After picking up a hairstylist, parallel parking UK style, a poor excuse for a Chinese firedrill, and carrying a nearly broken box of tees, we were finally able to preview the love.life.hope shirts to CSUN’s Filipino club, FASA. The members that we met were all very welcoming, and it helped to ease the public speaking nervousness. I introduced the collaboration with Bukid Kabataan, and we’re so happy that it was received with ooohs and aaaahs. You’ll soon find out (on December 3), that this release is very close to our hearts. Thanks to Marc, Dee, and Ashley for the FASA pull; we hope to work again with them in the future. Night night.
We were invited to the apl.de.ap (from The Black Eyed Peas) benefit at the Vanguard last night. It was his birthday, and to celebrate, he brought awareness to fans, industry heads, and celebs about the unfortunate in the Philippines. We felt compelled to attend since the Chicharon Adventures x Bukid Kabataan release is dropping this weekend; we wanted to share in the same spirit of helping. It was an enjoyable night…cultural performances, new single drops by each member of the BEP (minus Fergie), and some very admirable DJs. But we had to cut it shorter than we wanted because of my stinking eye infection! Here are some pics. Props to the Peopod foundation for looking after the motherland.
When we first started hashing out ideas for Chicharon Adventures as a brand, we also came up with funny Filipino designs. As a brand, we try to think outside of the box, and just do some random stuff to keep things interesting. Sinigangsta is one of those random designs. I love Filipino food—so much that I would choose a homecooked meal by the fam over a rib eye steak at Cut or Houstons any day. One of my favorite meals is sinigang, a tamarind based soup cooked with pork, beef, or shrimp. Sinigangsta is both a play on words and a tribute to food.
The Chicharon Adventures design called “Identity” is an expression of how many people in this society feel. Most, if not all of us, are caught between two worlds; we live between cultures. My best friend, Kim, was inspired by this design, and wrote this. I AM FILIPINO AMERICAN. This does not just identify my cultural heritage and nationality but defines who I am as a person. Many people don’t seem to get that. To the outside world, namely those who don’t know me and see only my exterior, I’m just another Asian. If I’m lucky, I’ll even be classified as a Filipino. To those in my culture, I may look Filipino and uphold certain values and beliefs of the Filipino culture, but I’m American. For some strange reason, I just can’t be both and it is apparently difficult to grasp that I identify with both. How am I Filipino….? I am a child of 2 full-blooded Filipino parents. I grew up with them speaking to me in Tagalog, both good words and bad, and I can carry a pretty decent conversation in Tagalog. I uphold the Filipino core values of family/togetherness, faith/religion, compassion, dignity, hard work, justice, and kindness. I know key Filipinos who made a difference for our people and historic events that guided our country to where it is today. I make the effort to know the happenings of our people both in the Philippines and here in America – past, present, and future. I involve myself in cultural activities to not only educate non-Filipinos about our culture, but to educate those of us who haven’t been exposed to and don’t know much about our culture. How am I American…..? Born and raised in Los Angeles, CA, I have known no other home than the United States. I was educated in the American system since the age of 3, learning English and American history along with everything and everyone else. I share the American core values of individuality, freedom, and basic human rights. I make an effort to keep informed regarding what’s going on in our country and to do my duty as a citizen of this country. I live my life the way most Americans do, enjoying the many privileges available to us. I am not ashamed of who I am as a Filipino American. I never plan to lose what I have learned, nor who I am today because of both cultures. I will not choose to identify with only one particular group. I find myself lucky to have the best of both worlds. I AM A CULTURAL HYBRIDITY. IT IS MY IDENTITY. We hope that you’ll feel the same inspiration when wearing this shirt. That’s why when you order, we’ll throw in something extra in your package for you to make that statement loud and clear. Peace!