HISTORY has somewhat depicted certain Filipinos as rebels like Macario Sakay, or in much earlier years, Philip Vera Cruz, who was a Filipino American labor leader, farm worker and a leader in the Asian American civil rights movement. He was also the vice-president of the United Farm Workers, a group that represents the rights of migrant workers.
Fighting for our rights is one part of the Filipino spirit, along with our hospitality and bayanihan characteristics. It is part of our culture, our heritage – something that makes us whole as a nation, as a people.
We are then proud and humbled that others have seen the contributions of the Filipinos and FilAms in the history of the United States. For us, that speck of change, regardless of how small when compared to the great American history, still matters.
Such is the Filipino spirit – we measure our achievements by its significance to the community and the people, not by its grandeur. We appreciate recognition, but what is most important how we were able to change history. (AJPress)
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