4/18 Betrayal, Class Fantasies, and the Filipino Nation in Daly City

Vergara Jr. discusses the transnational tie between Filipinos in Daly City and the Phillipines and the deeper issues of class, nationalism, and success. Many folx in the Phillipines have a hostile perception of Filipino migrants as betrayers who left their homeland in pursuit of selfish desires and personal gains. Many do not understand the deeper reasonings as to why so many people choose to leave, and sees life in the US as harder, lacking of culture, and more difficult to achieve socioeconomic success. Despite the antagonism from their native counterparts, many Fil-Am who reside in Daly City strive to maintain a bridge between their homeland and American life through the use of Filipino video stores, restaurants, and much more in order to achieve middle class status. This makes it seem that Filipinos have reached the "American dream" and achieved success by establishing a strong cultural foundation, while also reaching a respectable status in native Filipino's eyes. However, this picture erases the historic struggles that lower class Filipinos went through to settle in the US.
This article made me reflect on my own personal life as a Cambodian-American. Many Khmer refugees escaped Cambodia in hopes for a better life and the pursuit of "American dream". However, many Khmer folx still struggle to get the equitable support they need. Many are low-income, suffering from mental illnesses, and are still trying to heal and recover from the past. Second generation Khmer youth are deeply affected by their ancestors' turmoil, and seek to also achieve that middle class status.

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