SA BIG APPLE

After living in the US for a little over a decade, cia_b has not only reached out to help others define themselves as Asians and Asian Americans, she has worked her way into the spotlight, adding more depth, definition and pride to the word FILIPINO.

"Life in the United States is all about work, work and more work," Cia comments on life outside the Philippines. "It's about paying the bills and fighting for your rights and reaching that so-called American Dream that, frankly, is elusive and non-existent because as Americans, grass will always be greener on the other side. But on the other hand, if I wasn't an American I wouldn't even have numerous opportunities to work, work and work some more. I wouldn't have the same opportunities to TRY and pay my bills, rights to fight for and chances to reach that dream." Cia makes New York life sound totally swell, but does she miss the Philippines at all? "I miss the rice and barbeque and achara at Good-ah! in Paranaque," she says. "I'll tell you what I don't miss: the diesel gas smell of Manila."

"Growing up and living in a Hispanic neighborhood, I still get the occasional 'Tsina' call-outs when I walk down the street," she complains. "I still get stupid comments like 'Oh, you're Filipino? My roommate's girlfriend's best friend is Filipino, too!' How do you respond to that?" The years of experience, however, has taught her to take these things with a dab of humor. "I have corrected a few who still refered to our people as Oriental. You speak out and educate them and you can only hope that they won't make the same mistake to another Asian person again. You learn to take things like those lighter and you learn to pick your battles especially if you're in a city that's already a melting pot. Daily incidents like that are in no comparison to the real racism that's out there. "

Having to move to the Big Apple when she was thirteen, Cia looks back and recalls the first few tough but bearable years. "There were no Asians to relate with my first three years in New York City," she says. "I moved to New York straight from Manila to start my sophomore year in high school and I was the only Asian in a predominantly Hispanic school. When I started to attend college at FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology), it was like, everything was unleashed. I met other Asians, I met other Filipinos! And I think it's the case most of the time -- we Asian dash Americans don't question our identities until college and until we are faced with people who look like us but come from different places or speak different languages. This is what a lot of Manilenos don't understand, but I digress. I have been living in NYC for ten years now and what can I say? I love Asian people!"

Cia's love for Asian people evidently ignited the spark which eventually turned out to be something big. Besides being equipped with a degree in fashion merchandising, the brave and adventurous giant behind her petite exterior made waves on the internet when she whipped up generationrice.com. "What a lot of generationrice fans don't know," Cia reveals, "is that it actually began as an idea of a Filipino-only online magazine. At its planning stages, my then-partner would only agree to join me if it was the whole Asian and Asian American market."
Pinoipride