Dashboard
RJ Mendoza was born in Brooklyn NY. The youngest child of a Hawaiian slash Spaniard mother and Filipino father he spent a good deal of his childhood in front of a computer and comic books. His childhood was culturally eclectic- Italian cuisine for dinner in between Adobo and Sinigang, with a sprinkle of Hawaiian superstitions.
One day, RJ packed his bags and decided to move to Hawaii- to reconnect with his Hawaiian roots. Due to the proximity of Hawaii to the Philippines, he was able to knock out two birds with one stone and connected with the local Filipino Community. It was a different spin on a familiar taste. Folks called Turon "Banana Lumpia" and Dinuguan "Pork Blood". It was culture shock indeed.
One day, RJ packed his bags and decided to move to Hawaii- to reconnect with his Hawaiian roots. Due to the proximity of Hawaii to the Philippines, he was able to knock out two birds with one stone and connected with the local Filipino Community. It was a different spin on a familiar taste. Folks called Turon "Banana Lumpia" and Dinuguan "Pork Blood". It was culture shock indeed.
RJ studied Political Science at the University of Hawaii at Hilo. His past writing credits include blogging for the Honolulu Advertiser, Big Island Chronicle and Hawaii Loving.
RJ lives in New York City, where he enjoys eating Dinuguan with Rice for dinner, and Turon with coconut ice cream for dessert.
// Latest Posts
Blog
Posted 2 months ago
This past Sunday, an amazing woman's life in this world came to an end. And I don't know if you are a person of faith, but I believe that not twenty seconds after her spirit left this world, she was already settling down in her place in Paradise- with that pink gelatin dessert that was always on her table at family parties.I always referred to her as Lola Mila. She was the mother of ten...
Blog
Posted 2 months ago
I read a blog post that really bothered me. It had a lot to do with gay and bisexual men and their sex lives, and HIV transmission.I spend most of my time working for a Community Health Center in Manhattan's Chinatown. The organization I work for, was founded to provide resources for HIV/AIDS awareness, education, services and research for the Asian and Pacific Islander community. This...
Blog
Posted 2 months ago
Last night, my partner and some friends went to see Jesus In India produced by the Ma-Yi Theater Company in Hell's Kitchen. Last night's show was a benefit for two important ogranizations that serve the local Fil-Am Communities: Kalusugan...
Blog
Posted 3 months ago
Introductions are in order.Aloha and Mabuhay! My name is RJ and I'm new to the BakitWhy community. I'm based in New York City, and will be bringing to the table as much interesting Pilipino-American news and culture from the New York Area to this lovely online marketplace of information for the Pilipino-American community from East to West and anywhere else with an internet connection. I...
Event
New York, NY
February 22, 2013 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Seminar
