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GM: Today is September 24th, 2023. GM: My name is Gina Matos and I'm interviewing Karl Justin Knight for the Houston Asian GM: American Archive. GM: Thank you so much for making time to participate in this interview for us.

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KJK: Yeah, thank you for having me. GM: Of course. GM: So we can get right into our first question: when and where were you GM: born?

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KJK: Ooh, I was born in–in a little town called San Antonio, KJK: Zambales, back in the Philippines, in April 27th, KJK: 1994. My mom around that time was KJK: a–was a single mom.

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KJK: She was 17 when she had given birth to me. KJK: And I remember one story that come—came out of that was that my doctor KJK: was a little bit ham-handed when he was delivering me. KJK: So, when–when I was born, I practically had my soft, soft

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KJK: skull, my doctor's handprint [laughs] that my mom just KJK: grooved back into like a really—well, a relatively round skull KJK: now. But yes [laughs]. GM: Yeah, on that note, who are your parents and what were your

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GM: parents' occupations? GM: And if any way, how did it influence your upbringing? KJK: Mmm. So my–my mom, KJK: she–she–she was a housemaker,

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KJK: ever since I was born, and my dad, KJK: he was practically my stepdad, but my dad back then was a–a graduate of the Philippine KJK: Military Academy. KJK: He was a military officer.

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KJK: And after becoming a military officer, he transferred KJK: into the Philippine Coast Guard. KJK: And then, had some little, like, side business—businesses here and there. KJK: And then, probably about 15 years later to 20 years later,

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KJK: they moved here to the United States, and now, my dad works as a KJK: nursing assistant for MD Anderson. KJK: And then, my mom, right now, works as a–as a housekeeper KJK: for–for a very wealthy family here in Houston.

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GM: Great. So, if you could just elaborate on your experience GM: growing up in San Antonio, in the Philippines. GM: What was the neighborhood like? GM: Do you have any specific images or memories?

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KJK: Mhm. San Antonio, when I was growing up, it was just like a KJK: small farming and fishing community. KJK: Some of us actually, like, the whole province, we–we kind of KJK: call it the California of the Philippines.

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KJK: Because A) it was—it's the west coast, and it also has, like, everything, every natural KJK: beauty that you can think of. KJK: We have it there. KJK: And around the time when I was born, there was a US

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KJK: naval base there, a communications base that they use for mainly the Vietnam KJK: and the Korean War. KJK: It was a communications base so they could, like, easily communicate. KJK: And it was both a small town and

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KJK: a—kind of like a tiny city because of, like, the KJK: amount of culture that comes in. KJK: I remember my aunts were telling me that "Thriller" was big in San Antonio KJK: before it got big in Manila, which is the capital of the Philippines [laughs].

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KJK: So all these–all these US Navy officers would just, like, come and KJK: bring their music, bring the movies, and then KJK: all–all the people in our town. KJK: In our town, there were also a lot of people who had moved

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KJK: from other provinces. KJK: And for people who don't know, like, the Philippines is, like, over 70, KJK: 80 different cultures and just—these are all just, like, KJK: native cultures alone.

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So, I kind of had, like–like, a whole Home Depot swatch of the different colors of the Philippines, you know. So, it was a—it was kind of like a–like a practice for here, when I moved here.

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It's just multicultural, like, there are different ways of cooking something. There are different ways of pronouncing something or calling something, you know. And then, back when I was growing up as well, this was, like, just in the before times, it wasn't as touristy as it is now.

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So I remember it just—during the afternoons at, like, 5 or 6 in the afternoon, just before the sunset, if you look into the horizon by the beach, it's–it's—there have—they—we have, I think about, like, three islands, but you really only see two.

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So, it's, like, shaped like this. And then there's a space in–in between where the sun sets. And sometimes there are days when it sets in the valley of one of the–one of the islands.

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And it was so beautiful, so beautiful out there. And I miss it [laughs]. I miss it very much. GM: Yeah, that sounds so, so pretty.

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GM: In your survey, you also mentioned that you have GM: five siblings? KJK: [laughs] Yes, I do have five siblings. KJK: I'm the eldest.

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KJK: So the—my sister, Cheyenne, we call KJK: her Lalet, she was born June 10th, '97. KJK: My sister Marie, she was born January 26th, year KJK: 2000. My sister Gabrielle, we call

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KJK: her Yel, just because Marie couldn't say Gabrielle back then. KJK: So we call her Yel. She was born April 4th, 2002. KJK: And then, my sister, Agie, Agatha, she was born KJK: January 20th in Chicago.

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KJK: She was the only one who was born here, January 20th, KJK: 2010. And then, my KJK: brother Liam, we call him Biboy, he–he was born April KJK: 30th, 2011.

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KJK: I remember when I was graduating high school, my mom was so pregnant with him KJK: [laughs]. He was, like, as big as a lemon. KJK: Yeah. GM: What values did your parents instill in you and your siblings growing

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GM: up? KJK: Mmm. It was–it was a little bit unconventional, I would KJK: say. Because I remember—when I was growing up, I would be a little bit jealous KJK: of all these, like, stereotypical Filipino moms and dads that would,

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KJK: like, be strict but also nurturing. KJK: My parents weren't always like that [laughs]. KJK: We kind of lived in a very "do it at your own KJK: pace," but also making sure that you're, like, in a–in a

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KJK: lane where you're not actually, like, bothering other people. KJK: My–My dad, I think if there is any stereo-stereotype about my dad KJK: is that he is a military dad, where he expects you to follow all the rules and all KJK: that stuff [laughs]. And also, like, a pretty, pretty

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KJK: conservative—his pretty conservative upbringing had also influenced that. KJK: So, he wants us to be—to make sure that we're focusing on studies more than KJK: anything. And you do not want to disappoint him [laughs] KJK: with your grades.

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KJK: But luckily enough, we were all good with that. KJK: My mom–my mom, I remember when I was about, like, KJK: 6 or 7, we had, like, this, like tiny conversation where, you know, KJK: like, "I can be your best friend.

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KJK: Like, you can talk to me, whatever you like. KJK: If we–if we need to fight someone, I will fight them as KJK: well." And yeah, my mom–my mom does not feel like a mom, KJK: but, you know, in a good sense where I can be comfortable with her.

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She's–she's like a—my–my oldest friend. I literally can tell her anything [laughs]. And we just have fun. So, that's what I love about my parents.

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My dad, I couldn't talk to him back then, but, like, looking back at it now as an adult, he–he was doing a lot for what he had. So, while he was doing all his office stuff back in Manila,

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one weekend he drives to Isabela, where he is from. And it is so, so far away in the mountain regions in the north-in northern Luzon, which is the northern islands in the Philippines. Because he actually is from there, and he's taking care of family business

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over there. And then he'd spend, like, two days there driving about, I'd say, ten hours? And that is just, like, for the weekend. And then, come back to Manila for work for a week.

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And then, the next weekend he'll be at our place. And the thing I was disappointed with him about, when I was younger, was that he did not have time to, like, play with us [laughs]. He was–he was busy, like, taking care of the car.

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My dad is a big–a big car maintenance man, which he got from his dad, who was a doctor. But his real love is fixing cars. My grandma was telling me a story a few months ago where

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my–my–my grandpa was a big, like, you know, like, a repair man for–for cars. And one time, someone had gotten–had gotten hit with a machete. And they're like, "Doc, can you please

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help–help this guy?" And then he's like, "Okay, give me a second." And it would, like, take him a while to, like, take off all the grease first before he could, like, operate on the guy [laughs]. Because he was—he also comes from a really small town.

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If you call our town a small town, that is a really small town. And he was the only doctor there [laughs]. It was so funny. But yeah, my dad, yeah, he–he did a lot and he was

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super strict, especially with me. I—growing up, I also thought because it was the fact that I wasn't really his kid. Because my–my mom—my–my real dad had walked away from my mom

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when I was—when he had found out that she was pregnant with me. And I think, like, three years later, they were, like, they–they met again and I was there and he was like, "Is he really my son?" And since then, he just never talked to my mom.

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I met him when I was in high school. I was, like, 17, I think. And then we just had, like, a tiny talk and that was it. But yeah, like, coming back to my dad-my dad, like, now,

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he's not as strict anymore. He does–he does still, like, try to guide me every now and then. But mostly it's about car maintenance [laughs]. He is—he's really good with car maintenance.

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Like, "make sure your car is clean," like, stuff like that. "It's already 5000 miles. You need to get your oil changed." And he'll do it for me, you know, for free. Just buy the oil, buy the filter, he'll do it for me.

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Same thing with brakes and anything that goes wrong with the car, I'm really lucky with him. And I think, like, right now, like my mom, he's my best friend. Like, every time I come home, because I had recently moved out of their

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place last May. And every time I come home, we just spend, like, about, like, an hour or two just talking, just talking like—that—and I, like, you know, when I was, like, probably 11 or 12, I would not imagine me and my dad talk like

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this. Yeah, it's—yeah, I'm–I'm glad about my parents and the relationship I have with them now, too. GM: For sure. That sounds super lovely. GM: Did your family practice any Filipino traditions growing

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GM: up? And if so, can you share some memories about them? KJK: Mmm. Again, it's—they're not–they're not conventional KJK: . Because, my mom—the reason why I have the last name "Knight" is KJK: because my grandfather was an American Navy .

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KJK: And she grew up in a Filipino-American household. KJK: And my–my grandmother, by the way, is–is from Samar. KJK: She's Waray and she's from the Visayas region. KJK: So, pre—we pretty much had kind of, like, a Western

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KJK: upbringing with a little, you know, like hints of Filipino-ness there. KJK: Our biggest celebrations are always birthdays and KJK: Christmases. KJK: And New Year's too, of course.

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KJK: So birthdays, like, we always have spaghetti. KJK: It's a—never–never Filipino spaghetti. KJK: It's closer to Italian, actually. KJK: It's comfort food for me right now.

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KJK: And we'd always have hot dogs. KJK: It's pretty great. And then cake. KJK: And anything else they just, like, add to it. KJK: When I was five, my dad had brought a printer, and it's

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KJK: really—it really hits me as nostalgia, but, like, when–when you print, like, these tiny KJK: clip arts from—and this was, like, '97 Word, I think. KJK: It's, like, a pretty specific [laughs] aesthetic. KJK: So he'd print that out and then he'd say, "Happy birthday" and then all that–all that

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KJK: stuff. And then, I think when my sister was born, KJK: we started having—we started hiring clowns for birthdays. KJK: And we'd kind of be famous in our block for that. KJK: Like, even people we don't necessarily had invited, they would come over

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KJK: just to see the clowns. And I'm not–I'm not really familiar with, like, clown culture in most places, but our clown culture, he was also a magician. So aside from being, like, a really funny host, he'd be–he'd be doing, like, magic

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tricks that are, like, way out of there. Like, he'd pull something out of your ear, and it's, like, it's kind of, like, a hint of an adult humor there, too. It's like, you know, "Adult underwear [laughs]!" And yeah, it's

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silly stuff there, too. And we—I think we heard, it's the same clown, his name is Boyoyong (?). And the last time I checked up with him, he's an ambulance driver. But he used to do clowning full time.

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And we hired him for about, like, eight years until my sister decided to not have any parties anymore [laughs]. We do also have the Day of the Dead. I think that's the only, like, Filipino tradition we practice, where we just go to

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the cemetery cleanup, like, days before. And then just hang out there the rest of the day. And since it is, like, sort of an American town, some people would come over there in their Halloween costumes.

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Just, like, walking around [laughs] too. And then, like, expats would come over and then just give out free Hershey bars to everyone who comes out. And then Christmas is always a big thing.

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It is our biggest holiday. We don't decorate as early as September as most Filipinos do [laughs]. We do start decorating around the—I would say, like, the earliest we've done was, like, the fourth Sunday of November.

