Balikbayan

Rooted in urban resistance, I speak my ancestral tongue—critical consciousness. I

discovered the power of storytelling in my ethnic studies classroom: forming a human barricade,

student activists shielded the elderly tenants of the I-Hotel from eviction. Born and raised in San

Francisco, I watched my neighborhood’s characteristic stucco homes gradually fade into sleek,

wood-paneled structures, which catalyzed my pursuit of housing justice. My intersectional

leadership shines as a mosaic of my lived experiences, priming me for a visionary career as a

sociology professor.

Moving across the country to attend a private research university was once an unspoken

dream clouded by my own struggle with housing insecurity. I hold onto the memory of my father

resting his calloused hands on the steering wheel, patiently waiting for my mother to finish her

ten-hour shift; my bright eyes met his amusement in the rearview mirror as I read aloud new

words to enrich his English vocabulary. My innate curiosity has taken me places beyond my

imagination, from Boston’s snowy rooftops to Berlin’s boundless horizons. Empowered by a

full-tuition scholarship, I have taken countless opportunities to challenge myself intellectually,

leveraging social capital in the absence of material wealth. Yet, this “one-way ticket out of

poverty” has not deterred me from celebrating where I come from. Taking ownership of my

narrative, I turn poison into medicine.

Breaking the cycle of generational poverty, I return to my urban village not only as a

first-generation college graduate but also as an emerging scholar-activist. Only now, after

pursuing higher education in a faraway place, have I discovered my true calling: pouring gifts

into my community until it overflows with opportunity. The strength to carry ancestral wisdom,

healing colonial wounds. The audacity to speak the unspeakable, giving agency to the most

vulnerable. The courage to dream of another world—abundant with radical joy. Across the city

skyline, I announce my homecoming.

Artist Statement

Grounded in the Filipino tradition of “homecoming,” Balikbayan captures my journey as a

first-generation scholar born and raised in San Francisco. My father—who has worked as a

custodian, dishwasher, and warehouse worker throughout my life—instilled in me the value of

education. I discovered my passion for sociology through ethnic studies, speaking out against

injustice in my community. These lived experiences have shaped who I am: an artist, activist,

and urbanist.

To this day, I’m a city kid at heart. I hold onto the sound of ocean waves, connecting me to my

ancestral roots in the Philippines. I hold onto the kindness of the bodega man, who sent me home

with a carton of milk one day when I was short on cash. I hold onto the thrill of passing city

lights, illuminating the night sky with endless possibilities. I’m forever grateful to my mentors,

who have pushed me to realize my fullest potential, and to the young people in my life, who give

me hope for a brighter tomorrow. Whether it be through transformative teaching or public policy,

I bring home gifts to the city that raised me.