Pass The Quilt

Often I get off track and focus on the BS, like ignorant blatherings over the public airwaves, versus real talk and real experience.  This is because shock jock assholes do their job well.  They get emotions for or against stirred up.  But what really gets me is that these donkeys believe the stink that they puke is reality even though it’s fantasy they conjured up smelling their own fart.  Now back to real stuff .  For a short time I rented a room from a nice Mexican Family.  On occasion the 91 year old matriarch would start up conversation with me.  She had a lot to say about how things have changed from then to now, from the evolution of their own family to the evolution of Los Angeles.    She also had many experiences with Filipinos.  What struck me was her statement that Filipinos altogether have a more positive spirit than what she had seen through the years with Mexican-Americans.  In her eyes it was similar visions for opportunity but different pathways that structured generational attitudes.

To her point, I think she was using myself as an example.  I admit, I enjoy my own space, and renting a room encouraged me to go out when I can.  Well, during her week long stays I was going somewhere everyday.  We’d talk as I leave, and I’d sometimes talk late night as I stroll in after a beverage or two, or dozen.  I was composed enough to listen, understand, and comment…almost as if I hadn’t left the bar.  But a simple smile and show of understanding brought her to tell me comparisons with other Filipinos she had come upon.  She pointed me to her experiences at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels, the huge monument in LA.  I grew up Catholic, but let’s face it I’m as secular as they come and I had no idea many Filipinos went there.  In her eyes, a third of the congregation was Filipino.  I need to confirm.  She went on to bring me up to speed with other churches with lots of Filipinos. 

Her point wasn’t to shame me, but I had to feel a little embarrassed since I own Passthequilt!  But, after she gave examples of the superficial stuff like nice cars, nice clothes…she got to the nitty gritty that Filipinos had an aura of positivity, courtesy, and work ethic.  She told me we were an accepting and happy people.  And this felt good, because I believe this to be true.  We all came here from a 3rd world, but Filipinos seem to exhibit a sense of gratitude and built upon that with courtesy.

As I dug deeper into why she felt division in our paths, that being Filipinos and Mexicans, she said through the years she’s lived in LA there’s a hardness born in the Mexican experience.  She made implications toward stigmas of societal illegitimacy, and the simple competition of survival from within.  She told me a horrific snatch of her purse from a seemingly homeless Latino man during her elder years working for the city, and an even crazier odd experience that followed with undercover vice near the scene.  It was just a hodgepodge of things here and there. 

Ultimately, the continuity of Filipino smiles from one to the next stood out to her.  We certainly have our individual issues.  We all aren’t incredibly prosperous, but I certainly don’t know or see any Filipinos living on the streets.  Families and communities form strong bonds that don’t let people fall through the cracks and left on their own.  We not only survive, but I have seen generations improve economically upon the previous.  Although we don’t make as much noise, we make things happen. 

And above all, like the wise woman says Filipinos are always smiling.  This is because we do have many things to be proud.  Contrary to Adam Corolla’s rant on our people’s worthlessness, we do contribute to society as a whole and make his community better than it would be without.  Without Filipinos, he’d be ducking for cover under foreign invasions.  He’d be taking his own vitals and diagnosing his injuries while waiting hours if not days for medical help.  He wouldn’t have a properly engineered freeway to drive his obnoxious cars.  The list goes on.  This is Southern California…how does anyone not notice?  I think we need to keep reminding everybody…