This footage was shot in Quezon City in the Philippines in the very church where my parents got married. The location brought a lot of memories to my mom’s mind, and she retold story after story about their wedding (which started ridiculously early in the morning), going to mass everyday (she had her purse stolen!), eating pan de sal and corned beef after mass (her family’s driver would buy it) and much more. My mom definitely loves churches, and she loves telling stories just as much. So I guess whenever I want to film my mom in her element, I just have to bring her to a church.

Happy Mother’s Day, Mom!

- Stephen Dypiangco

A self-portrait of Filipino American filmmaker Stephen Dypiangco from his documentary Home Unknown.

At the tail end of 2010, I want to share some thoughts on how far Home Unknown has come along in the past 12 months. When the year began, the project was very disorganized, and I was under the misguided impression that I could pretty much complete this feature length documentary by myself. I’m happy to say that now in December the project is stronger than ever, and my perspective has completely changed. Instead of trying to shoulder all of the work alone, I’ve found some great collaborators to work with and am in the process of establishing several exciting new partnerships.

So here’s a few highlights from 2010:

- WATCHING EVERYTHING: I started the year by watching all 90+ hours of footage that I have. This includes home movies from my trip to the Philippines in 1994-1995, which my eldest brother Joe thankfully recorded. However, the bulk of this material centers on my main trip back to the Philippines in 2006-2007, which I recorded during my last year as an NYU graduate film student. As I poured over scenes from this journey, I took copious notes on what I liked, didn’t like and thought might be relevant to my movie. I’m glad that I took this step of cataloguing everything because I’ve looked back on these notes so many times for guidance throughout the editing process.

- GETTING LOST: After thoroughly watching everything I’d shot, I dove into editing. I didn’t have an outline or even much direction, so I thought the best way to move forward was to just start working. I figured that cutting scenes together would lead to me finding the story as I went along. But as I worked on piecing together various scenes, I began to realize that I was in way over my head. This lead to panic and then action.

- LOOKING FOR HELP: Realizing that there was no way I could possibly complete this film on my own, I began reaching out for help. I knew that I wanted to find Filipino collaborators, so I started emailing the only Filipino filmmakers I knew, who were almost all across the country in New York. This includes my NYU classmate Clarissa Delos Reyes and fellow NYUer’s Christina DeHaven and Gigi Dement. Through these friends, I got a few leads here in LA, but nothing seemed to pan out. I felt doomed to slave away on my own . . . until I found an awesome collaborator, Stephen Deline. This other Steve D is a friend of a friend who happened to also be working on editing a feature documentary that he shot back in 2006-2007. But instead of a personal documentary about a trip to the Philippines, Steve’s film centers on New Orleans public schools in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Steve and I agreed to meet every other week and give each other feedback on each other’s projects. This sort of mini-writer’s group for documentary filmmakers proved to be a huge help in finding my movie’s focus and digging deeper within myself. It was through our fruitful time together that I really shaped the current Home Unknown trailer.

My mom, Lucila Dypiangco (aka Mrs. D), is no stranger to Facebook these days.

- BUILDING A WEBSITE: Starting the Home Unknown website through wordpress was something I tackled little by little over the course of several late nights. I’d never made a website before, and I definitely was intimidated about doing so for a long time. I knew that I wanted a website, so I had asked friends and family for help. But when those options didn’t seem like they would work out, I decided that I would just do it myself. Having a website to show people what Home Unknown is all about has given a tremendous boost to the project. It has also provided my retired parents Oscar and Lucila Dypiangco a way to share their experiences, memories and personal tastes. While I probably don’t blog as regularly as I’d like, I do feel positive knowing that the site is growing and offering a way for new fans (Filipinos, Filipino-Americans, Asians, Asian-Americans, children of immigrants, whoever) to find the project and get in touch with me.

- PARTICIPATING WITHIN THE FILIPINO-AMERICAN COMMUNITY: Becoming active within the Filipino American Network (FAN) has led to meeting so many wonderful people such as Walter Boholst, Ed Mallillin, Jason Lopez, Arlyn Sinsay, Winston Emano, A.J. Calomay, Patrick Epino and many, many others. Helping coordinate FAN’s Project PSA initiative also paved the way to meeting Filipino filmmakers like Ronald San Augustin, Jim Herr, Drea Castro, Clarinda Morales, Marvin Suerto, Eric Tandoc and others. Lastly, this experience introduced me to the great work nonprofit organizations like SIPA, the Filipino American Library and FilAm Arts are doing within the community. While not directly helping Home Unknown at this point, these individuals and organizations will hopefully be allies and supporters of the film down the road.

- FILLING OUT APPLICATIONS: Applying for several filmmaking programs sponsored by Film Independent, the Center for Asian American Media and the Tribeca Institute have been challenging experiences that have proven quite beneficial. Each program has forced me to fill out comprehensive applications, which have called for bios, project descriptions, budgets, timelines and much more. Articulating my film’s focus and laying out a plan for the future has helped me further crystalize my ideas and bring the project closer to completion. No longer am I simply opening Final Cut Pro and editing aimlessly. Now I’m taking the time to lay out the best possible plan, formulating what I hope will be a strong story that makes viewers laugh and reflect on their own ideas of assimilation, race, identity and home.

