Along the way, because of the recession during the first Gulf War under President Bush Sr's term; the near collapse of the US economy after the attacks and downing of the World Trade Center by Islamic terrorists, followed by war in Iraq and Afghanistan during Bush Jr's administration; the Financial Crisis in 2008 which was precipitated by the bursting of the US housing bubble, and the subsequent subprime mortgage collapse due to high default rate and resulting foreclosures of mortgage loans during Obama's presidency; and my near-death car accident before the turn of the century, while living on credit cards-- our rental, deli-lottery-grocery store, and real estate businesses faltered, and flourished alternately and significantly; but our whole family became closer to God and His Divine Providence.
Moreover, our children became appreciative of their Filipino heritage, more accepting of and open to different culture and nationalities by talking to all the people who came to our store (Gie and my brother-in-law knew and called them by their first names,) while working in the cash register or the lottery machine, and through their work in high school and college, which brought plaques, awards, and commendations to them, such as: Osbert's Asian American Heritage Award for distinguished service to the Asian American Community in the Youth Sector (another recipient was Oscar's Best Director Ang Lee of Brokeback Mountain fame, who got the award in the Arts Sector) as President of Asian-American Group in Bergen Catholic, and highlighting his personal experience in an excellent essay he submitted to his college admission; and Claire-Voe's-- for mounting the first Asian Night Festival at Holy Angels School, as president of the Asian-American Society, and co-president of Barkada in Northeastern University.
On top of that, I became more exposed to all kinds of people and different races, especially since I held four different career paths in the US, just like in the Philippines, after changing jobs seven times.
And, I'm very proud to tell that the the first three people who helped me when I was new in the US were all Black-American women, who I found very welcoming, supportive, and nurturing of foreigners, who came to the US.
. Guess who welcomed and picked me up to become a Sunday lector at my new parish in St. Cecilia Roman Catholic Church (where the still unknown Frank Sinatra used to sing) in Englewood, NJ in 1981, even though I was new in the congregation; public transportations were far in between on Sundays; and I didn't have a car? Henrietta and her husband Malcolm did-- drove from Englewood to pick me up in another town, then brought me to church so that I could to go to Mass, and lector every Sunday.
I was still a bachelor then, ran out of money after travelling, doing research, and auditing classes in DC's Georgetown and Catholic Universities, while staying at the Oblate Fathers House across the Immaculate Heart of Mary Cathedral. And, guess who took a chance on me although I was overqualified as a part-time editorial assistant (and promoted to full-time college textbook production editor after six months,) had no US job experience, and passed all my English grammar battery of tests, but not my typing test after explaining to her that I was not used to an electric typewriter in the Philippines?
I was blessed, because Prentice-Hall's huge publishing house main office in Englewood Cliffs, NJ had two Personnel Managers-- a black woman and a white guy; but was lucky enough to be assigned to the black lady, who took me in to my new career in publishing, instead of teaching again (because the taxi driver who got me back to the airport in DC discouraged me from teaching, as a family man and adjunct professor of philosophy without tenure in two colleges in Washington, DC.)
And during my first winter in the US, the third black woman was kind enough to offer me car pool with her, while I was waiting for the bus to arrive and take me to work while I was at the bus stop with my umbrella because it was snowing like cats and dogs. Shirley worked across from me in Prentice-Hall, and she became friend of Gie and me later, when we moved to the same apartment complex where they lived in Bergenfield, New Jersey.
On the other hand, just like my exposure to a good Chinese physician in the Philippines, I got to know excellent Jewish professionals through word of mouth. Hence, our accountant, ophthalmologist, pediatrician, and owner of real estate brokerage franchise, my allergist, chiropractor, and lawyer, Gie's New York commercial insurance boss, internist, gynecologist, and obstetrician, and some of my real estate sellers, including a rabbi, whose home I sold in Bergenfield, when he moved to another synagogue, were all Jewish. The only exceptions were Gie's acupuncturist, our dentist, and primary doctors, who were all Chinese-Americans.
Besides, I was fortunate enough to purchase, list, and sell homes of international clients, including the house of an Evangelical Minister who also bought another home from me, and my Catholic pastor, who challenged me to buy or sell a house to a Muslim cleric or Imam in order to complete the circle in my resumé.
But aside from former Soviet bloc residents who moved to the US permanently, I also sold houses to Hindi and Muslim families. And when I needed Muslim dancers, I turned to Potri-- a real Muslim princess, and the daughter of a Sultan from the Philippines, and her world famous Kinding Sindaw Dancers from New York City, who performed in my thesis film at NYU, and graced the stage at my children's St. Therese Middle School, and the Bergenfield Public Library. She even came with fellow dancers, actors, actresses, and who's who in the Borough of Bergenfield during the first screening of my thesis feature film; and I will never forget what she said as an artist while congratulating me after the showing: Someday, you will look back and realize that you were one of the few filmmakers who actually made their dream come true.
In a span of almost 40 years since I'd been to this country, the racial inequality, and white supremacy, which I experienced myself when I came to New York City for the first time in 1981, had actually diminished, because the United States of America has become a better melting pot; and people from other countries can't wait to migrate to this land of opportunity; where a couple of migrants from a Third World country made more money in one year, than the occupants of the White House.
It's not a perfect union because there are still pockets of police brutality due to limited law enforcement training in some cities and states; and the minimum wage needs to go up more in order to spread more opportunities to working-class Americans. However, Russia and China need not comment negatively, and assume that their system is better compared to what's going on in the US today due to the Wuhan coronavirus, and civil unrest brought about by the killing of a black man by a white police officer, because what's happening now is not Tianemen Square where hundreds of people were killed; and neither is it similar to today's authoritarian regimes of Jin Ping and Putin; but rather an overdue but necessary correction because of the coming US presidential election in November 3, and the Democrats' hatred for President Donald Trump, who is pro-Life, pro-Americans, and pro-Conservatism.
I truly believe that six months from now, or 2021 will be a better year, not only because Trump will be re-elected President of the United States, but rather:
1. An effective and safe vaccine against the coronavirus will become available;
2. Socialism, fascism, and utopia will not prosper in US society and government, but will continue to flourish in colleges and universities;
3. Americans will not allow the abolishment or defunding of the police, but will support for more training and improvement of law enforcement by them, in order to get rid of lingering police brutality;
4. The nagging racism or racial inequality, and white supremacy or privilege in the country will not be tolerated any longer;
5. The minimum wage will be raised; and income inequality will be narrowed down to avoid social unrest which affects the economy, and the fabric of our country;
6. US history will be more authentic and realistic to reflect the mood of the country; but the removal of historical statues will be done by consensus, and not through the radical left;
7. The US economy will rebound, but Americans will be buying more essential things for their needs, rather than just material possessions;
8. American couples will have more children to keep them company, after losing their elders, family members, or love ones;
9. US cruising and travelling will be concentrated more domestically, or within its borders because other ports in foreign countries will continue to shutdown;
10. Inspite of social distancing, or being away from your children, grandkids, and relatives because of the pandemic, which was caused by the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus, people will become kinder or more understanding of each other than before;
11. More people will realize that wealth, power, and fame are overrated; whereas the love of God, family, and friends are indispensable; but in the end only the love of God remains; and
Finally, life is short; so get rid of BRUHA, or Bitterness, Resentments, Unforgiveness, Hatred, and Anger in your life, through Jesus Christ.
(TO BE CONTINUED WITH MORE CONCLUSIONS & PREDICTIONS...)
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