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And then we just start decorating. We had a tree that we had for about, like, 27 years until we, like, replaced it with something because it wouldn't fit in our living room anymore. And when I was, like, up to three

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years old, I think 3 or 4, I had a—I had a godfather who would dress up as–as Santa Claus and would come over to our place, and he was–he was a British man and, you know, was like— it was sort of weird to hear a Santa Claus who was British [laughs]

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as opposed to, like, the things I see on TV just go, "Ho, ho, ho," you know? That—I think those are the–the only things that we actually celebrate. The other things that we–we—like, me personally, that I kind of celebrate is the—is Good Friday.

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Good Friday in the Philippines, it's–it's a really big event even for non-Catholics too or I'd say non-Christians, like, because in the streets people would flagellate themselves. So, they'd, like, carry out a really big cross, and then they would cut themselves

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in the back. And so—and they would hire some–some people to, like, to whip them in the back with–with, like, tiny bamboo sticks or in other–in other places it's actually, like, whips.

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And they do this where the regular procession route would go. And when the—when it's the last station, the last station is always the church, they would pray there for, like, a quick minute or two and then they would go

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home, practically absolving their sins. We would just go out to the streets, and there are, like—the–the actual procession route, there are stations where people just, like, build it out of, like, grass and bamboo.

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And then we would just, like, wait there sometimes just–just having some snacks, some barbecue sometimes, even though we're not supposed to [laughs] during that time. But yes, I do remember there was this one thing that–that I was asking when I was young.

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Because it is a superstition in the Philippines that if you cut yourself during Good Friday, it would never, never, ever heal. And I was like, "But they're cutting themselves [laughs] in their backs and there's, like, scores and scores of, like, slices in their backs.

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Like, well, God is good, I guess [laughs]." GM: For sure. GM: Along that line, how would you describe your and your family's GM: relationship to Catholicism growing up?

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KJK: Not that great, I guess. KJK: My–My grandfather KJK: is—his family background was Protestant. KJK: But he was a little bit more agnostic, I guess.

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KJK: Just based–based off of his—this is my maternal grandfather. KJK: It was—just based off of his, like, personal experience. KJK: His father, too, was a—his father was an alcoholic and just KJK: left home when he was, like, pretty young.

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KJK: So—and this was during the Depression era, so he had to, like, pick up jobs just to KJK: help out, like, his mom. KJK: And when he was 17, I think, or 16, he tried to sign up for the KJK: Navy, and he was able to be there for a while

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KJK: until my great grandma was like, "Hey, he's in the base, can you pick him up?" KJK: And then his sheriff uncle did pick him up from the base. KJK: And then, they had waited until he was 18. KJK: He–he really wanted to get out of there.

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KJK: And—when he came home, he really didn't practice KJK: any religion. KJK: Oh, sorry, come to the Philippines, I guess. KJK: And my grandmother was Catholic.

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KJK: She'd go to Sunday Mass if she can, when I was growing up. KJK: But towards, I'd say, 2010, KJK: she started to come to church regularly. KJK: So, like, that would be—yeah, like, just every day I'd see her in

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KJK: church. And, like, when I—I—when I was working with the church, we'd just, like, often, like, meet up after that, and then I'd walk her as close as I can to her place because I had to go to work after

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Mass. So—and then we'd buy pandesal and coffee and then she would go to her place and I would go straight to work. And, that did not rub off to any of her children [laughs]. My mom–my mom really wasn't practicing.

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And I think it also has to do with the fact that she grew up in a Catholic school. And according to one of my–one of my teachers, her name is Mrs. Basilio. Mrs.

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Basilio and my mom did not get along [laughs]. Mrs. Basilio would say, like, she is her number one enemy [laughs]. So when it was my turn to go to–my turn to go to high school, like, "You know, your son is a complete opposite of you," [laughs] during family meetings.

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It was so funny. But they were—my mom and my dad—my dad, he'd go to Sunday Mass if he can. And that is very, very rarely [laughs].

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But then I was, me personally, I was influenced by my cousin, my cousin who was my best friend. He's ten years older than me. And now he's–he's in his process to

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become a priest. He's about to be ordained in I-I'd say, like, probably in a year. But he used to be–he used to be, like, a coordinator for the altar servers.

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So, the people who helped the priest during the mass. And I thought when I was, like, really young, he was, like, the coolest person ever. He was, like—he–he basically taught me culture without intending to. So, he–he just, like, he was just, like, really

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in love with the church, and is just there whenever–whenever he can, and that had rubbed off on me. And I think that had brought me close to being a Catholic. That had, like—yeah, just—yeah, I probably blossomed with him

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there, thanks to the–the–the seeds that he planted actually. And, after that, he went into seminary and I was practically on–on my own. I think the closest person who is as closer to Catholicism in our

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family as I am is my sister, Marie. Although now, like, both of us—because—I don't know, like, Catholicism for me–for me here in America personally is so different.

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I think they swing more fundamentalist than they actually are Catholic . Because relatively Catholics, in my view, at least, are liberal, which is my–my political swing, at least [laughs]. You know, and also, like, the–the big thing, when I was in the

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Philippines, there was this thing, the reproductive health bill, which actually took–took care of reproductive health rights for women, which I was a very big supporter of. In the Philippines, there are some Catholics where, you know, this–this is actually good,

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and in the end, they were able to pass that law. And a lot, you know, like, over here, it's–it's just a question of a woman's right to choose whether to keep that or no. And it's, you know, you're–you're worse than

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Satan–Satan himself, if–if you had those views and are still with the church. And tiny things like that, yes, that's why that's—for me, personally, that's one of the reasons why I don't go to church here. But I would say in, like, everything I do,

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like, I still practice them—whatever Jesuits practice to seeing God in everything. You know, like, there—this might be—this might be a lot to take in, but is there a reason why—is—would

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there be a way for me to help out? I think I could word that better, but I think I'm gonna go with that [laughs]. GM: For sure, that makes sense. GM: Before we move more into the education section of

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GM: this interview, your first language is Filipino, GM: while Ilocano and English are your second languages, GM: at least what you noted down in your survey. GM: [KJK: Mhm.] So, when and how did you learn both of your second

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GM: languages? KJK: Okay, so, KJK: since–since KJK: the–the area, there were a lot

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KJK: of–there were a lot of people from other cultures. KJK: Mainly that whole town—sorry, let me track that, let me go back a little KJK: bit. Just a tiny history thing. KJK: When that town was settled, it was settled by Ilocanos, which is, like , people who

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KJK: spoke Ilocano. And—so that town is technically an Ilocano KJK: town. And then, as settlers had moved in, and especially KJK: when there was, like, a naval base that had been built there–there KJK: were—there—essentially, like, hundreds of jobs available.

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KJK: So a lot of people who are from Visayas or Mindanao or even people KJK: who had signed up for the military, they had found their place there. KJK: So, the lingua franca for that whole place became Filipino in KJK: Tagalog. And, that's how our

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KJK: household that grew up—grown up in. KJK: And my grandpa, we–we didn't talk much. KJK: He was my best friend. KJK: But I–I–I know, like, a little–a little, some–some phrases at least

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KJK: that my three-year-old brain can handle. KJK: And–And growing up, we also had cheap HBO. KJK: So, you know, watching HBO as a kid, I really love Martin KJK: Lawrence [laughs]. And then my parents, they-they'd really

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KJK: invest in VHS's. KJK: So I would watch–I would watch a lot of Disney KJK: films. I don't know if you've seen Prince of Egypt. KJK: That's one VHS banger.

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KJK: (inaudible) the Moses Story. KJK: But, like, Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston do like the big soundtrack thing. We watched Hercules, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. All the—all–all the VHS's.

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And that's how I would slowly learn English. And at the same time, there is–there is the thing where most Filipinos actually start teaching kids English first, as opposed to teaching Filipino first at home.

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So, "Oh, wow. Baby, can you sit up? Can you sit up?" Like, things like that. They do that instead of, like, doing that, but in Filipino.

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So, that's how I slowly learned my English. I wasn't a big reader when I was a young kid, but, I–I was one of the faster readers I'd say, just like skimming over things.

00:27:51.990 - 00:28:10.740

I think that's why they put me a grade—they had advanced me a grade over because of my reading skills. And Ilocano, which actually was the language of the town, I learned because whenever any

00:28:10.740 - 00:28:26.680

adult would be angry, they'd switch to Ilocano. Like, I don't know how to analyze that, but if I were to psychoanalyze that, I think it would be—it would go, I think they don't want you to understand most of what they're actually trying to say.

00:28:26.680 - 00:28:40.960

They're probably just venting out [laughs]. And obviously, like, you do the same things over and over again, so you kind of, like, get the context of what those words are. And then if I can't really understand and I'm trying to understand what they're angry

00:28:40.960 - 00:28:59.980

about, I'd ask a–a friend [laughs]. GM: Thank you so much for answering all these questions about your early life. GM: It's all so very interesting. GM: So, moving into education, excuse me,

00:28:59.980 - 00:29:14.630

GM: for your primary and secondary years, you attended the TR Yangco GM: Catholic Educational Institute in San Antonio. GM: Can you tell us about your experience attending a Catholic institution GM: in the Philippines?

00:29:15.230 - 00:29:34.440

KJK: Yeah, that-that's a—that is a pretty interesting KJK: experience. KJK: A) Because mostly, that school, their–their–their KJK: main thing is being, like, a premier school, not only

00:29:34.440 - 00:29:49.050

KJK: in the town, but in the whole province as well. KJK: It's, like, pretty known that if–if you finish from over there and you go to colleges KJK: from different cities, like, they know what kind of student you're gonna be just KJK: because you're from TR Yangco.

00:29:49.990 - 00:30:09.730

KJK: Like, I think the common thread for anyone who comes from TR KJK: Yangco is that they make leaders, which is pretty great KJK: . Because there is this unsaid thing about how discipleship in–in TR Yangco KJK: where, it's–it's–it's the "teach them how to fish"

00:30:11.490 - 00:30:29.800

KJK: value, not just the don't–don't spoon feed them, let them figure it out KJK: in their own way how to, like, figure this out and that makes leaders out of most of KJK: us. And, yeah, when KJK: I had started with TR Yangco, they

00:30:29.800 - 00:30:42.450

KJK: were–they were mostly taking care of Dominican—oh, sorry, Franciscan KJK: sisters for the longest. KJK: And they were, I–I think, like, the first, like, actual Catholic administrators KJK: apart from the parish priest.

00:30:42.450 - 00:30:58.640

KJK: The parish—whoever's the parish priest in that town is usually the school KJK: director. So anything that is, you know, that has, like, Catholic directives, it KJK: goes through the school director. KJK: And then the school principal is the overall administrator for both the

00:30:58.640 - 00:31:15.040

KJK: elementary and the high school department. Now, the school principal had always been a nun. And from time to time, there would be someone fro—someone who isn't a religious person, just a regular educator.

00:31:15.040 - 00:31:32.140

And they–they would actually have us do, like, once a month Catholic things. Like, first Friday mass was always a thing where it had also practiced us with English.

00:31:32.140 - 00:31:49.190

Because most of these masses, when we'd have them, they're always in Tagalog. And then, if it's a first Friday mass, that's when they do English to try and see, like, whether or not we know how to respond in English [laughs]. They teach us, like, English prayers as well .

00:31:49.820 - 00:32:02.940

In that school, when I was—before I got there, they were practicing, like, English days. And then, that had slowly faded out. We–We didn't have those.

00:32:02.940 - 00:32:14.090

The teachers were very, very nice. There were—I–I don't know what the word is, I think "legacy," but no.

00:32:14.090 - 00:32:29.160

But they-they've been there for, like, 20, 30 years. Some of them had actually had taught my parents. And I think that–that goes the same with, like, everyone who had studied there. Usually it's a—it's a generational school where, you know, like, 2 or 3

00:32:29.160 - 00:32:47.040

generations in, because that school had been founded after the war, because most of the–most of the schools had been bombed, razed. So there were a group of educators who were like, well, let's make a school. And then, like, ever since 1945, people in that

00:32:47.310 - 00:33:01.630

town just–just, like, go there. Even before it was a Catholic private school, it was just a school that you can just go to. And—when I was in the fourth

00:33:01.630 - 00:33:20.350

grade, I got a—I got—I studied at a–at a public school for one year. Because my parents had had it with the extra fees that come when, like, private education where, "Oh, pay for this and pay for that" and they were [laughs] totally

00:33:20.350 - 00:33:35.170

sick of that. So, they sent us—when I was in my fourth grade and my sister, Lalet, was in the first grade, we were in this school called San Antonio Central Elementary School, which is the–the-the school in the heart of the town.

