Ariel Tu

The culture of silence:
Filipino women hesitate to say #MeToo when no one says me

The #MeToo and #TimesUp movements have swept the U.S. in the last year, emboldening women to step forward to name their assailants and to demand justice for victims of sexual misconduct and violence. In the Philippines, more than 7,000 miles away, women and girls can only dream of finding similar relief in a country they describe as full of rapists, where survivors of sexual violence must remain in the shadows, afraid to speak up.

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Overeducated and underemployed:
Filipino migrants armed with degrees only find work as caregivers

Once a university dean in the Philippines, Aleja Plaza never thought she would become a caregiver for the elderly. Since she came to Los Angeles from Mindanao in 2012, her daily routine has switched from approving courses and conducting research to changing diapers and spoon feeding senior citizens.

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Keeping their heads down:
Many asians remain silent in the DACA debate

Gabrielle Cabalza was 9 years old when she realized her family was not like everyone else’s. One day after school, she walked into the dining room, where the air was dense with fear and sadness. She found her parents sobbing at the table because of a traffic ticket.

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