It’s been a great 2010, and I know that 2011 will be even better. If you have any ideas, suggestions or interest in sharing your talents with the making of Home Unknown, please leave a comment below. Together we can do something truly amazing.

Making a feature documentary is no easy task, and it is especially difficult when you’re trying to do all of the work by yourself. From the moment I started planning Home Unknown a few years ago, I envisioned this as a personal documentary I could make with little outside help. Because my background from NYU film school is in independent filmmaking and because this project has almost no budget, I knew that I would produce it, shoot it and likely edit it myself. Although I was able to successfully plan and shoot the film alone, I’ve found editing to be a much bigger challenge than I anticipated. Because the material is so personal and I’m one of the film’s main characters, it’s very difficult for me to understand how others might be viewing the scenes I’m cutting together. This has taught me time and time again that finishing this movie alone is a fool’s errand and that I need outside help. Lots of it.

The Home Unknown trailer that is currently on this website was completed in June of this year. It was the result of months hard work and lots of a amazing input from a fellow documentary filmmaker named Stephen Deline. While I am proud of all of the work I put into this trailer, I know deep down that it can be a lot better. So that’s why I’m currently working on a new version that highlights, clarifies and deepens a few critical points such as my relationship with my mom, the scope of our travels within the Philippines and my struggle to understand why I was making this film in the first place.

About two months ago, I wrote this new synopsis for Home Unknown that I feel better explains what the movie is about. My goal is to adjust the trailer, so it matches more of what I describe here:

A twentysomething Filipino-American who has largely ignored his cultural heritage, grad film student Stephen Dypiangco documents his first trip back to his parents’ native land since he was a scrawny, apathetic, pimply-faced teenager. Although he’s drawn to connect with his far-flung relatives and a homeland he’s never truly known, he doesn’t fully understand why he’s making this film. It just feels right.

Without any personal ties to his aunties, uncles or cousins in the Philippines, he heads out across the Pacific with his emotionally guarded mom Lucila and always supportive dad Oscar, who both turn out to be surprisingly quirky. As they proudly introduce him to his own family, show him places they no longer recognize and reminisce about their nearly forgotten former lives, Stephen realizes something. His home unknown isn’t just the Philippines. It’s also his parents, whom he’s never bothered to truly know. With the trip winding down quickly, Stephen tries to figure out who his parents are and to finally think of them as real people.

Fast-forward three years. Stephen still isn’t done with the documentary. His Filipino identity is still a mystery. And he and his pregnant wife are now living with his parents. It’s at this embarrassing low point that a breakthrough occurs. He realizes that the reason he’s still making this film is to unite the two things he loves most in life, which are inconveniently at odds – his family and his career. As he redoubles his efforts to finish his film, begins connecting with fellow Fil-Ams and tells his mom how he really feels about her, Stephen nervously preps his next project – parenthood.

Thanks for reading this and your interest in Home Unknown. Finishing this movie and getting it out into the world is going to be an incredible challenge, but I know that I can do it with your continued support!

- Steve

Tita Olive, Lucila and Oscar visiting the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

Written by my mom, Lucila.

Soon after Oscar and I had gotten over our jet lag, the job search began.  Although my brother, Tony, and his wife, Olive, had warmly welcomed us into their one-bedroom apartment, we were not their only guests.  Bernabe Miranda (then nicknamed Bobot; now Bernie), our first cousin, had arrived in Los Angeles before us and had already been living with Tony and Olive for several months when we came.  My younger sister, Carmen, (called Tita) was scheduled to arrive after us. Oscar and I knew we had to go in search of not only a job but also of an apartment.  The pressure of finding a job intensified as the urgency of moving to our own apartment mounted.  Without a regular source of income we could never find any place to rent.

No matter how hard the job-and-apartment search was, I could not report the difficulty we were experiencing to our family back in the Philippines.  I felt that my parents would have asked us to come home, especially since we had left our three young sons behind with them.  Returning home would have meant failure on our part.  Besides, our two older sons knew they were to come and join us in the US; how could we disappoint them?  My parents knew that we were not really having any financial problems in Manila when we left.  With our joint income from Oscar’s position in the Production Department of National Insurance Co. and from my teaching at the collegiate department of Saint Theresa’s College in Quezon City, we managed to live comfortably.  There was no pressing reason for us to leave home for America except for our desire to take advantage of the many opportunities the country reputedly had to offer. Any report to the contrary, any hint of the problems we began to encounter in our job search, would also have discouraged Tita who was to follow Oscar and me to LA, the land flowing with milk and honey.

Here, then, is the letter I wrote home on our thirteenth day in California:

750 Lillian Way, #3

Hollywood, Calif. 90038

May 21, 1969

8:45 pm

Dear Tatang, Ima and everybody,

Right now it must be 11:45 am, May 22 – there.  We – Tony & Olive, Oscar & I and Bobot – had been talking about you at supper which we had an hour ago. I told them that you must be enjoying the fiesta fare in Sta. Rita right now – lechon, embutido, pastel, murcon, etc.  I hope Tatang is there, and Tita also, to bid good-bye.  Did they take the Opel?  I hope Thayer and GJ went along too.