00:33:35.960 - 00:33:53.100

And it was a total culture shock for me. Because A) I think just for class reasons, I grew up with rich kids mostly. So, to be around people who aren't as fortunate as you, it–it is totally a learning experience for me.

00:33:53.100 - 00:34:09.800

And very humbling as well [laughs], obviously. So I think, you know, I'm very thankful for that. And also they're more competitive than we are when it comes to, like—when it comes to, like, school things and because they have–t

00:34:11.170 - 00:34:26.920

hey have unbelievable goals when it comes to, like, testing. So, yeah, like, after that, I was, like, "Can we go back to TR Yangco?" I was like, "Okay, well we'll just finish this year then."

00:34:27.100 - 00:34:40.480

And I graduated there and after I graduated there, actually, they took me in as an OJT person. It's just fun. I think there-there's a—there's something about that school that works well for me that

00:34:40.570 - 00:34:56.380

there's a certain je ne sais quoi that comes with it. But certainly magical, that school, I think. Especially during the old campus years . The old campus years was—so the–the bottom bit of the school was made out of

00:34:56.380 - 00:35:08.320

cement. And then the top bit of the school was just, like, made out of wood. So, it's, like, a kind of, like, a typical building back in the 50s and the 60s in the Philippines, where there would just be natural–natural

00:35:10.910 - 00:35:28.090

ventilation. You didn't need air conditioning back then. So, like, the—by the windows, there would be, like, panels like this that would just like be open to—open to, like, the breeze that had come—that comes from the–the vacant lot from, like, the next place over.

00:35:28.100 - 00:35:48.240

Yeah, it's pretty good. GM: What is your earliest memory of your interest in computer science? KJK: I actually don't have any interest in computer science, believe it or not. KJK: I was just–just good at it, I guess, and had a good understanding of

00:35:48.240 - 00:36:04.190

KJK: it. When I–when I was in high school, I was totally KJK: in love with the idea of becoming a teacher. KJK: I really, really wanted to be a teacher. KJK: But my dad was like, "No, you're not going to have a lot of money with being a

00:36:04.190 - 00:36:18.940

KJK: teacher and with that brain of yours. KJK: I think you could—it could be very, very lucrative." And then KJK: at a—at that point, KJK: they–they were going to pay for my education, but the thing

00:36:18.940 - 00:36:34.270

KJK: is, only if I took computer science. KJK: And I did not have the confidence in me as I did, KJK: like, right now. KJK: But back then, you know, like, how am I going to make the money

00:36:34.270 - 00:36:53.470

KJK: [laughs] to pay–to pay for all of this and KJK: to pay for, like, a–a–a degree in education, you know KJK: . And also, it's going to be four years around that time when I was going to college, KJK: too. We were kind of, like, in limbo because we needed to go here in the

00:36:53.470 - 00:37:05.920

KJK: United States at some point. KJK: And we had to do it before I turned 21. KJK: Before they have to, like, apply for another document for that. KJK: And the easiest and more—most practical thing

00:37:06.160 - 00:37:19.280

KJK: for me was to take a two-year thing. KJK: Which was a computer–computer systems–systems, KJK: programming and design. KJK: And yeah, it was an associate's degree to computer science.

00:37:19.490 - 00:37:37.700

KJK: And when–when me and my cousin, the KJK: same cousin that I said earlier, were looking for schools. KJK: We found this school that was—that had leased their spaces on top of KJK: a Victory Liner building, which is the, like, the main bus line.

00:37:38.070 - 00:37:55.120

KJK: It's on top of the building, like, the third and fourth floor, they were leasing over KJK: there. And I–I had completely liked–likd the place. KJK: And also, you know, just hop off the bus, climb up and you're there. KJK: It's a—pretty easy.

00:37:55.120 - 00:38:12.690

KJK: And I–I sort of just breezed through it, really. KJK: And then, after finishing there, the school were KJK: like, "Do you want to teach?" I was like, "Yes, please [laughs]." KJK: And I think that's how I stuck with computer science.

00:38:13.170 - 00:38:24.100

KJK: But, I love computer KJK: programming logic. KJK: I hate the idea of building programs. KJK: Sometimes they overwhelm me, I guess (laughs).

00:38:25.560 - 00:38:37.950

KJK: But yeah, like, as, you know, like, I don't know if you've–you've had this feeling, but, KJK: you know, when you're like, just like, good at something but don't necessarily have KJK: any interest in it? KJK: They're like, "Oh, you're so good at this.

00:38:37.950 - 00:38:51.730

KJK: Let me give you this. KJK: Let me give you that. You're the only person who knows how to use a computer. KJK: Can you fix that jam that we have in the printer?" Like these things that I have KJK: necessarily no training whatsoever, it gets forced into

00:38:51.730 - 00:39:10.830

KJK: you. And then that way for, you know, in some, you KJK: know, in some capacity, you get to learn how to actually, like, do these things and get KJK: good at it without necessarily being, like, it's number one fan [laughs]. GM: For sure, for sure.

00:39:11.810 - 00:39:25.060

GM: We're going to touch on some of these topics that you've brought GM: up later. GM: But in addition to—well, I can't say now "your GM: interest—" they are your interests.

00:39:25.060 - 00:39:38.240

GM: But you pursued music later in your career. GM: You play the keys, guitar, bass and drums. GM: So, do you have an early memory of your interest in GM: music?

00:39:39.250 - 00:39:53.520

KJK: Yes. I actually have a very good story about that one. KJK: When I KJK: was...eight, I KJK: think—I think it was eight, when we had started

00:39:54.550 - 00:40:09.180

KJK: getting a subscription for cable—and the cable in our town is, like, super KJK: cheap. It's, like—back then it was just, like, $10, which was the KJK: equivalent of $10. KJK: It was in pesos, just 500–500 pesos.

00:40:09.180 - 00:40:21.840

KJK: So with that, you get–you get HBO, you KJK: get anything that comes from Fox, get all the channels, I think KJK: there's just like 50 of them. KJK: And there were, like, all the essential channels.

00:40:22.530 - 00:40:37.770

KJK: And one of them, apart from MTV and KJK: Channel V, which is, like, the MTV of Asia, we also had this thing called KJK: Myx, M-Y-X. KJK: It's a–it's a–it's a channel by the ABS-CBN Broadcasting

00:40:39.510 - 00:40:54.270

KJK: Company. And, they just—they were MTV, but with KJK: lyrics on the bottom. KJK: And that had gotten me hooked into, like, more music. KJK: And when I was in the second grade, I was so into

00:40:54.720 - 00:41:13.110

KJK: Eminem and Chingy [laughs], you know. KJK: And then, my dad saw the music video for Chingy and was like, "Nope KJK: [laughs], you're-you're not watching this channel anymore." So, KJK: I got really into his, like, old computer, which is like a CRT monitor,

00:41:13.110 - 00:41:24.390

KJK: kind of a PC. KJK: And he had a whole library there full of mostly guitar KJK: music. So I was like, "Oh, Linkin Park," who my friend was also so into Linkin KJK: Park.

00:41:24.780 - 00:41:38.970

My friend, Benedict Aquino, like. .. So that's how we–we had bonded. I found these friends who had–had the same musical interests as a—actually, my dad [laughs], I was just practically his instrument,

00:41:38.970 - 00:41:59.650

and that's how I had bonded over music with most of my friends. But the thing that had driven me most into music is when I was in the fourth grade and my cousin, the same cousin that we had talked about, Kuya Jay. He was in my room, and he was listening to my mom's Sony boombox and he had this

00:41:59.650 - 00:42:13.750

cassette tape on that had a really good bass groove, and they were singing in Filipino. I was like, "Oh, this is a really interesting groove. Like, what's the name of this song?" And he was like, "Huwagag mo ng itanong" which

00:42:13.750 - 00:42:32.420

translates to "Don't ask about it." So I keep on asking him this until this becomes a bit for him and this becomes a point of frustration for me [laughs] because I had really, really loved that song and that he had taught me how to operate the cassette so I can just, like, play to that

00:42:32.420 - 00:42:49.610

song, which I think was the very first thing off of Side B . And–And that song was a—that song was from a band called "The Eraserheads," which I actually had a pleasure of opening for them, like, years later.

00:42:50.240 - 00:43:08.900

But, yeah, that band had influenced me into getting into music. Like, the very first CD's I had bought were–were The Eraserheads. And every Christmas my–my dad would bring us to the–the closest mall to our place

00:43:08.900 - 00:43:24.390

and we'd have 2,000 pesos to spend and, you know, buy anything you like. And he was a little bit disappointed that I spoiled it on–on [laughs] Eraserheads albums. And then he was like, "Okay." Like, I

00:43:24.480 - 00:43:42.840

think he saw, like, h-how much I appreciate—how much I had appreciated their music, that he was like, "Okay, do you want to learn how to play guitar?" I was like, "Yes!" So, same—the same Christmas he had brought me and my sister a locally

00:43:42.840 - 00:43:57.990

made guitar. And as I was learning some of the, you know, some chords, I was also listening to the Eraserheads. And then all my afternoons would just be a loop of this album

00:43:57.990 - 00:44:13.380

and I would try and learn all the parts. So, when I'd go back to school and they'd have a guitar there, I'd just play everything Eraserheads [laughs]. And then the keyboards, I started playing keyboards because in

00:44:13.380 - 00:44:32.180

church we had this Yamaha keyboard that you can pre-record stuff. But they had to be in diskettes, 32 mb biscuits . And they got so old that they got rusted. So in the middle of us singing hallelujas, it would just go "Halleluj—" and then it

00:44:32.180 - 00:44:47.550

go back to "Halleluj—" And then, I had to learn how to play keys because the person who was playing the keyboard or the organ, back then, he was studying to become a teacher. And during Sundays they have reviews.

00:44:47.850 - 00:45:03.420

So, it's either we're going to be singing acapella, which would, you know, it's an afternoon mass. It's going to go so slow [laughs] without the music . Or I'd be bad at it for, like, three, four days—four

00:45:04.610 - 00:45:15.790

Sundays. And then I just, like, slowly, gradually grow into it. And then, someone had taught me that in–in keyboards or in pianos, there are also chords.

00:45:15.790 - 00:45:31.260

And there—they are chords that are easier to learn as opposed to, like, guitar, where you have to, like, use every finger available over there. You can just really use three, do three, and then once you're comfortable with that, you can do the melodies with your right.

00:45:31.830 - 00:45:49.930

And that's how I learned how to play the keys. The drums, I–I am a air drummer [laughs]. Once I figured out that, like, this is the coordination for it, you know, just like, hand me–hand me sticks, I'm ready to go [laughs].

00:45:51.430 - 00:46:07.560

And then the bass I—because of the same band, The Eraserheads, its bassist is a really funky player. And I just really love his style. So when we had, like, a reggae competition back in my senior year, I

00:46:07.560 - 00:46:23.640

was like, "Let me play bass, let me just play bass." And that's how I fell in love with the bass [laughs]. GM: Super fascinating. GM: Now, we're going to move into the beginnings of your career,

00:46:23.640 - 00:46:37.710

GM: starting in the Philippines. GM: What was your first job and your experience coming GM: out of primary and secondary school? KJK: My first job.

00:46:40.060 - 00:46:58.440

KJK: .. I think my–my first official job was becoming a administration KJK: assistant—well, administration officer—no, admissions officer, sorry. KJK: But the thing is because that KJK: school—okay, here's–here's something I don't understand about, like, the school, like,

00:46:58.450 - 00:47:15.880

KJK: around that time, I guess. KJK: It was a franchise school, which I think is a just KJK: criminal, I guess calling a school a franchise school [laughs]. KJK: They did not have a lot of budget when they had bought the school.

