0:05 All right, you know, um >> Always number one. >> So, growing up Asian-American uh I think like as a funny thing to uh analyze. This is the idea of this coming going around a little bit, so it might be fun to talk about. But, like uh for instance, when I was in high school, there are times when it's not as cool to have the ratio of Asian-American be uh higher on the Asian part. It's cooler for it to be higher on the American side, right? >> Yeah, you don't want to be too fobby. >> Exactly. So, the idea of being too fobby, um I guess like how has that line moved for you in your life and why did you have to move it? Like, why did you have to look less fobby or more fobby at times? >> Mhm. >> And what is the optimal amount of being
0:57 of being Asian-American? Like, you know, when when you say you're Asian-American, not do you are you really 50/50 Asian-American or or are you like 70/30 where you're more American or you're more Asian? >> I didn't really feel Asian. >> [laughter] >> Oh, okay. >> Well, you look like it. OH, REALLY? >> [laughter] >> I DIDN'T think Asian was one group is what I mean. >> Uh-huh. >> I felt like everyone had their own thing. It wasn't one thing. So, like um but I I also think cuz I grew up in Gardena, there's so many Asian kids. And and and Japanese had enough people to where you're like and then there's also hella Americanized Japanese. Where like they still did the festivals and yeah, but they they're super
1:47 Americanized, right? So, no one was like clowning on each other. >> That never happened? >> Not really. I mean, black kids would like do the ████ eyes and then the Mexican kids would call like China or whatever. But like we make fun of them, too. Yeah. And then we're like, "Yeah, you're stupid cuz you think we're all Chinese. You don't know the difference." But um >> That never worked, too. >> We were a minority enough. Cuz it's like if 40% of the kids there are like Asian and then like the other 30% is like black and Mexican. So, Japanese No Japanese people ever made fun of another Japanese person for being more Japanese. >> I saw >> That's pretty tight. >> Cuz like that's >> I saw Chinese or like Vietnamese like calling other guys fobs. And I heard the more fobbie ████ when I moved to San Gabriel Valley and it was
2:37 Chinese people calling other Chinese people fobs. >> [laughter] >> That sounds >> That sounds right. >> Like I didn't really hear Japanese people calling >> Me, neither. >> each other fobs. And then there was none of this like uh to the culture ████ Like I remember my Chinese friends were embarrassed of the incense culture ████ Whereas like whether you're Americanized or not for the Japanese kids, they're like, "Oh, you're going to Obon?" Or like you're going to this festival? Or like you're doing this thing?" And then >> Yeah, I never actually met a lot of Japanese or any Japanese guys back in the day that were like fresh out of Japan. >> Yeah, it's boys' day. You wear the kimono ████ You just wear the thing. But then I remember a lot of my Chinese friends, they didn't want to wear like the kung fu outfit, the silk thing. They didn't want to do the Chinese New Year. They were just kind of like more like, "Oh, I want to be more American." Yeah. >> Yeah, yeah, yeah. I guess that is the
3:28 the topic that I'm trying to focus on is this the idea of like did you ever yourself feel like doing this to the left? >> I think if I were to go through my ages >> Yeah. >> it would be I think up to five 100% American. >> 100% >> even think I knew what being Asian or Mexican or You know, we're just kids. And I think when I So, when I was five or four, we moved to Cerritos, and then I think then the Asians started coming in cuz you start understanding like people are slightly different. >> Yeah. >> And then I think from Ella Elementary School all the way up until um maybe even freshman year in high school, my Asian meter wasn't so much Asian-American, but finding where the Chinese-American identity fit within the rest of the
4:18 Asians. >> Cuz like >> Oh, yeah, yeah. >> And the dominant ones in It's Cerritos at that time was Korean or Filipino. >> Yeah. >> So, Chinese felt like the odd odd one out. >> Oh. >> And then so like I didn't really know like how that really like fit in or, you know, it was just like it wasn't really strong, and I think a lot of Chinese-Americans don't really have that super strong identity that I felt like Koreans had cuz they had like this whole culture uh about it, and then Filipinos were just super cool, and I feel like Chinese was like kind of just like oh, like beef and broccoli. Like it's like oh, it's Panda Express. It's like something that's been in the back burner, but it's not the new thing now. I feel like Koreans are the new thing now. >> That's true. Yeah, yeah, yeah. >> So, it's like oh, yeah, like everyone knows Chinese cuz like '80s movies and Bruce Lee, but that's ████ old news, you know? >> Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. >> So, like navigating that, then I came to the 626, and I think that was like shoo shoo shoo
5:08 like Asian where like that cuz like that whole area is Asian, and um it was like su- super like um what is it like there's boba shops everywhere. Like it had its own type of speak, even like like like I feel like the Mexicans there had to had to assimilate into like the the Chinese-Vietnamese culture that was there. >> Yeah. >> And then when I got into the military, because I went back to be minority Asian, I didn't feel like I was Asian in the military. I felt like I was SGV in the military. >> Mhm. >> So, for some reason I felt like I had to like represent for the 626 in the military. >> Yeah, you're carrying that flag. >> Yeah, I was like that that was me. And then I think JK super Asian-American cuz we're like