I have been contacting schools over here for a possible opening in Sept.  Although the public schools pay more, they also require more: medical examination (at least $20), fingerprints to be taken by a police officer ($4), original transcripts, credential fee ($20) and a written job offer by a school district (superintendent?).  I will try to get a job in the public schools, but maybe next year would be a better time.  With our very brief residency here we still don’t have all the necessary contacts for all these requirements.  Besides, after a year of teaching in a private (Catholic) school, it would be easier to apply in a public school.  I’ve written letters of application to Catholic colleges and universities only so far.  Tomorrow I shall start with the high schools.  The list was furnished by the Archdiocesan Dept. of Education which I had contacted by phone.  Besides, the Archdiocesan Dept. of Ed. will include my name and qualifications (as well as address and phone no.) in its regular bulletin to these high schools.  If a principal is interested in me, I shall be contacted by mail or by phone.

"This is Safeway, our grocery & drug store. We do our shopping here every Sunday after mass. It is open 24 hrs. a day, everyday"

Anyway, since classes will start only in Sept., I applied at the Pacific Telephone Co.  I didn’t say I wanted to work only in the summer.  They might not hire me.  After my first interview yesterday morning, I was asked to come back in the afternoon for aptitude tests.  I think I got 100%in the first one because the test was just like the ones we give at STC [Saint Theresa’s College]. But the transcription of numbers was terrible!  I finished only 1/2, and I’m sure I had many errors.  The third test was for filing (arranging names alphabetically).  It was easy.  I finished 5 minutes before time.  After those tests they asked me to fill out an application form while they checked my answers.   Then a second interview followed.  The interviewer said I might be hired to work in personnel, possibly eventually in charge of a section with 12 – 15 people.  All I would have to do is check on their work – efficiency, conduct, relationship with other employees, etc.  The interviewer said that that would be the closest thing to teaching, of which I have 10 + years’ experience.   I still don’t know what will happen.  I am to face my 3^rd and final interview tomorrow at 9:30 am.  If I pass that, I shall start a 6-week training program (with pay).  After that — I don’t know if I should accept — a one-year supervisorship, on probation.  If they like me, I am retained; if not, dismissed!  So you see, what started out to be a temporary summer job might still change the course of my life.  I think if I work with Pacific Tel., the 2 big boys can come.  The interviewer told me that the company has great concern over the children of employees, that it looks after baby-sitting arrangements for them.

"Oscar & I were about to board the bus. This line (#85) has all the old buses. The new ones are those that go downtown. They are streamline & air conditioned."

Oscar has been typing all my letters of application to schools, so he has had little time to look for work.  But today he went to Bank of America, to an insurance company, and to the office of Safeway, a national chain of supermarkets.  Bank of America seems to be the likeliest of the 3, but he intends to go around some more.  Tony, Olive and Bobot keep reminding us that it took them at least a month to get a job — so why hurry.  I think we cannot enjoy this place until we are assured of a job, or already receiving regular salary.  For one thing, we would want to have an apt. of our own.  This apt. of Tony and Olive has only one bedroom.  Both of them sleep in one of the twin beds; Oscar and I, in the other.  Bobot has his permanent “bed,” the living room sofa.  If Tita is to stay with Oscar and me when she comes, I think we should get a 2-bdrm apt.  Sonia Recio Mamaril’s is like that – very beautiful; but furnished only with a heater (she has hot-and-cold water), double sink in the kitchen with garbage disposal, modern range (coppertone) with hood and lights, matching coppertone frigidaire, carpet, drapes, built-in walk-in closets, colored bath and tub – all lovely!  But no TV, sala set, beds, dresser, night tables, lamps w/ shades and dining set which Tony has.  Sonia’s apt. is classified unfurnished; Tony’s is furnished.  Bobot thinks we can easily get a furnished 2-bdrm. apt. (w/ free electricity and gas) for $150.

How is Mark?  I keep dreaming of him. Can he say many new words?  There are also provisions for children his age in most child centers.  Right next block from here is such a center.  Maybe he can come here too – with Mameng [a cousin from Santa Rita], if they take the direct flight.  What Tony meant about their possibly getting lost was due to the changes of planes and overnight stop-overs.  But if they take a direct flight from Mla. to LA, they stop only in Honolulu for two hours.  They may not even leave the airport, and their luggage is not taken off the plane. I can understand how difficult it would be if they had to go to hotels – very confusing experience, specially in big airports where everybody is in a hurry.

The job openings for CPA’s are also abundant.  I am sure Tita will have no problem.  When she leaves, please ask her to bring Jockey hip briefs (size 30) for Tony.  He needs a dozen.  Repeat: JOCKEY HIP BRIEFS (from Manila COD).  Remove the contents from the box for lighter handling. I hope Tita comes for Tony’s birthday, so we will not feel so homesick.

Thayer, be a good coya [older/oldest brother].  Gj, be good to your brothers.  Pray everyday – pray for Dad and Mamma so that they may find good jobs, so that you may come to LA and Disneyland.

Love,

Dad and Mamma

Filipino filmmakers & nonprofits at FAN'S PROJECT PSA Kickoff Event

This past weekend, the Filipino American Network of Los Angeles (FAN), a young professional networking organization, held a kick off event for their latest initiative, PROJECT PSA. This exciting new endeavor aims to unite Filipino filmmakers with Filipino nonprofit organizations to create 30-60 second public service announcements (PSA’s), which promote the nonprofit’s work. In mid-November, FAN will hold a public screening to celebrate and share these amazing new videos with the rest of the Filipino community.

