Bayanihan Studies Kollective presented stories told by Filipino immigrants who moved to America on Tuesday night at the Multicultural Center.
BSK is a coalition of Filipino youth started by three students at Cal State Long Beach. “Bayanihan” means to a spirit of unity and helping the whole community. It is a global movement to assist families in the Philippines.
Due to budget cuts, fewer ethnic study programs are offered. BSK offers workshops outside of class for students to engage in learning about their culture.
Starting the event with a list of statements, students stood up from their seats or remained seated depending whether each statement applied to them. The workshop continued with a PowerPoint about the history of the Philippines, breaking into mini groups, two guest speakers and panel.
Filipino workers came to America as migrant labors in the 1920s. Migrators to the United States faced racial discrimination. Most Filipino workers who came to America were young men who worked in agriculture, service and fish cannery industries.
Alex Montances, a second-year anthropology graduate student and BSK founder, continued elaborating on Filipino history.
During the 1960s, Philippine President Ferdinand E. Marcos opened up immigration in the Philippines so citizens could leave quicker, Montances said.
The United States foreign policy allowed work labor to be imported into the United States.
“Labor becomes a commodity — something sold to be packaged and distributed,” said John Edward Tumamao Guevarra, first-year geographic information system graduate major.
Guest speakers from the workshop spoke about their experiences. Joy S. De Guzman works with Migrante International, Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants and the International Migrant Resource Center.
Guzman’s family came to America, leaving her in the Philippines. She wanted to stay to “help the people of her home country,” she said. By doing so, she worked with migrant organizations.
Jamila Bascon, a junior communications major, moved from the Philippines and fit into American culture. Her parents came to the U.S. because they wanted her to pursue a career in nursing. After exploring the majors, she decided to switch.
“My dad approves of my decision in becoming a communications major,” Bascon said, “but my mother wants me to go back to nursing.”