oblivious nerd girl
hood chronicles

In 2003 I went to Chicago with Mike for the APIA Spoken Word summit. Mike had gone to the first summit in 2001. This Chicago trip was my graduation gift from my parents. Many things happened during this trip, but most importantly I got to meet so many amazing people. One of these amazing people was Lily Prijoles, who at the time was a part 8th Wonder, a spoken word group from the Bay area. Our paths would cross again when 8th wonder performed at FPAC.  

As I write this I can't believe that all that happened over 12 years ago! Many things have changed. We could probably track our relationships through our online profiles! Blogger to xanga to livejournal to friendster to myspace to facebook to instagram to twitter to tumblr to whatever the future brings. 

Filipino Food & Bakery, the restaurant that Lily runs with her family, is partnering up with DJ Neil Armstrong for a Brunch & a Mixtape pop up event at her family's bakery! Folks in the San Diego area should definitely check this out this Sunday, October 25th. Diners all get a copy of Neil Armstrong's latest mixtape on a mini Ube Taro Coconut USB drive from Nomad Donuts. 

I am so jealous that I have plans this Sunday. I would totally be there if I was free. Folks tell me how it is! I'm so excited to share this interview with everyone!

Oblivious meets Lily Prijoles. 

Affiliations (arts org, fun things you do, etc) :
I run Filipino Food & Bakery with my Kuya & parents, a co-founder/Ate-mus Prime of KAMP (Kuya Ate Mentorship Program - Education program teaching Philippine & FilAm History to Filipino Language Students of San Diego), indentured Crew member for Xylophone/Kid Heroes productions, Word sayer for 8th Wonder, etc etc...
For fun... I enjoy various forms of ice cream. I try to make things with my sewing machine, drive around to clear my head & look at stationary stuff from Staples to Daiso.
 
What's the one word you are guilty of using too much?
Like most people, I say "SORRY" a bit more than I should... I don't really mean to softly bump into your elbow or stand in your way when watching TV, there is just no other word that encompasses that inconvenience.  I also say "Hella Crazy"...like Hella a lot. Lately, I've been saying "Amazing" which is residual from Happy Endings' "Ah-mah-zing" & from that show I love saying "YIKES on Bikes". It's not 1 word, but it's not as fun of a phrase without the other words.

How did you end up doing what you are doing now? 
In terms of the restaurant, I'm in a mafia family and they finally found a way to "...pull me back in...". In regards to KAMP, it is my passion, passing on our community's his/herstory to the next generation, whether through presentations, movie screenings, open mics, etc...THEN combining those things! *Poof* that's how I ended up doing what I am doing now.

Which member of the Wu-Tang Clan best describes your personality?
According to buzzfeed's quiz, and the 2 times I took the quiz, I am either like Rza or Method Man.  I'd like to think I take on each of their personalities dependent on the day. Although, I wasn't as much of a Wu Head as I was a De La Soul head.

Dogs or Cats, who wins? Why?
No offense to my cat homies, but my bestie is my dog named Drogo (from Game of Thrones).  Therefore, I would have his back, & depending on the battle, dogs would have a slight edge on winning...as long as it was an ice cream eating contest...it is, isn't it?

What is the best part of any given day for you?
The part of the day where I get to eat ice cream...

In a zombie apocalypse who would you want on your survival team?
Based on Walking Dead characters, I would want Michone & Glen... and (from a different network) those Treehouse Builder guys.  As far as I can assume, I don't think Zombies can climb trees, unless they were parkour zombies... but I would like to try living in treehouses. Michone would cover security. Glen could do the scavenger hunts & be married to me. Being elevated like that would allow us to watch the herds movements. Farming is still a possibility, with walls around the gardens.  But until that happens...

What is the last thing you searched for on google?
W-9 tax forms 

If you could talk to your high school self, what would say?
Graduate early and go to college already. And always stay weird. 

