Asian American Studies 187C: Filipino American Literature
121-736-201 Lec 2 MW 1:00-2:50P Haines A25

Class Description: Exploration of literary themes and social conditions in fiction and poetry of Filipino American writers from the 1940s to current times. Literatures expressing politics of oppression by way of race, social class, gender, sexuality, or combination thereof are explored. Topics include immigration, alienation, generational conflicts, and other issues generated from rich and diverse literary tradition. Formalistic analysis and other literary approaches are interwoven into discussions.

The English department will allow the class to count as an English elective from 100 to 199 for the English major or minor, or as an Interdisciplinary Approaches to Literature class for the major in American Literature & Culture (or as an American Culture class in Asian American Studies for the major in American Literature & Culture).

Students deciding to take advantage of this opportunity will need to bring us a printed copy of their Degree Progress Report upon completion of the class, and either Mike or Janel (English Dept. undergraduate advisor) will process an on-line course substitution to apply the class towards the appropriate major/minor requirement for your degree.


Yeah, relevant education!

Labels: culturally relevant education

For those of you who know Dr. Annalisa Enrile, she's being held back in the Philippines. Over 90 women activists have been assasinated in the Philippines since 2001, so this is not a light issue. The Philippines has risen to 2nd in the world of writers and media reporters murdered.

If you want to help out, here's the info:

US-BASED WOMENS ORGANIZATION DEMANDS RELEASE OF THE GABNET 3. DEFEND HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS! NO TO POLITICAL HARASSMENT, INTIMIDATION, REPRESSION!

The Philippine Government, headed by de facto President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, has once again brandished an undemocratic, unjust and cruel rule. She has placed three GABRIELA Network (GABNet) leaders on a "watch list" and has already prohibited GABNet Chair Dr. Annalisa Enrile from returning home to Los Angeles.

On August 5th, 2007, Dr. Enrile was barred from boarding her return flight home from Manila, Philippines. Dr. Enrile was informed that she was on the "hold" list of the Phil Department of Justice. Two other GABNet leaders Ninotchka Rosca and Judith Mirkinson are reportedly on the same hold list and are likely to face the same restriction of movement. The GABNet 3 had attended the 10th bi-annual Women's International Solidarity Affair in the Philippines (July 29-August 5 2007). Dr. Enrile also led a delegation of USC Social Work Masters students on a Philippine summer immersion program.

It is no coincidence that the GABNet 3 have been targeted by the Philippine Department of Justice. They have been instrumental and most vocal in the international campaign to defend GABRIELA Women's Partylist Representative Liza Largoza-Maza who has suffered and continues to suffer intense political persecution, including baseless charges of murder and sedition. They also led last year's all-women human rights legal mission to the Philippines, a report from which points to the Armed Forces of the Philippines and other military elements as perpetrators of the murders/assassinations of close to nine hundred activists, ninety of whom were women who worked closely with GABRIELA.

The scheme is obvious: harass, intimidate all the dissenters, all those who criticize Macapagal-Arroyo's regime. The GABNet 3 are virtually being held hostage by the Philippine Government. The ransom: silence from all critics Filipinos and non-Filipinos alike. For GABNet though, such inhumane tactics leads only to heightened vigilance and determination.

We demand that the Philippine Government release the GABNet 3 so that they may return to their homes and their lives in the US. We demand that the US Embassy in the Philippines and the US Ambassador to the Philippines act on behalf of the three U.S. citizens/permanent resident and demand that the Philippine Government release them at once.

We call on our friends and allies to defend the GABNet 3. Help us get them safely home. Contact your Congressional and Senate representatives to urge their safe return. Contact via fax the US Embassy, American Citizen Service, at 011-632-522-3242 or fax the US Embassy, Ambassador Kenney, at 011-632-522-4361.

Let us demand that THE GABNET 3 be taken off the list and brought home NOW! Below are ways that you can take action today! Please keep track of any responses and send any information to Gabnet3OffTheList@gabnet.org.

Greetings kasamas, allies, and friends:

Early this morning the GABNet 3 were harassed, yet again, for an hour at the Immigration Counter in the airport in Manila. However, with the help of GABRIELA Women's Partylist Representative Liza Maza and a GABRIELA Attorney, they were able to make the case that they were not terrorists and had the right to travel back to the U.S! We also received word that our advocacy efforts with the nationally coordinated Consulate actions in the U.S. put pressure on the Department of Foreign Affairs to push the Philippine Government to lift the "watchlist" hold!

CURRENTLY, THE GABNET 3 ARE ON THEIR FLIGHTS BACK TO SAN FRANCISCO AND LOS ANGELES! (We are still on the alert until all of the GABNet 3 leave their respective airports safely)

CONGRATULATIONS on this victory! Every contribution made a difference from spreading the word, to talking to press, to faxing the US Embassy, to contacting congressional/senate reps, to protesting in front of the consulate. This campaign exemplified unity among the community, as well as a true representation of people power.

Thank you to everyone who came out to the Rally/Vigil last night. There were over 100 people throughout that day to support the return of the GABNet 3 including the GABNet Irvine Chapter, Kabataan Makabayan (KmB), Alliance for a Just and Lasting Peace in the Philippines(AJLPP), ANSWER LA, Pilipino Workers Center (PWC), FilAmARTS, Balagtasan Collective, Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA), Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV), USC Students, and UCLA Students and concerned community members. Among the media were the Filipino American Press Club, The Filipino Channel, Asian Journal, and the USC Trojan Newspaper.

Though this is definitely a victory, the battle against political repression is far from won. We must continue to fight and demand justice for the nearly 900 killed, over 90 of which were women and connected to GABRIELA, as well as the countless victims of forced disappearances and human rights violations in the Philippines. Let us use this victory as momentum to continue our work in the fight for peace in the Philippines.

SULONG!
(Forward!)

We hope to see you all at the...
CELEBRATORY WELCOME FOR THE GAB 3
& COMMUNITY REPORT BACK FROM THE PHILIPPINES
Thursday, August 16th
6-9pm (new time)
@ Lake Street Park Rec Center
227 N. Lake Street
LA, 90026

CURRENTLY, THE GABNET 3 ARE ON THEIR FLIGHTS BACK TO SAN FRANCISCO AND LOS ANGELES!

In militant sisterhood...

Maureen Ivy Quicho
Coordinator, GABNet Los Angeles