Filipino Amerasians and supporters marching in downtown Angeles, Pampanga on 4th of July celebration 2011 - Fil Am Day
I had one of the most memorable 4th of July celebrations of my life! It was beyond the usual backyard barbecue of hotdogs and hamburgers and watching fireworks at Chicago’s lakefront. In 2011, I celebrated the holiday with Filipino Amerasians – America’s forgotten children. I proudly marched down the streets of Angeles City, Philippines with them and joined them in a two-day workshop co-sponsored with the Bayanihan Foundation’s nongovernmental organization (NGO) partners, WeDpro and Buklod. It was an amazing weekend as I watched Filipino Amerasians come together as a united group and form their own organization that will represent their needs.
Filipino Amerasians were born with fathers who were American military servicemen and their mothers were assumed to be prostitutes. They suffer severe discrimination and social stigma because of the accident of their birth. Many Filipino Amerasians suffer from severe depression; several committed suicide; have suffered from physical abuse, rape and even prostitution.
I am proud of the Filipino Amerasian leaders’ commitment to work together, overcome ‘crab mentality’ and form a new organization, United Philippine Amerasians (UPA) that hopes to speak on the tremendous needs and challenges that many Filipino Amerasians face.
Filipino Amerasians faced tremendous discrimination and challenges everyday. Despite of it all, many Amerasians dream the same dream as many Filipinos. They dream to finish their education, to secure a good job and to provide for themselves and for their family. In essence, they are Filipinos in their heart and in their soul. So Filipinos should accept them as part of the society.
Mark Gilbore (center) of the United Philippine Amerasians, being interviewed by the Philippine press during Fil-Am Day, 4th of July celebrations in Pampanga, Philippines
I was so proud to see Mark, Wyne, Mike, Brenda and other Filipino Amerasians speak for themselves in front of the Philippine press. The Bayanihan Foundation plans to support public education and outreach on this important issue and support Filipino Amerasians in the Philippines and abroad.
Check out the press coverage of this event from the Philippine Inquirer, one of the Philippines’ leading daily newspaper.
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HI! MY NAME IS SHIELA MARIE D. HOFFER AND I JUST WANT TO ASK IF YOU HELP ME OUT GUYS TO FIND MY FATHER.I POSTED THIS NOTIFICATION AT U.S EMBASSY PHILIPPINES FACE BOOK PAGE AND SOMEONE TOLD ME NAMED GREG RADKE THAT YOUR ORGANIZATION CAN HELP ME OUT. HE IS AN AMERICAN AND I HAVEN’T MET HIM SINCE BIRTH. ALL I GOT IS HIS NAME AND THE DATE HE GOT WED TO MY MOTHER. MY MOTHER DOES’NT WANT TO GIVE ME INFORMATION ABOUT HIM SO I WANT TO LOOK FOR HIM BY MYSELF…PLEASE GIVE ME SOME TIPS. HIS NAME IS HOWARD WILLIAMS HOFFER AND THEY GOT MARRIED HERE IN THE PHIL. LAST JANUARY 2, 1989…I WOULD GLADLY APPRECIATE IT IF YOU COULD HELP ME.THANK YOU.
Hello Shiela,
Thank you for reading my blog. I suggest that you contact our local Philippine partner WeDpro http://www.wedprophils.org/ to direct you to reliable contacts that might help you find your father. The Bayanihan Foundation does not provide this direct service or assistance finding missing Amerasians parents. Please keep reading my blog entries!
Sincerely,
Dale
Hello Shiela,
i think you better start getting information regarding your dad from your mom. Explain to your mom that all you need is the complete name, date of birth, what state he came from, if your mother has the ssn of your father and any valuable information . If you can get this I can go to people finders here in the US. Normally people finder will provide people of the same name but different age and county. Or you can do it yourself, all you have to do is access the intrnet, go to google, type people finder in the US. I beleived for one time search it will cost you around 6 to 7 dollars.
Hello Oscar,
Thank you for your advice to Shiela. Thank you for always reading my blog entries!
Sincerely,
Dale Asis