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Notebook 5

I did not expect to enjoy making my zine as much as I actually did. It was really refreshing and enlightening to research history that mattered to me and my family. At first, I had a difficult time deciding on an object to focus my zine on but I am really glad I stuck with my object, which is Balikbayans and Overseas Filipino Workers. I felt very nostalgic when researching and writing about it because of my own experiences and what I knew my family had to go through. Making my zine also helped me realize the intersectionality that was apparent with balikbayan boxes that I did not know was there.

One thing I wish I could have done better with my zine is making it more visually appealing. I am not very creative or artistic but I tried my best. I also wish I incorporated more pictures but it was especially hard to find more that did not go against copyright laws. I did not want to just take someone else’s picture. On the other hand, I was very excited to find my own pictures from my trip to the Philippines last year. I think adding the pictures of my family and balikbayan boxes made my zine more personal but still relatable. I also think it would have been a good idea to interview maybe my parents or a relative that has first hand experience with being an OFW.

Overall, I hope my audience finds my zine relatable and interesting. I had a lot of fun making my zine and I am inspired and determined to learn more about my culture.

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link to issuu

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Draft Zine 

I plan to add a few more pages with pictures and analysis.

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Notebook 4 (design 2)

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Notebook 4 (design 1)

Recently, my family and I visited the Philippines for Christmas and New Years. We brought back 7 heavy Balikbayan Boxes containing pasalubong of all kinds. As seen in these two pictures, my family from Manila was very excited for the American chocolates and candy. 

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Notebook 4: Feedback for Danielle

Danielle’s zine is DIY and hand-drawn and illustrates the journey of her father from Vietnam to the U.S. It highlights and recounts his experiences as a Vietnamese immigrant who, despite being racialized, challenged the ideals and obtained U.S. citizenship. This zine explores the theme of (Im)migration and Citizenship through the intersectionality of race and class.

“He was born in South Vietnam and grew up in a family of 16. Although he had so many brothers and sisters and was raised in such a poor country, he survived on what little he did have. Being born in a third-world country and being of Vietnamese descent demonstrates the relationship between race and class, and how ideas about race are constituted by ideas about class.”

I think you can place this quote as its own page with pictures of your dad’s family from then (if you have any) and now. You could also add pictures of Vietnam.

“The Vietnamese were categorized with the Chinese as ‘aliens’ who seemed to present ‘non-whiteness.’ This racialization of the Chinese as oriental contributed to the racial formation of the Vietnamese being racialized as ‘aliens ineligible to citizenship (based on race).’”

You can add a picture of the propaganda used to racialize the Chinese as aliens. Although it is from an earlier time period, i think it can still be relevant to this quote.

“My father immigrated to America in 1985 and went through the entire process to become a U.S. citizen. This included obtaining a U.S. green card, applying for U.S. citizenship, and filing paperwork for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.”

I think this is a great quote to showcase the hardship of obtaining citizenship. Maybe expand on your dad’s experience of this and how he felt when he finally got it.

I really liked the photo of your father and his two older sisters and the story that goes with it. I think you should place the picture and its story on its own page in your final zine. It has a very powerful meaning behind it and I think it works well with the overall theme of your zine.

Vietnamese in the U.S. were similarly racialized to Native Americans and African Americans; they were all seen as the “other”. The identical views of these different groups is critical in analyzing the color line among immigrants of color and whites. It caused the oppression of these groups because they were seen as inferior.

What was powerful about your analysis is the comparison to the Native Americans and African Americans and how it has affected the idea of citizenship.

You should add on the how the similar patterns of oppression has affected the Vietnamese community. Maybe clarify the what kinds of oppression the Vietnamese people had to go through.

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Notebook 3 (revised)

After days of thinking, I have decided to change my object back to the first one I chose, which is the Balikbayan Box. I kept changing my focus because I wanted to be original but after writing notebook 2 and 3, I realized that I have more of a connection with the Balikbayan box than the other two objects I tried writing about. Instead of only focusing on the physical object of the Balikbayan box, I will go into more detail the meaning of the word itself and the people it refers to. Referring back to notebook 1, the Balikbayan box is a care package sent by overseas Filipino workers, also known as OFWs, back to the Philippines. It can contain things like imported chocolates, toiletries, hand-me-down clothes, and other gifts for their loved ones.

Balikbayan literally means “returning to country” and refers to a Filipino who is either returning back or visiting the Philippines after a long period of time living in another country. These Balikbayans could also refer to the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). The migration of Filipino workers to countries like the United States did not really take off until the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos in the Philippines in the 1970s-80s, whose martial law regime began to organize the deployment of Filipino workers to foreign countries. This move was a call for cheap Filipino labor, but Marcos called it a solution for the growing unemployment rate of the Philippines at that time and to ensure a steady supply of oil from the countries that these Filipino workers were being sent to.

