Friday, April 8, 2016

Why are Filipino Americans still forgotten and invisible? Seriously, why?


This is not a rhetorical question, nor do I intend to provide potential answers to this question in this article. I am seriously and genuinely asking: Why?

The reason I am asking this question - yet again - is because of the New York Times’ (NYT) most recent installment of their “Conversations on Race” Op-Doc series, where we see “Asian Americans talk about how stereotypes unfairly confine them — particularly the one that brands them a 'model minority’…(and how) this perception not only devalues the experiences of other racial minorities, but it also renders the diverse experiences of Asian Americans invisible.” The stories shared also “went beyond personal accounts of racism and discrimination here in the United States, and extended to the residual outcomes of American influence in Asia, particularly as they relate to immigration…experiences (that) more closely resembled those of Latinos and African Americans than any sort of ‘model minority’ narrative.”

It sounds really good!

You see, I - along with many other fellow Filipinos in the diaspora - feel so passionately about these issues that we have devoted our careers to addressing them.

Destroying Asian American stereotypes? Check. Studying Asian American experiences with racism? Check. Challenging the model minority myth? Check. Understanding the effects of American influence in Asia especially as this relates to immigration? Check. Arguing that some Asian groups’ experiences closely resemble those of Latinos and African Americans than any sort of “model minority” narrative? Check. Illuminating the diverse experiences of Asian Americans beyond the typical East Asian perspective (i.e., Chinese, Japanese, Korean)? Check.

As for that last one on the list about addressing the invisibility of other Asian American groups beyond East Asians, I and many other folks have focused primarily on having Filipino American experiences seen, heard, and included. Check. Check. Check.

So I was very excited about the documentary!

So I watched it.

And it was good.

The 7-minute film is well-done. It touched on several important issues and concepts such as colorism, speaking English with an accent, America’s influence in Asia, immigration, the perpetual foreigner stereotype, why the model minority myth is not true, and of course – many personal experiences with racism.

However, out of the 12 participants whose stories were featured and shared, not one name appeared to be Filipino.

After watching the film, my immediate reaction was:

“Uhm, I don’t think there was one Filipino on there. Wait, it’s 2016 right?! Weren't I and many other folks complaining about this in the 90s? And weren’t prior generations of Filipino Americans complaining about this marginalization before us?”

The “Forgotten Asian Americans” and the “Invisible Minorities”

This type of marginalization isn’t unique. It's not new. The NYT documentary is not exceptional in its disregard of Filipino American stories. It's just that the NYT documentary reminded me of the painful reality that Filipinos have been historically ignored and unappreciated, and how such marginalization still happens to this day!

You see, Filipino banishment goes back to the fact that there was a Philippine-American War that lasted for 15 years and during which thousands – some say 1.4 million – Filipinos were killed by Americans, but yet such a war seems to be unacknowledged, hidden, and forgotten. Filipino marginalization goes back to the days of the manong generation, whose struggles in the farms of Hawaii, California, and Washington – as well as in the canneries of Alaska – continue to be unknown to many. It goes back to how the hard work and leadership of Larry Itliong, Philip Vera Cruz, and other Filipino farmworkers are overshadowed by the celebrity of Cesar Chavez. It goes back to how President Franklin Roosevelt pledged that Filipinos who fight for the United States during World War II would be granted citizenship and military benefits - so over 250,000 Filipinos heeded the call – but shortly after the war ended that promise was taken back with the Recission Act of 1946. It goes back to the many ways in which Filipino people have contributed to this country’s rise as a global power, but the American masses remain oblivious to such historical and contemporary reality.

These are some of the reasons why respected Filipino American historian Fred Cordova referred to Filipino Americans as the “Forgotten Asian Americans.”

