GEL 101-01

1.

My parents immigrated to the United States from the Philippines and were naturalized. In 1978, my father came to the U.S. because he was in the military and was being stationed here. Initially, he was stationed in Seattle, Washington, but once he arrived, he stayed here in San Diego, California. In 1985, after petitioning for my mother’s citizenship, she finally moved here, pregnant with my older brother. My parents moved here seeking opportunity. They saw the United States as a great place to raise me and my brother, considering where they lived in the Philippines. So far, living in Southern California, it was difficult coping with the stereotypical comments Filipinos usually get but in 1989, when I was born, we moved to Mira Mesa, a small community in San Diego, CA and have lived very comfortably ever since.

2. In this picture, there are immigrants trying to come to the United States for job opportunities. There are people emigrating from the Mexico and Baja area and there is a wall which represents the border. There is an allusion to Mary and Joseph on the left side.