The purpose of PROJECT PSA is to allow the participating organizations and filmmakers to help each other grow. By making PSA’s, the filmmakers are providing the nonprofits with a powerful tool to publicize their work and mission. In return, the nonprofits will show off these filmmakers’ talents to their network of members and supporters. Building new bridges between artists and organizations will hopefully lead to a stronger, more united Filipino community.

As a filmmaker with a history of involvement with nonprofits, I’ve been extremely excited to help bring this plan to fruition, which has been a great way for me to learn more about the Los Angeles Fil-Am community I had never really been a part of before. Over the last few months, I’ve had the pleasure to work with incredibly intelligent and dedicated FAN members (Walter Boholst, Ed Mallillin, Jason Lopez, Arlyn Sinsay, Winston Emano) to help organize this community building project. We’ve had many meetings to hash out the goals, rules and overall strategy for pulling this entire thing off. We’ve sent out emails, had phone calls and taken meetings with nonprofits and filmmakers all over Los Angeles to explain PROJECT PSA and encourage them to participate.

At our kickoff event in Eagle Rock over the weekend, we had no idea exactly how many people would show up. We had done our best to get the word out, but now we would see if this idea was strong enough to actually pull people out of bed on a Saturday morning. As new arrivals gradually started to trickle in (we anticipated a late start with Filipino time), I was struck by quantity of unfamiliar names and faces I encountered. It seems that word spread more than we had anticipated. Filmmakers and nonprofits that we hadn’t directly contacted had heard about PROJECT PSA and came to learn more about it.

After some brief introductions and an explanation of the project’s rules and timeline, the filmmakers and nonprofits  got the chance to meet each other. Filmmakers such as Oishi Media, Mitchel Dumlao, Eric Tandoc, Patrick Epino and R.A. Mendoza explained who they are and discussed the work they’ve done. Representatives from nonprofits such as SIPA, FilAmArts, Filipino American Library, Pilipino Alumni Association of UCLA, Filipino American Educators of Los Angeles and Kayamanan Ng Lahi Philippine Folk Arts outlined their mission and the strengths of their organization. The energy in the room was incredible, and it seemed like the conversations easily could have continued for hours.

If you know of any Filipino filmmakers or nonprofit organizations that might be interested in signing up for PROJECT PSA, there’s still some time to do so. Please have them email me directly at dypiangs@yahoo.com.

And if you are in the LA area, please be sure to check out FAN’S PROJECT PSA community screening in mid-November. Details of the specific date, time and location will be posted on FAN’S PROJECT PSA blog (http://fanpsa.wordpress.com/) and FAN’s facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/fanLA) in the coming weeks. I’ll definitely be at this event, and I hope you will too.

- Steve

Oscar & Lucila in San Francisco

Written by my mom, Lucila.

Nine days after leaving Manila on May 8, 1969, I wrote my second letter home, but my first from the U.S.  There had been daily post cards from Hong Kong, Tokyo, Honolulu and San Francisco in between.

As I reread this and the previous letter, I am struck by my naivete, my utter lack of sophistication, as I viewed the big wide world outside Manila with wild-eyed wonder.  Although I still feel tremendously excited whenever I go traipsing across continents and all over the globe, I am afraid I have now lost that almost-childlike sense of awe at every new and unfamiliar sight.

Every letter I sent was handwritten on the old blue aerogramme with the red-white-and-blue border when folded.  It was available only at the post office.  This light-weight paper with its own thirteen-cent stamp printed on it cost just that – 13 cents!  Because of its limited size, I had to resort to abbreviations and semi-stenographic short-cuts.  One side of the aerogramme said, “Do not use tape or stickers to seal.  No enclosures permitted.”

750 Lillian Way, #3

Hollywood, California 90038

May 16, 1969

Dear Tatang, Ima & everybody,

We arrived in LA last night from SF. We had been mailing you post cards each day since we left on May 8.  Did you receive them — from Hong Kong, Tokyo, Honolulu and San Francisco? I think the last (& only) letter we wrote you was from Tokyo.  From there we flew to Honolulu where we stayed with Lily, the daughter of Ate Puring.  She & her doctor-husband. Q, have bought a beautiful $65,000 house on top of a high ridge overlooking the Pacific. You should see the spectacular view from there!  We sent some postcards to you in a gift box for the boys from there.

Lucila with Lily, Q and kids.

Then we went to SF where we stayed with Mr. & Mrs. Rey and Shirley Olmos, neighbors of Oscar in Craig. They were very, very good to us. We did not know what to give them except for the Phil. placemat-&-napkin set, a farewell gift to us from Edith Sayoc of National Life. The Olmos couple brought us all over SF & treated us to a dinner in Chinatown where we had wonton soup, fried rice, barbecued pork (parang pindang) [like sweetened fried pork from the Philippine province of Pampanga], and beef with vegetables. We also joined a 3-hr. guided tour of SF which featured all the exciting highlights of the city. We shall be sending you all the pamphlets and brochures of our entire travel – from the MLA to LA.

