As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a rise of anti-Asian hate crimes, across the nation. Within the past few weeks there has been an upsurge of violent attacks towards the Asian community, specifically the elderly.
This fact is so astonishing as my own grandfather could be a victim of these hate crimes. It is essential that we do our part to serve and protect those who are in vulnerable positions.
There is so much that we can do:
- Educate yourself and others
- Foster communities of safety and understanding
- Donate to various organizations and pages that support the Asian community
As part of an Instagram Drag competition, “Queen’s Purgatory,” I was prompted with the task of creating my own “Mortal Kombat” character.
For this challenge, it was important for me to do something culturally relevant to myself and display my pride in my Filipino heritage. I was strongly inspired by my immigrant mother who fought her way through bigotry, learning English, and raising a family in America.
The symbolism of the Philippine flag is something that is so important to me. The sun symbolizes unity, freedom, people’s democracy, and sovereignty.
The three five-pointed stars stand for the three major island groups: Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
The weapon of choice is representative of the rather unconventional disciplinary techniques of immigrant families.
Through this look my hope is to raise awareness, address these issues, and remind that the fight for equality and justice is still ongoing. There is so much that we can do. Let’s all do our part to serve and protect!