What is the best thing or meal you ever ate?
I can't ever have a best thing or meal I ever ate, unless I have eaten everything in the world... so I can't put that cap on yummy foods yet, but what I can say I've been craving lately is my friend's vegan food truck No Worries.  Filipino Food is supposed to be meaty; chicken, pork, beef, seafood is kind of in that category, but to translate those meaty dishes into Vegan fare is pretty challenging.  And to some Filipino food purists, it can be blasphemous, but it's possible. Isagani Pugao captures all the flavors that are true to most traditional dishes, it's just the meat that's different. And his reason for creating his dishes makes the food even more delicious, to make something healthy for our parents, whose diets have to change due to health conditions.  I WORK in a Filipino Restaurant, and I CRAVE Vegan Filipino food from the Bay. That is good food! 
filipinoveganfood.com

What is a memorable project that you are working on or have worked on?
Earlier in my life I was/am part of a group called 8th Wonder.  A performance poetry group out of the Bay area.  Working with those 7 pin@ys, allowed me to travel & meet so many different people from all over the country & outside the country.  I never thought an introvert, like me, would be performing on stage on a regular basis like that.  I get serious stage fright. And to even have the privilege to perform/present in Singapore, I would never have an experience like it. 
A little later than that, I worked for the Debut tour, which took me all over the country as well (in my Honda Civic) and was privileged to meet even more people from the Filipin@ community and saw how those communities worked. To this day, those interactions influenced how I do work in the community here in San Diego.
 
Currently, we are underway with Lumpia 2 with Patricio Ginelsa, which is totally exciting and totally top secret. And 8th Wonder still keeps in touch, and are working on things... 
 

I met Kim Baglieri years ago when she worked at SIPA with Mike. We were all in our mid-twenties trying to figure out our lives as we went through our own quarter life crisis'.  We were all community organizers with the local Filipino American community in Los Angeles. When Kim says she loves cats, she isn't joking. I can remember going over to her house in Angelino Heights and laughing at how bad my allergies were set off by her cats.  I remember nerding out because Kim's house back then was next to an apartment building that was featured in the film Chinatown.  Kim's residence in Los Angeles was for a short period of time. We definitely miss her. NYC is lucky to have this east coast girl back out there. 

Kim is an amazing visual artist who works in different mediums. You can follow her work on her tumblr (mga lola).  You can aslo purchase her artwork at her Saatchi Art site (Kim Baglieri).  You can also learn about her work on her site (KimBaglieri.com) and her Teaching Artist and Training Internship page from Community Word Project page. 

Name(s)
Kim Baglieri

Affiliations (arts org, fun things you do, etc) 
I am currently starting out as a middle-school Teaching Artist through Dreamyard Project in the Bronx, after having taught a high-school film project through South of the Navy Yard Artists in a Brooklyn public high school. I was trained as a Teaching Artist by Community-Word Project's Teaching Artist Training and Internship Program. It's so rad and inspiring to work with eager and creative young folks who naturally have a passion for a better world! I am pursuing my MFA in Hunter College's Integrated Media Arts program. From time to time I do community arts projects with Damayan Migrant Workers Association. In 2014, we worked with Tools for Action to create a giant inflatable mop for the People's Climate March that begged the question 'who deals with the economic mess caused by climate change?' Migrant domestic workers, like the Filipino workers forced abroad after Typhoon Haiyan, are the amongst those trying to rebuild their communities and economy back home. Also I make paintings and experimental documentaries and animations.

What's the one word you are guilty of using too much?
"Cat", "cats", "my cat", "my cats". I utter these words every 15 minutes or so. 

How did you end up doing what you are doing now?
I have always loved working with young people, but have always wanted it to be at the intersection of arts, media work and social justice. Working with SIPA and KmB in LA rooted me in Filipino community and youth work but I didn't get to do too much art with folks. When I moved to NY I was exposed to the realities faced by Filipino domestic workers and youth by working with Ugnayan ng mga anak ng bayan (now Ugnayan Youth) and Damayan. I also became more serious about my art and filmmaking practice. So it was a natural transition to doing Teaching Artist (a NY phenomenon?) work where I get to teach art skills to youth and encourage them to bring out their voices and unique perspectives on the world and issues they face. I also make films and animations now because they make me feel like dancing- I love the movement in them- and tend to work on film more than painting.

Jenny San Angel has saved my life more than once. For you see Jenny works miracles. She repairs phones, which is especially helpful for us mere mortals who have a tendency of being klutzy and create problems for ourselves like cracking screens!

Besides her magical phone fixing abilities, she's also an amazing artist, musician, and also system admin pro. My favorite thing about Jenny is that she is always doing something awesome. It's quite inspiring. I remember when she was fixing my phone she mentioned how she also ran this karaoke business and I was like wait you have a full time gig, you do phone repairs, you play in all these bands, AND you have a side hustle on top of your side hustle?!  Bottom line is Jenny is rad and I'm so happy to share this Oblivious Interview with everyone!

