From the Eyes of a Fil-Am; A Closer Look into 9/11

Romualdo Santiago Jr., My Father

9/11 was a difficult time for everyone living in the United States in 2001. 

Everyone has their own stories to share about one of the biggest events that changed our nation’s history for good. I remember sitting in my 2nd grade classroom on 18th and South Van Ness, all of the adults having the TV turned to CNN, FOX, NBC, etc. “World Trade Center Crashed”, “American Airlines Flight 11, United Airlines Flight 175 Hijacked”, “New York City World Trade Center Disaster” were some of the news headlines I had seen as a seven year old.  I was very confused, as was much of the country at the time, but I knew that something definitely was not right.

Once I was picked up from school by my Dad, I learned that there was an imminent panic happening all around the United States.  Everyone was shaken up recent event; all I knew is that it was my friend’s birthday that day and we didn’t get to have her cupcakes (I know.. My priorities right? But hey, I was 7) but we got to get out of school early! I wasn’t understanding anything. It wasn’t until later that day did I realize on my own that we were let out of school for our safety.

My Dad left work early that day in order for mine and my brothers’ safety to be in check.  He came from working at San Francisco International Airport at American Airline’s cargo that day.  I had the liberty of speaking with my father about the 9/11 attacks, how they impacted him, and what wisdom he has to share about being a Filipino-American immigrant during such a devastating, life altering, and eye opening tragedy.

K: Good morning Dad. So, tell me a little bit about yourself. Where did you come from, why did you decide to come to the United States of America?

Jr: My name is Romualdo Santiago Jr. I was born in Barrio O’Brero, Lapuz, Iloilo City, Philippines and came to America through working in Ship Cargo until 1989. I decided to come to America for the “American Dream” that everybody talks about. I wanted to see what life in America was all about for my own good.

K: When did you start working for American Airlines at San Francisco International Airport?

Jr: I started working at American Airlines in 1999 because I got the job through my family member working in the Car Rental business at the airport.  She told me to apply for a Cargo handling position with American Airlines. I was a Fleet Service Clerk for the airlines and was in charge of loading/unloading freight, operating heavy machinery, and cleaning the interior of the planes.

K: What was working with American Airlines like before the 9/11 crash happened?

Jr: I enjoyed myself at American Airlines. I looked forward to going to work. After 9/11 happened.. oh man. Everything changed. No more freight was coming in or out because of the strict compliance the airlines had. I worked a full time position with good pay, I enjoyed the working environment, it was like working on the ship again. But not anymore, not after that happened. If you had low seniority, you got laid off. I got moved down to part time work only.

K: What do you mean everything everything? What changes did you see happening?

Jr: Everyone was scared. No one wanted to go to work – there was no trust in the work place anymore. Operations were stopped for 2 days before we could get back to work and there was a lot to do! When we came back, we were working shorter hours for our safety but nobody liked that. We needed to work for our families, it was b/s.

K: Besides shorter work days and concerns for safety, did you feel any racial tensions while you were working with American Airlines after 9/11?

Jr: Oh yeah, big time. Like I said, it was as if there was no trust among the workers. We were not united. I got injured because of carelessness when I came back to work one day, but those mother fuckers.. you don’t accidentally hit someone with heavy machinery.

(In November 2001, my Dad had a large cut on his head due to a work related injury that he would later get compensated/treated for by American Airlines)

K: So you feel as though that injury was done because of racial tension?

Jr: Yeah. We were divided. Even though it was Al Qaeda that hijacked the planes, it was like certain races were putting every brown person down – Latino, Filipino, Chinese, Black.. even colored people were giving each other the cold shoulder.  There was no more trust.

K: Were there any other moments where you felt like the racial tension was high in the work place? It doesn’t have to be towards you, but from your observations?

Jr: Yes. I’m 100% sure if there was anyone that looked like they were Middle East workers at the airport, no one would want to speak with him or her. There was no trust and people did not hold back from their racism. People never said shit to me but I could feel their hatred. I’m not Muslim, but I’m Filipino and I’m brown, and 9/11 gave more reasons for people to hate anyone that was not white.

My Father, Mother and I – Holidays 2014

K: Dad, thank you for taking the time to do this interview for the Kaisahan Newsletter of the Pilipino American Collegiate Endeavor. Are there any last closing comments you want to say regarding your previous employer and 9/11? Or being a Filipino-American immigrant?

Jr: Work hard. And trust your instinct. I left American Airlines in 2002 because I did not see myself growing in that environment.  I needed a stable job for you and for the family. I decided to have my own business and pursue that full time so that I could pay for your schooling, your cousins in the Philippines schooling, and more. But if it was not for American Airlines, I would not have the opportunity to know real hard ship because of being Filipino.

Finding work in America isn’t easy whatsoever, especially for immigrants.  The fact that so many people work hard to find that “American Dream” and turn it into reality puts you into perspective just how hard the generations of Filipino-Americans/Asian-Americans before ours have worked. My Dad’s words echo that of many workers throughout the United States that are of color that worked in airports/airlines in the early 2000’s. As Asian Americans we must make sure that we are standing in solidarity with people of color from all backgrounds, races, ethnicities, etc.

