Blog

Yesterday morning, while the internet was abuzz about getting out the vote, I was preparing myself for poll monitoring to help protect voters’ rights and voters’ language access at the polls. Advancing Justice-LA sent over 100 individuals out in southern California to monitor about 220 precincts. This year is my second time volunteering with Advancing Justice-LA as a poll monitor and doing so in my hometown of Diamond Bar, California. The experience filled me with hope and pride. 

One of the reasons I’m happy it’s October is because it’s Filipino American History Month. Filipinos have a long history — we were the first group of Asians in the United States, landing on the shores of Morro Bay, California on the ships of the Spanish galleon. We’ve established a rich history of ethnic enclaves, food, music, and social justice. As a child of Filipino immigrants and as part of a gigantic Filipino family, I know that I have a place in Filipino American history, too.

G.T. first came to Asian Americans Advancing Justice — Los Angeles asking for help in March 2017 — he wanted to become a citizen. For decades, he was haunted by the tragedy he experienced during China’s Cultural Revolution until he moved to the U.S. after being petitioned by his U.S. citizen daughter.