Filipinos in Alaska

On today’s program:

• Chef’s Halo Halo Talk with Tasha Elizarde
  • Join Tasha with today’s guests from In Bocca Al Lupo – Rachel Carrillo Barril, chef de cuisine at In Bocca al Lupo, and Melvin Cristobal, head baker at In Bocca al Lupo as they discuss their roles at the restaurant and share about their unique mix of personal heritage and cooking.
  • To donate to the Jeremy Barnett fund, you can visit the GoFund Me page
    
    
• Theater Alaska’s upcoming Neighborhood Cabaret this weekend
  • Theater Alaska tours neighborhoods in Juneau, bringing live music to an outdoor venue near you. The Neighborhood Cabaret features company members Ericka Lee, Enrique Bravo, and Jennifer Lagundino, as well as Jocelyn Miles, Salissa Thole, Kainoa Thole, Margeaux Ljungberg, Chris Talley, and Rob Cohen. An Alaska Theater Festival production,  Neighborhood Cabaret runs from Wednesday, June 28 through Sunday, July 2, 2023
    
    
• Juneau Public Library
  • Upcoming events at the library, including tonight’s Pride Poetry Event. Events in July include the Fairy House Workshop, FIFA Women’s World Cup viewing, and more.

Bostin Christopher and Tasha Elizarde host the conversation. Juneau Afternoon airs at 3:00 p.m. on KTOO and KAUK with a rebroadcast at 7:00 p.m. Listen online or subscribe to the podcast at ktoo.org/juneauafternoon.

Guests:

• Rachel Carrillo Barril, chef de cuisine at In Bocca Al Lupo
• Melvin Cristobal, head baker at In Bocca Al Lupo
• Flordelino Lagundino, Artistic Director, Theater Alaska
• Erika Lee, Performer, Theater Alaska
• Margeaux Ljungberg, Performer, Theater Alaska
• Margaret Luedke, Juneau Public Library

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Juneau Afternoon is a production of the KTOO Arts and Culture Team.
Bostin Christopher produced today’s show with help from Erin Tripp.

This week marks the 125th anniversary of the Philippines’ Declaration of Independence. That was when the island nation officially began a revolution from its colonizers.

Festivities take place across the country each year, and this year, celebrations even took place in Kodiak.

St. Mary’s Parish, Kodiak’s Catholic church, dedicated a Mass to the archipelago’s Filipino community on Sunday. After Mass, a celebration was held in the church’s community center across the parking lot.

“The first time that the Philippine flag was raised was in Kawit, Cavite by the late president (and) general, Emilio Aguinaldo,” he said. “That’s the first time that we as the Filipino [sic], we are free from bondage, we are freed from slavery. ” This is one of the first events Kodiak Filipino American Association has had in a while. Mark Anthony Vizcocho is the association’s president. The United States didn’t officially recognize the Philippines until after World War II, but Vizcocho said most Filipinos recognize the original declaration from June 12,1898.

Some folks even wore traditional Filipino formal clothes for Sunday’s celebration in Kodiak.

Barong tagalogs are usually worn by men and look kind of like a western button up shirt. Filipinianas are usually worn by women and can look like a short jacket or similar to a shawl. Both are usually white or off-white and transparent, but worn with a similar color shirt or dress underneath. They’re traditionally made from pineapple fibers, and adorned with patterns near the collar and chest areas.

Vizcocho said he wants to hold more events like this to bring together the Filipino community and spread awareness about the association’s efforts.

“Let’s bring this back online so that everyone can see that we are here,” he said. “We are proud of who we are and we want to share that celebration with everybody in the community, so this is just a start on just giving back to the community.”

City Mayor Pat Branson also attended the celebration. The Kodiak City Council proclaimed June as Filipino Heritage Month at its meeting last week in honor of the independence day. She said it’s important to acknowledge the historic presence of Filipinos on the island and the impact they’ve had over the years.The small room was lined with tables filled with foods like pancit, a rice noodle dish with chicken and vegetables, and kaldereta which is like a stew. There were also desserts like puto, a steamed rice cake. The room was filled to the brim and attendees spoke both in English and Tagalog, the main dialect of the Philippines.

Vizcocho said they hope to host a basketball or volleyball tournament next year as well to get more young people involved. “(The) Filipino Community’s been here since the 1800s, a major part of our community, volunteering, working hard,” said Branson. “And celebrating – The FilAm Association knows how to celebrate with great food and laughter – you can hear that going on inside! So, it’s joyous day.”

“Anything that we try to do to get the youth involved,” he said. “That’s one of our main projects, towards the youth.”

The Kodiak Island Borough Assembly will also proclaim June as Filipino Heritage Month in their meeting on Thursday. Vizcocho says this past weekend’s festivities are just the beginning, and is already planning to host more events soon.

On today’s program:

• Chef’s Halo Halo Talk with Tasha Elizarde
  • Co-owners of Zerelda’s Bistro Abby LaForce Barnett and Jeremy Barnett
• SEAGLA and Juneau’s upcoming Pride Week events as part of Pride Month
  • SEAGLA’s Pride Week is June 9-18
  • Pride Month is the entire month of June, and there are events all over Juneau all month long, including LGBTQ film screenings at Gold Town Nickelodeon most days of the month, and a weekly Pride Hike on various trails around town.
• KTOO’s Yvonne Krumrey’s interview with the Polynesian Voyaging Society on the Moananuiākea
  • A four-year voyage across the world starts in Juneau this month. The Polynesian Voyaging Society will take the Hōkūle‘a — a twin-hulled, wind-powered canoe carved 50 years ago and has embarked on 14 voyages since — over 40,000 miles around the globe. The journey is called Moananuiākea, and the crew’s goal is to learn about land stewardship and unity from Indigenous communities throughout the Pacific Ocean.
  • The Hōkūle‘a returns to Juneau from Yakutat on Saturday, June 10, and sets off on its long voyage on Thursday, June 15. The arrival will air live on KTOO 360TV starting at 3 p.m on Saturday and the departure will be broadcast at 2 pm. on Thursday.
  • Thompson says there will be chances to tour the Hōkūle‘a while it’s in town. He says the canoe gets stronger when more and more people put their hands on it.