00:47:15.880 - 00:47:32.740

KJK: So, apart from me actually being hired as the admissions officer, KJK: I had a lot of slashes under my name. KJK: So apart from becoming an admissions officer, I was also KJK: the–the administration assistant,

00:47:32.980 - 00:47:50.900

KJK: slash, marketing officer, KJK: slash, this is another job, it's an IT staff, KJK: which means I just get to fix everything computer network related and KJK: then, slash, laboratory facilitator, which meant that I–I

00:47:50.900 - 00:48:06.090

KJK: did some instruction in–in the classroom, slash, KJK: custodian. KJK: Now custodian in the Philippines just means key holder. KJK: And, yeah, like, in the middle of class someone would be like, "Can I please have the

00:48:06.090 - 00:48:24.920

KJK: keys to the lab [laughs]?" Like, "Okay, here you go." Yeah, it KJK: was—is a very fun experience. KJK: And they had absorbed me into that role because when I was KJK: in my second year in college, they had noticed

00:48:25.340 - 00:48:39.830

KJK: that—well, in my first year of college, I had planned this KJK: event called an acquaintance party. KJK: I don't know if you all have this here, but it's–it's the first party that all KJK: students can attend if they want to.

00:48:39.830 - 00:48:57.390

And back then, they only had about, like—from, like, 50 to 80 in attendance and it'd be like a really small venue. And I was like, "Maybe let's change this whole thing and let's make it a bigger party." We had a–a—around then a population of about

00:48:57.390 - 00:49:13.230

500 students, and these are all, like, different classes, different courses, different times. And we certainly had, like, a place where it was, like, cheap enough to hold a party and also had everything that—like, the food,

00:49:13.230 - 00:49:28.550

the sound, like, all the amenities that we needed. It was at a hotel thing, but it was, like, pretty massive, it's called Travelers Hotel . And we're like, "Okay, this is pretty—it is pretty big. But I think we can–we can do it.

00:49:29.030 - 00:49:47.600

And I had marketed it to all the classrooms, so that's where I had to meet all the teachers, the instructors, all the professors. And, I–I am very proud to say that I got about 380 students attend that

00:49:47.600 - 00:50:04.400

party, as opposed to, like, the 80s-100s that they previously had. So they were like, "Wow, this–this kid is something. He's really good at marketing things." And so [laughs], during my second year, I did the same thing again, and we were pretty much successful that

00:50:04.400 - 00:50:18.680

the–the marketing officer at that time, Bernadette, she–she had asked me whether or not I wanted to probably go do some career guidance in the schools, in the—on the province.

00:50:18.680 - 00:50:35.640

And the—in the province, the province is practically as big as, I'd say, the whole of Houston. So we would go to all the high schools so we can find and see, like—because career guidance also means marketing.

00:50:35.760 - 00:50:52.280

So, you get to tell them, "Hey, we're a school that offers all of that that you need." And I was pretty good at it that they were like, "Would you like to–would you like to apply for it? Because we're moving her into accounting," which is her actual thing [laughs].

00:50:53.690 - 00:51:10.940

Bernadette, I mean, because Bernadette was an accounting major, so they–they made her the accountant, and then they made me the admissions officer. And, I was just pretty good at it. The—they–they said that, "Oh, like, you got this

00:51:11.120 - 00:51:25.950

budget and go to all the schools." And the only budget that I had really was just [laughs] for transportation and that was it. No food. If something happens to me, it's all out of pocket, which sucks.

00:51:25.950 - 00:51:45.190

But I just love meeting people, and just being able to answer their questions, like, genuinely, like, "Is this a thing for me? Do you—" like, like, helping them make those big decisions that sometimes, you know, not even their parents can't help them with it.

00:51:45.190 - 00:52:02.940

Or they don't have, like, the right friend, like, leading them towards that way. And even though–even though I was, like, the main marketing person I would be—I wouldn't force them into enrolling into the school like other admissions officers

00:52:03.660 - 00:52:21.250

would. They really force it down your throat. And my thing was like, "Well, I don't think we're the school for you, but I–I have some ideas where you could probably blossom even further." And one of the schools that I had talked to was TR Yangco,

00:52:22.360 - 00:52:38.660

which is a–is a pretty big homecoming thing for me. And that's how I actually transitioned into teaching over there, because the–the–the computer teacher was going to emigrate to the, I think, UAE, I think.

00:52:38.660 - 00:52:53.210

And they were like, "You know, we're in need of a computer teacher. And if, you know anyone, just let me know. Or if you want to be a computer teacher, just let me know." And I was like, "Yes, game [laughs]." And around that time,

00:52:53.960 - 00:53:11.100

that–that–that–that—my first job, you know, I'm so happy I got that job, but, I was only paid around 8,000 pesos, which is 200 bucks. Cost of living in San Antonio is about 180 bucks [laughs].

00:53:12.540 - 00:53:30.960

So I barely had any savings, all just went into food and transportation. And also it didn't help that my school did not provide for, you know, food allowances, even for my student volunteers, which kind of sucks. I was, like, "Okay, I think for, like, the same amount of money without that much

00:53:30.960 - 00:53:47.070

traveling. I think this is a more practical and also, like, I think one of the best decisions I've ever made." GM: For sure. GM: While working at TR Yangco from 2014 to 2015,

00:53:47.640 - 00:54:06.070

GM: while you were working as an educator, you were also actively involved at GM: the Diocese of Iba as a youth leader. GM: And you participated in the Lectors and Commentators Guild and Liturgical Youth GM: choir. So, what inspired you to take this position as a

00:54:06.070 - 00:54:24.810

GM: youth leader, and were there any challenges in overseeing GM: great amounts of people? KJK: Doing the–the youth leader thing, that had sprouted KJK: from me being in church all the time.

00:54:24.810 - 00:54:45.120

KJK: It was a—for me, one of the reasons why I stick with the church was KJK: it was like a—it was actually a refuge for me [laughs]. KJK: It wasn't like a–like a—like, you know, like, shoved down my throat or anything. KJK: It was because as a young kid, I was, you know, emotionally,

00:54:45.120 - 00:54:57.030

KJK: physically abused. KJK: And this was my–my way of being free from all of that and being in an KJK: actual community that, you know, like, helps you, cares for you and, KJK: like, builds you up.

00:54:57.030 - 00:55:09.610

KJK: And they had noticed that I was in the church for, like, KJK: long—longer periods of time. KJK: And then, they needed a youth leader and they saw KJK: that I had the potential for it.

00:55:09.610 - 00:55:27.390

KJK: And I was, like, "Okay, Imma–Imma sign up for it." And then they had KJK: sent me—this was on a parish level, so a parish level is practically the KJK: town. And then the diocese is like the whole province. KJK: So they had sent me to a diocese meeting, and that's how

00:55:27.390 - 00:55:45.230

KJK: I had become more involved with being a youth leader. KJK: Because they would, like, have these big meetings where it's, KJK: like—it's kind of like professional development, you know, but they're really KJK: more—they–they–they market it to you as if there were, like, personal development

00:55:45.260 - 00:55:57.980

KJK: . Because they–they—the thing that they do with you is that they make sure KJK: that you're okay first, then your community, and then, you know, it KJK: spreads out. Their main thing is think

00:55:57.980 - 00:56:14.130

big, go slow, start small. It's always that thing. And, one of the things that I had helped planned out before I had moved here was the—Di—Di—Diocesan

00:56:14.130 - 00:56:30.800

Youth Day. Which involves all, like, anyone that you can consider youth. And in the church, on paper, I think it's all the way up to 39, that's considered youth. So, we invite them to, like, one town who wants to

00:56:30.800 - 00:56:50.540

host it. And then we would have to find foster families for them, so they could be with them for, like, two, three days, have all the consents ready, plan out the bigger events I had—I had actually made, like, a whole—I made the theme song for that event

00:56:50.930 - 00:57:08.210

. And I was like, "Oh, maybe I could also lead the choir around that time. Around that time as well, it was, like, time to–time to go to the US. So I wasn't–I wasn't even in the event that I helped plan, which was sad it was, like, "Can we please, please be there?" And I was, like, "No, you can't.

00:57:08.210 - 00:57:23.660

Papers, darling." Yeah, and the, like, in-between-things too. Like, when Pope Francis had visited the Philippines, they were looking for delegates and obviously [laughs] who else wanted to be there.

00:57:24.260 - 00:57:38.060

So, yeah, it was all about, like—that one, we–we—it was just, like, planning. It was, like, a-four-day trip— not four day, four–four hour trip, I'm sorry.

00:57:38.060 - 00:57:56.690

Four–hour trip to Manila, making sure everyone's okay, making sure everyone's safe. Since this is like a, like, millions of people were expected to attend, making sure that we had those plans that were in place before–before and after we go to Manila.

00:57:57.890 - 00:58:14.220

Same thing with the Youth Day, by the way, it's, like, making sure that we vet all the families. That we give them, like, who's going to be the foster parents or the foster family . Vetting them really good before we send someone from another town

00:58:14.220 - 00:58:30.810

to spend some time with them. It—quite thankfully in our town, we always see the—in our province, at least, we see the humor in things where we're not, like, really, like, pissed off most of the time, but we see humor in most things.

00:58:30.810 - 00:58:52.370

So if something does not go right, it's all going to be fine [laughs]. GM: That must have been so exciting. GM: So moving a little forward, would you tell us about your GM: role as choirmaster at the Leovigildo Gantioqui Naval

00:58:52.370 - 00:59:09.020

GM: Station and elaborate on recruiting and working with choir GM: volunteers? KJK: [laughs] That was a pretty interesting, like, a sideline to, like, what I was already KJK: doing. Because, as a—as someone who is already leading the choir in the

00:59:09.020 - 00:59:25.520

KJK: town, I think there was this one week where the–the KJK: actual, like, volunteer choirs there, which were KJK: mostly spouses of the naval people who were based KJK: in—in the–in the naval base.

00:59:27.080 - 00:59:43.830

KJK: They were, like, "Hey, can we hire your youth group to sing for us, like, one morning KJK: on Sunday?" And we were, like, "Okay, just—if you could just arrange for KJK: transportation, we'll meet at the church. KJK: If you can pick this up from there, we can go to your chapel and we'll–we'll do it for

00:59:43.830 - 01:00:01.500

KJK: you. And thankfully, I did have a ragtag group of KJK: kids who, like, really wanted to go there and experience that. KJK: So, I had that, I had them sign some waivers and we went on our merry little way. KJK: And then—and we were there.

01:00:02.070 - 01:00:17.880

KJK: The community had loved the choir that we had put up. KJK: And, later on, Father Eugene, who was the chaplain around that KJK: time, he was, like, "Maybe we could probably get a choir going KJK: on in the base.

01:00:17.910 - 01:00:34.170

KJK: That way we don't have to be, you know, like, you know, there's always that danger KJK: there." The kids were—the kids ranges were about 11 KJK: to 14, 15. KJK: So, you know, it's a little iffy if I just had asked their

01:00:34.170 - 01:00:45.180

KJK: parents, just, "Hey, can we do this every week?" Like, this is going to be KJK: unsustainable at some point. KJK: And also, most–most parents, I'm afraid to say, were KJK: helicopter parents.

01:00:45.980 - 01:01:02.250

KJK: So it's–it's–it's not going to be very sustainable. So I think, "Yeah, having Navy volunteers for this would be a better idea actually, especially for y'all's situation. That way when we leave, you still have this community, that you can just keep on going."

01:01:02.340 - 01:01:20.130

So, we would have practices around, I think, like, 6 or 7 in the evening. I think it's, like, more seven in the evening because that's when all the recruits' training would be done.

01:01:20.980 - 01:01:34.810

And they're all, you know, just sweaty, sweaty boys and girls, just trying to beat the heat and be in the chapel. Some of them really did not want to be there, but it was [laughs], you know, close to relative comfort, I guess.