“For decades, the Philippine government has claimed it does not have a labor export policy, even as the country has become one of the world’s top sources of foreign workers. As of last year, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) says there were 1.32 million land-based and 330,424 sea-based Filipinos deployed in 190 countries. The number does not include workers that are not registered but are employed through various means abroad. The phenomenon traces its roots to the years shortly after Martial Law, when strongman Ferdinand Marcos issued Presidential Decree 442 or the 1974 Labor Code. The legislation formally adopted a recruitment and placement program ‘to ensure the careful selection of Filipino workers for the overseas labor market to protect the good name of the Philippines abroad.’”

Most of these Overseas Filipino Workers faced very poor working conditions with long hours and low wages. They could not see their loved ones for long periods of time and so this was when they would send the Balikbayan Box back to the Philippines.

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Notebook 3

I decided to change my object again because I wanted to be more specific with my analysis. I have chosen a religious object that Filipino Catholics wear, a scapular. Religion is plays a major role in Filipino identity. This brown necklace is significant to many Filipinos because it is a physical symbol of their religious beliefs. A scapular is typically never taken off, even when one is going to bed or taking a shower. It consists of two wool squares of cloth connected to two strings which is then suspended on the front and the back of the wearer. On the scapular, it reads “Whosoever dies wearing this scapular shall not suffer eternal life. Our Lady’s Scapular Promise.” Catholics believe that when you die, even if your sins are not absolved, as long as you are wearing that scapular, you will automatically go to heaven.

“Wearing a brown scapular is meant to be an outward sign of an interior conviction and devotion to Mary. In imitating Mary, we model ourselves ultimately on the one who most perfectly imitated Christ while on this earth.”

Scapulars originated from the habit of monastic orders and started off as a work apron.From this “apron” developed a special monastic garment to be worn by specific religious orders.  The scapular, in its original form, was often referred to as jugum Christi, or the yoke of Christ, and was even worn at bedtime.  A scapular worn in this way is a large piece of cloth that covers the individual from shoulder to shoulder and hangs down as far as the ankles, with an opening in the center for the head. During the early Middle Ages, the laity began to associate themselves with various monastic orders and formed Confraternities, secular oblates that would receive the scapular to wear upon death, as a sign of great honor.  Eventually, this tradition transformed into the small sacramental scapulars of today that are worn daily under or over regular clothing as an open sign of devotion.  The four oldest scapulars originated from four confraternities, the Carmelites, Servites, Trinitarians and Mercederiansy. Today there are many more scapulars, not all of them associated with a particular confraternity.

My personal experience with the scapular is why I thought about writing my zine on it. When I was 10 years old, I migrated from the Philippines to the United States because my mom got a job that offered better opportunities for our family. Before boarding the plane, my grandmother pulled me aside and put a scapular around my neck. Coming from a family with a strong Catholic faith, I was not surprised by her actions but I did not quite understand why she had given this necklace to me. I now see it as not only a symbol of religious faith but also a physical connection of the two nations that I have called home.

Through a relational analysis of the scapular, I will explore the two meanings of this object in two different nations. As a symbolic religious artifact, the scapular is worn as a sign of devotion that is rarely taken off one’s neck. This practice is passed down from generation to generation in the Philippines. It then serves as a bridge that brings together the Filipino Catholic beliefs and the assimilation to American lifestyle. When migrating to another country, the scapular is still held sacred and is continued as a practice of religious devotion.  Another way that the scapular is used is as a fashion statement that holds little to no religious meaning.

Intersectionality is apparent with the scapular through the connection of race, class, and religion. Scapulars were worn usually by lower class Filipinos, especially those who have migrated to other countries in pursuit of better opportunities.  

Sources

http://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2014/07/03/1341812/why-i-wear-scapular

http://thepinoycatholic.blogspot.com/2009/07/why-wear-brown-scapular.html 

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Notebook 2

Notebook 2

I have decided to change my zine object to the very delicious and yummy Lumpia. If you do not know what Lumpia is, then you are definitely missing out. This tasty Filipino delicacy is famous all around the world for its crispy wrapping and flavorful fillings. Lumpia is inspired by the Chinese spring roll and typically contains fillings made from vegetables or meat. It is usually a side dish or snack that can be served fresh or deep fried, and dipped in sweet chili sauce.

The word Lumpia is derived from the Hokkien word, lunpia or popiah. This popular Filipino spring roll was brought to the Philippines as early as 7-13th century by Chinese immigrants from the Fujian province.