In SF I called up Fely Lapus & I found out that 3 of my former co-teachers [at St. Theresa’s College] are all with her at the Pacific Telephone Co. They wanted to teach in SF but they had been having much difficulty getting employment. I was very discouraged when I heard that. Anyway, Rey and Shirley & a friend of theirs, a girl from U.P., [University of the Philippines] brought us to the airport in her brand new Cougar. We took the United Airlines jet to LA & we arrived here after 45 minutes.

Lucila in San Francisco

Tony [my younger brother who had come to the US a few months earlier] came to meet us at the airport, wearing his black & white sports coat just like Oscar’s. Oscar was wearing his too. When they met at the “jet walk” (like an escalator but only for the flat floor of the airport where you don’t have to walk; it does the walking for you) they were both surprised to find themselves in “combo” attire.  In all American airports, there is very little walking needed; they have elevators, escalators and these “jetwalks.” In fact you don’t walk thru the airfield to the plane anymore – unlike at the MLA airport where you can wave dramatically to your family and friends seeing you off.  Here the plane goes very near the gate & there is a car that ejects an accordion-like piece that becomes a corridor to connect the plane to the gate. The passengers go from the gate to the plane through this projection which is covered all around, to protect you from rain and sun.  Ima will have no difficulty coming here at all.

Tita, bring all the things you can carry. We never had any trouble with weight. All 3 airlines we took were most liberal. They weighed the suitcases but they didn’t mind  the excess. In fact from HK on to LA we had not been hand-carrying our “hand-carried” bags. They were all checked in so that we could have more legroom. From MLA to HK we hand-carried everything we could, but we found ourselves in an uncomfortable position – no place for legs or any movements. In HK we were advised to check them in; anyway, there was no extra charge. Each of us checked in at least 55 lbs. We did this all the way here.  Also, Tita, we would suggest you join an affinity group that can stop overnight in the places you want to visit. Most of our expenses went to hotel bills & food. Joining an affiity group will save you all these expenses. Anyway, you would be afraid to go out alone in a city like Tokyo where nobody (not even policemen) can speak English.  In a group you’ll feel safe.  If you have a 24-hour stop-over, that would be enough. Even a shorter one will do.  If you arrive in the afternoon you can have the rest of the day to go to shopping centers, if you are interested.

Tokyo may be a little expensive, but I found it the best place, even for shopping. Imagine, an excellent leather bag – for only P10; and a beautiful umbrella for P7!  Be sure you go down to the basement of department stores, which is always the bargain area. The bargains there are really bargains. Don’t buy anything in Honolulu. Everything is so expensive there, but go to Waikiki Beach with your bathing suit. By the way, I bought one in Tokyo — yellow one-piece – P15. [I still have it, 41 years later.]

Tony’s apt. is very beautiful. It is right at the back of a super supermarket that gives 24-hour service everyday of the week. Last night, we had vegetable soup (Campbell), rice, okoy (but a TV dinner made of various vegetables –- carrots, celery, peas, etc), fried beef and guinisang chicharo [sautéed Chinese peas]. Olive [my sister-in-law, Tony’s wife] was very happy to see all the clothes we had brought for her. Tony said she could not sleep because of her excitement, This morning she already wore one to work – using the black shoes from Syvel’s that you, Tatang & Ima, had sent her.

This morning, Oscar called up Sonia Recio Mamaril, formerly of Nat’l Life. She has been teaching in a parochial school here & she asked if I would want to teach there.  One of her co-teachers, also a Filipina, had just resigned. I said yes, but I will still try to look around myself.

How are Thayer and GJ & Mark? Today only Oscar & I were left at home, so we could catch up with the sleep we’ve been missing. Do you know I slept from 11:00 pm last night until 1:30 pm the today, and I dreamt of all 3 of them.  Mark was the clearest.  He looked newly bathed w/ fresh haircut & he didn’t recognize me.  When I picked him up, he smiled and sang Oh My Darling Clementine.

Bye.

Oscar & Baby

Tatang & Ima (Lucila's parents) with their apos (grandkids) Joe, Gerard and Mark (L-R).

Written by my mom, Lucila.

On May 8, 1969, Oscar and I left the Philippines to immigrate to the US.  We had planned on working in our respective fields for about three or four years, get that highly  coveted “Stateside” experience, while saving for a home of our own back in Manila.  Because Mark had not been born when we filed our US visa applications in November, 1967, he did not get his visa when ours came in March of the following year.  Upon the suggestion of my parents, Oscar and I decided to leave all three of our young sons: Joe (5), Gerard (3) and Mark (1), in their care.

Since this was the very first trip abroad for both of us, Oscar and I thought we could enjoy a tour of the cities along the way to Los Angeles.  It took us nine days to get from Manila to LA because we spent two days each in Hong Kong, Tokyo, Honolulu and San Francisco.  Everyday I sent postcards to our boys and/or letters to my parents and siblings, knowing that they would relay our message to our sons.

My daily correspondence lasted for fourteen months. On March 14, 1970, our three boys finally followed – after a series of US Embassy visits and through the intercession of a US Congressman Barry Goldwater, Jr.

Years later, I found out that my mother had faithfully saved each of my postcards and letters home.  Let me share my first letter with you:

Shiba Park Hotel, Tokyo - May 11, 1969

Dear Tatang, Ima, Andy, Emma, Tita, Chit, Thayer [our old nickname for Joe], GJ and Mark:

After 3 hrs. & 45 mins. flying time we arrived in Tokyo from HK. The dinner served was very heavy; in fact, we were able to “smuggle” some crackers in cello-packs, 2 apples, cheese & butter (also packed in foil), salt & pepper for our hotel “meals.”

