Join us today and tomorrow for fascinating presentations by our own Ana Bravo and Maiana Minahal. Pamantasan Conference is online, free, and open to all who register.
Lol and Loudly Crying Emojis: Moving Towards Healthier Intergenerational Communication
Thursday, October 28, 10:30-11:30am HST
Co-presenters: Ana Bravo (Instructor, Kapi’olani Community College), and Maiana Minahal (Assistant Professor of English, Kapi’olani Community College)
There are endless memes and jokes about the cultural and generation gap within the Filipin@/x community (as evidenced by a slew of social media accounts, and any Filipin@/x comedy show ever). And while we value humor, what happens when we find that we can no longer just laugh off the hurt we feel from those kinds of intergenerational family dynamics that prevent us from fully expressing ourselves and our autonomy? When we can’t joke our way out of the pain we feel when internalized colonization/colonial mentality is misrepresented by people close to us in our own community, as our inherent cultural values? While none of us can make other people in our families change their behavior or words, we can focus on our own growth, and start to develop tools that can help empower us to make our own choices for better mental health. We’ll look at a few memes as a way to discuss how to start pausing our triggers, listening more deeply, and practicing “I” statements in response to bioreactions. This session is intended to help attendees start trying out new communication techniques which could be the initial steps in breaking out of the cycle of intergenerational trauma.
Register for the 2021 Pamantasan Conference to receive the link to join Ana & Maiana’s session and other presentations.
Proud Faculty and Staff: Growing Up LGBTQ+/Bakla/Māhū and Filipin@/x
Friday, October 29, 10-10:55am HST
Moderator: Maiana Minahal, Assistant Professor of English, Kapiolani Community College
Panelists: A. Kaleikūkamakani Ruiz (Counselor in Student Services at LCC), Cliff Bersamira (Assistant Professor of Social Work at the Thompson School of Social Work and Public Health at UHM), Lorenzo Perillo (Assistant Professor of Theatre and Dance at UHM)
In this talkstory session incorporating poetry and research, a panel of faculty and staff from multiple campuses across the UH system will share the diversity of their experiences growing up LGBTQ+ and Filipin@/x into adulthood. Spanning immigrant, local, Ilocano, mixed race, bakla, māhū, gay, and queer femme perspectives, panelists will share parts of their journeys in overcoming societal norms, religious repression, family pressures, abuse, domestic violence, community expectations, and systemic oppressions such as patriarchy, homophobia, and misogyny. They will speak on how they turned to support networks of chosen family, academic groups, and mental health resources, to eventually find greater healing, self-acceptance, and stability. They now thrive in their family and professional roles as nurturers, teachers, community leaders, writers, activists, artists, and researchers. This presentation is for students, parents, staff, faculty, and anyone who wants to learn more about LGBTQ+/bakla/māhū experiences from the adult Filipin@/x perspective.
[Posted on behalf of Mary Ann Esteban]
