Nemeth Narratives

Alberto López Pulido is the founding chair of the Department of Ethnic Studies and has been on the faculty at the University of San Diego since 2003. He grew up in the South Bay and lived a life between borders and Fronteras that highly influenced his fronterizo ways of understanding the world. He received degrees in Sociology and Chicano Studies from the University of California, San Diego, and represents one of fifty-seven students who would graduate from the Mexican American Graduate Studies Program at the University of Notre Dame. Dr. Pulido aligns himself with several community organizations, none more important than the Chicano Park Steering Committee who serve as the stewards of Chicano Park in San Diego, California. Alberto's scholarly commitment to relevant education rooted in a community epistemology guides his work as Director of the Turning Wheel Mobile Classroom Project – a project that provides a mobile space for supporting the urgent needs and challenges of our local communities. The Turning Wheel Project represents a partnership between the University of San Diego and the Chicano Park Museum and Cultural Center. Dr. Pulido also serves as Vice-Chair of the CPMCC’s Board of Directors.--Facilitating the conversations are award-winning filmmakers and SDFC co-founders Benito Bautista and Emma Francisco Bautista, and Alicia de Leon Torres, Deputy Director of the Nemeth Foundation and SDFC Board Member. Sound design and edit by SDFC Technical Director, Miko Aguilar. Key art design by SDFC Communications & Social Media Manager, Tiara Liz Deriquito.Nemeth Narratives is presented by The Nemeth Foundations in partnership with San Diego Filipino Cinema and New Americans Museumsdfilipinocinema.org

Lee Ann Kim is a former TV journalist, community advocate, artist, yoga teacher, and founder of the San Diego Asian Film Festival, one of the largest film festivals of its kind in North America. Lee Ann started the Festival in 2000 and served as Executive Director of the film festival and its presenting nonprofit, Pacific Arts Movement, for 16 years.  For more than 14 years, she also worked in broadcast television, during which she earned an Emmy for investigative reporting at KGTV, the ABC affiliate in San Diego.  Currently, Lee Ann serves as a commissioner for the City of San Diego's Arts and Culture Commission. She is also the co-founder of the viral flashmob group of middle-aged women called Ajumma EXP. She is the proud mother of two young men, and celebrates more than 27 years of marriage with Louis Song.--Facilitating the conversations are award-winning filmmakers and SDFC co-founders Benito Bautista and Emma Francisco Bautista, and Alicia de Leon Torres, Deputy Director of the Nemeth Foundation and SDFC Board Member. Sound design and edit by SDFC Technical Director, Miko Aguilar. Key art design by SDFC Communications & Social Media Manager, Tiara Liz Deriquito.Nemeth Narratives is presented by The Nemeth Foundations in partnership with San Diego Filipino Cinema and New Americans Museumsdfilipinocinema.org

In 1997, Kathi co-founded Survivors of Torture, International (SURVIVORS). SURVIVORS’ mission is to facilitate the healing of torture survivors and their families; educate professionals and the public about torture and its consequences; and advocate for torture survivors and the abolition of torture. She served as SURVIVORS’ first board chair before becoming its first executive director. In 2022 she announced her retirement.She had extensive experience in health care, human rights, refugee resettlement and higher education. She received from San Jose State University her M.A. in Counseling and from the University of the Pacific her B.A. in International Relations with an emphasis on Latin America. She studied in Mexico and worked in Costa Rica.Kathi still serves as an elected member of the Denmark-based International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims’ governing board and was one of the co-founders and officers of the National Consortium of Torture Treatment Programs. She also currently serves on the advisory board for the Barbara Chester Award of The Hopi Foundation.Previously, she founded Lutheran Social Services of Idaho as well as served on the national boards of directors of Amnesty International and Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service as well as numerous local boards of directors. Kathi has twice testified in Congress, met with foreign ministry and United Nations officials, presented in national conferences and guest lectured locally, nationally and internationally. In 2020, she was inducted into the San Diego County Women’s Hall of Fame.--Facilitating the conversations are award-winning filmmakers and SDFC co-founders Benito Bautista and Emma Francisco Bautista, and Alicia de Leon Torres, Deputy Director of the Nemeth Foundation and SDFC Board Member. Sound design and edit by SDFC Technical Director, Miko Aguilar. Key art design by SDFC Communications & Social Media Manager, Tiara Liz Deriquito.Nemeth Narratives is presented by The Nemeth Foundations in partnership with San Diego Filipino Cinema and New Americans Museumsdfilipinocinema.org