01:01:35.170 - 01:01:48.760

But, yeah, I–I just had everyone there for, like, three hours, four hours at a time. Sometimes we just rehearse, like, once a week and then–and then we'd sing Sundays.

01:01:48.970 - 01:02:05.920

It was very–it was very, very interesting. And, I think they're still doing it, but with different choirmasters now. I hope they're still doing it, I haven't actually followed up on that. But, my philosophy with that—I–I did not hold—I don't hold—I usually

01:02:05.920 - 01:02:18.910

don't hold auditions. I think everyone can sing. And I–I make sure that, you know, like, sometimes as people who–who teach choirs.

01:02:19.120 - 01:02:32.470

Sometimes we're just giving them the part that they're not—it's not the best for them to sing. There are—there's always a part for someone in choirs for me. So, I did not kick anyone out from the naval

01:02:33.470 - 01:02:52.440

choir. Much to everyone's joy, actually [laughs]. GM: That sounds like a premise for a movie: a choir GM: of–[laughs] a choir, volunteers at a naval base [laughs]. KJK: No, that's not a bad idea.

01:02:52.540 - 01:03:07.690

KJK: I might probably write that for Alley [both laughs]. GM: For sure. And before we move into your immigration experience, I GM: just had one additional question. GM: You played the lead role of the Senakulo.

01:03:09.160 - 01:03:28.840

GM: What was your experience playing this role and did you have a passion GM: for performing and/or acting specifically beforehand? KJK: I've always, you know, like everyone else, like, everyone has, like, this tiny KJK: thing where, "Oh, I could probably do a role ." [laughs] And mine

01:03:28.840 - 01:03:41.290

KJK: was not Jesus [laughs]. KJK: I played Jesus for about, like, two years for this–this KJK: production of the whole passion story. KJK: They call it the Senakulo.

01:03:41.410 - 01:03:55.310

KJK: Senakulo comes from the word "cenacle," which means the upper room where the Last KJK: Supper was held. KJK: And, before I did this role, KJK: my cousin who, again, my cousin Jay [laughs],

01:03:56.890 - 01:04:14.860

KJK: had also taken up this role for, like, three, four years, I think, before he had KJK: passed it on. And, at the time we were holding auditions, but no one was holding KJK: up and they–they were like, "You have a mustache." [laughs] KJK: It's like, "I think you can build off of that" And then, yes, it actually had worked

01:04:14.860 - 01:04:27.730

KJK: out well. KJK: And, we had, like, we had some—what do KJK: you call them—improv classes. KJK: We did mostly improv classes that weren't necessarily comedic.

01:04:27.760 - 01:04:42.970

KJK: They were just, like, improv acting classes held by this guy KJK: who was also with a big television network for a while before he went KJK: into, like, community theater. KJK: And then, the thing with me is that

01:04:43.120 - 01:04:59.380

KJK: I suck at memorizing lines. KJK: I really do, which is funny too, because when I was in high school, I KJK: was the big orator of the–of the school. KJK: Like, they'd–they'd send me out to, like, perform all these pieces and, like, perform

01:04:59.380 - 01:05:16.690

KJK: all these speeches and poems and all that stuff [laughs]. KJK: But the biggest struggle with me is memorizing lines. KJK: But quite thankfully, because it was an open space and we were expecting about, KJK: like, about 300 people to come, it was a one-night-only

01:05:17.290 - 01:05:32.770

KJK: event for every year. KJK: And, my–my—our voices wouldn't carry KJK: if–if we had done it without microphones or anything. So, the producer was like, "Well, maybe we could just pre-record all your

01:05:32.770 - 01:05:48.310

lines. And then you could just lip-sync them." And we were like, "Yes!" [laughs] Yeah, so, we did this for about two years. And one funny thing about that–that production, the second one, so in

01:05:48.310 - 01:06:04.660

the Jesus story, after he dies, like, one of the Roman soldiers–one of the Roman soldiers would poke him on the side. And as the story goes, like, blood would–blood would go out and then water would come after.

01:06:04.660 - 01:06:18.850

And this would practically say that Jesus was divine. He was both, like, human and God, you know. And, before I had taken my final breath on stage [laughs], one of the soldiers was, like, super excited.

01:06:19.330 - 01:06:39.440

As I was looking up, he had poked me on the side, which prompted me to be like, "[Sighs]," like, actually die from the spear wound as opposed to just die from being tired, I guess [laughs]. Yeah, that was fun, I–I always considered myself as an okay

01:06:39.470 - 01:06:51.800

actor, I'd say. Would I do it again? Probably. But I–I won't do a lead role anymore. I was a bad lead [laughs]–lead actor.

01:06:51.980 - 01:07:03.730

I've always come–come to call times late. No problem for the director, because he knew I'd–I'd–I'd be on my–I'd be on my lines, right? I'd do everything right.

01:07:03.740 - 01:07:21.510

It would suck for everyone else because, you know, they're there at 8 p.m, and they're already, like, dressed up and all that stuff [laughs], and I'm just running there all sweaty, and it's like, "Okay, where do you want me?" And said, "Okay, big movie star," you know [laughs]?

01:07:24.560 - 01:07:40.160

But yes, I think I can still–I can still do some stage time, but it's not in the big list of priorities right now. GM: Yeah, theater is always a crazy experience I believe everyone should GM: do at least once.

01:07:40.160 - 01:07:56.630

GM: But, I mean, it's for some people and not for others. GM: But that sounds like such a fun experience. GM: So, moving on to the next section, your immigration GM: experience. So, in 2015, fairly recently, you

01:07:57.080 - 01:08:10.370

GM: moved from the Philippines to Houston. GM: What were your reasons for moving and moving to Houston GM: specifically? KJK: I think the whole move was just inspired by practicality.

01:08:11.870 - 01:08:29.670

KJK: When–when I was younger, we always had the plan of moving here. KJK: Just, like, taking advantage of the fact that since my mother KJK: was–was already an American citizen. KJK: Well, probably we should just, like—there's a chance for us, a very good chance for

01:08:29.670 - 01:08:44.780

KJK: us to move here and a pretty high chance that we'll be approved for KJK: immigration. And so we did. KJK: So, I think, when I was in the second grade or third KJK: grade, we got approved, but we didn't really do anything about it.

01:08:44.810 - 01:08:59.280

KJK: We were approved one more time when we had tried again. KJK: And we didn't do anything about it. KJK: And then came to a point where I was turning 21, KJK: and, you're, like, "Okay, now or

01:08:59.280 - 01:09:18.120

KJK: never." So we had booked all the tickets and it KJK: was supposed to be, like, a whole family thing. KJK: But the thing was, when we had noticed that we—when we were approved for the KJK: visa, mine expired earlier than

01:09:18.120 - 01:09:32.940

KJK: my sisters' were. KJK: So, the tickets were bought for May 12th, I think. KJK: Mine expired on April 26th. KJK: Because the next day I would turn 21, so they were like, "Okay, there goes

01:09:32.940 - 01:09:45.060

KJK: all your goodbye parties [laughs]. KJK: You got to book this real fast." And–and so we did. And, around that time, Houston was already home to my aunt.

01:09:45.480 - 01:10:04.270

It was my Aunt Gina who was my–my dad's sister. So–So Tita Gina already had lived here for—since '97. And she–she works as a nurse. She's still a nurse now at–at Michael DeBakey at the Veterans

01:10:04.270 - 01:10:23.290

Hospital. And, she had chosen this spot. Her–her main thing was because it was the most practical thing, low cost of living. And then, she had convinced my–my other—my, my brother's—my–my dad's brother, Edwin, to move here too.

01:10:23.470 - 01:10:42.940

And then later on, they had taken my grandfather and my grandmother to live here. And then, later on they convinced my dad to move here. And, we just moved here just because, like, family is already here mainly. And also, just cost of living as a family of eight, I

01:10:42.940 - 01:10:58.970

think it is—it'd be very helpful to find a city that already had a low cost of living. So yeah, it was quite an experien—it's quite a weird experience coming here too [laughs]. By yourself, by the way.

01:10:58.970 - 01:11:14.720

Because prior to then I did not—I–I–I–I had never flown a plane. I've flown in a plane—ridden a plane, I should say [laughs]. And, like, my first stop was China.

01:11:15.620 - 01:11:32.800

It was a little bit hard for me, for people to not understand what I was trying to say. And then, eight hours later, coming to Houston, it was a—I thought I was ready for it.

01:11:33.840 - 01:11:50.100

Mainly because, like, "Oh, he's like a—he's the–the most Americanized one in–in the bunch." [laughs] But no, it's just totally different. I always thought of Houston, like, specifically Houston, as like a cleaner Manila.

01:11:50.950 - 01:12:06.880

Because, you still have all these Spanish, like, I would say, Hispanic–Hispanic influences in, like, all the—in the style of the buildings here. And the people, it's still, like, practically the same amount of heat that we do

01:12:06.880 - 01:12:23.170

just [laughs], San Antonio was just a little less humid, you know [laughs] . And then just food, the people that you meet here, it's practically the same. What sucks is that everyone thinks I was so young.

01:12:24.530 - 01:12:41.810

Because I was quite skinny back then, when I had first moved here. At one time at a Foodarama by 59 and Bellfort, I was stopped by an old lady and she was just haranguing me like, "Aren't you supposed to be in school?" [laughs] And it's like, "No, lady, I've done my time." [laughs]

01:12:46.250 - 01:13:00.390

GM: In the Philippines, what is the general attitude on moving to GM: America? KJK: It is the biggest goal. KJK: I think a lot of people's dreams get crushed when they don't get approved for

01:13:00.390 - 01:13:15.890

KJK: anything. So, they would, you know, in, like, KJK: a better li—for the lack of term, is they're practically KJK: straightening–straightening themselves up, just so they can get the KJK: opportunity of going here.

01:13:15.890 - 01:13:29.720

KJK: Just even just visiting at least. KJK: Because, as sad as it is, people still think that this is the promised land and not the KJK: Philippines, you see. KJK: And, they try and try, I do remember

01:13:29.720 - 01:13:45.810

KJK: my–my friend who had—I had worked with in college, KJK: their family had been trying for years and years and years. KJK: And then after both of his parents died, the decision had just come KJK: and they were declined for it.

01:13:45.810 - 01:14:00.300

KJK: So, it's—there are a lot of, like, sad stories KJK: about that. KJK: And some–some are just, like, extremely lucky. KJK: And—but yeah, like, everyone's main goal if they can, they'd go out of the Philippines

01:14:00.300 - 01:14:17.680

KJK: . Because, for some people there really is nothing there for them. KJK: They find their calling in, like, some place like the UAE, KJK: or any of the Middle Eastern countries where there's, like, jobs aplenty. KJK: It's either that or they move to Japan.

01:14:18.170 - 01:14:34.460

KJK: And, mainly they take on entertainer KJK: jobs. Which is like—just, like, singing, dancing. KJK: It's quite lucrative, even if they go to Hong Kong as well. KJK: But to some people, they're, like, house health—house help.

01:14:35.490 - 01:14:51.830

KJK: They–they make for cheaper construction employees, which is KJK: sad, actually. KJK: And yeah, like, anything that is—anything that—it's–it's KJK: a job and it's ten times bigger than that—what they'd make in the

01:14:51.830 - 01:15:05.520

KJK: Philippines. Oh, they'd totally go for that. KJK: Yeah. GM: Did you experience any major culture shock when you GM: arrived?

01:15:07.810 - 01:15:22.660

KJK: Not–not a lot quite thankfully. KJK: I was a little bit informed of, like, injustices and KJK: all–all–all the stuff that comes with it through, KJK: surprisingly, late night comedy.

