Skyline College/North San Mateo County Oral History Archives, Skyline College Library
Student project for LSCI 110 – Digital Oral Research Project, Skyline College

Filipina Teen/ American Dream: Myra Cabanero

Click here to read the research essay, “False Expectations”, by Simon Cabanero

Click on the links below to view video segments from an April 2010 interview by Simon Cabanero with Myra Cabanero,
who came to America as a teen mother with only a high school diploma, and was still able to become financially successful.

Picture of my mom and I when we first arrived to America.

Table of Contents:
Part 1: Life in the Philippines
Part 2: Arrival to America

Part 3: Work

Part 4: Obligation

Part 5: Fil-ams Vs. Fil-ims

Part 6: Religion

Part 7: Going back to the Philippines

Segment 1
Life in the Philippines (Elapse Time 3:19)
Myra gives her basic information, then talks about her life in the Philippines such as environment, a brief explanation of attending school, and her work.

BREAK DOWN OF VIDEO

Basic Information (Start 0:05)

Life in Ilocos (Start 0:35)

Attending School (Start 2:08)

Work in the Philippines (Start 2:40)

Video Segment 1

Back to Table of Contents

Segment 2
Arrival to America (Elapse time 2:20)
Myra talks about her first experience in America, her previous expectations, and the differences between the Philippines and America.

BREAK DOWN OF VIDEO:

Reason for coming to America (Start 0:05)

The difference between U.S and Philippines (Start 0:43)

Expectations of America (Start 1:31)

Video Segment 2

Back to Table of Contents

Segment 3
Work (Elapse Time 2:12)
Myra explains her work experience in the Philippines and America.

BREAK DOWN OF VIDEO:

FLASH BACK: Work in the Philippines (Start 0:05)

Work in America (Start 0:48)

What if you never left the Philippines (Start 1:38)

Video Segment 3

Back to Table of Contents

Segment 4
Obligation (Elapse Time 3:10)
Myra talks about why Filipinos are so obligated to their families. Myra also talks about her success in petitioning her mother to become a U.S citizen, her struggle to petition her siblings in the Philippines. 

BREAK DOWN OF VIDEO:

Obligation (Start 0:05)

Why are Filipinos Obligated to their families? (Start 0:50)

Petition Mother (Start 1:23)

Petition Siblings (Start 2:27)

Video Segment 4

Back to Table of Contents

Segment 5
Fil-ams Vs. Fil-ims (Elapse Time 0:46)
Myra explains why Filipino Americans are more spoiled than Filipino immigrants.

BREAK DOWN OF VIDEO:

Fil-ams Vs. Fil-ims (Start 0:05)

Video Segment 5

Back to Table of Contents

Segment 6
Religion (Elapse Time 1:57)
Myra explains how Religion played a big role in people’s lives in the Philippines including herself, and how she pushed religion aside when she arrived to the United States.

BREAK DOWN OF VIDEO:

Religion in the Philippines (Start 0:05)

Religion in America (Start 0:47)

Video Segment 6

Back to Table of Contents

Segment 7
Going back to the Philippines (Elapse Time 0:57)
Myra talks about what she misses about the Philippines, and explains why she wouldn’t want to go back to the Philippines.

BREAK DOWN OF VIDEO:

Going back to the Philippines (Start 0:05)

Would you go back to the Philippines (Start 0:36) 

Video Segment 7

Back to Table of Contents

*These audio files may be played with Windows Media Player or Real Player.
To download a free copy of Windows Media Player, click here.
To download a free copy of Real Player, click here.

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last revised: 5-14-10
by Eric Brenner, Skyline College, San Bruno, CA
These materials may be used for educational purposes. North San Mateo County Oral History Archives, Skyline College Library.
All commercial rights are reserved. To contact the coordinator, or send comments or suggestions, email: Eric Brenner at brenner@smccd.edu