The month of October has been declared annually as the Pilipino American History Month and “Pagpalathala: Booklaunching of Three New Books by Pilipina American Women” is the finale program for the celebration. This was also part of the ongoing community outreach program of Philippine Expressions Bookshop, which is dedicated to Pilipino Americans in search of their roots.
This event, which was conducted at the Carson Regional Library last Saturday, October 30, 2010, was co-sponsored by Friends of Carson Library and Filipino American National Historic Society (FANHS) LA Chapter, whose contingent was headed by Chapter President Allan Aquino.
These Pinay authors shared some of their stories about their respective books:
Caridad Concepcion Vallangca: The Third Wave: Quo Vadis?
The story of the third wave of Pilipino immigrants from 1961-2001 in "The Third Wave: Quo Vadis?" completes the trilogy of books on the subject began by Dr. Roberto Vallanca who wrote "Pinoy: The First Wave", and carried on by his widow, Caridad.
Mrs. Vallanga has spent a number of years interviewing third wave immigrants, whose stories of adjustment and struggle in America differ strikingly from the first and second waves.
Judy Patacsil: Filipinos in San Diego
Judy Patacsil is a 2ndgeneration Pilipina American born to immigrant parents who were pioneers in the Pilipino American Community of San Diego. Her father, a manong, and an Alaskero, is a World War II veteran and her mother was a war bride.
She holds a Ph.D. in Culture and Human Behavior and is currently the President of the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) San Diego Chapter, and is a FANHS National Trustee Member. Her book, Filipinos in San Diego chronicles the journey of Pilipinos who arrived in the area in the 1920’s and 1930’s. Today, Pilipino Americans are the lagest Asian American ethnic group in San Diego. Judy is proud parent of Michael, her 3rdgeneration Pilipino-American son.
Sarita Echavez See: The Decolonized Eye: Filipino Americans Art and Performance
Sarita Echavez See is an Associate Professor of Asian/Pacific Islander American Studies at the University of Michigan. She specializes in Asian American literary and cultural criticism, empire and postcolonial studies, and critical race theory.
Her book, The Decolonized Eye: Filipino American Art and Performance examines the overlapping artistic and aesthetic practices of various artists working in New York and California from the late 1980’s to the present, and have recognized the challenging and creative movement they have produced. The author shows how these artists have engaged with the complex aftermath of US colonialism in the Philippines, and the “images, language and performances" they have created respond to the positioning of Pilipino America as “foreign in a domestic sense.”