Carla Fajardo

The theme of this month’s Kaisahan newsletter is: “Who am I?” Four years ago, as an incoming freshman to SFSU, I absolutely had no idea how to answer the question. I’m pretty sure many freshman (and some upperclassmen) can identify with this foreboding question that we all hope our experience in college will answer. I guess this is why they are called “best-years-of-our-lives” because they are when we discover who we are and who we are going to be. My experience in PACE has helped me do exactly that.

Know history, know self. No history, no self.

I first participated in PACE through the 2013 Spring production of the “41st Pilipino Cultural Night: Legacy of the Fallen”. It told the true story International Hotel that housed the Filipino lolos and lolas (“grandfathers and grandmothers”) who were in danger in being evicted due to gentrification. The show resonated with me not only as a performer but it inaugurated me as  cultural activist. It advocated the spark that soon became my passion; to be a voice for those who have been silenced. This was only the beginning of a journey of self-discovery with this organization.

“For all of us…”

At my next PCN, “PCN 42: Para Sa Aming Lahat“.  I was part of the inner sanctum as a co-director of music. I also assisted in writing the script and performed in the show. It was one of the most stressful but overwhelmingly satisfying production I’ve been a part of. It was musical that touched on themes concerning 1st generation Filipino-Americans; which much of the cast were. It was a tribute to our Filipino parents and grandparents who immigrated to the States in hope of a better life. It acknowledged the hardships that they went through and that keeping the culture alive through us (their children) is a way to show our appreciation. It was an amazing coincidence that the show date ended up on Mother’s Day. This production taught the cast and crew that our Filipino culture is to be respected and celebrated. It has shaped us who we are through the morals and traditions of our forefathers. PCN has the means to tell the story of the whole community; present and future.

Are You DOWN?

In concerning the future community, I joined PACE’s Spring internship the same semester. It was a place where I was challenged to find what it means to be Filipino-American ( and, broadly, Asian-American). We learned about the history of racial prejudice in America that has caused cultural anxiety and political injustice. Our reaction to these accounts was not of revulsion but of foreseeable opportunity to evolve.

My fellow interns and I decided to name our group DOWN  aka “Discovering Ourselves Without Negativity”. In engaging ourselves to focus on the positive aspects of Filipino-American history, I was able to do the same with my own regarding anxiety and depression. Through adversity, I can still strive to be the best version of myself. PACE is where I feel at home to be with people I can share and celebrate my Filipino culture. But when I studied abroad last year, I didn’t have this second family with me and still had a cultural experience of what it means to be Filipina-American.

Being Bicultural and Abroad

In the academic year of 2014-2015 I studied abroad in United Kingdom at University of East Anglia. Overall it was an amazing time of my life where I matured as an individual without my Filipino community. So why is this event important to this article? Because, during my year abroad, my understanding of my Filipina-American identity became more elaborate. One of the most surprising things that I didn’t expect living abroad was the emphasis of my identity as an American. To answer the many curious questions of “Who are you? Where are you from?”, my answer was the same: “I am from the States. I am American.” The interesting fact was that barely any one protruded further about my identity as a Filipina. This lack of acknowledgment was part of the culture shock that led to the question: what part of me is my identity and which is my culture?

The first few weeks abroad, I realized that the facets of my identity that was conspicuous derived from my Filipina heritage. Although my voice, demeanor, and fashion was very American; my ideology, philosophy, and rationalism came from my Filipino family and community. This is what it means to be bicultural: to be raised by two cultures and allowing me to perceive see two worlds simultaneously. This was an advantage in assimilating fairly quickly, and easily to British culture and to the European countries I’ve visited. I met and connected with many people from different places and endured a constant re-evaluation and reflection of my life and future. Although I am back in America, I can say that England is another home for me.

Living In-Between 

Even after three years of (what it seems like a lifetime) individual growth, I still can’t fully answer the question of “who am I?” But from these same three years I know that is is my bicultural identity that fortifies me on the path on the woman I aspire to be. Maybe we, university students, are not supposed to find out who are in college, but how we are going to become who we are meant to be. It may just be a life-long process where we reach our final years, looking back ,and say, “I am proud of who I’ve become”. But we are not there yet. We are only in-between. Now that school has started, I am excited what this year will reveal about me next.

Karl Catalon

Hello, my name is Karl! With a K. A lot of people misspell my name with a C, and I’m totally used to it. I used to be so annoyed with the fact that a lot of people spell my name wrong, since it only has four letters, but over time I’ve learned that ‘Karl’ with a K is uncommon and is commonly spelled with a C. But that’s life, I’ll just have to accept that I’m unique and beautiful (haha jk).

I’m an upcoming 3rd year at San Francisco State University as an Astrophysics major, and PACE’s 2015-2016 Public Relations Coordinator. So many labels right? You can just call me Karl.

I’m not an exhibitionist so I’m sorry if you were expecting something out of this. But do note this: I express my personality through writing and visual arts. I like to express in a way as if you’re reading an E.E. Cummings poem or an Ernest Hemingway book. I like to be physically simple and abstract, but once you get to know me, you’ll find what’s hidden beneath the iceberg. A lot of people say that they can read me like a book, but trust me– you’re only seeing the tip of the iceberg.