That's when I realized how the culture of self-imposed disempowerment has stymied us. How ridicule and suspicion can be so debilitating if allowed to control us. That's when I resolved that we must get our act together. Thanks to leaders like Alex Esclamado, Loida Nicolas Lewis, Gloria T. Caoile, Rodel Rodis, Lupo Carlotta, Greg Macabenta and many others. They picked up the ball.
Empowerment is on the move.
Let our children's identification with our shared vision be one measure. Once we find common ground and we can both say we're Americans made of Filipino parts and we will be engaged as participants and leaders in American society while proudly maintaining our Filipino cultural traditions and institutions - then we can honestly say we've moved forward. A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step, the sages say. We've taken the first step. And as we take more steps forward, the farther away we leave behind the voices of ridicule and suspicion and those who try to drag us down.