Southland Filipinos
* Re “Filipinos Happy With Life in U.S., but Lack United Voice,” Jan. 26: I commend The Times for its comprehensive and incisive report on a survey it conducted on the Filipino community in Southern California. You have done your reading public a valuable service.
On the article’s references to “factionalism” and “rivalry,” clearly there is much room for improvement in terms of firming up a network among the various Filipino organizations in order to put them in the position of “speaking with a strong voice.” But to describe this as factionalism or rivalry--which implies hostile contending forces--overstates the extent of the problem and glosses over the other key attributes of this community.
I am happy to share with you and your readers the news of a notable surge of optimism and pride among Filipinos in America which parallels the strides in political stability and economic growth now being achieved in the Philippines. Your timely report was a welcome input to the constructive discussion of issues and concerns within the Filipino community in Southern California.
JOSUE L. VILLA
Philippine Consul General
Los Angeles
* I applaud The Times for its increasing awareness and sensitivity toward an emerging and vibrant Filipino community. However, Filipinos have clearly established population and business centers in such suburban Los Angeles County cities as Carson, West Covina and Cerritos. For instance, there are two sitting City Council members of Filipino ancestry in Carson (one of them serves as mayor pro tem) and two Filipino members who serve on the school board of the ABC Unified School District in the Cerritos area.
The Filipino community has come a long way in its arduous struggle for equality and recognition. More telling, unfortunately, is the quote in the article indicating that Filipinos could never achieve what other Asian groups have accomplished in Monterey Park. This demonstrates that Filipinos themselves have a long way to go in recognizing their own community’s achievements and successes.
EDMUNDO ANCIANO
Los Angeles
* The only time issues come up in The Times on Filipino Americans is when you cover the plight of the Filipino veterans of World War II (for which I must commend you) and the ability of Filipino Americans to assimilate, as if it is a social disease. On the one hand, we as Americans condemn prejudiced ways, segregation and racial discrimination, yet we criticize assimilation, which is one of the major factors of unity in this country. Assimilation does not portend losing one’s identity, but facilitates living in harmony with neighbors of whatever race they may be.
Who says there is no Filipino American community? It lies in the hearts of every Filipino wherever she or he may be. This identity is transcended to the next generation through the family unit and not through some political structure.
ETHEL G. RUBIO
Los Angeles