Audio

Community activist Tyrell Malonzo speaks to the community created on Twitter and the impacts of online activism. Tyrell specifically draws attention to the intention of users with their online acts of advocacy. Considering the numerous ways users engage online, a tension emerges between authentic community organizing and performative acts for the sake of amassing clout. Tyrell recognizes that this tension results in an inconsistent activism between groups.

As a 1.5 generation immigrant, Justine Suegay talks about maintaining relations with the Philippines through Twitter and the importance of online presence. Coming from similar experiences, our conversation offers a nuanced perspective between Filipinos from the homeland and those in the diaspora. Justine, however, had more of a formative upbringing in the Philippines and was able to speak on the misunderstanding between homeland and diasporic Filipinos. From this observation, Justine emphasizes that when it comes to the identity formation of Filipino-/Americans, placement determines numerous factors regarding their perspective.

Angie Ubaldo provides a long look on Twitter as she describes her experience with the social media platform throughout the years. Speaking to her coming-of-age on Twitter, Angie recognizes the contemporary formation of “Filipino Twitter” as a result of an increased amount of Filipino users entering the platform. Stated as an overwhelming amount of content and interactions, Filipino Twitter hosts a variety of personalities all speaking and collaborating on “Filipinxness.”

Alyssa Geniza provides a candid discussion on the Fil-/Am experience growing up on the East Coast. This distinct population of Filipinx-/Americans came of age in an area lacking a substantial Filipinx population and presence. This disconnect results in what Alyssa describes as a “confused identity.” The confusion regarding her identity stems from the recognition of this cultural disconnect and overwhelming effort to (re)claim her Filipinx identity. As a detached Twitter user, Alyssa regards Filipino Twitter as a window not just to the Filipinx culture but to the homeland as well. Through this window, Alyssa discusses the method of reconnecting to the culture and emphasizes the process of self-discovery.

UCI alumni and Bay Area scholar Roy Golingan narrates his experience growing up with social media and its impact on his identity. Through his recollection, Roy narrates his coming of age through the social media platforms of MySpace, Tumblr, Facebook, and Twitter. Recalling his formative years on the platform, Roy expresses the virality of the content produced online as the appeal of community and humor brought users together. As my conversation with Roy demonstrates, these online spaces were built on the community formed through commonality and similar experiences.

My conversation with Sarah Mae explores her “Filipinxness” and coming-of-age as an East Coast Fil-/Am. As a young Filipina-American living on the East Coast, Twitter was formative to Sarah Mae’s understanding of her ethnic identity. Specifically citing the #magandangmorenx hashtag movement from 2016, Sarah Mae recalls this moment as one of the first genuine interactions she’s had of being seen and understood. From here Sarah Mae utilizes Filipino Twitter as a ‘window’ to her Filipino heritage and sees the space as a place of self-discovery.

Chris Mendoza-Smithour is a community organizer and young professional based in LA. During Chris’s time organizing and collaborating with different collegiate organizations throughout Southern California, Chris was exposed to various Fil-/Am and Asian American collegiate organizations. This exposure, along with his own personal experience on Twitter, was what shaped our conversation. Speaking to the dynamic between Asian Americans and Fil-/Ams, Chris provides an insight into the tense, superficial performance presented in these digital platforms. Drawing from his own Twitter feed as well as citing specific examples, Chris explains the prominent depictions of drinking and partying heavily present on the space and the lack of advocacy and engagement through the platform.

Snippets for upcoming interviews