RONA JOBE

As Filipino Americans, we have the unique privilege of actively shaping what this multicultural country can and should become. I appreciate that being Filipino in the United States enables us to help drive the nation’s evolving cultural norms. 

For me, being Filipino means confidently navigating multiple worlds—speaking Kapampangan at family gatherings and English elsewhere—without ever feeling forced to choose between the two. Adaptability, a core Filipino-American value, is inherent to my identity and directly translates to my roles as a Foreign Service spouse and as the leader of a consulting company that employs military and Foreign Service spouses.

Having lived in and visited many other countries, I have witnessed how Filipinos elsewhere either assimilate completely to fit in or struggle to find belonging when they emphasize their Filipino identity. I am proud of how Filipino Americans have actively participated in building this diverse nation.

Although Filipino Americans help drive cultural norms, our voice remains underrepresented in American media, politics, and education. Most Filipino Americans would agree that we lack adequate representation across these spheres and so many others.

While Filipino Americans account for approximately 1.3% of the U.S. population, only one Filipino American currently serves in Congress out of 535 voting members—about 0.2%, well below our proportion of the population.

In the media, Filipino Americans remain nearly invisible. Major Filipino American news anchors or public figures are rare. The business world reflects similar limited representation.

The healthcare industry presents a notable exception: Filipino Americans constitute approximately 4% of U.S. nurses, significantly exceeding our share of the population. Yet the mainstream media still rarely casts Filipino Americans as healthcare professionals (although I love seeing progress, like in HBO’s The Pitt). We still have a ways to go.

This is why organizations such as the Philippine American Chamber of Commerce (PACC) and publications like FilipinoTown are vital to our community. They amplify Filipino American voices in business and civic life, foster networks, and increase visibility that is often missing in institutional structures. Supporting these organizations empowers the next generation to lead and shape this nation’s future.