Pinoys in New York learning self-defense amid anti-Asian attacks

MANILA, Philippines — Following a series of attacks, Asians, especially Filipinos, have been learning self-defense and de-escalation and undergoing other types of training while others carry with them pepper spray to protect themselves against anti-Asian attacks in the United States.

Filipino-Americans Network Against Asian Hate, a network of Fil-Ams, has been hosting a series of training to enable Filipinos and Asians to better react during assaults, according to FANAAH co-convenor Fr. Julian Jagudilla.

Attacks on Asians have greatly affected their lifestyle, especially elders in New York City.

“We’re scared, especially the older ones who don’t want to venture out of their homes alone. Filipinos, and Asians in general, learn to protect themselves. We’ve been hosting self-defense training, de-escalation training and other training to protect ourselves,” Jagudilla told ‘The Chiefs” in an interview aired on One News last Friday night.

“And some of us have been carrying pepper sprays,” he added.

Aside from self-defense training and carrying gadgets for protection, Jagudilla advised Asians, especially Filipinos, to observe some measures to avoid getting mugged on the streets.

“Some advice is don’t travel by yourself, especially with tourists. New York City is a safe place as long as you’re aware of your surroundings,” he said, as he assured that there are many Filipinos in New York who will “come to you, help you when something happens.”

Jagudilla, however, noted that they could not carry guns, as doing so is prohibited in New York City.

Several hate crimes against Asians had been reported in New York City, the latest incident being an attack on an 18-year-old Filipino tourist.

The victim, a son of a former chief of police of Cebu City, however, refused to press charges when FANAAH followed up on the case, according to Jugadilla.

“So there was the thing, but it seems it’s a common thing now here in New York City, that Asians are being singled out, you know, particularly Filipinos, and we encourage them to report to the police, to network with us, to report the incident to the Philippine consulate,” he said.

He noted that so far, three factors have made it hard for his group to pursue assaults against Filipinos.

“It’s kind of like challenging to work with our community here in New York City for several factors. Number one is hiya, because they think something is wrong with them, with the situation, why they were singled out,” Jugadilla said.

“It’s very hard to capture the data because it’s underreported, like there are a few that I’ve spoken to and said, for example, they were attacked in the subways and what, did you report it? You know what their reaction was? ‘Father, I’m ashamed because if I’m in the news, my family in the Philippines will know that I was attacked here’,” he added.

The “hiya” culture limits his group’s capability to help, “only console them and help them and say we are here, we are a community. we are willing to support one another,” according to the FANAAH co-convenor.

“Secondly, some of them are undocumented, so there is an assumption that because of their immigration status, they don’t want to report the incident. But we assured them and we spoke to the city government and the state that if they would report an incident of a racially motivated attack, their immigration status will not be revealed,” he said.

“And third is that they don’t want to be disturbed. They’re very busy trying to survive life in the US and support themselves and support their families back in the Philippines, so who has the time to stop working and to focus on and deal with this incident? So those are the factors that sometimes, we have to work with our people here and say, we can do this together,” he added.

Jagudilla emphasized that these were the reasons that they created FANAAH.

“We’re working with various organizations, community-based organizations and even the consulate here … to spread information, educate and protect our community,” he said

He expressed belief that hate crimes against Asians became apparent and frequent when former president Donald Trump tagged the coronavirus as a “Chinese virus,” as an “Asian virus.”

“Asians became targets, but we really have to look at ancient hate in the historical perspective in a historical context, that is, this happened way, way back then, when Asians came to this country, they’ve been looked down and harassed and intimidated and not welcome here in the state. So, there’s a long history of anti-Asian,” he said.

“But now, because Trump tagged the coronavirus as an ‘Asian virus’ or a ‘Chinese virus’ here in the US, somehow, the population cannot make a distinction from one Asian to another. For them, what looks Asian is Chinese. And all Asians are Chinese. So whether you’re Japanese you’re Indonesian, you’re Malaysian, or you’re Vietnamese, in their eyes, you’re Chinese, and so you’ve brought the virus here in the US,” he added.

Jugadilla lamented that there is also complacency on the part of the people, who are ignoring and refusing to help other people who are being attacked.

“Here in New York City, people have this mentality to say ‘mind your own business.’ When something tragic or violent happened to somebody, nobody stepped up,” he said.

He cited as examples two celebrated cases: one, of Noel Quintana, who was slashed in the face from ear to ear.

“That incident happened in the subway, he screamed for help. Nobody came forward to help him,” Jugadilla said.

Then there is the case of Vilma Curry, who was kicked and stabbed on the ground, but nobody came to her rescue.

“We also saw in the footage that the doorman closed the door when it happened,” Jugadilla said.

“Again, we say ‘mind your own business,’ but in this context, we need to do more, we must come to the rescue of these people who are being victimized. But of course, when you cross the line to help somebody, you are putting yourself in danger, that’s why when people intervene, they should not be allowed, they should be in a group to intervene, but it has been happening now, people would come forward and help,” he added.

Jagudilla pointed out that New Yorkers are supportive of and sympathetic to victims.

“But the question is, are they willing to risk their lives when they intervene? Let’s say, you and somebody get attacked when another person intervenes and stops that attack. Most of the time that person will be in danger, but if there’s a group of three or four that will come forward and confront that attack, of course, is that situation mitigated?” he said.

“Yes, New Yorkers are very supportive in this regard. It is because New York City is democratic and people are very aware… There are a lot of movements, organizations here in New York City,” he added.