This marginalization is also reflected in my field of psychology – the field that studies stereotypes, racism, and how they influence peoples' psychological experiences and mental health. For example, a simple search on PsycINFO – the largest database of psychology-related scholarly literature – produced 1783 articles, books, dissertations, and book chapters using the word “Filipino.” In comparison, the term “Chinese” returned almost 49,000 hits. The term “Japanese” returned over 34,000 hits. The term “Korean” returned almost 10,000 hits. The term “South Asian” returned over 4000 hits. The search term “Asian Indian or Pakistani or Afghan or Afghanistani” returned almost 2500 hits. Even a much smaller Asian group than Filipinos - “Vietnamese” - produced over 2,000 hits. And in last summer’s Asian American Psychological Association conference, there was not one presentation or research project that was about Filipino Americans.

This is why Filipino Americans have been regarded by psychologists as the “Invisible Minorities.”

But it’s the year 2016. Filipino American psychology has grown tremendously. We’ve also had Filipino faces on the mainstream American stage over the past few years. As examples, we have Manny Pacquiao, the Miss Universe is Filipina, Apl de Ap blew up with the Black Eyed Peas and is still pretty famous, Jose Antonio Vargas seems to be always on national TV, Filipino dancers dominate America’s Best Dance Crew, and Doug Baldwin is a star wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks who made the Superbowl in 2014 and 2015. We even have Jordan Clarkson as the best player for the Los Angeles Lakers – and yes, even better than today’s Kobe.

Filipinos are definitely way more visible now! So what the heck?!?

The Perplexing Marginalization of Filipinos

It’s definitely discouraging to see that despite all the work and accomplishments of Filipino people in the diaspora, Filipinos are still unseen, unheard, and unknown. That all the work over the decades toward being recognized and valued do not seem to be making any difference; that when people think of Asians, they still don’t think of Filipinos. It’s quite disheartening to realize that Filipinos are still the forgotten Asian Americans and the invisible minorities.

But despite yet another punch in the face, we have to keep fighting – resilience is a Filipino trait after all. So with the audacity to still hope that change can happen, here are five reasons why it’s perplexing for Filipino Americans to be continually ignored, forgotten, and marginalized.

1. Uniqueness of Filipino American History

Filipinos are the first Asians on U.S. soil, with documentation of shipwrecked Filipinos who were slaves in Spanish ships landing on the shores of what is now Morro Bay, California back in 1587 - long before the United States of America even existed. Also, Filipinos are the only Asian group to be colonized by the U.S., and this colonial history has serious and widespread implications on identity, racism, colorism, acculturation, and mental health. Research has shown that such a colonial history has made the Filipino experience very similar to the Latino, African American, and Native American experiences. Therefore, it just makes sense that any project that was interested in Asian American experiences that “more closely resembled those of Latinos and African Americans than any sort of ‘model minority’ narrative” to at least include the Filipino story.

2. Huge Filipino American Population

Filipinos are the second largest Asian American group, numbering around 3.5 million, which is approximately 20% of the Asian American population. In other words, 1 out of 5 Asian Americans is Filipino. This is especially significant if we remember that the Asian American community is very diverse – it is composed of at least a dozen different ethnic groups! Filipinos are also the largest Asian group in the state of California, which is the most populated state in the country. Filipinos are also the largest Asian group in the states of Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Washington, Wyoming, and South Dakota. So that’s 11 out of the 50 states, again approximately 20% of America. Therefore, proportionally-speaking, whenever any project on the “Asian American experience” is done and it involves at least five Asian Americans, then at least one of the featured subjects should be Filipino in order to truly demonstrate a strong commitment to represent the diverse voices of Asian Americans.

3. Large Immigrant Population

Filipinos are currently the fourth largest immigrant group in the United States after Mexicans, Chinese, and Asian Indians, as over 1.8 million Filipinos in the United States are foreign-born. As recently as 2010, however, Filipinos were the second largest immigrant group in the country after Mexicans. Also, Jose Antonio Vargas – a Filipino man – is the public face of immigration reform. So it’s surprising that a Filipino person wasn’t even included in a documentary that touched on immigration. Combined with the fact the Filipinos are the only Asian ethnic group to be colonized by the U.S., it should be an easy decision to have the Filipino perspective be reflected by any project that explores the “residual outcomes of American influence in Asia, particularly as they relate to immigration.”

