A New Beginning: Maria Louie, interviewed by Venita Tam

Introduction:
For the Digital Oral History Project I chose to conduct an interview with my mother, Maria Louie. She was born in a small village in China and had immigrated with her family to Hong Kong at the age of 10. After a waiting period of two years, she and her family had immigrated to the United States and settled in with family whom were already were located within the Bay Area, specifically San Francisco. This interview reflects a mixture of her positive and negative experiences with immigrating to the United States. Maria's experiences of hardships, achievements, and dreams are relatable to the voices in Benito M. Vergara Jr.'s book, Pinoy Capital, that speaks up about the expectations, reality, and the sacrifices made in order to call the United States their "home". 

Sam Abuneer "Expectations of Life", By Christian Koriganowitz

Sam Abuneer "Expectations of Life"
 By Christian Koriganowitz

Sam Abuneer is an old coworker of mine who is originally from Jordan. I worked with him in the food service industry for about 2 years. I met him when he had only been here for a month, as a visitor. He returned to his homeland for about half a year and is now back in the United States, applying for a work permit and eventually a citizenship. He is a first wave immigrant, who came for issues involving escaping corruption and striving for better living conditions and opportunity, currently residing in the Sunset District of San Francisco. 

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

1.              Intro/Overview

2.                  Comparisons

3. "The American Dream"

4.                     Conclusion

INTRO/OVERVIEW

He states his name, age, place of origin, family background, and work history

COMPARISONS

He compares the United States and Jordan over the issues of working situations, family life, social life, and school systems.

"THE AMERICAN DREAM"

He goes over the things he is dealing with while in the process of gaining citizenship in the Unites States, along what he is striving for and the injustices that are holding him back.

CONCLUSION

He gives an overall concluding comparison of the two countries 

Francis Reyes: Differences in culture belief between parent born in Philippines and Francis born in America, interview by Michael Wong

                                                                 

Differences in culture belief between parent born in Philippines and Francis born in America:

It was a great pleasure to interview Francis Reyes. Francis Reyes was recommended  to me by Professor Erpelo. Francis Reyes was a former student at Skyline currently attending SF State. At the end of this semester, he is going to graduate from SF State. Francis was born in Daly City. But his parents were born in the Philippines. In order to give child a good life and to leave the past behind, parents moved to U.S. My goal of this interview is to find out the differences he see between his parent born in Philippine and himself born in the U.S and the differences he sees between U.S and the Philippines.  

 Table of Content

1) Intro to Francis Reyes

2)Family history, parent jobs, leaving Philippines

3)Francis birth, difference between parent tradition/belief compared to son

4)What is America, lost of connection with family in Philippine

5)Life growing with Filipino parents, The different type of Filipino term

6)Discrimination, influences and retain of family culture

7)Difference between America and Philippine

Segment 1: Introduction

In this segment Francis will introduce himself.

Segment 2: Family history, parent jobs, leaving Philippines

In this segment Francis will  talk about his family history and the reason why parent left Philippines.

Segment 3:Francis birth, difference between parent tradition/belief compared to son

 

In this segment, Francis will talk about where and when he was born. He will also talk about the differences he sees between his parent and himself thru traditions and beliefs.

Segment 4:What is America, lost of connection with family in Philippine

 

In this segment, Francis will talk about what he see America as and what his parent see America as. He will talk about the lost of family connection and what Francis family does to stay in contact with family in the Philippines.

Segment 5: Life growing with Filipino parents, The different type of Filipino term

 

In this segment, Francis will talk about how it is to grow up with Filipino parents and from the variety of term to call a Filipino, what does he consider himself as. EX: Filipino, Filipino American

Segment 6:Discrimination, influences and retain of family culture

 

In this segment,  Francis will talk about discrimination he has faced. Francis will also talk about the influences of family culture and how Francis family retains it.

