having a good work ethic is an important part of Filipino culture.. In the 1900s, many Filipinos immigrated from the Philippines to work in America. Dawson says, “A specific example of this would be in 1965 when the Immigration and Nationality Act granted migrant nurses the opportunity to petition to stay in the United States permanently. Many Filipino nurses took this opportunity to move to America and help numerous hospitals nationwide.”
The third and final contribution that AFIA’s president mentions is a characteristic that many Filipino families across America possess. This characteristic is the warmth and hospitality they treat everyone with. Filipinos value respect and service. Those who interact with Filipinos come across these two traits. In America, Filipino communities that share these values have successfully built strong relations with those inside these communities. Their impact may only sometimes have a nationwide effect, but those inside their communities feel like they’re part of a big family.
Dawson finishes with, “As the President of AFIA, the Andrews Filipino International Association, I am very happy to say that the Filipino community here at Andrews has made these three contributions to our campus and will continue to make more. Spanning over three decades, AFIA has repeatedly shared its resources, talents, and inclusivity with Andrews University. Whether it’s our highlighted Filipino Cultural Night, a collaboration with the local Fil-Am church, or working with other clubs and campus entities, AFIA has made it a point to bring events and activities that make the campus more engaging. Although AFIA does not account for every Filipino individual at Andrews, we will aim to represent the Filipino community and do our best to share our culture with everyone.”
AFIA has brought so much spirit to our campus. Filipino Culture Night is one of the highlights of the year. It's no shock to see that AFIA won club of the year in 2023 because of the love and enthusiasm they have to offer. The energy the club creates radiates throughout the campus and puts a smile on everyone's faces. It is important to remember the stories of our ancestors and how we came to be. Celebrating and remembering the roots from which our fellow Filipino friends have come helps us grow and meet closer with love and acceptance. Happy Filipino American History Month, and hug a Filipino today.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.