Emily Lawsin, trustee of the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS), shared an article, at http://www.laprogressive.com/2009/03/31/cesar-chavez-day-and-the-forgotten-asian-americans/, entitled "Cesar Chavez Day and the Forgotten Asian Americans," by one of her friends, John Delloro.

While I certainly honor and respect the actions taken and legacies left by Cesar Chavez, the civil rights leader, it is not lost on me that he point of the article is to show that Asian Pacific Islander Americans (APIAs) have a long history of activism and political power. Without outright stating it, knowing about this history dispels the model minority myth, and lends agency to the part of the APIA community that does not engage in it already.

Again, I look back to the civil rights movement and see the true power of that era as the coalition building prevalent during that time. There were like minds in each and every demographic, and they worked together to further their agendas. Groups across the world were asserting their civil rights. Never again will that particular set of circumstances be replicated--they can, however, be built upon. If we model from then what would work now, and utilize the resources and technology present now--if we take the best of both eras--a new civil rights era can be catalyzed and sustained.

As I learn more about different strategies to handling finances, there are some basic tenets that stick out:

• Spend less than you make to stay out of debt
• If one is in debt, get out of debt, and paying 0as little as possible in interest
• Invest now, even if in small increments, to take advantage of compounding interest and time
• Utilize tax advantages to reduce the total tax one pays in their lifetime
• Have a goal in mind, and pursue it completely

It seems like a few simple rules, but one has to keep all of them in mind with every transaction, from the very small to the very large. The multitude of expenses and different combinations of paying them adds several dimensions the complexity of the situation. Emergencies can also arise, complicating any plans already in place. Volatile markets, mistakes, and unexpected circumstances can also throw wrenches into the mix.

One important realization is that one does not have to be perfect to reach their goals. Often, doing one's very best is already more than enough.

As one works on selecting a contractor to work on their home, one does their best to educate themselves about their rights as a consumer. There is a lot of information and very little information at the same time. The available information is not always easily accessible or easy to understand. It can also be redundant or may not answer specific questions that one may have. Yet it is important, in any situation, to arm oneself with as much knowledge as possible, so as not to be taken advantage of.

The process can seem daunting, but many people have gone through it and there are many advocates as well, such as the California Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA).

I have been taking deeper looks at my personal, professional, educational, and financial goals. Fortunately, I have taken some major steps and progressed in several of these areas. While I make progress, I want to accelerate in some areas, especially my financial goals. In order to accelerate, I need to learn more so that I can be in more control of my future. I do not want to be at the mercy of the market when all is said and done. Of course, the economy will play a role in whether or not investments grow or decay, but knowledge can aid in choosing the best plan to reduce risk.

It seems almost too good to be true that a share of AT&T closed at $26.00, Wells Fargo and Company closed at $15.59, Marvel closed at $26.00, Netflix closed at $39.68, General Electric closed at $10.78, and Microsoft closed at $18.13. I have developed an interest in entering the stock market and have a lot to learn in a short time.

Learning takes place throughout one's lifetime--as soon as one stops learning, one starts dying.

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I was talking to a friend about the importance of financial planning and how we often shoot ourselves in the foot when it comes to investing for the future. They talked about the improper use of credit cards and how they should only be used for big ticket items and not for a quick fast food meal or coffee fix. He also mentioned how putting a little bit away in savings, and just building the habit of saving, allows a young person to save more and more as their income increases over time.

I shared that I had taken a personal finance class at the University of California, Davis, and how practical and useful it has been for me. Even at my work at the California Department of Education, they are doing more to introduce financial literacy concepts into schools.

It is a huge necessity, especially during these economically difficult times.

On April 9, 2009, Images of America, Los Angeles' Historic Filipinotown will be released, the work of Carina Monica Montoya. She started by collecting photos, and now they are valuable recordings of history.

She has also authored other books, Filipinos in Hollywood, and a series of children's cookbooks, which incorporate Philippines history and food, like the origins of adobo and the strong Spanish influence on it.

Ms. Montoya is a great example of someone who realizes the importance of recording and disseminating ethnic history, and found a way to do just that.

In the sixteenth century, the babaylan held an important place in Philippine society. While the term is akin to a spiritual leader, they were much more than that. Both men and women could be babaylan, although a majority of them were women. They were healers, receptacles of knowledge, skilled practitioners in shaanistic traditions, and native philosophers and therapits. They had much political and economic power and influence. They were the manifestation of both female and male power.

Slaughtered during the Spanish colonial period in the Philippnes, the memory of the egalitarian babaylan tradition is faint, but not gone, and ready to be revived.