PREFACE: THE FILIPINO AMERICAN EXPERIENCE IS DIFFERENT BASED ON YOUR GEOGRAPHY. 

RECOGNIZE THAT QUALITIES OF YOUR CULTURAL IDENTITY ARE BYPRODUCTS OF HISTORY.

YOU ARE NOT WHO YOU ARE, WITHOUT THOSE WHOM HAVE WALKED BEFORE YOU.

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SYMBOL: GAYAMAN, CENTIPEDE, DERIVE FROM TRADITIONAL KALINGA TRIBAL MOTIFS IN THE PHILIPPINES. CENTIPEDES WERE REFERRED TO AS "FRIENDS OF THE HEADHUNTERS." THESE MARKINGS WERE GIVEN TO WARRIORS TO LINK THEM WITH THE SPIRITUAL PRESENCE OF THEIR ANCESTORS. WHICH IN TURN WOULD GRANT THEM COURANGE AND PROTECTION FROM EVIL.

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HISTORY: ON DECEMBER 20, 1906 THE FIRST GROUP OF 15 MEN FROM THE PHILIPPINES ARRIVED IN 

HONOLULU. THEY WERE DISPATCHED TO THE BIG ISLAND TO WORK ON A VERY LARGE AND VERY NEW SITE, THE OLA'A PLANTATION. THESE FILIPINOS WERE CALLED SAKADAS. THE SAKADAS BRAVED UNKNOWN WORKING CONDITIONS AND LONG LABOROUS WORK DAYS FOR MINIMAL/NO PAY. HOWEVER, THE SAKADA PLAYED A CRITICAL ROLE IN WINNING THE 1946 SUGAR STRIKE AGAINST THE HEADS OF LARGE PLANTATION OWNERS. THIS WIN AWARDED PAY INCREASES, FUEL, HOUSING, AND HEALTH CARE TO ALL PLANTATION LABORERS.

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CONNECTION TO THE HAWAIIAN KINGDOM: FILIPINO AMERICANS MAKE UP 25% OF THE POPULATION OF HAWAII. 70% OF THE POPULATION ON OAHU ARE FILIPINO AMERICANS. YET WE CONTINUE TO "BE THE LESSER" OF MINORITIES, CATEGORIZED BY CAREGIVERS OR CUSTODIANS. THERE IS A NEED TO OCCUPY EXECUTIVE SPACES WITH FILIPINO ANCESTRY. THERE IS A NEED TO BE THE EXAMPLE AND  LEAD OUR OWN KABABAYAN --  WE CAN BE HOSPITABLE AND AMBITIOUS. 

 

CONNECTION TO THE WORLD: IN THE SHADE OF TECHNOLOGICAL GLOBALIZATION, CORPORATE CAPTIALISM, THE OLIGARCHY, MENTAL HEALTH AND HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATION, EVERYONE HAS SOMETHING TO FIGHT FOR. AND THAT, WHILE IN THE FIGHTING, WE ALL WANT PROTECTION FROM EVIL AND PRAY FOR GUIDANCE AMONGST THE SPIRITS AND OUR LOVED ONES.  

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