5:58 oh let's let's do like stuff make Asian-American content put it on the map. Then as I got older it goes back to being American. Or it actually goes back to just being like world citizen actually. >> Yeah, okay. >> Yeah, that's where like my like sliding. >> I think that's a good like kind of experience. I think shared experience for LA Asians. I feel like what I see in Hawaii is the same thing where like when you're when you have a population of a lot of us then you're kind of like representing your region. And then like in Hawaii like no one talks about being Asian cuz everyone's just Asian. They talk about being Hawaiian or like local. Or like when they go out to represent, a lot of these Asian kids that are from Hawaii that live in Vegas or whatever, they represent Hawaii culture. Like you know what I mean? They're not like they might be Chinese, Korean, Japanese mixed or whatever it is, but they're not
6:49 talking about Asia. They're talking about Hawaii. And I feel like for us was more like that. >> Yeah, cuz when I hear about what a lot of the Bay Area Asians complain about, man I don't relate to anything you guys are ████ saying. >> What do they complain about? >> ████ representation all that ████ whack. >> Oh, you're talking about like San Francisco Asians? >> Yeah, I just like you know how everything's about like oh I'm not ████ Denzel Washington cuz I got ████ eyes or like how >> It's a lot of It's a lot of neck shakers out there. >> Kind of ████ I don't I don't relate to any of that stuff, dude. I'm like I don't know. >> No, yeah I don't relate to that either. >> That's you guys, dude. >> It just feels like that's what they're only vocal about is like Asian roles. It's like all right, dude. That's what >> Well, like it's yeah, it seems like they're that's the only thing they can look at. It's like oh I didn't get this, it must be because I'm Asian. But then when you see everyone talking about it like what I don't understand is a lot a lot of them talk about like Asian this Asian that, but it's just Chinese culture.
7:41 Like most of them that are talking are either Chinese or Korean. That's the people that got the microphone. Like it's not a it's not a Filipino or a Thai person. Like the dominant people that are either in entertainment or like the people that are like speaking out or whatever, they're like making this blanket thing about this is how Asians are, but I'm like, nah, dude, like Japanese people aren't like that and I don't know if Thai people are like that, but I know Chinese are like Chinese grew up this way cuz they're talking about a Chinese experience. That's always what I felt like growing up. I was like, we're grouped up into one group, but we're actually not. It's as different as being from Britain and Russia. Their cultures are not they're just they look white, but it's pretty far apart, you know? So I think we just get forced into one
8:32 group and then there's similar things that tie together like Confucianism and you know, like there's certain similarities, but like there's a lot of differences cuz if you think about like a a Mong kids upbringing and like they're usually like the they live in like a rural place, not in a bigger city and then like they're not high income, you know, it's going to be different from a Taiwanese kid that lives in Arcadia. So I'm like that's the Asian experience is so diverse. >> I was taught Filipinos were closer to Polynesians. How do you feel about that? Do you guys feel like you're you're more Asian or more close to Polynesians? >> cuz I think it's just where you grow up cuz like obviously you know, going to high school at SGV and then growing up in 562 I've from when I was in the 562 I thought Filipinos were basically Mexican. Just the Asian version of Mexicans. It's
9:22 just it only because they're they're so close in proximity in the 562 that it's just naturally they just get along. I mean I just felt like that. >> I was taught Filipinos were small Samoans. >> [laughter] >> But they are technically islanders. They're they're island nations. So they are going to have those traits, but um I think in terms of culture uh like if you like growing up, every one of my aunt's houses was full of Chinese ████ >> Yeah. >> The Buddhas, everything. So like I think like when you grow up in Southern California as Filipino, it's very intermingled with Chinese in a lot of ways. Even though we didn't have as many Chinese people like marrying to our family, >> All of my >> culturally, I don't know why we just were like that. >> They would tell me like their grandma's like a quarter Chinese or something. I'm like, "Are you sure?" >> [laughter] >> Oh, they have a lot of Chinese like
10:13 like like what do you call like altars and stuff? Or like what do you mean like Chinese >> Like um the decor first of all, like it'll just be those ████ mirrors with the with the the the yeah the Oh, wow. And then uh every one of my aunts had a Buddha statue. >> Oh, wow. >> The on the actual like uh on the side table as you walk in. Lots of um We we ate lots of Chinese food. You know, like we weren't Nobody even mentioned one time what Tongans or Samoans did or were. Like that's just it's very far removed, I think, for for LA. I think for LA and for SoCal, unless you're in Long Beach, it's probably a different thing. But I just don't think there were enough Samoans or Tongans to uh cross paths with. I think you're going to cross more paths with Chinese
