ASIAN AMERICAN LIFE: Filipino Fork 2018
Dear Foodie Fam,
Read about my experience with Filipino Fork 2018!
I heard about Filipino Fork through Joe Luna, a pinoy and owner of Boy’s Bakery. As a Filipina American blogger, I’d been starting to gain some reputation for my enthusiasm for Filipino cuisine. I was stoked to look into it.
About Philippine National Day Association (PNDA)
Shortly after emailing back and forth, I met Chris (Board Director of the Philippine National Day Association) for lunch at the La Bou across from the Capitol. As someone who’d been wrestling with what it means to be a first generation American, I was primed to be pulled into Chris’ contagious eagerness. The conversation picked up quickly and I couldn’t even eat the sandwich in front of me - I was so excited!
I was aware of PNDA through FAYLC (Filipino American Youth Leadership Conference) and the way it changed the lives of my friends and family. PNDA programs were made to mentor, educate and support Filipino youth through leadership conferences, mentoring and scholarships. PNDA also facilitates artistic and cultural programs to introduce the American community to what it means to be Filipino and Filipino American. It’s an inspiring intergenerational cause.
About Filipino Fork
Filipino Fork is the annual major fundraiser for the Philippine National Day Association. The banquet features local Filipino chefs and bakers. The first Filipino Fork was launched in 2017 with 50 attendees and 4 Filipino American vendors. Donors were given seating and a free pass to eat as much as they could of the treats these vendors donated. It was loved so much that this year (2018), the event sold 200 tickets easily and featured 10 vendors. All the proceeds went to benefit the great work happening in California through PNDA.
More than the fact that the Filipino Fork proceeds all benefit PNDA… I loved immediately that Filipino Fork could be a gateway to the American community’s familiarization with Filipino culture. Food is such a quick way to spread and absorb tradition and history. I am so stoked for my non Filipino American friends to understand that being Filipino American means more than eating savory, handcrafted lumpia. I am honored to have had any chance to help this fundraiser.
With Filipina American foodie partner in crime, Lariza (@thesleepyfoodie).
New Friends and a New Cause
Through Instagram, I met other Fil-Am food enthusiasts who I’ve been happy to engage in intriguing conversations I can’t have with anyone else. We’ve talked about the validity of the term “authentic Filipino food,” the willingness for Filipino brands to ask for aid in marketing, the frustrations with our food being “ugly delicious,” the shockingly sudden emergence in public appreciation for food we were ashamed of bringing to the lunch table and the way Filipino food has shaped our timeline.
For me, I feel like our parents and grandparents really relished food because our history has been more impoverished than some others. In America, we are able to enjoy whatever kind of food we want as long as we have the money and means to just go out there and find it! I am so happy to have that ability and now, to have the ability to do it with friends!
I’m so grateful for Judi, Lariza and Joe ((IG: @JudiVentures, @thesleepyfoodie and @joeboybakes) and the ways we’ve encouraged each other to add to the local conversation on Filipino food. It’s a thrill being able to represent our Fil-Am community in the food social media world. Helping with Filipino Fork was a great way to show how grateful I am to be welcomed into the local Fil-Am foodie family.
Amongst other moments in planning, meeting the board at the first official planning session was an uplifting moment for me...
We were at Selland’s. I didn’t know who to look for, so seeing a table of what looked like Filipinos, I sat close enough to eavesdrop. Eventually, one of the group of four asked if I was there for the "Filipino meeting.” It was Rosie (PNDA VP), Ben (then board member), Merebeth (Ettore’s Specialty Baker) and Bobby who first enfolded me with excitement and an obvious family-like bond. The rest of the night, meeting new people and planning over wine was lovely. Meghan, the coordinator of Filipino Fork had an immediately contagious determination. Ben and Merebeth kept making me laugh, which set me at ease until the only person I did already know showed up (Lariza).
I love meeting people with similar passions as mine and not having to explain myself for having those passions.
Unfortunately, I joined the effort late and traveled for a month so I didn’t have as much opportunity as I wanted to market the event. My great friend, Lariza was able to do brilliant things for the cause. I was stoked to help any way I can.
One of my most proud moments in my life was seeing the Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project logo beside acknowledgement of my help with Filipino Fork 2018. I barely helped with Filipino Fork at all! But I did brand FilVetREP… and seeing these two concepts at once really encouraged me. Sometimes I feel shamed by native Filipinos… I’ve been poo-pooed for trying to involve myself in Filipino culture… like I am not qualified to try to engage in things happening in the Philippines or to connect to my history because I was born in America or I can’t speak fluent Tagalog.
And then… there are people who really don’t care about where I was born and want me to engage in all the parts of me that make me me…
I felt so affirmed when I saw the Filipino Fork program.
PICS from Filipino Fork 2018:
For info on what Boy’s Bakery and Merebeth Bajar of Ettore’s made, check out my Instagram feed. Below are photos of their treats.
Pasalubong and Baon
pasalubong: the Filipino tradition of bringing gifts or souvenirs from an away-from-home destination to people back home
baon: provision or supply of food taken on a journey
Giveaways from Kumare Culture- an organization I just realized was founded by some family friends! “Kumare” means “close female friend.” The word is used in the Malaysian, Filipino and Indonesian languages. Kumare Culture is all about women empowering women!
Thanks, Sweet Dozen for the huge baker’s dozen box I took food home in!
BEN
I want to take this moment to remember Benjamin Fenkell. I met Ben a few times, only… but every time I met him, his smile and great humor always put me at ease when I would otherwise have been nervous.
Per the PNDA website:
Ben was a Sacramento native, born into a family highly active in performing arts, activism and building strong connections within the Filipino-American community of the Sacramento region. He was been involved in the local Fil-Am community from a very young age. He served as a youth board member of Philippine National Day Association (PNDA), a past coordinator of the Filipino Youth Leadership Conference, a founding member of the former Pilipino Youth Coalition (PYC) of Sacramento and served various roles with the Sinag-Tala Filipino Theatrical Revue. He also served many roles with the annual Filipino Fiesta as an active member on the planning team throughout the years.