On Growing Up Pil Am Today: From "Fobby" to Fly

What it means to be Pilipino has changed for the better
Article by Mark V.
December 8, 2008
Culture

Saturday was a good day. After a great line-up of NCAA football games (congrats to the Florida Gators), the night ushered in a new era of boxing with the victory of Manny Pacquiao, and the end of a legendary era with the womping of Oscar De La Hoya.

Sitting there at a homey's pad in Historic Filipinotown in LA with a gang of barking Brown folks, BBQ and boxing, I reflected on how growing up Filipino American today is so different than back in the 90s. Granted that I grew up in the South (in a very red county) and there weren't as many Filipinos as there are in the West Coast, I think in general, young Fil Ams have so much more opportunities to demonstrate their pride. I mean, under one house there was a whole host of Filipino American community artists and activists. LA may be an anomaly in comparison to the entirety of the U.S. because of its large and historic Filipino American community, but these folks, especially the artists, have an unprecedented reach to inspire young folks nationally. And with outlets like Heavy Rotation, I suppose that reach inspires internationally.

Maybe its an internets-age thing. But I just have a sense that if it were even just 6 years ago, young Fil Ams wouldn't so much be rockin the Philippine flag sweaters, Bonifacio T's, and tri-star/sun caps. Nor would they be rappin in Tagalog. It must be noted, the growth in this Pin@y "pride" has to be linked with the explosion of the fashion designers (i.e. Beatrock), which by the way these Filipino-themed T's are not a new thing--think Tsinilas (which was based out in Florida), Tribal Pinoy, or Downright Pinoy.

(Sports + hip hop + fashion + internet = growth in the reach of Pin@y "pride"?)

Maybe I'm wrong, and this is really a West Coast thing that has been happening strong before I moved here. Thoughts?* My point is that it is a special time to be a young Fil Am today (and maybe more specifically Fil Am masculinity). Where as in the 90s, we had a very Afro-centric hip hop, not the "Filipino-conscious" (which is not wholly separate from Afro-centric tradition, just as a note) hip hop--both men and women artists--we enjoy today. We didn't have a Manny Pacquiao. We didn't have a whole army of Pin@ys on reality TV (check out Bam's posting on "Reality and Rice"). And the fashion? Sure, there was the few Filipino t-shirt brands I would rock, but I would get clowned for being "fobby," a denigrating term people used to describe being "too Filipino."  Not so much today. Today its a badge of pride and not shame to have Manny emblazoned on your shirt.  How many Pac Man shirts were there at Bambu's show at Bridge's nightclub after the fight? Dang. A sista was even rockin a Philippine flag on her necklace.


Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe the South is just a different animal. Maybe because the South and the East Coast in total doesn't have a "Pilipino Culture Night" tradition (here and here). Maybe cuz there's no FPAC or Pistahan there.  There are varying opportunities and spaces to learn and express "Filipinoness."  Today, it seems like those opportunities and spaces have reached beyond expectation.

From "fobby" to "fly". I hope it lasts long.

Let me have it...

--
*I get a sense that young Pin@ys in the 90s were also more immersed in gang culture. Pride for sure, but qualitatively different, in ways I can't articulate yet.
**I think that the Filipino-themed fashion today is more likely linked to politically-conscious movements, and not only a desire to look cute in a Pin@y tee.

Comments

Corrine Edwards - Necklaces for Men's picture
I have to agree on the "new media" trend for Filipinos. We have to give credit to all those guys who made numerous achievements in the international scene: Pacquiao, Apl D Ap, Charice Pempengco, Arnel Pineda, and the list goes on and on. Sometimes, I even think that there's already an imminent Pinoy invasion! LOL But you know what, I think Pinoys are the new Blacks of this generation. Maybe give it a 2 or 3 decades more, and we'll have the first Fil-Am president. ;-) Corrine
By Corrine Edwards - Necklaces for Men (not verified) on February 7, 2009 - 12:08am
Ernie Pena's picture
Well said Mark. I've been feeling and thinking the exact same thing for a while now, that it is a good time, an interesting time to be filipino. But dude, this newfound openness and appreciation of our culture is definitely a west coast phenomenon. NYC is NOTHING like LA or SF in terms of unity and connectedness and open appreciation of Filipino culture and community. There's no Pilipino Culture Nights here, or FPAC or Pistahan or even Friendship Games. Instead they have a tradition of Fashion Shows, corporate style workshops like FIND Dialogue, and an Expo-like Independence Day Parade. It was a huge shock and disappointment for me when I finally moved here. I remember seeing pics of Manny Pacquiao in Historic Filipinotown with many mutual friends standing in the back of a truck handing out turkeys to the community. When I saw that I thought 2 things "Why the hell did I leave LA?!?" and "That would never happen here in NYC..."
By Ernie Pena on December 9, 2008 - 7:42pm
mv's picture
Back when i went to FIND it had some progressive/radical aspects. Not anymore? FIND is a foundational Filipino institution on the East! But remember, there are also corporate, expo-like events on the West ALL the time. I think the West Coast has a longer tradition of radical movements (farm workers, organized labor, etc) that other sectors of the nation can't claim. Filipinos be identifying with the "manong" generation, even when they fams came post 65. Pretty amazing thing. I have a sense other regions tend not to claim the movements of that era. How much that radicalism translates to the organizations and arts TODAY in the west coast? That would be great research. I know the Bay Area probably can claim more direct resonance with the older artists (with the I-Hotel, Al Robles, and other artists from the "manong" generation). FPAC came out of the LA Riots, and the city's efforts to "diversify" its arts initiatives. Out of tragedy, comes beauty i guess. As my homey told me regarding this topic, Filipinos in non-West Coast regions are so young, meaning coming post-1965 immigration act. What will be these regions' "defining moments" that jumpstart a lasting arts/progressive movement? I mean, we can't wait for another riot. That's why i'm so grateful for these artists who are gaining a fan base nationwide. Young folks who might now even know about certain issues now have access to these topics, and can vibe to it. NYC has some dope resources, but you just gotta look. You know about that jawns in the Bowery Poetry club? Sulu Series?
By mv on December 10, 2008 - 1:13am
lovely's picture
This post is really interesting--you bring up great points. It's also something I've been mulling about lately, but sadly my thoughts aren't as put together as yours. For sure, growing up in Hawai'i, "pilipin@ pride" has always been something different for me (not sure yet..). One thing I noticed about myself, though, is since I moved to the West Coast (for school), I stopped feeling self-conscious about my slight accent, and began embracing Pilipino traditional dances and the arts.

Not sure if this "shift" is a product of the times or region? Or maybe it was a product of seeing a different perspective regarding relationships with Pilipino American culture, and being comfortable with duality and ambiguity that come with it..

Thanks for the post. Very thought-provoking.

By lovely on December 9, 2008 - 12:04am
mv's picture
"Not sure if this "shift" is a product of the times or region?" Yes. Good point. I'm sure its always gonna be different when people move from region to region. But, I think whats interesting now is the new media, the reality TV stars, and sports heroes that didn't exist in the 90s or early 2000s. That is definitely a shift in time thing. Hawai'i, like the South, is a different animal. LOL
By mv on December 9, 2008 - 8:50am

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