So many feels, so little time.
I'm sitting in my friend's house in DC furiously typing; trying to get some of these thoughts and feelings out before I catch a flight to London for work. Let's see how far I get...
Part of the reason for all these feels is that I was at the White House complex yesterday, the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, to be exact. I had the privilege and honor of joining the White House's official celebration for Filipino American History Month. The invitation to join event included a request for business or Filipiniana attire. For women, Filipiniana attire traditionally means a baro't saya or Maria Clara gown. For men, Filipiniana attire is a Barong Tagalog over a Camisa de Chino (aka white t-shirt) with black trousers. I chose to find a feminine Barong Tagalog to rock to the event and was unexpectedly really thrilled (maybe even a little moved?) to wear something that was so traditional (the Barong Tagalog itself) while also being comfortably untraditional (a woman wearing a Barong Tagolog). And feeling fucking beautiful and whole and Pinay AF at an official White House event.
I left the event feeling deep gratitude for the family that has (and continues to support me), the lineage of incredible humans I come from, every educator that's ever helped shape my view and understanding of the world and, most of all, the rich, diverse, complicated and strong culture that being Pinay has afforded me. I also feel massively fortunate to do the work that I do. Sometimes, it's lonely and challenging to feel as if, at every turn, I'm bridging so many gaps; between socioeconomic groups, between immigrants and multi-generational Americans, between different ethnic communities, between technologist and creatives, between policy wonks and every day folks who work themselves to the bone just to survive, between Ivy educated elites and prolifically sharp people without pedigree, between what we know to be true and what we dream is possible. But the more I sit in the corners of my work that challenge me the most (intellectually, emotionally, and sometimes even physically) I find myself anchored by the moments where I feel like I'm doing precisely what I was put on this earth to do. Most of the time, that work means forging true and deep connections with people who, at once, are so similar and undeniably different from me.
Ugh. I'm running out of time here! I really want to organize and revise these thoughts but, for now, I'll just have to jump to the part where I leave you with this Rocky Rivera song in honor of Filipino American History Month, of women, of heritage, of family, of community. This verse, in particularly, strikes a mighty strong chord with me at the moment.
But it’s more than just philosophy
You can have the world, I have the universe inside of me
You can have the fame, I got my family to ride with me
Take my last name, but you can’t deny my history
I’ma show you what it means to have equality
I’ma make my ancestors proud of me
I’ma help you redefine masculinity
My fate is greater than the gender you assign to me…