11:03 people in uh >> You know. >> Did you not feel American enough? Or like what was your bar of like >> my bar was Well, it was different because in the '90s, it was very important to not come across as a fob, which is kind of funny. Cuz now it's like that that stigma I feel like is gone, and it's kind of like we can appreciate our heritage. But back in the day, it was like you you had a big difference between Filipino fobs and Filipino Americans, where like you were actually born here uh versus you just got here and you kind of just I think you just didn't want to associate. So, there was a lot of bullying, for sure. Where you just made fun of uh Filipino fobs right away. Because it just reminded you of the old ████ Like, you think of your parents as fobs. You think of the aunties and uncles as fobs. So, when you meet someone your age that's acting like them you're like, "Ah, bro, this is You don't
11:54 even know what I'm talking about. You don't even And there's no reason to think there's that big of a distance, but I think you just saw that as being a less attractive thing. >> Yeah. >> So, you didn't want to get caught up with that. So, you would always uh make sure that you don't hang around with them or It's pretty ████ up. But, that's the '90s, you know. It was weird. But, I think like uh after high school you know your slider just kind of goes back to normal because you don't have to care as much about that anymore. And then I think now it really doesn't matter. I don't think there really is any reason to feel like, you know >> connected >> You're like full American or full like what are you like? >> I think I think culturally I've I'm definitely more American than Filipino. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> I can't even deny that. Like And I And then the biggest reason for that is just how how much Tagalog I know.
12:45 >> Yeah. >> How how often I go to the Philippines. I don't, you know. Like I I've been maybe like four times, but that's not I'm not going there to be part of it in a way. You're visiting, but you're not going there to like be >> Yeah, you're not going home. >> Yeah, exactly. Yeah, so I don't I don't think I even have a place to be like, "Oh, I'm like so Filipino." Like, I'm definitely not. I don't uh unless you can tell when I'm on the phone with you. >> Yeah. >> [laughter] >> You know what I mean? I've just been here too damn long. >> Like >> Yeah. >> Think about it. We We're you know, it's it's like if we're no different from like I don't know. Like a Greek immigrant that came in and then their kid was like that's like our generation. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> Several generations down, it's going to be like there's no ties to Asia. It's just the blood is Asian. That's it. >> cuz like rather than think of myself as
13:36 like a Filipino American, I I see it more like I'm the Filipino version of an American. >> Yeah, yeah, yeah, like that. >> Yeah. >> That's how I feel. >> more comfortable with that. >> That's how I feel. >> Cuz I am American, but I'm not going to be like, you know, ████ Clark next door. >> Yeah, yeah, yeah. >> I'm probably going to be, you know, a lot different, but a guy like me who also grew up like me will relate to me very, very well. Like you're the Filipino version of an American dude, you know? That's how I >> When we go, you know when we travel, right? Like Europeans don't look at us as Asians. They They call us Americans. Or like if you go to Asia, they don't call us Asian Americans, they call just call us Americans. >> Yeah, yeah, yeah. >> Right? And I'm not like proud of it either way. It's just how I ended up. Like I can't help it. You know, like >> Born here, like what the ████ >> And I was basically commanded to be that way by my family. They It's like like
14:26 the way that I don't know if Chinese people raise this in a different way, but like Filipinos when they got here wanted assimilation for their kids uh very well. They wanted their kid to not be detected as like an outsider. They wanted their kids to fit in, to just blend in. Don't cause any trouble, just be like be like everybody. If they're doing that, do that. And then just be, you know, like for the most part that's me and my friends growing up, they're all Filipino American. We all had the same thing where it's like just ████ get the net. Like get with the ████ so that you're a contender against it. You know what I mean? If you're not even able to, you know, blend in, then you can't surpass it either. That's how I kind of like felt. They get You got to learn the game before you can ████ play it, so that's just sort of how it was. My parents never spoke Tagalog to me. They didn't teach me that ████ at all. I didn't learn any of it until I started going to the Philippines. But um but I'm not like ashamed or embarrassed
15:16 of it either way. It's just kind of the net result, you know? >> Yeah. >> The way the cookie crumbled, dude. >> Thank you. >> The way the ube cookie crumbled. Oh, wow. Thank you very much. >> I mean it. >> Yeah, very good. >> Regional. >> [laughter] >> That's the halo-halo. That's how the halo-halo cereal crumbled. >> Halo-halo melts.
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