“But what makes lumpia universal in almost every sense? What unifies lumpia in commonality? What does almost all lumpia share with each other? The most notable answer to the questions is probably the ingredients. Each lumpia, no matter nationality, consists of a wrapper, be it rice or flour, stuffed with assorted meat and vegetables, sealed with egg wash, and then fried.”

As an object that has circulated through numerous nations, I think Lumpia best fits the theme of (Im)migration and Citizenship. Not only is this because of Lumpia’s long history of  getting passed down from generation to generation, but this is also because of my own experiences with Lumpia and what it personally means to me. Being a 1.5 generation immigrant (I moved from the Philippines to the United States during my adolescent years), I feel a sense of nostalgia whenever I take a bite of this crispy Filipino snack. Lumpia is most common during times of celebrations and parties so it is no surprise that it would remind me of the huge family gatherings we would have back in the Philippines and all the fun I had with my relatives. Coming to the States, I was hit by the culture shock of the American lifestyle. I was so homesick and I especially missed that fresh Filipino food. I did not realize how impactful a food can have on me. Whenever I eat Lumpia, I feel joyful and humbled by the sacrifices that my parents made to bring my family to the U.S. Lumpia keeps me rooted to where I come from and where home really is because it has stuck with me through my journey from one country to the next.

Filipinos migrate from the Philippines to another country, usually in search for better opportunities. Although they leave behind most of their culture, food is a different story. Lumpia can be found wherever Filipinos are present. Even in UC San Diego, Lumpia fundraiser are not uncommon because everyone loves this tasty snack. Intersectionality of race and class is evident through Lumpia because of where it started from. Lumpia was brought to the United States by low to middle class Filipino immigrants who were in pursuit of the American Dream. They came to find better work opportunities to support their families back in the Philippines.

Souces:

https://noczkus.wordpress.com/2014/05/16/the-history-of-lumpia/

http://www.top-destination-choice-the-philippines.com/lumpia.html

http://panlasangpinoy.com/2009/06/09/lumpiang-shanghai-spring-rolls/

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The Balikbayan Box

(Im)migration and citizenship

Literal translation is “repatriate box”

It is a care package sent by overseas Filipino workers, also known as OFWs,  back to the Philippines. It is filled with items like food, clothes, chocolates, and gifts for their loved ones.

Balikbayan boxes can also be brought back by Filipinos returning to the Philippines by air

“Its cheap, bulky, and packaged with lots of tape and rope.”

First started in the 1980s when an influx of Filipino workers moved to the United States for better work opportunities.

Personal experience: I have been around balikbayan boxes my whole life. I used to live in the Philippines and my cousins and I always looked forward to the holidays because that meant that our relatives from the States would come visit. That also meant that they would have balikbayan boxes full of pasalubong (gifts) for each of us. When my family and I moved to the U.S., I was so surprised at the lack of boxes I saw at LAX compared to NAIA, the International airport of the Philippines. No one else had boxes except other Filipinos. Fast forward to 10 years later when my family and I finally visit the Philippines for the first time since we moved to the States. We had brought a total of 7 balikbayan boxes with us containing pasalubong for family and friends back in the Philippines. It was honestly such a struggle to have to lug around all those heavy boxes all throughout the busy airport. The worst part about it was that we would get weird looks from other people  because no one else had straight up giant boxes as their luggage.

Balikbayan boxes to me meant pasalubong and family. I think it represents the hard work and sacrifices that Filipinos had to go through in order to provide for their loved ones. A balikbayan box signified the migration of Filipinos to other countries in order to pursue better opportunities like the “American Dream.” They spend months, even years, away from family and friends.

“They go through a very tedious process—submitting requirements, paying placement and other fees, taking various tests—just to be able to work abroad. Apart from the process, there is also the risk of being scammed by illegal recruiters or being abused by the not-so-good employers.”

"Balikbayan boxes are like love letters, and letters should not be opened nor read by anybody not even the BOC (Bureau of Customs) unless there's a crime involve. I say it's the same because filling up a balikbayan box you personally select what gift you want to send... just like in a letter you carefully choose every word you want to say. Why would you tax those gifts things that are products of each OFW's labor of love?"

A balikbayan box also had an underlying message about the economic and social standing of the sender. It is much cheaper to buy a box than to buy a new suitcase. It is filled with items that are hard to find in the Philippines, like imported chocolates, or it could also contain hand-me-down clothes.

Sources:    

http://katewashere.com/2011/02/what%E2%80%99s-with-the-balikbayan-box/ 

http://news.abs-cbn.com/global-filipino/08/24/15/more-box-what-balikbayan-box-means-ofws