​Oblivious meets Jenny San Angel

Affiliations (arts org, fun things you do, etc):  
During the day I work as a sysadmin at USC setting up VMware ESX hosts, VDI pools, and making sure servers are up and running. 

Outside of "business hours" I have a film production company called JSA Productions, concentrating mainly on live music, or music videos, but we’ve also filmed a couple of weddings here and there. 

Last film project I worked on was "For The Love of Unicorns," directed by Erin O’Brien.
http://www.fortheloveofunicorns.com/

I'm also Wild PCS Level III certified to fix mobile devices like iPhones, iPads, Droids which I've been doing on the side for several years now (you can look me up on facebook under JSA Repairs).   https://www.facebook.com/jsarepairs

Here’s me fixing a phone   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiuYOhNrzBI

On the music end of things, I play keys, drums, guitar, and sing vocals for Band Moto. I also have a guitar duo project with Grace Umali (we’re like the Pinay Indigo Girls). ;)  You can listen to some old and new stuff here https://soundcloud.com/jenny-san-angel

Here’s a song recording by Glenn Suravech I was lucky enough to be asked to sing vocals for. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gic_IpG7nzU

Here’s a song by Sue Jin I play percussion for https://soundcloud.com/suejin/worthy

What's the one word you are guilty of using too much? 

"Sorry." I have a bad habit of using that word before a sentences for really lame things. Like someone will say, "darn, we’re out of beer." And I'll say, "Sorry, I should have bought more beer." Or there'll be a potluck and someone will ask if I have balsamic vinaigrette and I'll say, "sorry, I should have went to the store and anticipated that you would need balsamic vinaigrette" - but no, I didn't, and this pot luck is so much less then what it could have been. It is probably a control thing, I like to anticipate a multitude of scenarios that could occur for a given  event.  Sometimes I just need to LET GO!! 

How did you end up doing what you are doing now? 

A lot of what I do now is a direct result of the influences of many. When I was a kid, my mom played guitar and sang folks songs, “This land is your land,” “Where have all the Flowers gone” - lots of hippie stuff. That got me into liking the Beatles and learning guitar. My dad is an architect so that’s where I inherited my art skills with graphics design, painting, drawing.

Which member of the Wu-Tang Clan best describes your personality?  

I would say Ghostface because he does so much behind the scenes that bring all the members together, and he is involved in so many things aside from Wu-Tang Clan, like acting, storytelling, and writing. He's also an emotional person which I believe I am. Some may say it’s a strength, but then again I can be over sensitive (to a fault). 

Dogs or Cats, who wins? Why?  

Dogs. I like both, but I'm super allergic to cats. I break out in hives all over and my eyes get bug-
eyed. It ain’t pretty. Although, I’ve been bit by a Rottweiler and a Pit Bull - I will always be a dog person. 

What is the best part of any given day for you?  

The best part of any given day for me is when I learn something new.  I consider myself a work in progress and as much as possible I like to learn new things, especially related to technology, or music.  At work, it would be learning a new skill, or at the rehearsal studio, learning a new song.

In a zombie apocalypse who would you want on your survival team?  

That’s a hard question. 

Celebrity-wise, I think I’d want Doona Bae’s character, Sun Bak from Sense8, because she’s a badass and can break desks in half with her bare hands. Or Hawkeye because he can kill zombies with a bow and arrow and he’s small and fast. 

From my friends, I would say, pretty much all my hard-core gaming friends, like Jennifer Kekumu, Josh Livingston, Edren Sumagaysay, especially, the 1st person shooter peeps. Oh and artist, director, bioartist Julia Reodica - she’d be great at making us look and smell like zombies enough to walk right by them. You’d definitely want her on your side. Here’s her website https://eyebeam.org/people/julia-reodica

Oh and my friend Nyssa Wilson, because you do not want to mess with her. If she has your back, you are in good hands.

What is the last thing you searched for on google?  

The download for Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5. I know, pretty boring.

If you could talk to your high school self, what would say? 

High School Self, you're going to worry way too much about what other people think. It’s not going to matter in 10 years what anyone thinks of you, so quit worrying! Also, you’re going grow up to be a “foodie.”  You don’t know what it is now, but you will. Believe you me, you will. Warning:  This may affect you being able to fit in your clothes. Yep. Sorry about that. 

What is the best thing or meal you ever ate?  

Mike Jury’s braised short rib lasagna and garlic bread.  Heavenly. 

What is a memorable project that you are working on or have worked on?  