01:15:23.330 - 01:15:41.660

KJK: There's this channel in the Philippines called "JackTV" that just KJK: had everything—it's weird, that channel, by the way, because I wouldn't think KJK: of anyone who would be comedy aficionados. KJK: But if you were a comedy aficionado here in the US, that

01:15:41.660 - 01:15:55.190

KJK: is–that is Valhalla. KJK: It's–it's just—everything that is good about comedy, something that is, KJK: like, all the late night shows, even something KJK: as–as a deep cut as Dave Attell's "Insomnia,"

01:15:57.140 - 01:16:10.520

KJK: they have it there. KJK: And most of these comedians who thankfully are liberal. KJK: So the content that they would produce is something that actually looks into, KJK: like—it's small things such as racism or poverty,

01:16:11.540 - 01:16:29.340

KJK: making–making them pretty digestible to me, you KJK: know. As–as opposed to, like, seeing the actual viscera of it. KJK: So when I came here, I had–I had the idea of what was going on KJK: here. But there would be times when I would still

01:16:29.850 - 01:16:45.310

KJK: be shocked at the amount of, like, stuff that y'all are still dealing KJK: here—y'all are still–still dealing with here. KJK: That we–we, you know, like, I wish it was better [laughs]. KJK: So, simple stuff like that.

01:16:45.310 - 01:16:59.470

KJK: But like, food-wise. KJK: Oh my God. Houston is–is a haven for any kind of food that you would KJK: think of. Like, there's a—if you wanted, like, a good Jamaican place, there's a good Jamaican

01:16:59.470 - 01:17:12.080

place. Something—Mongolian barbecue, there's—just name it, we have it. That's the best thing about Houston, when it comes to food. And then, I also can't believe of the amount of,

01:17:13.610 - 01:17:31.870

you know, like, it's–it's something as simple as, like, seeing, like, big things, like, the Rockets or, you know, the Lakers. If they play in, like, one stadium, they're relatively affordable. And these are world stars, like, I would—I

01:17:31.870 - 01:17:47.860

could never imagine seeing, like, a game like that, you know, when [laughs] these are like—yeah, like, really big things that you'd think, like, you can't achieve. But, I think that's what the American dream is about, like, to–to an outsider looking in, I guess.

01:17:48.560 - 01:18:01.260

It's just they're–they're within reach. You just have to, like [laughs], make a way to them. And, like, also, me playing for my heroes, I guess.

01:18:01.260 - 01:18:15.740

That's–that's the biggest [laughs] thing, of all places, here in Houston [laughs] ? So that was fun. And, I think one thing that I had always encountered was the fact that people think I'm young.

01:18:17.780 - 01:18:34.410

People think I'm so young. Especially when I have—when I don't have my–my facial hair on. The last month, actually, this was last month, we had went to Ninfa's on Navigation, me and my partner, and this is

01:18:34.410 - 01:18:44.820

just relatively—just fresh off of the cut. So we went there for lunch. They had asked for my ID, but not [laughs] hers. We were just grabbing mimosas.

01:18:46.660 - 01:18:59.980

That—and also I get stopped a lot. And then people ask me for my—from what culture I'm from. Like, "What are you?" I think is, like, one of the biggest questions that—the most

01:18:59.980 - 01:19:16.700

questions I've actually answered. They–they could be as wild as, you know, "Are you Mongolian?" Mostly it's, "Are you Vietnamese?" People speak to me in Spanish and say, you know, like, say these things without asking me [laughs] if I know how to

01:19:16.730 - 01:19:28.050

speak Spanish first. Yeah, it's like—it's pretty interesting. And this also comes back to you. When I–when I was in the Philippines, people thought I was an outsider.

01:19:29.120 - 01:19:45.140

Because A) my last name, and B) I just look different. And then it's–it's also the same experience here [laughs]. So I kind of, like–I kind of, like, see what most Filipino-Americans or even, you know, other culture dash Americans feel

01:19:45.860 - 01:20:02.830

like. But to me, it was, like, my whole life, I guess [laughs] . In both countries that I am from and went to, you know. So it's such a weird experience. Another good— yeah, top of my head right now, I couldn't think of, like, other things

01:20:02.830 - 01:20:18.500

. But I might just, like, shout them in the middle of the interview [laughs]. GM: Go right ahead. GM: We're gonna touch more on this later, regarding your GM: involvement with the Filipino community in Houston.

01:20:18.500 - 01:20:35.660

GM: But, immediately after moving here, did you find any GM: Filipino community and/or did you find it important to find it? KJK: Initially, no. KJK: I had no–I had no big

01:20:35.660 - 01:20:48.280

KJK: desire, at least. KJK: I had no big desire to find the Filipino community here. KJK: Because my big thinking when I was here is, like, if you are in KJK: this place, you got to learn other cultures if you can.

01:20:48.290 - 01:21:02.630

KJK: Because, if I'm just looking for a–a piece of home, you KJK: know. I've already had that for 20 years. KJK: I think I'm already good [laughs] with learning as much as I can with the KJK: Filipinos, at least around that time.

01:21:02.930 - 01:21:22.580

KJK: And then, I think, it KJK: was only, like, five years later when I had started playing music here KJK: more. The vocalist for our band, KJK: she–she was with FYP, Filipino Young Professionals and

01:21:22.580 - 01:21:36.850

KJK: she was the president of it. KJK: And she was like, "Oh, you should come to–you should come to, like, an event that KJK: you might totally like." And I was like, "Okay," and never actually go through KJK: with it. But yeah, like, beginning, back then, I–I

01:21:36.860 - 01:21:54.290

KJK: just—I didn't have the need for it at least . KJK: Because our—when we had moved, our family just KJK: became a closer-knit family. KJK: I had never felt this close to my sisters or my parents, like,

01:21:54.560 - 01:22:10.680

KJK: at any point in my life as, like, this. KJK: Because I feel like this is—this has really tested us as a family. KJK: Like how, like, you know, what kind of a unit are we? KJK: And I think, like, I–I–I already have a piece of home with me

01:22:10.680 - 01:22:26.960

KJK: at home, which I'm, like, quite thankful for. KJK: So, yeah, community wasn't really a big thing for me. KJK: I was also just, like, finding my own voice as well, as a person. KJK: Because I was just, like, all around this people all the time that I

01:22:26.960 - 01:22:41.160

KJK: needed to be me, find my own voice, find my own interests as opposed to, KJK: like, you know, "Oh, this is your interest. KJK: Let me get into that too." Yeah. GM: Yeah, that makes a lot of sense.

01:22:41.250 - 01:22:57.060

GM: So moving into our last section before our conclusion GM: questions, just about all your different career and community GM: involvements in Houston. GM: So you've worked multiple jobs in Houston.

01:22:57.810 - 01:23:14.800

GM: What was your experience at your first job in the States? KJK: I feel like I was doing too much. KJK: I came from a work ethic where you have to do—you have to really go KJK: above and beyond.

01:23:14.800 - 01:23:31.850

KJK: And, it doesn't matter, like, how much they pay you for KJK: it. And, so, you know, if I can work it, I'll work KJK: it. Here's the toxic thing. KJK: If I'm sick, if I can stand up, I'll work, which is still

01:23:31.850 - 01:23:47.470

KJK: a thing that I'm trying to shake off. KJK: It was–it was quite weird because it was Starbucks, and that was my first job KJK: here. And I couldn't find, like, an actual job to, like, after six [laughs] months KJK: of staying here.

01:23:47.470 - 01:24:02.840

KJK: I was, like, quite thankful I–I had that job. KJK: People were great. KJK: Sometimes, since they haven't had their cup of coffee, they could be very, very KJK: harsh. So, I had to, like, emotionally, like, I–I–I did

01:24:02.840 - 01:24:15.860

KJK: not feel I was emotionally equipped for that [laughs]. KJK: The amount of instant verbal abuse. KJK: Yeah, it was quite hard. KJK: And I was only being paid, like, $8 an hour.

01:24:17.200 - 01:24:30.430

KJK: Around that time when everyone else is a barista would be, like, you know, they get KJK: paid more than this. KJK: And then, just through conversations, I found out that everyone else was being KJK: paid more than I was.

01:24:30.430 - 01:24:44.530

KJK: And I was like, "I do more work than you." [laughs] And this is just KJK: coming from my own voice, you know. KJK: It just—it sucked. KJK: But I think just coming from my values, coming into it, I still loved it.

01:24:45.360 - 01:24:57.000

KJK: It's—and I did not have the vocabulary for it KJK: then. But, like, right now, looking back at it was toxic. KJK: But did I have fun? KJK: Oh, boy, did I, yeah.

01:25:00.020 - 01:25:12.730

GM: After that, you worked as a medical records bookmarker and veteran GM: evaluation services. GM: Did you pursue the medical field or the VA for any GM: specific reason?

01:25:12.730 - 01:25:28.250

GM: And what was your experience working with the veterans in particular? KJK: So that–that job was actually referred to me by a former shift KJK: supervisor that I had. KJK: So that company, in just, like, small circles, like,

01:25:28.610 - 01:25:44.200

KJK: people are either there because they're musicians or they're baristas [laughs]. KJK: Because they're all mostly referrals. KJK: And my friend had–my friend KJK: had—the head referred me to apply for that position.

01:25:44.200 - 01:26:00.750

KJK: It was good for me because it was just a desk job, you know. KJK: And, seeing as, like, I don't know, KJK: as an immigrant coming here, most of the people who I see who are KJK: panhandling, they just say they're Vietnam vets.

01:26:01.650 - 01:26:16.680

KJK: And I was like, this sucks. KJK: You know, whether or not that's true or not, the fact of the matter KJK: that we can stereotype that and write that into a stereotype, you know, that's–that's KJK: not a thing—that shouldn't be a thing.

01:26:16.680 - 01:26:35.910

KJK: So, I was like, "Maybe I could help out veterans in this case." And that job KJK: was, if they applied for a knee thing, like– like, they have problems with their KJK: knee regarding—whether or not it was KJK: their fault or someone else's fault, we'd have to look up all their medical

01:26:35.910 - 01:26:52.050

KJK: records from page one to page 3000 and check out anything that KJK: says "knee." And then we'd pass that on to other people, to the next department to see whether or not this is a claim that they could, you

01:26:52.050 - 01:27:04.740

know, they could have a claim for it, the medical claims for it. That was a fun job. I was sat a lot. But around that time, I did not appreciate work that is sitting down.

01:27:04.950 - 01:27:16.680

I'm–I'm too easily distracted [laughs]. But yeah, that was fun. You only had to do, like, 10,000 pages a day. That was the quota.

01:27:16.920 - 01:27:29.950

But if you can do more, you can do more. If you wanted to do weekends. And I appreciated that, but around the time my heart also wasn't—not not–not my heart, but my–my circumstance, actually.

01:27:29.950 - 01:27:46.170

Because around the time when I was supposed to be at work, I was still driving my mother. She—[laughs]. I was also severely depressed around that time, which had, you know, my–my—I could have performed better, I guess, looking back at

01:27:46.170 - 01:28:05.540

it. But yes, it was a–it was a— it was quite a thing as a job to do, this job there. GM: Thank you for sharing. GM: And, following working for the VA, and to my knowledge,

01:28:06.020 - 01:28:22.130

GM: up to present day, correct me if I'm wrong, you worked as a GM: self-employed attendant and assisted parents of children with disabilities. GM: What made you want to work self-employed, and can you share more about this GM: experience in particular?

01:28:22.490 - 01:28:39.770

KJK: Ooh, so that one—so my cousin, this is actually KJK: my cousin. My cousin has cerebral palsy and he needs KJK: a–he needs a walker to walk around. KJK: And around the time that I was unemployed, this is a really low point for me because my

01:28:39.770 - 01:28:54.770

KJK: grandmother had also died around that time. KJK: I received a phone call from my aunt, my Tita Kristine, and KJK: this is my—Tito Edwin's wife. KJK: And he's like, "Hey, would you like to take care of Jonathan?"

01:28:54.770 - 01:29:09.130

KJK: And Jonathan is my cousin. KJK: He–he had really taken a liking for me. KJK: And I was like, "Okay, I could probably do that." Back then it was under a KJK: company. And the thing was,

01:29:09.670 - 01:29:28.140

KJK: his particular circumstance had–had KJK: made it–had made that benefit unavailable for him when they had changed the rules. KJK: So they were like, "Okay, we'll just pay you the same amount that you've been earning KJK: with that–that company.