4. Significant Contributions to “Asian American” Identity

Filipinos were also instrumental in creating the “Asian American” umbrella term and political identity during the 60s when the Asian American Political Alliance in Berkeley was founded, when Asian Americans collaborated with Black, Chicano/a, and Native American students in San Francisco State University and University California Berkeley to demand ethnic studies courses, and when Asian American students and community members advocated for Filipino residents of the International Hotel in San Francisco. So Filipinos were a big part of the creation of the “Asian American” political identity, giving Asian Americans stronger mainstream visibility and political clout and influence. But despite this, Filipinos continue to be marginalized and glossed over in many projects about the "Asian American" experience.

5. Filipinos Experience Racism at a Very High Rate

Filipinos also experience racism at a very high rate, even compared to other Asians. A recent study found that 99% of Filipino Americans experience racism on a regular basis, and that these experiences lead to psychological distress, low self-esteem, anxiety, and depression. Even further, Filipinos also report commonly experiencing subtle forms of racism called microaggressions that are unique from the microaggressions experienced by most other Asian Americans. For instance, contrary to the “model minority” myth, Filipinos are often assumed to have inferior status or intellect (e.g., Philippines-trained professionals are treated as not being as good as others) and are often seen as deviant in some way (e.g., being a gang member or a criminal), which are microaggressions that are also commonly experienced by non-Asian American groups such as African Americans, Latinas/os, and Native Americans.


The Struggle Continues

Another microaggression unique to Filipinos is that they report commonly experiencing discrimination even from other Asian Americans. Also more recently, research found that while 96%-98% of Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese individuals identify as “Asian,” only 47% of Filipinos do. Perhaps this continued marginalization even within the Asian American community is why many Filipinos do not identify as Asian Americans. Sure, perhaps Filipinos just don’t feel connected to other Asian people, cultures, and lived realities. But perhaps Filipinos also don’t feel welcomed.

Perhaps Filipinos still feel unheard, unseen, unknown, and unappreciated. Perhaps many Filipinos don't want to identify with a group that seems to endlessly neglect and ignore them.

So here we are, in 2016, and we are still fighting the same fight. Despite our unique history in the U.S., our large numbers, our significant contributions to the Asian American community, and our unique struggles with racism, immigration, health, and in other areas (e.g., education, income, etc.) that challenge the “model minority myth”, we are still ignored and rendered irrelevant.

We are still wanting to be seen, wanting to be heard, wanting to be included.

We’re still perplexed. We’re still complaining.

So again, why are Filipino Americans still “Forgotten” and “Invisible”? Seriously, why?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This post was originally published in Psychology Today. This article was published in this blog with his permission.

E.J.R. David, Ph.D. has two books, "Brown Skin, White Minds: Filipino American Postcolonial Psychology" and "Internalized Oppression: The Psychology of Marginalized Groups."

Follow the author on Twitter: @ejrdavid

More information about the author here

BE INSPIRED: MEET DR. E.J.R. DAVID, A PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENTIST

E.J.R. David, is currently an associate professor of Psychology, author of two books (Filipino - American /Postcolonial Psychology: Oppression, Colonial Mentality, and Decolonization), Director of Alaska Native Community Advancement in Psychology (ANCAP) Program, and a Filipino American community activist. He is also a psychological scientist who has published in scientific journals that concerns the topics in Filipino American psychology and mental health. He has been a featured speaker on The Filipino Channel and other community on-line and print publications, as well as on several television and radio programs (see source). He received the Distinguished Student Research Award "for his significant contribution in psychological research related to ethnic minority populations" by American Psychological Association Division 45. Dr. David was also honored by the American Psychological Association Minority Fellowship Program in 2012 with the Early Career Award in Research for Distinguished Contributions to the Field of Racial and Ethnic Minority Psychology, citing his "outstanding scientific contributions and the application of this knowledge toward the improved mental and physical well-being of people of color (see source).

MORE OF HIM (Interview from www.filamako.com):

Please tell us who you are.