Recently, I got to play drums for a gay wedding. This was shortly after same-sex marriage became legal nationwide on June 26th, 2015.  I felt like I was part of history. Also, it was the most fabulous wedding I’ve ever been to, not to mention they hired WAR for the reception band.  Also, I got to play drums for one of my favorite musical theater peeps in the universe, Deb Nishimura. She sang “Always” by Irving Berlin and I got goosebumps.

Here’s a pic of my drums I got from Chris Wabich. Probably one of the best drummers in the 
world. http://www.innovativepercussion.com/artists/chris_wabich

I have been a fan of Genevieve Santos for years. There was a really cool boutique in Chinatown called Flock Shop that would sell her work. She made these Valentine's day cards that I picked up and had them framed. Through random USC connections we were able to connect and I commissioned her to do a piece as my wedding gift to Mike.  

I explained that we loved the movie Ponyo. In our relationship Mike is Sosuke and I'm Ponyo. The fact that she would yell out "HAM!" had us rolling in our seats because when I get hangry, I can do that in real life.  Mike and I are Disney geeks so I asked that Genevieve include the balloon element from Up plus a Mickey balloon. She also included our favorite animals. Mike's favorite animal is a sea otter and one of my favorite animals is the narwhal. What was awesome about our piece was that she not only created what I wanted, but since the characters in the piece were taking a selfie, she included the selife! It's so cool. Mike totally loved my surprise gift to him. These pieces have never really left us either! My icon when folk gchat me is actually the selfie pic. And Mike's image on his gchat is the group picture.  

Genevieve does this really great calendars every year. I try my best to pick one up annually. I love seeing her adventures on instagram (@lepetitelefant) Her work has a whimsical feel to it. When it comes to art, I am usually drawn to things that make me happy. Genevieve's art totally doees that. I can't wait for you all to meet her!

​Oblivious meets Genevieve Santos ​

 Affiliations
I’m part of the SJMade CreateSpace in San Jose, where I have my studio-retail space. I take classes at Animation Collaborative, learning from artists I look up to (they work at Pixar). I love long bike rides, being pushed to go camping by my more outdoorsy friends, and meeting my crafty colleagues to talk shop, always over ice cream.
 
What's the one word you are guilty of using too much?
I use the phrase “I’m so sorry for the delayed response” in emails too often. My schedule has me traveling everywhere so it’s rather difficult keeping on top of my inboxes.  I will try to be better!!
 
How did you end up doing what you are doing now?
​ I draw because I love animation, and it’s always been that way.  As a kid, I taped my favorite cartoons onto VHS tapes, and rewatched episodes frame by frame to study how it worked. I never stopped drawing. After graduating from USC, I worked at New Line Cinema for two years. The company was absorbed by Warner Bros. but luckily and thankfully, I had money saved and a plan to start my business. It was the perfect kick in the butt. I moved to NYC, and traveled around Southeast Asia, all the while building the foundation of my business.

Which member of the Wu-Tang Clan best describes your personality?
GZA, in the way he is with words, I aspire to be with drawing.
 
Dogs or Cats, who wins? Why?
I used to hate cats until I had one. I love their independent spirit, sassiness, and the fact that you have to earn their affection.
 
What is the best part of any given day for you?
Hands down the best part of my day is when I get to draw. I try to draw 2-4 hours a day. It’s tough to find the time sometimes but it’s important, and you can only get better by putting in the mileage.
 
In a zombie apocalypse who would you want on your survival team?
For the zombie apocalypse, I’d pick Ronda Rousey, the muscle, my boyfriend Kevin because you always need someone who’s got your back, The Doctor from Doctor Who as the getaway/brains, and Mindy Kaling because I so much want to be her friend!

​What is the last thing you searched for on google?
An episode of Doctor Who featuring 2-dimensional aliens. GENIUS IDEA! I had to know who wrote it.
 
If you could talk to your high school self, what would say?
You got it good, and don’t be so scared. You’ll regret nothing.
 
What is the best thing or meal you ever ate?
Two things: Hokkaido ice cream in Sapporo, and sushi at Jiro’s. In the US, I love The Girl and The Goat. I go multiple nights in a row whenever I’m in Chicago. Yes, it’s that good.
 
