 their nationality or color; but the officers seem to have obeyed with hearts and minds full of prejudice and partiality.
The Philippine press tells us that committees were organized (e.g. Philippine Feminine Association), theaters exhibited performances (e.g. Grand Opera House), clubs gave horse races and other sports (e.g. Manila Jockey Club), to collect funds for the relief of San Francisco sufferers. This work was efficaciously aided by the press of Manila and provinces. Yet our people are perhaps unaware that their countrymen in San Francisco are the ones who suffered most, and are still suffering at this time.
Let these words find echo in the breasts of generous Americans and Filipinos, in the United States as well as in the Philippines, and then the Filipinos in San Francisco shall suffer no longer from famine and misery.1
"The Filipina in Filipino Society"
by Helen Rillera [Angelica (Helen) Floresca Marquez]
Note: Helen Rillera was a student in John Sweet junior high school in San Francisco when she wrote this opinion piece for the Philippines Mail in Salinas. At the time, there was a great disproportion of Filipinos to Filipinas in the U.S. Filipinos were heavily engaged in labor organizing, and had encountered violent reactions from the white population. They were being called upon to sacrifice their time, energy, and possibly even their lives to the cause. Helen Rillera’s opinion is valuable because there are few writings by Filipinas available from this period, and very little had been published about their experiences in the U.S. during the 1930s. She wished to air "constructive criticism" while supporting the struggle of her Filipino comrades.
This is a “straight from the heart” expression of my ideas, experiences, and observations, which, I do sincerely hope would help to soften my countrymen’s hearts towards all Filipino girls in Filipino society.
Here, in this distant country, when a Pinay is as young as 12 or 13, she makes her debut in Filipino community. (There [are] very few exceptions). She is immediately swarmed with admirers. An innocent, unknown child, who should be out in the streets playing with youngsters of her own age, is shoved into a world of glamour and sophistication. She learns to enjoy it, as no matter how modest a girl may be, there is always that natural something in her heart that craves for flattery and attention. These, she is given aplenty, and in a short time, her name is on the lips of many Filipinos from city to city. The popularity and beauty contests all help to herald her name more and more to her people.
She sacrifices her youth, which is the most beautiful period in one’s life, to accomplish the duty that is every Filipino girl’s; that is, to contribute the feminine roles, which even today Filipino society lacks. And the Filipino girl is always proud to do it—always generous in giving herself to her people, that they may learn to esteem the fellowship and companionship of girls of their own blood and from their own country.
For a very short time, she is a queen of many hearts, loved, appreciated, and respected. And then—
It has hurt me to discover it; it hurts me now as I write it, but it is a true fact, sad as it may be. Many Filipinos have abused the efforts of their Filipino sisters. They have not helped to make things any easier for them; in fact they have been too selfishly interested in their own pleasure to give thought to the poor girls’ sentiments and sacrifices.
One occasion where the Filipino’s inconsiderateness is outwardly visible is at the dance hall. Here, where there are about 200 men, all eager to have chances to dance, there are only about 10 or 15 young ladies. Is it not the girl’s problems to decide which of the many men she would dance with? Is it not only natural that she takes first those with whom she is well acquainted? Should she not be given the one privilege to dance with whom she pleases? Ah, how often have open warfare has occurred at dance parties—all because several men would dance with one girl at one time. What does the poor girl do but ch