What’s up everybody, this is E.J. David, author of Filipino-/American Postcolonial Psychology. I grew up in Pasay to Kapangpangan parents. I also grew up in Paranaque and Las PiƱas, while going to school in Don Bosco Makati. When I was fourteen, I moved to Barrow, Alaska, which is the northern most point in the United States. I played competitive high school basketball and was an all state basketball player for two years. After that, I attended the University of Alaska Anchorage to obtain my bachelors degree in psychology, while working at a local mental health agency and also a roughneck in the oil fields around Pluto Bay. Then I attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where I received my Masters and Ph.D. in Clinical Community Psychology. Now, I am a faculty member in the psychology department at the University of Alaska Anchorage with my primary duties being with the doctoral program and the students in the clinical community Ph.D. program.

What inspired you to pursue a career in psychology?
None of these were really planned. I was never really the type of student, who was really into school when I was young. All I really cared about was basketball. I had no intention of going to college and becoming a doctor or professor. All I wanted was to eventually play in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), which is like the NBA of the Philippines. I wanted to be a professional basketball player. If I was going to college, it was so that I could play college basketball. I didn’t care about school at all. When I was a sophomore in high school I became really curious why people made fun of my Filipino accent, the way I dressed, and my Filipino values and mannerisms. I also began to ask myself, why I made fun of FOBs (Fresh Off the Boat). I questioned why I regarded lighter skin as more attractive and many products in the U.S.A. as better than anything from the Philippines. I also began to see that many Filipinos and Filipino-Americans thought the same thing. Given that psychology is the scientific study of human thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors, it gave me hope that somehow read more...

***88888***

I happened to see the post of Dr. EJR. David on twitter which was retweeted by Asian American Psychological Association. The article was entitled, "Why are Filipino Americans Still Forgotten and Invisible?" and it was published in Psychology Today (here).  Luckily, I was able to get the original article from him and it was published here! (click here to read

Follow him on twitter: @ejrdavid

Be inspired! #Mahupsych #lovepsych #proudpsych

Thursday, March 10, 2016

Who are PRC's Recognized CPD Providers?

There are only 25 professions posted at the Philippine Regulation Commission (PRC) website with a list of recognized Continuing Professional Development (CPD) providers. As of writing the CPD Council for Psychologist and Psychometricians has not posted yet (perhaps not yet uploaded by PRC?) listing of recognized CPD providers.  

Those who availed of the grandfather clause of RA 10029 - Psychology Act of 2009 will be renewing their license this year. Although Continuing Professional Education (CPE) was then issued before the switch to CPD. So their earned CPE points will still be used. 

But for 2017, those pioneers RPm/RP or those who passed the BLEPP2014 might be required to show proof of CPD points they earned (unless there will be policy to still recognized CPE points). PAP came out of guidelines for those renewing their licenses for 2016  in February (last month). PAP also posted on their FB page their decision of not renewing CPE Provider applications or CPE single activity applications for this year (2016).

Given that PRB of Psychology has not come out with the list of its accredited CPD providers the list below from Social Work and Guidance and Counselors Councils might serve as an alternative councils for those interested to earn CPD points. However there's a need to clarify whether the Psychology Council would allow an RPm/RP to obtain CPD points from other professions. Will CPD points obtained from Social Work or Guidance and Counselor Councils or other councils for that matter be recognized by Psychology Council? Should you know any information about this matter we hope you can help clarify.


STANDARDS AND INSPECTION DIVISION
CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (CPD)
CPD COUNCIL FOR GUIDANCE AND COUNSELORS
LIST OF ACCREDITED PROVIDERS
AS OF JUNE 2015





CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (CPD)
CPD COUNCIL FOR SOCIAL WORKERS
LIST OF APPROVED PROVIDERS
AS OF 7/24/2015





References and Related Read:

http://psychometricpinas.blogspot.com/2015/10/continuing-professional-development-cpd.html

http://www.prc.gov.ph/page.aspx?id=3066

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10153203787390388&id=148851815387

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10153121314705388&id=148851815387

Sunday, January 17, 2016

Our Admins are Featured at The Ched Project


Bloggys 2015






First, it is very important to consider that a blogger’s post is CONSISTENT with original sources.