What is a memorable project that you are working on or have worked on?
I recently wrapped my Advanced Character Design class with Chris Sasaki (!!!). We had 8 weeks to research, design, and model packet a character. I’ve never worked so hard, invested so much time to a single project, but I loved every moment. I drew until the wee hours, did my homework at hostels, in the car during road trips, and even visited a Taxidermy studio for research. I fell in love with drawing again, and it was the happiest I’d been. It helped me realize that I want to switch gears a bit and go back to school for animation. So right now, the big project on my plate is my portfolio & application. YIKES!

Genevieve also shared about her experience living in the Philippines:
I am so incredibly proud to be a Filipino American. I've visited the Philippines twice for several months at a time, and have filled piles of sketchbooks inspired by my time there. I have a Halo Halo print series, Maligayang Pasko and Maraming Salamat cards, and touch on other Asian cuisines like boba and ramen. Growing up, I noticed that the children's books, dolls, and commercials featured girls who, well, didn't look like me. So in my illustrations, I try to draw my own life and the rich diversity I grew up in the Bay Area. It's very important to me.

Check out Genevieve at these upcoming shows:
•    The Urban Epicurean Festival, Nov. 7-8 at Fort Mason in San Francisco, CA
•    "Dreams" group art show at Leanna Lin's Wonderland, Eagle Rock, CA. Show opens Nov. 7. Runs Nov. 7-Dec. 24
•    Pop-Up Shop at Leanna Lin's Wonderland for Small BusinessSaturday, Nov. 28.
​
And she also has her new studio/shop which is open by appointment only. If you are in the San Jose area I totally recommend you check it out! It’s at the SJMade CreateSpace, 1020 The Alameda, San Jose, CA

October is Filipino American History Month. Oblivious Interviews will feature Filipino-Americans doing kick ass things. This interview is with Janice Sapigao. I met Janice when she was organizing with Justice for Filipino American Veterans. Mike had been a part of the JFAV Steering Committee that planned the annual Veteran's Day Rally/Parade through Historic-Filipinotown. Janice was a part of the new leadership that continued to do the important advocacy work for Filipino American Veterans.

Throughout her time in Los Angeles, Janice founded Sunday Jump, a monthly community open mic series in Historic-Filipinotown. Sunday Jump takes place at Kapistahan Grill (1925 W Temple St, Los Angeles, CA 90026). Sunday Jump is a space for storytelling, good food, and good vibes. Thank you for the Sunday Jump family for this Oblivious Interview!

​Oblivious meets Janice Sapigao

​Affiliations (arts org, fun things you do, etc) : 
I work at Skyline College/San Jose City College. I co-advise the Filipino Student Union, teach in a hip hop learning community, and co-coordinate the Puente program. My community organizing is in and out of the classroom now. I'm also an editor for TAYO Literary Magazine (buy our mag at Barnes & Noble!). Oh, and I write things. 

What's the one word you are guilty of using too much? 
Uhhhh...

How did you end up doing what you are doing now? 
Hard work and luck. Timing and goal-setting. Hyper-empathy and love.  Community and writing. For real. All of these things found their ways into some formula that allowed me to teach, write, and read.

Which member of the Wu-Tang Clan best describes your personality? 
Probs RZA. He has books and bars!

Dogs or Cats, who wins? Why? 
Cats! They're spiritual and live forever beyond their nine lives with us.

What is the best part of any given day for you? 
I can't choose between these two kinds of glorious times: 1) When the streets are dark and I'm inside my apartment, and the whole world has finally come to a standstill that allows me to sleep, or, 2) When I get home from a long ass day of work and can finally kick off my heels, unbutton my collar shirt, and take off/unzip my pants. 

​In a zombie apocalypse who would you want on your survival team? 
Fuckin' Eddy. He would probably sacrifice himself so that the rest of us can live. He'd also document everything so that we can celebrate and honor his life as a result.

What is the last thing you searched for on google? 
"How to cite rap songs in paragraphs." Thank you, Purdue Online Writing Lab, for the answer to my students' questions.

If you could talk to your high school self, what would you say? 
Thank you. I wrote about this on a recent blog post. I'd say, "She helped me get here. Her bravery and choice to love and move away from home to appreciate, sacrifice, and struggle through its distance makes me myself."

What is the best thing or meal you ever ate? 
Vietnamese Fish Sauce Wings from Pok Pok in Portland, OR. 

What is a memorable project that you are working on or have worked on? 
I'm working on what will hopefully be my life's work, a book about my father who passed away when I was six. The manuscript is tentatively titled you don't know what you don't know. 

