Researching

I feel so detached from my ethnic history. I decided my project should be on Filipino-Americans. Not only will I be able to work on my developing journlist skills but I can gain an insight on my ethnicity.

I'm dedicating these next few weeks to research. I've been learning the history in my Fil-Am class and going to the library to check out the videos and documentaries.

I find the history intriguing. With so many occupying forces such as the Spanish, Japanese and American it seems the Filipinos have constantly struggled with independence then acceptance and respect in this world. With each page I read and each discussion I have on what made the Philippines today I am happy with the knowledge...but more confused.

Why? Because I feel so detached and I don't know how I'm going to convey a sincere story. I have been talking to a few Filipino-Americans about my project but I don't have a feel of my culture. I have a respect for the Filipino people but I need to find a way to convey that in a story. A story that hasn't been told or that answers questions in the community.

Filipinos are one of the largest growing Asian ethnicities in the country and have come far from the plantations and cannerys that attracted the masses a century ago. But who are the Filipinos that have come recently? What are their stories and what are the differences immigrating now versus the past?

I hope I can find these answers with my project.