Mahalo to all my friends in Hawaii for showing me a great time.

I'm back from Hawaii, a little more golden, and a lot more inspired. The Filipino American National History Society (FANHS) Biennial Conference allowed me to meet people whose works I've read, admired, and learned so much from. There were students young and old, professionals, and historical figures there.

During the preconference events, I went on a historic Oahu tour, where we went to see the Filipino Plantation Village as well as an old sugar plantation that is now a cooperative farm for the former plantation workers. We were able to speak to some of the farmers and talk to them about their experience on the plantation and the effects of the closure.

During the conference, I learned so much. There were people speaking on a plethora of subjects, and although I could not hear them all, I was able to attend a few very important sessions. The first was the World War II session, where one individual analyzed the war being a conduit for soldiers to find their wives, another analyzed the writings of different fictional authors about World War II, and another looked at the war effort through the lens of the so-called Filipino value of "utang na loob." That was particularly interesting to me, and the research was amazing.

The other amazing research that I ran across was the analysis of the closing of the Del Monte pineapple plantation and its effects on the community. They had a professor on the panel, a daughter of a plantation worker, as well as a union worker that is working on the situation.

Another session I attended was a panel on Filipino theater, although it went more in the direction of how to support family members wanting to get into the entertainment industry. Not quite what I was looking for, but that's okay.

A very important session I sat in on was a discussion on a Filipino American history curriculum. Of course a conference would not be complete without a discussion on identity formation and how Filipinos deal with it as well as youth organizing and their role in the continuation of Filipino history as well as issues that they face. During the identity formation presentation one presenter, from a textiles background, talked about how she traced her family immigration story by taking four quilted rugs that were made by her lola and comparing them to the fabrics seen in family photos. She was able to then determine the dates and locations the pictures were taken and trace her family story back.

I also was able to sit in on some practical workshops like one on how to publish a book, particularly with a company called Arcadia Press, which publishes different picture books on the history of certain areas. It would definitely be nice to get that together.

One of the sessions that will influence me the most, however, was the session on forgotten heroes Larry Itliong and Philip Veracruz. The presenter was Sid Valledor, a former roommate of Philip Veracruz and right hand man to Larry Itliong. This guy wanted to fix all the misconceptions of the labor movement which led to the formation of the United Farm Workers Union, whose success is typically attributed to Cesar Chavez. Sid also is publishing a book called The Original Writings of Philip Veracruz, from six works Philip Veracruz gave to Sid. I can't wait to get it. What an honor to speak to a primary resource from that time and era. He's also working on a book about Larry Itliong, who didn't write as much as Philip Veracruz did. Hence, he has left less tangible works, which has resulted in his being overlooked. Our history will be written if we continue to write it ourselves.

Rex Navarette performed and I met Ah Quon, who was a labor leader alongside Pablo Manlapit in Hawaii. Other people I was able to meet were Patricia Halagao, Dean Alegado, Fred Cordova, Dorothy Cordova, Oscar Penaranda, Donabelle Hess, Dawn Mabalon, Allyson Tintiangco-Cubales, Dan Gonzales, Jeanne Barroga, Leny Strobel, Mel and Belle Orpilla, Domingo Los Banos, Linda Revilla, Maria Espina, and James Sobredo. More than half of them should probably have Dr. in front of their names, but it's not the title that makes them amazing. It's their work.

Maria Espina particularly stand out because she is the sole individual credited for bringing forth the information regarding Filipino settlements in the Louisiana Bayou. Her story however, includes her home being destroyed in Hurricane Katrina, and 25 years of her research falling victim to toxic substances and being destroyed. We lost a treasure, but the most important thing is that Mr. and Mrs. Espina escaped with their lives. Although she recounted to us that she continues to have nightmares and is depressed from the whole ordeal. I can only imagine.

I sat in at a trustee meeting and I heard a few things. First, the next conference, in 2008, will be in Alaska, with the 2010 and 2012 ones in Seattle and New Mexico, respectively. Next, the Little Manila Foundation, heavily anchored by Dawn Mabalon, purchased the Mariposa Hotel, and they are partnering up with FANHS to build the FANHS National Museum there. The other item that stuck out for me was that Fred Cordova was angry that only four papers in the United States made mention this weekend of the FANHS Conference and that former Governor Cayetano and Former Miss America Angela Perez Baraquio didn't attend the conference despite special invitations. He said "We have a long way to go to show others that FANHS is THE premiere national organization and that it shouldn't play fiddle to other national organizations." I liked the passion and conviction. It's inspiring.

I even met relatives of some of my fraternity brothers and people that just knew of Chi Rho Omicron. They included Regan Pablo's sister, Eddy Fama's cousin, Oscar Gonzales' uncle, some studens at San Francisco State University, a founder of Phi Gamma Chi, and a brother of Zeta Omega Psi. It was also nice to know that Chi Rho Omicron has a presence in this realm as well.

Outside of the conference, I was able to chill out at the Waikiki beach, eat some good local food at Zippys and Ake Bon Bar and Grill, go to a skyline party in the Hanohano Room on the 30th floor of the Sheraton Hotel, and watch Supeman Returns. I also found out that in Walmart, there is an L & L Barbecue. I found a New Testament written in Pidgin and discovered that milk costs $6 a gallon in Hawaii. From ABC Stores to McDonald's serving Spam, it was all very pleasurable.