Segment 7: Difference between America and Philippine

 

In this segment, Francis talks about the differences he sees between the U.S and the Philippines. He also talks about the success he has gained in America in which he would not have gained if in the Philippines. He also talks about what he sees the Philippine as.

 

I would like to say Thank You to Francis Reyes for allowing me to interview him.



 

Alejandra Chavez "A Mexican Story of Immigration" by Sarah Chavez

Intro 

 Alejandra Chavez is my aunt. Alejandra Chavez moved to the United States as a child, at the age of seven. She came here with her parents to visit her older brothers for a month, never to return "home" to Mexico and made the United States home for the last 25 years. Although she is not of Filipino background she is an immigrant and shares some similarities with Filipino immigrants, as well as differences. She comes from a large family, where family means everything, she has felt discrimination to some degree, really grasping the new language proved to be a challenge as did making new friends, while becoming a citizen and maintaining her cultural identity did not prove to be as challenging.

Table of Contents 

i: Introduction: Life in Mexico

ii:Me Part 2 Differences between life in the US and life in Mexico

 iii: Part 3 Coming to the US and visiting Mexico

iv: Part 4: "Puerta: Door " and "ESL"

v: Part 5 "Melting Pot"

vi: Part 6 The Good and the Bad

vii: Part 7 All you Need is Family

viii: Part 8 Mexican Immigrant vs. American born Mexican

ix: Part 9 Dual Citizenship

x: Conclusion - Accomplishments

Part 1- Introduction - Life in Mexico

This first part is Alejandra explaining what her life was like in Mexico, including family life and social class. 

Part 2 Differences between life in the US and life in Mexico
Alejandra is from a little town where people really know each other versus here where she did not know her neighbors. This lack of knowing those around the area made it hard for her mom to feel safe letting her outside to play as she normally would have in Mexico.

Part 3 Coming to the US and visiting Mexico
She has been living in the US for 25 years. She has been back for fun to different place in Mexico and has returned once to the town she was born in. Our family is an example of chain migration, common among the Filipino culture as well.

Part 4: "Puerta: Door " and "ESL"
Alejandra did not know English upon her arrival. She did not find ESL classes useful. Learning the new language was her biggest battle as a immigrant child.

 

 

 

Part 5 "Melting Pot"

Unlike what is commonly discussed about Filipinos having a hard time maintain their identity or culture when they move to the US, my Aunt feels that she was able to maintain it because the area is so diverse (it may be necessary to add that she has lived and still lives in Redwood City, CA).

Making friends was difficult as was getting used to living in an apartment and not a house.

 

 

 

Part 6 The Good and the Bad

First impression good :Streets and cars are very different.

Negative impression: Little kids can be mean.

 

 

 

Part 7 All you Need is Family

She did not experience any homesickness because she had her family here with her. What she missed the most was the food and her house. She does not ever plan to move back to Mexico.

 

 

 

Part 8 Mexican Immigrant vs. American born Mexican

The differences given here have a lot to do with the American individualistic mentality, and the sense of responsibility instilled at a young age  in children in the Mexican culture.  

 

 

 

 Part 9 Dual Citizenship

She did not experience any guilt when becoming a US citizen, like some Filipinos do, because she was able to also keep her Mexican citizenship.

 

 

 

Conclusion - Accomplishments

She graduated in 2006 with a B.S. in Business Administration with a focus in Accounting, from San Jose State University. She has had a bright career as an accountant since then. She has also had the opportunity to do some traveling. She seems to feel these accomplishments might not have as easily attainable had she not been moved to the US as a child.   