Bostin Christopher and Tasha Elizarde host the conversation. Juneau Afternoon airs at 3:00 p.m. on KTOO and KAUK with a rebroadcast at 7:00 p.m. Listen online or subscribe to the podcast at ktoo.org/juneauafternoon.

Guests:

• Abby LaForce Barnett, Co-owner of Zerelda’s Bistro
• Jeremy Barnett, Co-owner of Zerelda’s Bistro
• Emily Mesch, SEAGLA
• Nainoa Thompson, Polynesian Voyaging Society

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Juneau Afternoon is a production of the KTOO Arts and Culture Team.
Bostin Christopher produced today’s show with help from Erin Tripp.

The Alaska Legislature passed HB 23 on Friday, establishing the month of October as Filipino American History Month in state statute.

Freshman Rep. Genevieve Mina, D-Anchorage, introduced the bill. She is Alaska’s second Filipino legislator after Rep. Thelma Buchholdt was elected 50 years ago, and HB 23 is Mina’s first bill.

“I just feel overwhelmingly proud because this bill wouldn’t have passed, not just without the support of the Legislature, but also without the decades and decades of advocacy and community work and just the existence that Filipinos have had in Alaska and in our nation,” Mina said on Friday after the bill passed. 

HB 23 has 43 co-sponsors — over half of the Legislature. Sen. Elvi Gray-Jackson, D-Anchorage, brought HB 23 to the Senate floor on Friday.

“From seasonal migrant cannery workers to health care workers and political leaders, Filipino Americans are a part of the fabric of Alaska’s diverse history,” Gray-Jackson said on the floor. “Unfortunately, the history of the Filipino community is not often told, which results in the erasure of both the history of this community and the people themselves.”

In 2019, two bills establishing February as Black History Month and November as Alaska Native Heritage Month were signed into law. Jackson says she sees HB 23 as an addition to these bills’ efforts to recognize the diverse cultures of Alaska in state statute.

Recalling the most rewarding moments she had when carrying the bill, Mina shared the time she spoke to Juneau’s Filipino Community Inc. for their biennial legislative reception earlier this year. 

“What I really was honored to experience after giving that speech was all of the love from people that I’ve never met before,” she said. “And that’s the type of representation that I hope this bill and enshrining Filipino American History Month in state statute will provide, because we’ve gone so long not seeing ourselves represented.”

The bill passed the Senate in a 19-0 vote, with Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, absent. The bill now goes to Gov. Mike Dunleavy to be signed into law.

Correction: This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Bert Stedman’s name.

On today’s show:

• This month’s segment of Halo Halo Chef’s Talk, facilitated by KTOO Community Reporting Fellow Tasha Elizarde with local chefs Aims Villanueva-Alf, owner of Black Moon Koven, Melvin Cristobal, baker at In Bocca Al Lupo, and Abby LaForce Barnett, Co-owner of Zerelda’s Bistro
• A look at Friday’s Early Learning Fair with AEYC and Partners and Families for Children
• American Red Cross on the need for Disaster Action Team responders

Juneau Afternoon airs at 3:00 p.m. on KTOO and KAUK with a rebroadcast at 7:00 p.m. Listen online or subscribe to the podcast at ktoo.org/juneauafternoon.

Guests:

• Tasha Elizarde, Halo Halo Chef’s Talk Host
• Aims Villanueva-Alf, Chef and Owner, Black Moon Koven
• Melvin Cristobal, Baker, In Bocca Al Lupo
• Abby LaForce Barnett, Co-owner of Zerelda’s Bistro
• Britta Tonnessen, Southeast Disaster Program Manager, American Red Cross
• Bryan Cassella, Regional Disaster Officer, American Red Cross of Alaska
• Loren Jones, Volunteer, Red Cross Disaster Action Team
• Nikki Love, Community Engagement Coordinator, Southeast Alaska AEYC

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Juneau Afternoon is a production of the KTOO Arts and Culture Team.
Bostin Christopher produced today’s show with help from Erin Tripp.

Last month, Red Spruce Eatery chef Lionel Uddipa traveled to his home province in the northern Philippines to visit his family. KTOO’s Tasha Elizarde spoke with him about his time there and the foods he got to enjoy on the latest installment of “Chef’s Halo Halo Talk”

Also, on the program:

• The Rock Dump, Juneau’s indoor climbing gym, details their annual fundraiser
• Juneau Symphony previews this weekend’s concert
• and CBJ Parks and Recreation wants us to jump in a pool this weekend, with or without our dogs!

Volunteer Andy Kline hosts today’s program! Juneau Afternoon airs at 3:00 p.m. on KTOO and KAUK with a rebroadcast at 7:00 p.m. Listen online or subscribe to the podcast at ktoo.org/juneauafternoon.

Guests:

• Tasha Elizarde, KTOO Community Reporting Fellow, Host of “Chef’s Halo Halo Talk”
• Lionel Uddipa, Chef, Red Spruce Eatery
• Charlotte Truitt, Executive Director, Juneau Symphony
• Robert DeMaine, Cellist, LA Philharmonic
• Jessie Palomino, General Manager of The Rock Dump
• Alisha Falberg, The Rock Dump
• Terra Patterson, CBJ Pools

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Juneau Afternoon is a production of the KTOO Arts and Culture Team.
Bostin Christopher produced today’s show with help from Erin Tripp.