01:29:28.140 - 01:29:45.940

KJK: He can just stay here with us and then, like, help us, like, get him off the bus, KJK: just—practically, the idea is babysitting. KJK: So, while they're still working on their things, like, do, like, errands. KJK: If they have to stay at work and do overtime, at least they can easily do

01:29:45.940 - 01:30:04.190

KJK: that without worrying about taking care of Jonathan. KJK: Yeah, and I've been doing that all the way up 'til today, and I think that is the KJK: longest job [laughs] I've ever had. GM: Thank you for sharing.

01:30:04.610 - 01:30:19.790

GM: Sorry if it seems like I'm skipping around a lot. GM: You just have so many different things that you have been involved in, so I'm trying to GM: hit all of them in the time [KJK: Yeah!] I have left. GM: But if you need to slow down or if you want to elaborate on one later, then

01:30:19.790 - 01:30:32.800

GM: feel free to let me know. GM: And so, also since 2014, even in the Philippines to GM: now, you've also worked as a freelance musician. GM: You've brought this up throughout the interview.

01:30:32.800 - 01:30:45.800

GM: You've opened and sessioned for several artists. GM: So, can you share with us your experience with music GM: and the genre of music that you specifically like to work GM: with?

01:30:46.960 - 01:31:02.590

KJK: I usually do alternative stuff, like, guitar-based KJK: music is mainly my thing. KJK: I started out playing here— I started playing music here as a keyboardist, KJK: and then, they found out I wasn't that great [laughs] at it.

01:31:03.430 - 01:31:18.100

KJK: I was a good fill-in, but yeah, I started playing guitar music, and then they saw that KJK: I had good stage energy, and people had started hiring me KJK: for their other stuff. KJK: So when, like, a big Filipino artist comes to

01:31:18.220 - 01:31:33.760

KJK: town, they would hire me to play guitars or bass or KJK: anything that they need for their tour. KJK: I could—I sometimes would be hired as a backup musician just in case KJK: their actual hired musician can't play.

01:31:34.030 - 01:31:49.460

KJK: So I'd also learn those parts. KJK: Like, I think, my–my the biggest thing under my belt is, I got to open KJK: for three-fourths of The Eraserheads [laughs], which is pretty great. KJK: They're–they're often called as "The Beatles of the

01:31:49.460 - 01:32:06.700

KJK: Philippines." They're the reason why there is a big music scene in the Philippines, KJK: in–in the scene where it was KJK: mostly balladeers? KJK: They were, like, the guitar band that just had broken through that.

01:32:06.700 - 01:32:24.540

KJK: And it was just amazing opening for them [laughs]. KJK: All three of them. And then also all other indie artists. KJK: If you–if you had heard The Black Eyed Peas song KJK: "Bebot" or—it's played at every Filipino event.

01:32:24.930 - 01:32:42.780

KJK: But yeah, so that and the–the APL song because one of the–one of the KJK: artists there is Filipino—aple.de.ap. KJK: They–they had sampled the two songs from this band called Asin. KJK: And I had the–the opportunity to play guitar for

01:32:43.170 - 01:32:59.950

KJK: the guy who had written that, and that was also amazing. KJK: Also, he—there's a lot of wisdom that he just gives out as he plays KJK: too. So, it's just awesome. KJK: And then just, like, sometimes getting pulled, because they know I'm a musician, so,

01:32:59.950 - 01:33:17.690

KJK: like, I'm in the audience, just, like, watching the things, and he's like, "Hey! KJK: Play guitar." And then, you know, I'm—I don't play lead guitar KJK: very well, but apparently I'm okay [laughs] on stage [laughs]. KJK: That's–That's a fun thing as a musician to experience.

01:33:20.830 - 01:33:38.440

GM: What would you say are the differences between the music scenes in Houston GM: and where you were living at in the Philippines? KJK: The Philippines, it was more perfectionist. KJK: Like, audiences will eat you

01:33:38.440 - 01:33:54.250

KJK: alive if you call yourself a cover band and don't KJK: play as if you're playing like the actual track. KJK: It really has to be, like, on point. KJK: And over here, the younger Filipino musicians

01:33:54.820 - 01:34:14.210

KJK: here, they're more–they're more a jam type kind KJK: of—they're more just jam, like, whatever you feeling like playing. KJK: If you don't play it well, it's okay, you know, like, that's what's in your KJK: heart. There were—they are a little bit more looser now than they are in the Philippines.

01:34:14.420 - 01:34:32.500

KJK: And it—it's–it's just–it's just fun that you can just play one song for KJK: the next 12 minutes, just, you know, please yourselves [laughs] KJK: . As opposed to, like, a crowd in the Philippines that, you know, they just, you KJK: know, is—you have to be, like, the actual track.

01:34:32.860 - 01:34:48.900

KJK: And one thing I–I do notice, as opposed to, like, the Filipino scene in KJK: general, whether or not it be here in Houston or the KJK: Philippines, they're a sit-down kind of crowd. KJK: They like sitting down during concerts.

01:34:48.910 - 01:35:01.090

KJK: So when I go to, like, a—when—my first concerts here, KJK: everyone was just sat up. KJK: I—my knees are tired, friend [laughs]. KJK: It's, like, really four more hours of this.

01:35:01.270 - 01:35:16.180

KJK: It's, like, yeah. So that was, like, quite a–quite a experience. KJK: But here, like, if it's, like, a dance party, I want to stand KJK: up and dance, I can't [laughs]. KJK: Because everyone prefers just to sit down, have a beer, have

01:35:16.180 - 01:35:32.090

KJK: a—have some food and just enjoy the show. KJK: And since Philippines—the–the Philippines is also a big karaoke country, KJK: they love singing along, especially if it's their favorite song. KJK: They would sometimes sing louder than you would.

01:35:33.260 - 01:35:49.550

KJK: And my experiences as a–as a musician at Gerry's KJK: Grill, sometimes they just, like, grab the mic from you. KJK: Not because you sing it bad, but just because out of pure joy [laughs]. KJK: They just want to sing "What's Up" by 4 Non Blondes [laughs].

01:35:52.310 - 01:36:06.100

GM: That sounds awesome. GM: So, currently, in addition to also your freelancing GM: work in music, you work as a youth outreach director and risk management director of GM: Filipino Young Professionals [KJK: Mhm].

01:36:06.100 - 01:36:26.240

GM: What inspired you to take this role and what is your experience like? KJK: Coming back to that story about my friend, Stella, who had been the KJK: president, she had pulled me into one of the–one KJK: of the events thinking that she was going to be there, I

01:36:26.330 - 01:36:41.780

KJK: had very severe social anxiety back then [laughs]. KJK: Couldn't find her there. KJK: And, they had this thing called "Meet and Eat," which is–is just a small gathering. KJK: And someone had presented a—I think about the Filipino

01:36:41.960 - 01:36:53.990

KJK: immigration story. KJK: Her name is Pinky. KJK: She–she had just recently released a book about Filipino stories. KJK: And she was, like, practically doing, like, the prototype of it at

01:36:53.990 - 01:37:10.600

KJK: that event. And all the members had just, like, talked me KJK: into, like, "Oh, probably can join us dancing." KJK: I love performing Filipino dances, like, I do them all the KJK: time, if anyone would invite me.

01:37:10.600 - 01:37:26.400

KJK: And so I did. KJK: I joined that, and then someone had tried to invite me to a dragon boat, the KJK: dragon boat team. And I was like, I think that's for someone else [laughs]. KJK: And, during my time with the Cultural Ambassadors, which is the–the dance

01:37:26.400 - 01:37:42.170

KJK: group of the–of the–of the KJK: nonprofit. They–they were telling me, "Hey, we need this person to KJK: be–to be in charge of the youth outreach, which takes care of the KJK: scholarships for our group."

01:37:42.860 - 01:37:59.150

And I was like, "Okay, let me try my shot at it." And, when I was being trained, I was, like, showing, like, "Oh, we," like, "it's not only just a networking group. It's, like, an actual group that does things." It's a, you know, it's community

01:37:59.150 - 01:38:15.430

organizing. So, I–I had looked for kids with Filipino ancestry. Or kids who do things for Filipino organizations, not necessarily being Filipino themselves.

01:38:15.430 - 01:38:31.220

Offer the scholarships to them and like guide them through the process and then just make sure that, you know, [laughs] they submit their documents on time. And, I did that for a couple of years. And then, right now, I'm actually the risk management

01:38:31.730 - 01:38:50.740

director. And I–I take the back seat and watch everyone work and then just slap their wrists if it's something that is deemed, you know, like, a—might pose as a legal problem or something that is far away from–far away from our mission and

01:38:50.830 - 01:39:04.420

vision goals. And also, you know, you're spending too much . Slap [laughs]. GM: You also currently work as an H-E-B overnight coverage lead and stocker?

01:39:04.570 - 01:39:18.210

GM: Does working an overnight job allow you the time to pursue GM: all your interests? GM: Or is it sometimes a hindrance to your [KJK: It—] work-lifestyle? KJK: It is the biggest hindrance, I think.

01:39:18.210 - 01:39:31.850

KJK: Because since everyone operates on the daytime, if I KJK: do, like, social stuff or any errands, I'm—I just have one brain KJK: cell in the daytime. KJK: Although, I do have insomnia.

01:39:31.850 - 01:39:49.930

KJK: Sometimes if you need all those mental faculties, you can't. KJK: I think I did 2 or 3 job KJK: interviews, badly—don't tell my boss, but I did three [laughs] interviews KJK: that I felt I could have done just better, just by

01:39:49.930 - 01:40:01.420

KJK: having enough sleep. KJK: And, you know, I can't take that back, but it really is a big hindrance. KJK: And mostly as an overnight person and someone who loves going to KJK: concerts.

01:40:01.420 - 01:40:19.690

KJK: Like, if Mitski comes in on a Wednesday and I have to work on a KJK: Wednesday, you know, I have to use a day off, a paid KJK: time off, just so I can still cover all my expenses and also enjoy Mitski. KJK: But the [laughs] problem is, like, my love of concerts,

01:40:19.690 - 01:40:37.040

KJK: all of that, if you compound all of that, that's all my paid time off. KJK: And I never really have time to go on vacation. KJK: Like, you know, as, like, most people would go out of town for, like, a week or two. KJK: I–I can't because I don't have the paid time off for

01:40:37.040 - 01:40:53.360

KJK: it. I just use it all off on concerts. KJK: It sucks. Or when there are, like, social events that happen at KJK: 7, and then they might go as late as 11 or 12, KJK: you know, I have to leave at 9 just so I can get to the store at 10.

01:40:53.600 - 01:41:08.750

KJK: It sucks because at around 9, that's just when the party's cooking, you know [laughs] KJK: . And just leaving at the heat of it. KJK: So, yeah, it's–it's certainly has been a big hindrance. KJK: And also, I–I was planning on releasing some music

01:41:10.040 - 01:41:26.000

KJK: last spring. KJK: The amount of time that I had for creativity was just spent on resting. KJK: It certainly kills you creatively too, working an overnight job. GM: That totally makes sense.

01:41:26.780 - 01:41:42.530

GM: Moving into the next question, since 2021, you GM: have helped organize the Houston Filipino Street Festival. GM: How does the Houston Filipino community compare with Filipinos GM: back in your country?

01:41:43.470 - 01:42:03.750

KJK: It's–it's quite a—it's quite interesting because KJK: Filipinos they're–they're more—they're–they're—I KJK: think to better put it, I think Filipinos here are more enthusiastic of KJK: things like this, as opposed to Filipinos over there.

01:42:03.750 - 01:42:20.370

KJK: So if I put out a festival over there, you know, sometimes they have the time, they'll KJK: just go. Some people over here, they would actually make calendar entries KJK: for it, which is also, you know, not a Filipino thing to do, calendar entries KJK: [laughs]. You just show up when you can, if you remember.