I try to communicate creativity by creating memes that are themed with puns. This, kind of approach is effective to catch our readers’ interest to read more about the ‘psych’ related subjects – making their learning experience lighter. – Admin Donnies

It should be reader-friendly.

On our blog, there are a lot of times that we use Filipino language as a medium and “trending” terms that our target audience will understand. We captivate them by adjusting ourselves to their level. Most of the time, we try to make some theories in Psychology and review materials as fun as possible and as simple as possible just to ensure that our audience in this field will relate to the topic.

No matter how passionate you are with your goals if the content of your blog isn’t simple enough in providing information, your target readers will look for other blogs of the same niche to help them better understand the topic. So as for me, the rule is just pretty simple, let your blog be reader-friendly or lose them. – Admin Riyan

Read more here -   http://thechedproject.com/bloggingtipsfromwinners/

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

BAGONG TAON 2016: ANO ANG NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION MO? Mga Karaniwang New Year's Resolution na Hindi Natutupad


Malapit na naman ang bagong taon, marami na naman ang lokohan (hahaha biro lang). Alam mo ba, mas maraming pangako ang napapako pagkatapos pumasok ang bagong taon? Marami sa atin na hindi napapansin ang ilan sa mga bagay na paulit-ulit na nating sinasabi tuwing papasok ang bagong taon.

Ito ang ilan lamang sa mga hindi natutupad base sa mga naririnig ko nang paulit-ulit mula sa mga katrabaho, kaibigan, kapamilya, kapuso, kasangga at kaklase:

1. Mag-iipon na talaga ako at hindi na gagastos pa. ‪Usapang financial ito pero ewan ko na lang. Mahirap iwasan ang pagkain kasi iyan ang una nating pangangailangan. Malamang kapag may bagong bukas na resto hindi ka na naman magpapahuling hindi kumain at ma-picturan iyon.

2. Magdidiet at mag-eexercise na ako! ‪Kung natupad yan last year, for sure, may abs ka na ngayon. Gusto mo kasi ng healthy living pero kapag niyaya ka, hindi makakatanggi. Ang karaniwang defense mechanism para dito, rationalization

Scene sa Kusina:
*Nakakita ng pagkain*

Di bale, konti lang naman! Saka ngayon lang naman ako kakain, hindi nakakadagdag ito ng fats. *nom nom nom*

Note: Pero sa totoo lang, mahirap talaga ang pagdidiet kaya kailangan ng isandaang porsyentong motivation para magawa mo ito. 

3. Magmomove on na ako. </3 ‪Sige lokohin mo pa sarili mo. Mag-move on ka na lang kung gusto mo talagang mag move on. :D Nasa sa iyo naman iyon. Mangangako ka pa na magugulat siya sa'yo at magsisisi 

Read more...

Saturday, November 21, 2015

People's Choice Award at #bloggys2015



It is with gratitude that we thank all those who endorsed, voted, and believed in us for our campaign bid for the Philippine Blogging Awards 2015. We received the People's Choice Award in the Technology and Internet Category. The award was a collective effort from our FB admins, supporters, endorsers and you our readers and likers who took time to vote for us. Our bid was our way of introducing to the public and blogging community about our profession and us RPm or Registered Psychometricians. We hope that through this award we can continue to educate and make the public aware about us.

Special thanks goes to Sir Jason Go of Spark Psychology Review Center for his personal endorsement posted on SPARK's and his personal FB page. We also would like to mention the following for their endorsement and support:

Ms. Gemma Comiso of Gumamela sa Paraiso
Mr. Kenji Solis of Thoughtskoto
 Mr. Gary Yap of MY Psychology
Ms. Anna Agoncillo of  Miss Psychobabble

Thank you also to our masisipag na admins who never waver in their support for our bid.

And most of all to all of you  who voted for us our likers and readers.

Maraming salamat po.

Patuloy po nating ipakilala ang ating propesyon bilang mga Registered Psychometricians o RPm.