Filipinos have been coming and going to this great land we
fondly call "America", perhaps since the first wooden ship
crossed the pacific.
During the early part of 1900,
Filipinos came to study, some came to farm.
The students were mostly from wealthy families and were just interested in
obtaining higher education. They normally travelled to America
alone with no intention of staying permanently. The latter are
migrant workers intending to permanently reside in America.
There may not have been a lot of Filipinos who went to America to study
or do farming at that time because there were not many Filipinos
who could afford the cost of studying abroad and farmers always
had farms to till.Filipino migrants might have increased during the time that the Philippines was an American colony until the
outbreak of World War II. After the end of World War II, an influx
of Filipinos joined the US Armed Forces. A great number of Filipinos
still serve in the Navy and other branches of the US Armed Forces
to this day. Most of those who have retired chose to stay in the
USA with their families. A vast number of them are in Southern
California.
In addition, during the 1960-70's, at the height
of the "super sonic transport" race, large numbers of Filipino
professionals migrated to America to gain employment at the major
American airplane manufacturers and support industries. So many
professionals, especially in the field of sciences joined the
exodus that Filipino Politicos voiced their concern that
the Philippines was being left with very little capable technical
people at home. The Filipino media called it "the brain drain".
Was there really an improvement in the lives of Filipinos who
opted to take their chances in America? I would say yes. But are they
happy? Let's find out.
Since the Filipinos who normally migrate to America are the working class,
there seems to be a very short supply of migrant politicians, everybody
needs to work immediately upon arrival. Most of the time, because
of lack of local experience, they must accept minimum wage paying
jobs. It is not very uncommon that you meet Filipino Engineers,
Dentists, Lawyers, Doctors, Accountants, Midwifes, working as hospital
aids, hotel room cleaners, fastfood counter persons in order to
gain local experience and adjust to the working conditions in America.
Owing to the Filipino traits of perseverance and practicality, some
of them will ultimately find employments in their fields of expertise,
but a greater number will not be as lucky. But all of them (those who
are able to hold a permanent job or two) will be able to afford to buy
their own cars, a house, jewelries, and every now and then spend
a day or two at casinos in Nevada, or go on a summer vacation to
the Bahamas, Europe, or visit the Philippines.
Because everybody's
busy most of the time, get together among Filipinos are rare. The after work
mag-beer muna tayo (having a beer or two after work before going
home) that we used to have back in the Philippines is no longer possible.
Why? Jimmy (formerly Jaime, before becoming a US citizen) needs
to pickup the children from school. Pete(Pablo, before naturalization)
must warp to his other full time job, and Bronson (I think I heard his niece
called him tiyo Ambo) needs to drive his wife to her part time
job at the hospital. It's tough to get everybody! Do we ever get together?
Yes! Occasionally during
Pot Lucks
Parties
Cultural Events
Outings.