Haneda Airport is very big; we had to take a shuttle (tranvia-style) to reach the inspection area from the landing area. The customs inspectors were very polite – more polite than those in MLA and HK. They just asked us if we had anything to declare – food, wine, diamonds, etc. We said no (even if we had the “gift” box [Filipino foodstuff disguised as a present] & turrones). They asked us to open one hand-carried bag & that was all. They did not even see the turrones which were in that bag. In HK, the lady inspector had asked us to open practically everything. She had even torn the wrapping of the hand carved wooden cane to see if there was anything concealed inside the baston.

Oscar looking like a secret agent at the Tokyo Tower.

I find Tokyo a better place than HK – friendlier.   Today is Sunday, so we have to go to Mass. In HK the nearest church was not near enough for us to reach, not within walking distance.  This morning we called up the Columban Father (from the tel. directory) & asked for the nearest church to us – American Franciscans daw. So we intend to go to Mass there.

Taiso Fukumuru was not at the airport last night, as we had expected.  He did not even  send a representative. [Taiso was a Dai-chi Mutual Life Assurance man in Tokyo who had been a guest of the National Life Insurance Company in Manila where Oscar had worked.] This morning Oscar asked the operator to help us look for Taiso, or get in touch with him. In just less than 5 minutes, Oscar was already talking to Taiso himself. He promised to call on us at 10:30 AM today & take us out.

It is raining here in Tokyo. The overcoat I brought along came in handy. In fact I wore it also last night as soon as we arrived because it was cold – much colder than HK.

We did not do much shopping in HK. We just got a necktie for Oscar (because he had none for his brown pants) at $1, camera paraphernalia and 2 pairs of stockings for me ($2.20) and a pair of black beaded gloves (short) for me, also – $1.

Out and about in Hong Kong.

While waiting for the ferry to take us to HK Island (where Cora Golding’s house is) from Kowloon (where the President Hotel is), we entered a big modern bldg. It is owned and operated by Red China. The multi-storied buildings there have shopping arcades, restaurants, etc. I bought a big bag there – made in Red China – at about P3.15 only. It must cost at least double that in Manila.

(stopped – continued at 9:45 p.m.)

We’ve had a very busy day. Taiso came & brought us to the Ginza. All stores are closed on Mon. but opened today, Sun. The size of the dept. stores is unbelievable! Maybe the whole block of the New Frontier complex, but on 8 stories with 2-floor basements! The prices are much cheaper here than in HK. So if Tita plans to pass by Tokyo, she can skip HK. Ex: 1 pack of 10 nylons = P6.80 in Tokyo; = P17 in HK. Even food is cheaper here – if you eat Japanese noodles, milk, chicken etc. 1/2 fried chicken in Tokyo costs P.80 – in HK P1.50 to P2.00. Here we had a good meal for P.80 each.

With Taiso's family at their home in Japan.

Aside from the turrones, we also gave Taiso the placemats & cane because he has been very, very generous. He treated us to lunch, bought us different kinds of Japanese delicacies & took us home to meet his family. Tomorrow, we are to see him at the Dai-ichi Mutual Life Assurance, which is a square-block bldg. in downtown Tokyo. He will take us to an exclusive clubhouse for lunch. We already sent a thank-you note to Mr. Ven Cabildo, but please thank him again for us, Tatang. Even if Taiso hadn’t received his letter yet, he read the copy that Oscar brought with him. I have sent almost 30 postcards already – thanking all those who saw us off. I want to send Tatang Dan a note but I don’t know his address. We leave tomorrow at 10p.m. for Honolulu.

Bye.

Oscar & Baby

My wife Lucila and I came to LA by way of San Francisco in May 1969. Like many immigrants, we came to America seeking better opportunities for ourselves and our children.  On our way to LA, our flight attendants passed out job applications for the airline.  I said to myself, it’s really true that jobs are plentiful in the US. I was very encouraged…until I went out on my first day of job hunting.

Dressed for success.

Lucila’s  brother Tony and his wife Olive generously let us stay with them until we could get our own place. After allowing myself a couple of days to get over my jet lag and acquaint myself to the new environment, I began searching the newspaper for available positions and job placement agencies. I concentrated on those openings which might be relevant to my prior life insurance experience in Manila.  I also set out  to study the various bus lines to get to my appointments.

After a few bus trips to downtown LA, I noticed that Hill Street had a few placement agencies advertising free jobs. Dressed in a sports coat and necktie, I bravely went to two agencies in one day.  At each place I filled up an application with my personal information, employment history and references.  I also offered letters of recommendation from my previous employer. Both agencies said they would call me if one of their client companies was interested.  The next day, I actually got a call.  I went to a distributor of electrical products, and they wanted to hire me. But when I told them I had just arrived from Manila, they changed their mind because I lacked local experience.

