ciation of 'Filipinas' is not from mere heresay, but from actually knowing it. If you have ever known and loved the Philippines, you will realize the significance of this point.
In the Islands today, we hear of youth rising to fame in the respective worlds of drama, art, literature, and music. We know the interest for the Fine Arts has kindled quickly and now burns with fervor. We are informed of talents, ambitions, and finally success of our girls there. And we are proud [are] we not, that the products of our native land are a credit to its worth and pride? But shouldn’t we [be] proud, shouldn’t we be inspired to do our own [limited] bit, even if we are far from home? I have already mentioned we have advantages and opportunities here, and surely we would not admit that we have less intelligence or less talent than they.
In California alone, we know of many lovely girls, not without promise of brilliant futures. All over the United States, I feel that there is intellectual power in our Filipino girls. Yet, very few, if any at all, ever come out; very few are developed and used.
Girls, ambition is lacking. This precious lamp of ambition is cold and dead. It is up to us to light it, and keep it ever a burning lantern to guide us in our paths.
Our general attitude is, we don't care. We're having a good time, and after a while, we'd settle down, and then live happily ever after. This is really a good course any girl can follow; but those of you who have extraordinary gifts should do more than this. God has endowed you with powers that your nation and your world may benefit. Therefore, don't be selfish of them.
Then, there are those of us who have no self-confidence. It is not nice to be egotistical, but one should be able to trust, know, and believe in himself. Often, rare ability is hidden under an inferiority complex. We are ourselves, as we only can judge and as we alone can mould our lives to our desires.
Some girls who were plucky enough to want to get ahead have been unfortunate in [one] way or another. Yet, their aims and good intentions should not be forgotten–they must [keep] on, to inspire those who are less fortunate than they to carry on.
There are so few of us here. Can't we be representatives of our real worth and our desire to add to the glories of our beloved Filipinas?3
“Filipino Exclusion—Putting the Cart Before the Horse” (excerpt)
This editorial was featured in the June 1929 issue of The Three Stars (Stockton, CA), edited by Luis Agudo and D.L. Marcuelo, who were both political progressives and leaders in the Filipino labor movement in California during the Great Depression. U.S. Filipino writers often used irony as a rhetorical strategy in editorials and op-eds.
The State Legislature of California adopted a resolution urging the United States Congress to exclude the Filipinos from this country. The Native Sons of California followed suit, so with the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the coming Nevada-California convention at San Diego are considering to adopt the same resolution.
From the point of view of these august representatives, the Filipinos are a threatening menace and “undesirable residents”—they may be right in their way of thinking though we differ.
We are now, however, much concerned as to the hypothesis of the sweeping indictment. Assuming this is true, in the first place, the Filipinos are not responsible for their being here. Their being here is the effect of some great cause which is directly responsible. We find that cause later. In passing, let it be understood clearly and explicitly that there is no argument here counter to the proposition of exclusion. We are not adverse to it. In fact, it is doing us a great deal of good, for then the Filipinos will be forced to stay home and develop their rich resources.
Indeed, we pay a great tribute to the people of this great COMMONWEALTH not only for their straightforward integrity for self-assertion and frankness—not only for the constant and courageous vigil over the rights and honor and future security of their people—but we pay a great tribute be