Restoring mental health Napa County’s Filipino community addresses the pandemic JESSICA ZIMMER
N
apa’s Filipino community is coming together during the COVID-19 pandemic to encourage listening, sharing, and techniques for empowerment. The goal is to combat numerous stressors, including anti-Asian hate, the toll on healthcare professionals, the inability to travel to the Philippines, and the isolation of virtual learning. “The past year has been remarkably trying, not just for the Filipino American community, but communities everywhere. The lockdown, COVID, economic concerns, the presidential election, and the social justice movement created a cauldron of reactions that manifested itself in 2020,” said American City Council Member David Oro. Oro said telling the history of the Filipino community is a way to acknowledge the expectations and contributions that Napa County residents have faced, “even as the cauldron is still bubbling.” “Approximately one third of the population of American Canyon is of Asian descent, with many residents being Filipino and Filipino American. You can’t find a street in American Canyon without a Filipino nurse living there. These members of our community were and are the frontline workers. They have continued to care for the sick admirably while they, their families, and the community are caring for them,” said Oro. March 2021 data from National Nurses United, the largest union of registered nurses (RNs) in the U.S., show that approximately 26 percent of RNS who have died from COVID-19 and related complications are Filipino. Filipinos make up 4 percent of the RNs in the U.S. Lourdes Moldre, clinical director of oncology services for UC Davis Health and a member of 28 | DISTINCTIVE PROPERTIES
Courtesy of Clarence Mamaril
Members of the Filipino community, including American Canyon City Council Member David Oro (back, second from left), Luchi Marte Carey (far left), Dame Jose (center), Faith Ballesteros (second from right) and Clarence Mamaril (far right), gather before an anti-Asian hate rally in American Canyon in May 2021.
outside of a one-time J&J vaccination. Targeted materials in Tagalog and English, especially for elderly people and individuals suffering from hypertension and diabetes, help a great deal,” said Moldre. Moldre said members of the Filipino community who are not healthcare workers are also forging ties by digitally and physically reaching out to one another. Courtesy of Lourdes Moldre “We’re engaging in monthly Lourdes Moldre, clinical director of oncology services for UC Davis awareness events like group meetHealth and a member of the ings, pulling out all the positivity Philippine Nurses Association of that’s still going on. Being open, America, holds up an anti-Asian authentic, and unafraid to talk to hate sign. peers is important. Those connections help us decompress. They the Philippine Nurses Association create a system that is sustainable of America, said although Filipino for people of all ages,” said Moldre. healthcare workers have sustained losses, they have joined forces with Getting students on board social workers to create flyers and Encouraging Filipino students social media materials. The pur- who go to school together to talk pose of the effort is to encourage is helping younger members of the members of the Filipino commu- community find their voice. nity to get vaccinated. Clarence Mamaril, a Filipino “The best way to prevent more community liaison for the Napa stress and loss within the commu- Valley Education Foundation, said nity is vaccination. There are a lot in 2020, approximately 15 Filipiof myths floating around about no-American students were active COVID in the Philippines and the in Filipino Life and Generations U.S., such as that you only need to Group (FLAGG). get one shot of a mRNA vaccine, “FLAGG is composed of
students in American Canyon Middle School and American Canyon High School (ACHS). Over Zoom, we discussed topics ranging from Filipino culture to how we were dealing with anxiety and depression,” said Mamaril. Mamaril said students learned from one another, ACHS social worker and FLAGG co-coordinator Roxana Plancarte, and adult volunteers from the Filipino community who are also members of FLAGG, including Council Member Oro. The group often discussed how to access mental health resources and coping strategies. Another frequent activity was coming up with affirmations and gratitudes, positive statements to acknowledge progress and give thanks. “Next year, we’ll start the program anew. All of the information we’re learning about students’ concerns, what helps them, what they like to talk about, and their personal experiences, helps us understand how to support Filipino students in the group and throughout Napa Valley,” said Mamaril. Mamaril, Moldre, Oro, Luchi Marte Carey, and other members of the Filipino community also worked to organize an anti-Asian hate rally in mid May 2021. The event brought together students, parents, and community leaders to take a stand against anti-Asian crimes and discrimination. At Napa Valley College, administrators and faculty are collaborating to help young adults take the next step to support their peers. Sherry Tennyson, career consultant at Napa Valley College, and Professor Nicollette Morales, adjunct faculty of humanities, have developed a Filipino learning community. Connecting members of the community through classes and discussion groups will ensure these college students have support and feedback from their peers. September 2021