I started to venture out on my own by going to the Personnel Department (now called Human Resources) of insurance companies and filling out applications. In the meantime, a big Los Angeles Times ad from State Compensation Insurance Fund caught my attention.”Wanted: Compensation Insurance Representative.” Below the big bold ad, it stated “college graduate, no experience needed, will be trained and a car will be provided.” A few days after filling out yet another application, I took a written test at 600 So. Lafayette Park Pl with about 60 other hopeful candidates. With an hour to wait for the results, I went to the nearby Precious Blood Catholic Church to pray. I waited a little longer than necessary to return, so I didn’t have to face a big crowd and be embarrassed if I failed. When I came back, I learned that I PASSED!

During the next step, a panel interview, all three male interviewers dug into my education, work experience and my reasons for coming to the United States. One of the panel members, John Havilland, liked my accent, which he thought was British. What a surprise! Shortly thereafter I learned that I was ranked number one on their list and would be notified if a position opened up.

Unsure when State Compensation Insurance Fund might have an opening, I continued my job search. My  brother-in-law Tony’s apartment was behind a Safeway Grocery store, and I thought I could work in their office. However, the manager indicated all the paperwork was done at a central location and the only jobs they had were for baggers. He asked if I could stand for hours and load 20 pound bags into grocery carts.  A bit frightened, I thanked him and left.

Jan. 1970 - Oscar and Lucila check out Rose Parade floats.

I then applied with Prudential  Insurance on Wilshire Blvd. This was very promising. I passed the written test and the interview. I would have been hired on the spot, except I hadn’t received my green card. A week later it arrived, and I was hired as a clerk in the Group Insurance Department with a salary of  $500 a month.  I started working on June 15, 1969.  At Prudential I discovered a very pleasant surprise – all the employees got free lunch. During my assigned lunch hour, I headed down to the 2nd floor cafeteria and followed the buffet line, where I got soup and/or salad, a main dish and dessert.  We were warned, “Get you all you want, but eat all you get.” With a free lunch everyday, I was in heaven.

In my second month working with Prudential, I received a telegram from State Fund asking if I was still interested in a job. I completed three more rounds of interviews and was hired as a Compensation Insurance Representative in the claims department. I gave Prudential the required two weeks notice and began my State Fund career on September 15, 1969. I was given a car with a big California seal and started out earning $644 a month. After over thirty years of service, I retired from State Compensation Insurance Fund on January 2nd, 2000.

Just completed this interview with Fil-Am Ako in which I talk about Home Unknown, filmmaking, being Filipino-American and much more.

Stephen Dypiangco, Filmmaker & Clippers Fan

Please tell us who you are.

I’m Stephen Dypiangco. I was born and raised in Montebello, a suburb east of Los Angeles, California. My parents, Oscar and Lucila, emigrated from the Philippines in 1969, ten years before I was born. Originally from the province of Pampanga, my mom spent most of her life as a high school English teacher, both in Metropolitan Manila and in the Los Angeles Unified School district. My dad, who was born in Laguna, was an auditor for the California worker’s compensation insurance company. Growing up, my schoolmates were mostly Chinese and Mexican, with just a few Filipinos. Until I went to NYU for graduate film school, my education had exclusively been at Catholic schools (St. Stephen School for elementary, Loyola High School, Georgetown University).

After college I spent a year as a volunteer with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, which had a huge impact on my life. While living in the poverty-stricken city of Camden, NJ, with its share of violence and danger, I worked with a nonprofit organization that promoted the wellbeing of farmworkers. My experiences there opened my eyes to harsh realities I had never fully understood. They also made me appreciate the great lengths to which my parents had gone to provide my three older brothers and me so many opportunities.

Interested in fusing my passion for social justice with the art of filmmaking, I was fortunate enough to gain admittance into NYU’s prestigious graduate film program. At NYU, I wrote, directed and produced several short films and worked alongside incredibly talented classmates.

What is Home Unknown?

Home Unknown is a feature-length personal documentary about my family, which I began work on in 2006, during my final year at NYU. After a lengthy conversation with an older cousin, I started to realize how little I knew about our family’s history. Since I was born in the U.S., I didn’t really know my relatives in the Philippines nor what that country meant to me. Although I had been there a couple of times as a child, I hadn’t gone back as an adult.

Since my parents are now retired, they return to their homeland every year around Christmas time. With this in mind, I decided to make a film about going back to the Philippines with them to find out about my relatives and Filipino identity. But when I came back to NY from shooting in the Philippines in early 2007, I got sidetracked. I finished up my NYU coursework, moved back home to LA, got married in Montana, produced a low budget film, directed several music videos, wrote a screenplay, wrote tons of synopses for Netflix and much more.

Last December, I was finally became ready to start editing my documentary and to bring it to completion. Since then, I’ve been actively trying to connect with other Fil-Ams , hoping to find others like me who might be interested in lending their talents to this project. Momentum is slowly starting to pick up. I can now see my film reaching a much larger audience than I ever expected, which is very exciting. What started out as a project for just my family, and possibly a few film festivals, seems to be growing into something much bigger.

Where can people view Home Unknown?

Although I am still editing the feature-length version of Home Unknown, people can already check out the trailer and various related webisodes through these websites:

HomeUnknown.com

facebook.com/HomeUnknown

vimeo.com/channels/HomeUnknown

My goal is to keep releasing new videos, pictures and updates that relate to the movie’s progress, my parents and what it’s like to be the child of Filipino immigrants.

To continue reading this interview, please click here

It’s difficult for me to name only five favorite places in the Philippines.   There are so many that have become close to my heart over the course of my life — from my childhood to my adulthood, through marriage and immigration to the United States.  When I reminisce the happy times these places have given me, I realize why they have become my favorites.

