An exchange I had through social media made me rethink my personal journey of Generational Trauma and Decolonization.

This one goes deep into the psyche and soul of the Filipino experience.

During my YouTube LIVE episode on May 30, I took a closer look at how Former Philippine President Manuel Quezon’s Open Door Policy led to NINE WAVES of refugees finding safety in the Philippine Islands throughout the 20th Century.

It’s a remarkable story of Filipino heroism in the face of danger.

In honor of Memorial Day in the U.S., I’d like to tell you about a Filipino who has made history not once, but twice.

Did you know the Philippines’ Open Door Policy saved over 1,200 European Jews from Nazi persecution in the 1930s?

Do you believe in coincidences?

I think everything happens for a reason, including the rare “coincidence” of running into my good friend Val Roxas* and her good friend, Ruby, in the least likely of places – Las Vegas!

This chance rendezvous is exactly what I needed at exactly the right time. Our time together also led us to the often ignored but ever present topic of “CRAB MENTALITY.”