• Don’t lump all Filipinos together • Don’t let them miss out • Support KKCR Don’t lump all Filipinos together Using the words “Filipino cultural practices” as it refers to cockfighting here in Hawai‘i is a lame excuse to justify
• Don’t lump all Filipinos together • Don’t let them miss out • Support KKCR
Don’t lump all Filipinos together
Using the words “Filipino cultural practices” as it refers to cockfighting here in Hawai‘i is a lame excuse to justify an unacceptable behavior.
Beyond the pain caused to the animals involved in cockfighting, there is thoughtless, uninformed pain inflicted upon a large segment of the population of Hawai‘i.
Assimilation is the process by which a group of people, finding itself in a new and bigger society, gives up some of its habits and practices that appears to run counter to local sensibilities and replaces them with similar substitutes. It’s a two-way exchange of ideas and values. You give up some behaviors and adopt others to replace those that were given up.
So, who practices cockfighting in the Filipino community?
A majority of local-born Filipinos are not practicing cockfighting. They are not practicing cockfighting because they remember their early experiences with discrimination and prejudice. At most, in the process of avoiding the pain brought about by stereotypes, they created a distance between themselves and the immigrants in the Filipino community. From the plantations camps which were eventually racially integrated, they created a wider set of friends and acquaintances. This wider set of associations provided a way to move beyond the unpleasant view which other groups often held about Filipinos. From those experiences was also born the sharing of values beyond those stereotypes. Filipinos started hanging out with other groups, dating, and — in some cases — marrying into the other groups.
Following in the footsteps of their parents in the plantation was no longer the norm. Rather, the local-born Filipinos went to get educated-some at the best colleges and universities-to practice in the highest professions. With strong parent support, they sought to exit the hard lives of their parents and to share in the possibilities the greater society could offer. Their advanced education further enhanced their opportunity to create a broader circle of loyalties and network of friends.
Sure, these local-born Filipinos still consider themselves to be Filipinos, and they attend some dinners and fiestas, but, beyond that, there is often little commonality between local-born and immigrant Filipinos. These younger, local-born Filipinos are a new breed of Filipinos which is trying to free itself from the shame and embarrassment of what has been viewed as alien, unacceptable behaviors. As children, they created a new generation of Filipinos in their association with children of other groups. Now they have lives of their own in the larger community.
Do people in Hawai‘i understand that some local-born Filipino school children are ashamed to be associated with other Filipinos because of the stereotyping? Are they still Filipinos? Of course they are! They have now acculturated themselves into the mainstream of American life, complete with all their values and attitudes. Would these group be expected to attend a “bulangan?”
Cockfighting, as I remember it, was rampant in the plantation camps. If it wasn’t being held at the Spanish, Korean, or another camp today, it might be at Kumu-kumu Camp next weekend. Of course, cockfighting was an occasion to continue the European practice of cockfighting which provided money, amusement, and/or recreation.
But, in addition, these spectacles also served as a way for many people to earn some money through the sale of foodstuff and other goods. Through the years, the practice of cockfighting has also become a part of the lives of other ethnic groups, not only Filipinos. It is a part of the multicultural landscape of Hawai‘i.
Where, then, do the immigrant Filipinos come in? It was not hard for them to find out that the “streets are not paved with gold.” Without the educational certification or the skills and training demanded by the workplace in Hawai‘i, they took whatever jobs were available in order to survive.
They work hard — commendably so. Some hold two or three jobs to make ends meet and to support an extended family. Some have been able to go to school and are now in positions of honor and respectability in a variety of fields. Would these Filipinos attend cockfighting? Probably not. Still, in all societies, there is always that small group of people who are the risk-takers and adventurers-those who dream of “making it big.” The Filipinos are no exception.
To lump all Filipinos together and to imply that only Filipinos are practitioners of cockfighting is callous and irresponsible. It places the spotlight on the stereotypes; thus, misguided conceptions gloss into an acceptable narrative of a people. I believe the Filipinos deserve better.
Rudy Sina, Lihu‘e
Don’t let them miss out
Gov. Lingle has given teachers an ultimatum and they are as follows: 1) to teach without pay on the remaining three furlough days for this school year or, 2) keep the remaining furlough days and leave the students at home.
If the teachers really cared about the students they’d take the first offer. Because of this ultimatum either way the teachers won’t get paid. It’s very sad! But don’t forget your obligations with the students.
Don’t let our future leaders miss out on anymore education.
Howard Tolbe, ‘Ele‘ele
Support KKCR
As a visitor, I have found the community radio station, KKCR, to be both quite resourceful and entertaining.
From the news, public affairs and call in shows to the wide variety of different music styles that are aired, this station has something for everyone.
I encourage your readership to support this invaluable resource during their current fundraiser going on through May 5.
Gary Saylin, Davis, Calif.
