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on February seventh, nineteen ninety-two, Grace Asuncion was killed in Eshelman hall at the university of California at Berkeley. this maganda is dedicated to Grace and all other women in the Pilipino community.
pinay sisters, these words of rage, healing, empowerment, are for you. in these times when one of our own was murdered, when each of us walks down the street unsafe—alone or in packs of other women friends like a gang—and still fearing assault, unsafe even inside university buildings, we are targeted for our sex and skin color. to our sister grace—you will not be forgotten. in remembrance we must watch out/take care of each other while actively seeking means to end the sexism/homophobia/racism and other isms that allow for the perpetration of violence into our lives. the personal becomes political as we struggle for our individual/collective survival.
to our pinoy brothers, you are also part of this struggle. To be our ally you must be still enough to listen. Do not silence by cutting us off, justifying your actions or words while dismissing ours as irrational or too emotional. Know that sexism coming from our own community hurts even more. Be accountable for the use of male privilege at the expense of womenfolk. Educate and call each other out as men.
The Pilipina, like any other woman of color, faces double oppression in racial and gender terms. Individual experiences vary in degree according to class, sexuality, immigrant experience, (dis)ability, educational background or lack thereof, age, and social/political awareness that enables one to identify her own source of oppression or privilege. Specific global conditions of the Pilipina include labor exploitation as overseas workers in places like Canada and the Middle East, victimization as mail order brides in the United States and Europe and "cultural entertainers" (euphemism for the flesh trade) in Japan, and occupational downgrading as immigrant professional in the United States.
The last few decades have seen the emergence of many women of color political and social action networks that critiqued the predominantly white, middle-class feminist movement and the sexism within Third World communities and societal structures at large. The intersection of gender with race means a sharing of commonalties with Native American, African American, Latinas, Middle-Eastern, and other Asian American women. From Trinity Ordono, a Pinay lesbian who wrote for the anthology Making Face, Making Soul, to the much celebrated writer/artist Jessica Tarahata Hagedorn, women from the Pilipino community have played an integral part in this creative envisioning of our lives.
Many issues impacting women are at stake. Unfortunately, we weren't able to cover all of them. Women's healthcare, the debate surrounding reproductive rights, access to higher education, the glass ceiling, single parenthood, the feminization of poverty, and the "mestiza" Pilipina are just some of the topics that need further discussion.
In this maganda, we present works that celebrate the Pilipina—her creativity, sexuality, historical roots, leadership ability, courage in overcoming hardships and violence, her sources of strength. While most of our contributors are women, we also feature work by men who have "done their homework"' that is, taken responsibility to educate themselves on issues of date rape, sexual stereotyping, and gender roles. We hope to encourage dialogue around the different issues brought up, promote understanding and awareness, and challenge everyone to take a proactive stance.
Part of this commitment to our community means not forgetting about Grace Ascuncion. As the first year anniversary of her death passes, we must remember that her case remains an open one. Justice has yet to be served. We are strongly urging anyone who has information regarding the events of February seventh, nineteen ninety-two to contact the University of California Police Department or the local authorities.
Vanessa Marzan Deza
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