“Filipinos are by nature, are incredibly adaptable,” Phillipine Honorary Consul for Alaska Rebecca Carrillo says in episode two of Mga Kuwento. “Our … our common objective is to ensure that our families are taken care of. That’s the main reason that drove us to chase the American Dream .”
This force continues to drive many Filipino workers to Juneau and surrounding areas, including families such as the Roldans.
Rodini Roldan explains that the need to provide for his family was the reason he worked so to the max. His wife was a night shift worker as a nurse, when the kids were small.
He was also a hard worker for 20 years within working in Alaska Marine Highway system. His family was his motivation to work to climb the ladder.
“Started at the bottom the entry level, such as washing dishes, cleaning the toilet pans and pots, and then moved into that department on decks,” He says.
Rodini was later appointed his captain on the MV Matanuska the ferry operating in the Alaska Marine Highway System.
Rex Roldan’s cousin had similar experiences, resigning as chief steward in 2014. In his time with the ferry system He was surrounded by people who felt like family.
As we’ll learn on the show’s second installment Mga Kuwento it wasn’t the situation at the time Filipino workers first started to work in mines, canneries and on vessels of every kind.
According to journalist Katie Anastas explains, a number of forces have contributed to the fact that labor is one of the main motives for Filipinos move to Alaska. The desire to be able to support the family members and themselves has led Filipino immigrants to make an impact on the various industries of Juneau.