​

Steph Cariaga is an amazing teacher, friend, mother, woman extraordinaire. When she was a teacher at Locke high school she invited me to be a mentor to a student in a mentorship group that she had developed with a fellow teacher.  Props to the high school teachers who create space for their students. Steph is definitely one of those teachers.  

She's now on that grad student grind. Surprisingly I haven't run into her at work, but hopefully we'll run into each other more often! Steph is also a part of the People's Education Movement. Their mission is "Educators seeking to create sustainable liberatory spaces inside and beyond the classroom, to promote growth, healing, and transformation."  People's Ed is hosting an event: Self-care for SistarMaestras on Sunday, October 4th, 2-5pm.  Self care is something we all should practice, especially the teachers who give so much of themselves through their work. Space is limited so RSVP right away!  Enjoy this excellent interview with Steph: Oblivious meets Steph Cariaga

Name(s): Steph Cariaga

Affiliations (arts org, fun things you do, etc) : Laila bear's mama, grad student at UCLA, People's Education Movement 

What's the one word you are guilty of using too much?  
Hmm... As a mom, the word "shit" comes to mind - I realized this after my daughter's been copying the things I say and thinking it's funny, so I gotta be careful of that!  I think I also say "sorry" too much. I'm trying to find a balance between being accountable for actual mistakes I make, and not saying "sorry" as a perception, or habit, of thinking I'm at fault all the time. 

How did you end up doing what you are doing now? 
Well, being a mom and a grad student are in some ways connected to me burning out and feeling pushed out of teaching. I was teaching high school English for several years, particularly in Watts, South LA, and while I was developing really significant relationships with like-minded teachers and my students, I also lost my passion after hustling so hard against unsupportive administration and dehumanizing schooling practices. I also realized that I wasn't equipped to truly support students who were opening up to me about really challenging experiences at home and in their community, or students who just couldn't balance the demands of the work they were expected to do at school and the burdens they faced through violence, poverty, and other issues beyond their control. I think I and a few other folks were on our way towards figuring out how to better meet these students' needs, but grinding within systems that didn't allow for that kind of work to be valued nor supported, I just couldn't keep going. And it was taking a toll on my personal health and relationships. 


I think becoming a mom allowed me to finally put myself first, and understand that self-empathy could allow me to become a better teacher in the long run. I know I didn't want to quit teaching altogether and that I needed space and time to reflect on my experiences working with young folks, so now I'm in grad school trying to figure out how trauma impacts students of color, and how to develop teaching practices that can help students to heal from these challenging experiences. 


Through another class I've taught, called Young Empowered Women, with my friend Denise and another homegirl Amreen, I've come to understand that teaching students how to heal requires us to heal ourselves too. So I've also been working with my brilliant sistar-maestra Amreen on doing these workshops on self-care for teachers.  

Which member of the Wu-Tang Clan best describes your personality?
So... I dunno if Patrick's (my husband and Laila's daddy extraordinaire) will like hearing this, but, I don't really know Wu Tang that well! I guess if I had to choose, I'd pick RZA, cuz I know he wrote The Tao of Wu, on some hip hop-spiritual-philosophical tip. I've always been into learning about different philosophies, and I've come into appreciating the tenets of Buddhism and mindfulness. And I think music can be really dope in enlightening certain things and themes, so yeah... RZA works! 

Dogs or Cats, who wins? Why?
When I was young, hands down, dogs, because I grew up with them. And scruffy dogs will always win my heart. Lately though, I think cats are on some other level - like, they know shit, when they look at you. But then again, cats make me sneeze. Bah. Don't make me pick. 

What is the best part of any given day for you?
Being able to wake up naturally, as Laila wakes up at the same time next to me. I'll ask her what she's dreamt about, because she always has something interesting to say. Like, "Mama moon said 'I love you,'" or "I was swimming with Turtle and shark came, and we're friends." I have no idea if she's really dreaming about these things, but it's cool to see her world. And then follow that with Patrick making breakfast for us and eating together in the morning. It's a privilege and joy to take my time, hanging out with my little family, and ease into the day. 

I'm so excited for this Oblivious Interview. I can't remember how I met Marjorie, but I'm glad I know her. She's a dope ass dj who puts out hot fire mixes. For folks who love to dance you have got to check her out. I am especially stoked to check out her latest EP Tambol. I love when artist infuse Filipino instruments into their music. 

Follow Gingee on Facebook (Gingee),  Twitter (@gingeeworld), and Instagram (@gingeeworld). Check her out on Soundcloud (Gingee). Support her by picking up her music on bandcamp (Gingee)!