Liliw, Laguna – Liliw has to be the first on my list.  It is my mother’s hometown.  My fond childhood memories include summertime visits with Nanay Rita, my maternal grandmother.   Nanay Rita would cook a sizable batch of pork adobo and keep it in a big clay pot.  For breakfast, she would  pick several pieces, fry and serve them with fried rice and hand-beaten chocolate drink.  Because Liliw is situated on the foothills of Mt. Banahaw, it has been blessed with a mild climate.  It is this climate which, in turn, gives Liliw its bountiful harvest of lanzones.  Nanay Rita’s house has about a dozen lanzones trees scattered around the property.  I recall that I could easily pick these juicy fruits when they were in season because one of the big trees leaned towards the wide concrete staircase.  There were also many coconut trees from which to produce “lambanog,” a local gin.   It was in Liliw that I had my first taste of this highly potent alcoholic drink.  It could really knock you off your senses!  I’ll never forget the Christmas Day I was in Liliw.  A couple of my cousins and I went knocking on the doors of  relatives, neighbors, and even complete strangers, to ask for money. It was similar to trick-or-treat, except that instead of treats, we were given coins.  And we did not do any tricks.  Liliw will always be a part of me.

My dad and his two sisters at their old home in Liliw.

71 K- 4th, Kamuning, Quezon City - We were lucky to have lived in this house, owned by my wife’s parents. It was home to us from the time we got back from our honeymoon until we immigrated to the US.  When we moved in,  our only furniture was a bed and a small table over which we placed a piece of plywood and covered with a table cloth.  Upon seeing this improvised dining table, Lucila’s aunt gave us a real dining set — a table for six with matching chairs.  She also gave us a refrigerator, to boot!  We soon bought the rest of the furniture.  The  house had iron grill outside each window.  The living and dining rooms had floor-to-ceiling windows.  I devised an elaborate security system which  proved quite useful .  I collected a big box of empty cans, which I would stack next to the windows every night.  Should a burglar attempt to break into the house, all the cans would come tumbling down and alert us.  Sometimes I had “false alarms.”  Sometimes in the middle of the night we would suddenly be awakened by the crash of the empty cans falling all over the tiled floor.  I would get up only to find out that our neighbor’s cat got through the window grill.  I guess my system worked anyway because we never had any burglary.  Kamuning provided us with many good friends through the Christian Family Movement which we had joined.  Our family then consisted of our sons, Joe, Gerard and Mark.  Stephen was not yet in the scene.  Unknown to us all, he was already in the mind of God.

My dad and mom outside their 1st house.

My parents with my brothers Gerard (L), Mark and Joe.

Tagaytay – So near and yet so far.  That saying comes to mind when I think of Tagaytay, an easy drive from Manila and yet a totally different place from the busy metropolis.  Tagaytay offers a refreshing, cool climate and fantastic views.  Fruit stands and flower vendors line the highway to this town.  I once saw so many beautiful and colorful flowers that made me buy a big bunch, to the delight of my wife.  Tagaytay is also a good starting point to explore the neighboring towns of Batangas and Cavite.  A trip to Tagaytay would not be complete without  a lunch at one of its gourmet restaurants.  Take me to Tagaytay any time, anyone!

My brother's family in Tagaytay.

Santo Nino Chapel, Greenbelt, Makati – I like to go to Mass at this chapel.  Because it is almost always packed with faithful worshippers, it is sometimes hard to find a seat.  I am in awe when I see the chapel filled with people from all walks of life — some men come in their fancy barongs and flashy neckties; others, in faded jeans and worn-out t-shirts.  Well-heeled matrons come in expensive clothes carrying designer purses; others, in flip-flops and holding plastic bags.  People of all ages come.  There is something for everyone.  The homilies are invariably inspiring, oftentimes humorous but always touching.  I get a big spiritual boost every time I hear Mass at this chapel.

Ascott Premiere Residences – This is our home away from home.  We have stayed here six times in the past few years.  The first time was when Ascott was still known as Oakwood, and just after the Magdalo mutiny.  Even from the very beginning we were hooked!  The warm welcome by the staff, from check-in to check-out, is what keeps us coming back.   It’s a great feeling to see familiar faces who remember us so well.  Ascott’s  five-star service makes us feel really pampered.  The housekeeping department makes sure our every need or request is met promptly and efficiently.  The buffet breakfast boasts of a large and varied spread.  I am always several pounds heavier when we return home to Los Angeles each year.  An added bonus that we  have enjoyed is getting a corner suite on a top floor with a stunning view of the Makati skyline.  We feel safe at Ascott because of its tight security.  The guards are ever-watchful, not only over our safety, but our comfort and convenience.  They even assist us as we get in and out of vehicles that come for us and help carry our bags.  These little  things make each of our stays memorable and enjoyable.  Father James B. Reuter, SJ, the priest who married us 47 years ago, never fails to come and visit us at Ascott each January.  Even as he neared 94, he came to see us at what he calls our “home away from home.”

Dypiangco family at Ascott Premiere Residences.

Oscar and Lucila celebrating Valentine's Day at Ascott.

Oscar and Lucila receive a blessing from Fr. Reuter.