Started From the Bottom, Now We're Here: Dolores Ladores Interviewed by Zelynn Tirona

"Started From the Bottom, Now We're Here": Dolores Ladores Interviewed by Zelynn Tirona

The person I interviewed is someone I admire very much, the mother of my best friend Nikko, Dolores Ladores. Born in a small town North of Manila, in the province of Pangasinan, Dolores Ladores faced many hardships growing up in a poverty-stricken family. Although being the second youngest with four other siblings, Ladores carried much responsibility when it came to helping out her family financially. As a child, she worked on the weekends cleaning up the local schools with her father who was a janitor. At this age, she realized the importance of education to obtain a better job in the future. After settling in America, Ladores began working at Laguna Honda Hospital and Rehabilitation Center in San Francisco as a Registered Nurse and has been there for the past 25 years. She currently has two children in college and feels as if she has a life much better than what she would have had if she stayed in the Philippines.  

        Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Coming To The United States
3. First Job
4. Having A Career and Starting A Family
5. First Time Going Back To The Philippines
6. Living In The Philippines vs. Living In America
7. Home and Homesickness

Introduction

Coming To The United States

First Job

Having A Career and Starting A Family

First Time Going Back To The Philippines

Living In The Philippines vs. Living In America

Home and Homesickness 

Home is Where the heart is: Ellen Carino interviewed by Nicholas Ladores

Home Is Where The Heart Is

An interview with: Ellen Cariño

interviewed by: Nicholas Ladores

      Ellen Cariño is my cousins wife, and I chose to interview her because I never really got to know her story before she married my cousin, so I took this opportunity to learn a little more about my family member. Ellen Cariño was born in Visaya in a small village called Antique, also known as "Fisherman Island". Just before she turned 21 years old, she moved to America to reunite with her parents and siblings. She worked to support her family while going to school for her RN degree. Now she is a wife and mother to two little girls. In these interviews she talks about her life in the Philippines, her transition to America, her life as it is right now and more.

Table of Contents

I. Life in the Philippines

II. Transition to America

III. First Time Back

IV. Returning Home

I. Life in the Philippines

II. Transition to America

III. First Time Back

IV. Returning Home

The History of the Forgotten. Interviewee Joal Truong- Vargas by julien Goavec

Family History

My interviewee, Joal Truong-Vargas was introduced to me by Ms. Erpelo. Joal is an American born Filipino who is a second generation. His family moved from the Philippines to the United States in search of the American Dream. They left because of joblessness, the Marcos dictatorship, for more freedom and opportunity. His Father and Mother met in the America. His parents initially met in Alaska as fishermen/Women and eventually left come back to California to marry. But I'll save it for the video. These videos show where Joal originated and his search in finding his self-identity and national identity of his forgotten history.

 Table of Contents

1. Family History (part 1-2)
2. Joal Vargas History (part 1-2)
3. Visit to the Philippines (Exposure trip)
4. U.S. culture in the Philippines
5. Joal's involvement in Daly City (part 1-2)

Family History

Joal's Family history and his origins. Reasons why his family left the Philippines and how life is like in the United States of America.

Part 2

Joal's Personal History

Joals talks about obtaining his education from San Francisco State University, Jobs after college, and how he found his national and self-identity.

Part 2

Visting the Philippines (Exposure Trip)Joal visits the Philippines as an exposure trip to understand what he has been learning about in his university. 

Joal talks about the American influence in the Philippines.

Daly City Involvement

 Joals was involved in the Kalayaan School for Equity

No more Government funding for the Daly City cultural centers that provided many essential resourceful for success.

There are many lessons to be learned from Joal's story. I hope this blog gave you further insight about yourself and your family. Every family has a rich history,

learn about yours.

Carlos Gamboa - "A Brand-New Beginning"

I chose my father to do this interview because growing up, I'd hear small stories about his life in the Philippines when something related is mentioned. Now I get to listen to the full story behind it.

(left side)

He was also born and raised in the Philippines. His family did not have the best lifestyle but it all changed when he migrated.

The main characteristics to describe my father is being: family-orientated and dedicated. 

Video Order.

Part 1:  Introduction 

Part 2: America

Part 3: Homesickness/Family Obligations

Part 4: Citizenship

Part 5: Past, Present, and Future

Introduction

Basic information about the interviewee.