01:42:20.430 - 01:42:39.840

KJK: And—but working a festival here, KJK: you also have to be mindful about everyone's emotional and personal KJK: needs or, like, you have to see it in their context KJK: as well, because not only are we catering to, like, Filipinos who immigrated

01:42:39.840 - 01:42:58.870

KJK: here, we're also dealing with kids who had grown up as Filipino KJK: Americans in a household that they don't necessarily have that good KJK: generational, you know, relationship with their parents, and are finding KJK: their own Filipino roots and sometimes have a struggle with it.

01:42:58.870 - 01:43:17.230

KJK: So, we do take that into consideration when we're planning things KJK: like this, you know, so, like, something like poetry, which KJK: is a little bit undervalued in the Philippines, KJK: it's still criminally undervalued over here.

01:43:17.380 - 01:43:33.130

KJK: However, there is a community that appreciates that. KJK: We–we incorporate that. KJK: There is, like, dances that people rarely see that KJK: I'm glad that the–the Filipino Young Professionals just, you know, like, just

01:43:33.130 - 01:43:46.540

KJK: bring home to–to people who can't see it. KJK: And it's–it's–it's–it's quite interesting the Filipino community, prepping things KJK: for the Filipino community here. KJK: And they're not as hotheaded.

01:43:46.540 - 01:44:00.070

KJK: I–I should ask, I should add that [laughs]. KJK: If there's one thing that Filipinos are known for, it's their temper [laughs]. KJK: Over here, they're–they're more chill. KJK: And I think that's also a Houston thing added to that.

01:44:03.300 - 01:44:20.550

GM: I know you mentioned this earlier in regards to the sort of GM: Filipino work ethic that you mentioned bringing GM: over to America. GM: How do you balance all these activities, your work,

01:44:20.550 - 01:44:38.240

GM: artistic and community involvement activities? GM: Would you say you're successful at GM: or enjoy multitasking and keeping busy? GM: And you've mentioned a little bit of this in this interview, but do you experience

01:44:38.240 - 01:44:52.770

GM: burnout? KJK: I do experience burnout from time to time. KJK: But I do love being busy, like, doing things, like, left and right if I KJK: can, because I do have this terrible thing where

01:44:53.580 - 01:45:07.740

KJK: if I'm just at home, I don't do anything [laughs]. KJK: I'm just sad and just, like, passed out, you know? KJK: And, sometimes it's not "I'm tired" kind of thing. KJK: Sometimes I just don't know what to do with myself and I'm just alone.

01:45:07.740 - 01:45:23.640

KJK: I'm, like, too bored to watch something, too bored to[laughs]–to read something. KJK: Sometimes I just want, like, want to do other things. KJK: It's pretty great. I love keeping myself busy. KJK: Some people say, "Well, how do you do it?" I—the thing

01:45:23.640 - 01:45:39.660

KJK: for me is I just do. KJK: Like, if my heart is in it, I will put my 100% in it. KJK: Although, just recently, I do have a friend who for KJK: years has been telling me, "Maybe you should appreciate what rest

01:45:39.690 - 01:45:55.770

KJK: is." You know, and ever since then, I had been, like, KJK: taking–taking a step back and making sure that I'm breathing before I KJK: just run into the daily grind. KJK: And now I really appreciate that–that Talking Heads song "Home is where I want to

01:45:55.770 - 01:46:13.220

KJK: be," I think. And, like, right now, I'm just, like, more homebound than I KJK: am, like, going outside [laughs]. GM: Along that line, how did the Covid-19 pandemic affect your GM: lines of work and your experience?

01:46:14.950 - 01:46:32.760

KJK: Apart from—no—nothing KJK: musical going on which had sucked for me. KJK: It was just—I think for me as a–as a KJK: grocery worker, it's just, like, life just went on, I'm just wearing a

01:46:32.760 - 01:46:51.340

KJK: mask. And, since I didn't have anything else, KJK: like, the FYP thing, we just did virtual checkups and stuff KJK: . And, there was nothing social to do. KJK: Like all of my energies from doing the other things were transferred into this one

01:46:51.340 - 01:47:06.640

KJK: job that-it was hell [laughs]. KJK: Especially everyone needing toilet paper and all the flu stuff. KJK: It was crazy. KJK: I would—akin—this would be akin to— you

01:47:06.640 - 01:47:20.170

KJK: know that scene—I don't know if you-you've watched Game of Thrones—but there is a scene KJK: there where they were fighting this KJK: army of the undead. KJK: And they were just, like, waiting for them to come.

01:47:20.530 - 01:47:31.740

KJK: And they–they just come. KJK: And this was, like, 6:00 in the morning. KJK: And back then, before the pandemic, there would only be, like, 2 or 3 people just, KJK: like, buying some stuff.

01:47:31.750 - 01:47:50.090

KJK: It would be a swarm of hundreds of people that would come in, and this was in the KJK: beginning of the pandemic, where everyone's just looking for alcohol, masks that we KJK: had. But we just, like, often run out because people would just, like, stock up on KJK: it. And it was pretty stressful, like, doing all

01:47:50.300 - 01:48:09.420

KJK: of that. But, like, the thing I missed the most, I guess, KJK: was just playing music during Covid, because I–I—that KJK: is my—that is my free therapy, you KJK: know. And yeah, I think it—just emotionally, yeah,

01:48:10.200 - 01:48:26.280

KJK: I was just, like, a—I feel a little bit emotionally checked out because of KJK: that—because I couldn't, like, express myself in–in the way that I KJK: wanted to express myself. KJK: I just had to be, you know, the very good overnight stocker.

01:48:27.540 - 01:48:42.670

KJK: And yeah, it was–it was a killer for me emotionally. GM: For sure, I could see how that would be very debilitating for you, especially GM: concerning your—you and your interests. GM: That's totally understandable.

01:48:43.280 - 01:49:01.310

GM: This is the last question before we get to our conclusion questions for this interview. GM: You currently reside in Sugar Land. GM: How is living in Sugar Land? KJK: No, actually I had moved closer to—I'm

01:49:01.310 - 01:49:08.780

KJK: by Minute Maid now. KJK: I had moved... GM: Oh, okay, cool. KJK: Yeah. But I used to live in Sugar Land and—I'm sorry, can you repeat the question

01:49:08.780 - 01:49:22.730

KJK: for me? Like... GM: Oh, it was me just asking your experience living in Sugar Land and in the area. KJK: It was very good. KJK: I love that my parents' home was

01:49:22.730 - 01:49:38.660

KJK: just the–the accessibility of it was by Highway 6, and KJK: we were 30 minutes to everything. KJK: And when I say 30 minutes to everything, I mean everything. KJK: Even our, like, to me, my friend's places is just, like, a

01:49:38.660 - 01:49:50.540

KJK: 30-minute drive to everything. KJK: I love that it's a pretty KJK: quiet neighborhood. KJK: Nothing much going on. But, you know, it's not like a small town where you have to,

01:49:50.540 - 01:50:03.390

KJK: like, go out of your way to, like, have some essentials. KJK: Like, everything was just, like—excuse me, like, a five minute drive to, like, KJK: groceries and all. KJK: All the essentials.

01:50:04.590 - 01:50:23.700

KJK: Food, however, there's—there's a few interesting places, KJK: but if you [laughs]—if you have to go, you have to go, like, closer to KJK: Westheimer, I guess, which is for me personally, KJK: if you go above West Park, West Park Drive, I think that's a lot of effort [laughs].

01:50:29.520 - 01:50:46.150

GM: Great. Thank you for answering all these questions. GM: So, yeah, like I mentioned, we're getting into your conclusion questions now. GM: How do you identify ethnically? GM: Would you identify as Filipino or Filipino-American.

01:50:46.150 - 01:51:03.920

GM: And do you have a reasoning for your decision? KJK: I think mostly it's Filipino because—I–I mostly identify as KJK: Filipino, because I still see KJK: everything through the eyes of an outsider.

01:51:04.400 - 01:51:24.380

KJK: Although I do have the understanding of what I would I KJK: would call Filipino Americans or people who have grown up here, like, see the KJK: world and have the–have the understanding of it. KJK: I just sometimes feel, like, I still don't belong in most

01:51:24.380 - 01:51:36.400

KJK: circles, I guess. KJK: In that sense. KJK: And also just building up on 20 years KJK: of growing up in the Philippines, I

01:51:36.490 - 01:51:51.430

KJK: guess. GM: Makes sense. GM: What are your hopes for the future of the Filipino and or GM: Filipino American communities in Houston or further in the

01:51:51.430 - 01:52:08.520

GM: States? KJK: I hope that here in the—in Houston KJK: that, like, whatever–whatever KJK: groups we have now that foster to Filipino Americans, especially those who

01:52:08.520 - 01:52:21.570

KJK: have struggled with identity, like, I–I wish that KJK: people know about these things and that there–there are KJK: communities. KJK: Like, you just have to reach out.

01:52:21.720 - 01:52:35.690

KJK: The first step is just to reach out. KJK: For Filipinos everywhere, KJK: hm. I guess, like, for Filipinos back home, I would say I–I KJK: hope that there is

01:52:35.690 - 01:52:54.840

KJK: a—people are being better informed. KJK: And I hope they're making decisions based off of what is important to them, not as KJK: opposed to things that are trending. KJK: Like if they think that—it's just, like, political choices, I guess is what I'm aiming

01:52:54.840 - 01:53:16.330

KJK: at. Sometimes, they're just taking up by the fervor of it all as opposed to, KJK: "Hey, this is the decision that makes much more sense." GM: What do you like most about working with people, and GM: specifically, even younger people?

01:53:18.580 - 01:53:35.590

KJK: Curiosity. I think if something challenges, like, my day-to-day KJK: thing, if something that is out of my daily grind, I find very KJK: interesting. KJK: Es-Especially if it's something that shakes my beliefs or something that shakes,

01:53:35.590 - 01:53:46.930

KJK: like, how I perceive something. KJK: You know, so, like, I love talking to young people because they can KJK: be quite funny. KJK: Like, seeing–seeing the world through their lens, you know?

01:53:47.080 - 01:54:04.210

KJK: And sometimes you have—you think, like, you're an adult sometimes, KJK: and then, like, seeing them find KJK: their way. And then you seeing how they KJK: find their way and apply that to you.

01:54:04.220 - 01:54:31.380

KJK: It results in pretty interesting stuff. GM: And what do you want to be remembered for? KJK: I—hm, that's a very tough question, actually. KJK: I think I want to be remembered for being the best cheerleader,

01:54:32.570 - 01:54:44.130

KJK: I guess. KJK: Sometimes, I am on the spotlight, but sometimes I just prefer to be the person KJK: shining the light on people. KJK: Or, you know, just, like, doing stuff for other people.

01:54:44.620 - 01:55:00.600

KJK: I–I always go out of my way if someone needs help. KJK: Whether or not I'm close to them or not [laughs]. KJK: And I might also add, sometimes even though it is unwanted [laughs] KJK: . But, you know, in a funny way [laughs].

01:55:05.320 - 01:55:21.690

GM: Yeah. That was my last question. GM: Thank you for such a great answer. GM: Is there anything that you would like to share that we haven't covered yet? KJK: Hm...have I

01:55:24.020 - 01:55:38.360

KJK: ... no, not on my sticky notes, I guess. KJK: But yeah, unless you have other follow-up questions. GM: Nope, that's all the questions I have. GM: So, thank you so much for giving such comprehensive

01:55:39.620 - 01:55:56.690

GM: and really rich answers. GM: Truly, it's such a pleasure interviewing you. GM: You—and I think you are probably everyone's best GM: cheerleader. And so, I think you're definitely on the way to meeting

01:55:56.690 - 01:56:07.160

GM: that goal, or you've already reached it. GM: So, thank you for all that you do and for doing this interview. KJK: Mhm. Thank you so much for having me. KJK: It's been a–it's been a pleasure.

01:56:07.870 - 01:56:08.830

GM: For sure.