Oblivious meets Marjorie Light aka GINGEE

Affiliations (arts org, fun things you do, etc) : Youth Policy Institute (I teach DJing to youth for their afterschool program), and Magic Garage, an art and music show I started a few years ago. 

What's the one word you are guilty of using too much?
Awesome! 

How did you end up doing what you are doing now? I started collecting vinyl from my many thrift shopping excursions in high school. Then I bought turntables and started playing gigs, and started learning how to make beats. From there I just kept playing shows and released a few projects, and kept teaching the DJ program. 

Which member of the Wu-Tang Clan best describes your personality?
ODB? haha

Dogs or Cats, who wins? Why?
Cats. less needy and more chill. 

What is the best part of any given day for you?
When I get into the "zone" 

In a zombie apocalypse who would you want on your survival team?
My uncle who has a ton of weapons. 

What is the last thing you searched for on google?
Custom Spandex. For my hypothetical DJ supergroup. 

If you could talk to your high school self, what would say?
Make Music, Be Happy  

What is the best thing or meal you ever ate?
I recently went to Fisherman's Outlet and had the giant shrimp and scallops. That garlic butter… 

What is a memorable project that you are working on or have worked on?
I'm releasing my "Tambol" EP on Party Time Society. Basically, I sampled/played a bunch of Filipino instruments and mixed them with Global Bass beats and my rapping/poetry.  

Name(s): Justin Quizon 

Affiliations (arts org, fun things you do, etc) : cook, draw, write and trying to make my friends laugh. 

What's the one word you are guilty of using too much? Really (in a high pitch voice.) 

How did you end up doing what you are doing now? Too many years or watching movies and refusing to do anything else.

Which member of the Wu-Tang Clan best describes your personality? Rza, a kung fu movie geek with crazy ideas for film making.

Dogs or Cats, who wins? Why? Dogs got bite...but man cats can be cunning. I give it to the cats. 

Many thanks to Justin for this Oblivious Interview! I highly recommend you check out Agent of 

On this edition of Oblivious Interview we have Allan Aquino. I can't recall how I met Allan. I think it was through Tuesday Night Cafe. Later on we would be in a writing group together called The Undeniables. I focused on various different forms of writing: novels, letters, etc. Allan wrote poetry back then and writes poetry now. He also teaches Asian American studies. Props to him for educating the future generation of students on Asian American history!

Name: Allan Aquino

Affiliations (arts org, fun things you do, etc) :
My professional affiliations are with the CSUN Asian American Studies Department and the Filipino American National Historical Society (LA Chapter). To a lesser but equally important degree I'm affiliated with the Tuesday Night Project and Tia Chucha communities. I've also been a published poet for just over twenty years - another key passion of mine.

What's the one word you are guilty of using too much?
I tend to abuse "Batman" and all its affiliated euphemisms. Like Linus, I guess I'll always have a boyish security blanket, albeit figurative. Even if quietly, for instance, when I see something cool or delightful I'll say to myself, "That's fuckin' Bats".

How did you end up doing what you are doing now?
Without revealing TMI, a series of family tragedies beginning in my teens catalyzed the guilt and anger that drove me to become (what I hope is) a socially-conscious educator. Folks who know me intimately know why, ah, here comes that guilty word, Batman is my favorite fictional character. We're not saints or heroes, and we're probably an eyeblink away from crazy, but we're driven to do what we feel we must for a better world.

Which member of the Wu-Tang Clan best describes your personality?
Tough call, but I lean toward RZA. He's best known for his work behind the mike and behind the scenes as a shadow planner and producer. When it comes to group work with students or fellow artists I'd much rather they bring their time and talents into the spotlight, while I'm more than happy to provide ambiance, support, and motivation.
 
Dogs or Cats, who wins? Why?
I love both, but I'm afraid I'd have to say dogs. In my observation most people are fond of (cute and friendly) dogs; I don't know if I've ever known anyone who loves cats but hates dogs though, alas, I've come across those who feel vice versa. Also, sadly, dogs - which still have their hardwired wolfish instincts - are more likely to act aggressively toward cats, while cats are unlikely to ever threaten dogs in that wise. Cats are certainly more self-reliant and independent. And I don't imagine humanity ever turning its back toward dogs' indelible neediness - to crib Jack London, they regard us as their gods. Such an indelible bond.