America

Video is about the process of migrating, why migrated, and first impression of America.

Homesickness/Family Obligations

Things that made him miss the Philippines and how he dealt with it. His priorities with his family in two different area codes.

Citizenship

  Carlos described how he got his recognition as being part of America.

Past, Present, Future

 He describes how his job in America shaped his family's' lifestyle in the Philippines. Also his future plans after retiring.

Rebecca Ferreras: Living the best of both worlds! by Almira Ferreras

 

Table of Contents

 

 

I- Introduction

II- Family Background and Life in the Philippines

III-  Leaving the Philippines and Life in the United States

IV- Continuation of Life in the United States and Reflections

V- Conclusions

VI- Her tours and Friends (Pictures)

VII- Appreciation

 

 

Introduction

 

 

I've known Mrs. Rebecca M. Ferreras, my mother-in-law for almost 17 years now and I'm a witness of how she's been enjoying every minute of her stay here in the United States.   She migrated  in 1986 with her husband and became an American citizen in the 1990's.  For many Filipino Americans who live in Daly City, one of whom is my interviewee, living both the American and Filipino dream is a possibility; the best of both worlds is real and attainable.  

 Watch the video of my interview with her and see it for yourself.

 

 

Family background and life in the Philippines:

 

 

 

Leaving the Philippines and life in the United States:

 

 

 

 

Continuation of life in the United States and reflections:

 

 

 

 

Conclusion

Although my interviewee doesn't have the desire to go back to the Philippines anymore for the reasons that she mentioned in the interview, the Filipinoness embedded in Daly City, which is popularly known as “The Little Manila”, or “Pinoy Capital”, or “Filipino Nation”, makes it possible for Filipino Americans, like my mother-in-law, to live like they have the best of both worlds. 

 

Her tours and friends:

Appreciation

 

 

Thanks to Mrs. Rebecca M. Ferreras for sharing her life and experiences with me and the readers. 

 

Kevin Kwong's In Search of An Better Tomorrow By EricHuang

"In Search of An Better Tomorrow" with Kevin Kwong

Interviewed by Eric Huang

English 100 AK

      I choose to interview my cousin, Kevin Kwong, since it was his father who started the chain migration that eventually brought my family over from China. Unfortunately, my uncle, Kuang Jiang Choi, has passed away, but Kevin agreed to be interviewed about the conditions and challenges my uncle faced to come to America.Although my interviewee is not of Filipino decent, the challenges  while immigrating here is very similar compared to the challenges many Filipino American faced, and Kevin revealed many of the reasons why my uncle chose to immigrate to America, and those reasons were similar to many of the Filipino immigrants.

Table of Contents

1. Information about Kevin Kwong
2. Introduction: Life in China
3. Reasons For Immigration
4. Settling in the U.S
5. Life in America
6. Opinion of Lifestyles in China vs. U.S.A
7. Reflections

1.Information about Kevin Kwong

Kevin Kwong is a first generation born Chinese American, and he graduated from State University of California, East Bay with an Masters Degree in Public Administration. He was a former immigration specialist for the ICE (Immigration Customs Enforcement) for San Francisco, and he is currently a social worker.

 2. Introduction: Life in China

 In the introduction, Kevin talked about what it was like in China during my uncle's era, which was post World War II.

3. Reasons For Immigration

In this section,the concepts of Confucianism, gender, economic benefits and the opportunities of America is discussed.

3.Settling in the U.S

In this section, Kevin talks about the struggles and the process of settling in the United States, particularly San Francisco Chinatown.

4. Life in America

In this section, Kevin discuss about life in America, which brings up discrimination, education, financial problems and relations of the Chinese government versus American government. 

5. Opinion of Lifestyles in China v.s U.S.A

In this section, Kevin discuss about his opinion whether being born here or in China is more preferred. 

6. Reflections

Lastly, Kevin concludes with his opinion of the American Dream, and provides more background information.