By Bro. Dan E. Niño
Despite the uncertainty and the many issues we face today, from the war in Iran and escalating fuel prices to inflation and affordability concerns, one thing remains certain: We are resilient as a people, like bamboo.
I make this observation because Filipino Heritage Night at Dodger Stadium on June 15 brought us together in Los Angeles, not only among the large Filipino community, but also with Americans of many cultural backgrounds who came to enjoy a favorite American pastime.
The atmosphere was festive, almost fiesta-like. For a few hours, we were able to set aside the challenges of daily life, including the traffic and parking woes at Dodger Stadium, to watch the defending World Series champion Dodgers face the Tampa Bay Rays. The parking lots around Chavez Ravine were filled with vehicles, and the reported attendance was more than 53,000 ardent, vociferous fans.
The enthusiastic crowd roared when our compatriot, comedian Jo Koy, threw the ceremonial first pitch before the 7:10 p.m. game between the Dodgers and the Tampa Bay Rays of St. Petersburg, Florida.
The Sunshine State team had a strong start, taking a 2-0 lead in the first inning on Ryan Vilade’s two-run homer. Tampa Bay added another run in the second inning on Taylor Walls’ safety squeeze to make it 3-0. Then Kyle Tucker hit a three-run home run over the right-field fence, bringing two Dodgers home and tying the score, 3-3.
In the seventh inning, pinch-hitter Miguel Rojas unleashed a solo home run into the left-field stands. The home crowd rose to its feet with a deafening cheer. The Dodgers were never seriously threatened after that, backed by remarkable defense. And when the Dodgers failed to score with two runners on base, my seatmate groaned, “Sayang” — too bad.
Among the game’s highlights: Shohei Ohtani went hitless in four at-bats and struck out twice. Tampa Bay finished with eight hits, while the Dodgers had seven, but Los Angeles still had the upper hand, 4-3. Kyle Hurt relieved Eric Lauer in the seventh inning. Will Klein entered in the eighth, and Alex Vesia later replaced Klein.
Between innings, Jo Koy was shown on the video board urging the crowd to make more noise. When he thought it was not loud enough, he shouted, “Get louder. Scream.” He told the crowd, “I can’t hear you.”
A Filipino American man wearing a barong Tagalog was also flashed on the big screen. Filipino fans, including children, were shown throughout the game. And on cue from the organist, the crowd yelled, “Charge!”
The weather was warm before I left our Cerritos home with my family. But by 8 p.m., I was shivering as the temperature dropped.
We entered through the west side of Chavez Ravine. Just 30 seconds before we arrived, the specially made Filipino Heritage Night jerseys, which were part of the prepaid ticket package, had run out. But my son followed up with the Fan Services staff because he knew we were entitled to the jerseys.
Lo and behold, midway through the game, another Dodgers staff member came to our bleacher row and delivered five jerseys. They were emblazoned with a Philippine flag patch on the right sleeve, the World Series champion Dodgers logo on the left sleeve and the word “Mabuhay” on the back. When I arrived home, I realized that the jersey design appeared to be patterned after the polo barong Tagalog. To me, the jersey is a rare collectible item.
At my age, I no longer relish braving traffic-choked Los Angeles freeways, waiting in long lines, finding parking and making my way to our assigned seats. But for Filipino Heritage Night, it was worth the hassle.
The last time I was at Dodger Stadium was in 2015, when my son surprised us with tickets to a Paul McCartney concert. Without giving me a hint, he told me we were going to have dinner in Chinatown. Then, all of a sudden, our SUV was going uphill until I saw the banner: “Paul McCartney In Concert.” It threw me off my chair. He knew all along that I was a Beatles fan. I first saw the Beatles perform at Rizal Memorial Football Stadium in Manila in 1966.
As a bit of trivia, the first time I participated in Filipino Heritage Night was in 1991, when I threw a ceremonial first pitch along with a fellow community leader. I was invited, then as president of the Filipino-American Press Club of Los Angeles, by a public relations representative of the Dodgers organization. Those were the heydays, the halcyon days of my life.
It was indeed a remarkable Filipino Heritage Night to remember. A rap song, “Ako’y Filipino, Filipino,” echoed through storied Dodger Stadium. As a cultural and ethnic community, Filipinos were recognized by the Dodgers organization for our strength and presence. It was another milestone for our thriving community.