What is the best part of any given day for you?
For me, the best part of any given day is when I come home at its end. Whether I've had a great or awful day, there's a breeze of peace that comes over me when I pull up to my place, returning to my dogs, my toys, and all my other safeties. To have a home and to return to it alive is a treasure and constant blessing.

In a zombie apocalypse who would you want on your survival team?
Definitely my survivalist and Filipino martial arts-aficionado friends.

What is the last thing you searched for on google?
Oh, I google image-searched a bunch of faces for my course readers, many of whom are scholars and artists connected to the CSUN and TNP communities. A lovely exercise.


If you could talk to your high school self, what would say?
I would tell him/me: "Who you are now is not who you're 'doomed' to be for the rest of your life. Stick around and keep your eyes open. You'll find your way, and when you do everything will make sense. You'll find your place in this world, you'll find your joy, and you'll find what struggles and suffering you'd endured so far have a payoff."

What is the best thing or meal you ever ate?
Ah, amongst countless memorable meals there's one that persistently stands out. When I was in high school I visited an aunt in St. Joseph Missouri, a small midwestern town with rolling hills and farms. The restaurants we frequented had incredible, lush menus built upon local ingredients. There was one place (whose name, alas, I can't recall) specialized in fried chicken. This was a particularly classy joint with a silverware ambiance akin to Lawry's. Their signature chicken, which was served fresh and AYCE (!), along with their requisite comfort food sides  (potatoes, spinach, mac & cheese) were unbelievably heavenly. I remember freezing solid with my first bite. I was literally stunned by a hot, juicy flavor paradise bursting in my mouth. Ask anyone what comprises "perfect" fried chicken, and this meal embodied all those qualities and more. Oh, man. Decades later I find I've never had any permutation of chicken comparable to that experience.

What is a memorable project that you are working on or have worked on?
At the moment my most personally notable projects are reviving CSUN's Filipino American Experience class - so many ideas, so little time, so much fun to be had! - as well as polishing up, finally, my poetry manuscript which, perhaps for the first time, feels satisfying and at least close to complete.

Anyone interested in events coordinated by our CSUN Asian American Studies community can browse our Facebook page and main website:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/333743283338487/
http://www.csun.edu/humanities/asian-american-studies
 
Likewise, anyone curious to browse my writings and other professional info:
https://allanaquino.wordpress.com/

Name(s)
Kyle Harumi Mizono
 
Affiliations (arts org, fun things you do, etc):
I perform stand-up, sometimes act and like making things.
Here are two of my favorite comedy shows you should check out:
http://www.superseriousshow.com
https://www.facebook.com/sleepawaycampcomedy

What's the one word you are guilty of using too much?
I say “gosh” a whole lot.

How did you end up doing what you are doing now?
I started going to comedy shows and the comedians I saw had huge impact on me. I eventually asked one if I could be his intern, he was like “ you should just do it” and I tried it, radiating fear and very sweaty.

Which member of the Wu-Tang Clan best describes your personality
I really enjoy the musical stylings of Ghostface Killah.

Dogs or Cats, who wins? Why?
Dogs because I just took a nap with a dog and overall it was a great experience.

In a zombie apocalypse who would you want on your survival team?
Definitely some buff dudes.

What is the best part of any given day for you
The beginning of the day is the best. Waking up in the morning, flexing your muscles and drinking a high-protein low-calorie shake. 

What is the last thing you searched for on google?
It was something about bug bites. I’ve been struggling with the summertime bugs and to be honest, it’s been giving me the summertime blues.   

If you could talk to your high school self, what would say?
One day you’ll get really into using sunscreen because a friend tells you about the spray-on kind. 

What is the best thing or meal you ever ate?
Tofu bahn mi from Saigon Sandwich in San Francisco. I wish I could keep those things in my pockets! 

What is a memorable project that you are working on or have worked on? 
A few months ago, I attended the Bridgetown comedy festival and came up with the idea of selling random found items at the official merch table. I asked a few friends to contribute stuff and we were open for business. Imagine festival t-shirts, posters, comedy albums and then a decorated rock with a sign “Not for sale” (the only thing not for sale). For sale merch included pair of turquoise sandals, baby owl figurine, expired Costco card and unopened bottle of Vitamin D. Everything was priced at “pay as you feel.” 

Kyle will be doing a set at Cherry Poppins: First-Timer Stand Up Comedy at Comedy Comedy Fest on Friday, August 28th. You should totally check her out. She is hilarious!