Eva Pacheco barely spoke English when she volunteered at her children’s school in ElCajon, California. She and her husband were firm believers that being bilingual wasimportant; they enrolled their children in schools where they were assured they wouldreceive bilingual education. They soon found out that that was not true. Her children’seducation and self-esteem suffered. Pacheco found out there were many other familiesin the same situation. She soon organized other parents, informed them of their parental rights, and together they advocated for quality education for their children. Today, she is the Founder, Trustee, and Director of Facilities Expansion of Excellence and Justice in Education Academies – a model charter school in El Cajon. Pacheco credits her husband, family, the other parents and families – as well as her 13-year experience as an elementary and middle school teacher in Leon, Guajanto, Mexico for success. Here is her story…--Eva Pacheco, the founder of EJE Academies is an experienced educator of over 30 years who has been advocating to ensure all children have access to quality bilingual education. She was born and raised in Mexico. When she moved to the United States, she quickly recognized the challenges the American education system posed for bilingual learners like her own children, especially those with limited resources.  She was the Executive Director of EJE Academies Charter School since its founding over 15 years ago. Starting with just 110 students in makeshift facilities, the academy has grown to serve over 800 students today. EJE Academies (EJEA) is a TK-8th grade school that provides high-quality dual-language (English & Spanish) educational instruction, a nurturing learning environment, and a supportive community to its students. --Nemeth Narratives Season II: Hidden Stories are voices of communities and individuals who've had unique yet connected global, state, or local events, past and/or present. Most have impacted history in San Diego county in a positive manner but often unknown to the general public.--Facilitating the conversations are award-winning filmmakers and SDFC co-founders Benito Bautista and Emma Francisco Bautista, and Alicia de Leon Torres, Deputy Director of the Nemeth Foundation and SDFC Board Member. Sound design and edit by SDFC Technical Director, Miko Aguilar. Key art design by SDFC Communications & Social Media Manager, Tiara Liz Deriquito.Nemeth Narratives is presented by The Nemeth Foundations in partnership with San Diego Filipino Cinema and New Americans Museumsdfilipinocinema.org

Susan Hasegawa is a professor at San Diego City College and teaches U.S. history and Asian American history. She is also the past chairperson of the History and Political Science Department. Susan has researched and wrote on the Japanese American experience in San Diego for the past twenty-five years and curated numerous exhibits locally. Based on oral history interviews and archival photographs, her community history, Japanese Americans in San Diego, was published in 2008.In 2021, Susan co-curated Call to Serve: Clara E. Breed & the Japanese American Incarceration for the San Diego Public Library. Susan serves as the resident historian for the Japanese American Historical Society of San Diego (JAHSSD) and is a former vice president of the organization. She has also written articles for the Japanese American National Museum and consulted on numerous projects concerning the Japanese American experience for Oxford Publishing, University Press of Colorado, and The Old Globe Theatre. She has a master’s degree in history from SDSU and a master’s degree in International Affairs from UCSD. She grew-up in Hana, a small town in East Maui, but has called San Diego home since moving here for graduate school in 1989. --Nemeth Narratives Season II: Hidden Stories are voices of communities and individuals who've had unique yet connected global, state, or local events, past and/or present. Most have impacted history in San Diego county in a positive manner but often unknown to the general public.----Facilitating the conversations are award-winning filmmakers and SDFC co-founders Benito Bautista and Emma Francisco Bautista, and Alicia de Leon Torres, Deputy Director of the Nemeth Foundation and SDFC Board Member. Sound design and edit by SDFC Technical Director, Miko Aguilar. Key art design by SDFC Communications & Social Media Manager, Tiara Liz Deriquito.Nemeth Narratives is presented by The Nemeth Foundations in partnership with San Diego Filipino Cinema and New Americans Museumsdfilipinocinema.org

“My podcast is a teeny exploration of a stream-of-consciousness-turned-film that magically reached and resonated with audiences across the world.” - Kayla GalangBorn in Olongapo City, Philippines, and raised in San Diego, California, and Houston, Texas, Kayla Abuda Galang is a second-generation Filipino American filmmaker exploring themes of home, family, and belonging. She lives with her partner and two cats in Austin, Texas, where she works as a producer and editor at the University of Texas in the College of Liberal Arts.Her latest film, When You Left Me on That Boulevard, premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival and won the Sundance 2023 Short Film Grand Jury Prize. Her film Learning Tagalog With Kayla (2021) premiered at SXSW, received an Audience Award, and went on to screen at festivals such as Palm Springs, Indie Memphis, Encounters, and Reel Asian. She is currently developing two feature films: ‘06-’07, a coming-of-age comedy set in mid-2000s southeast San Diego, and On Earth as it is in Heaven, a comedy about familial grief set in present-day Houston.--Facilitating the conversations are award-winning filmmakers and SDFC co-founders Benito Bautista and Emma Francisco Bautista, and Alicia de Leon Torres, Deputy Director of the Nemeth Foundation and SDFC Board Member. Sound design and edit by SDFC Technical Director, Miko Aguilar. Key art design by SDFC Communications & Social Media Manager, Tiara Liz Deriquito.Nemeth Narratives is presented by The Nemeth Foundations in partnership with San Diego Filipino Cinema and New Americans Museumsdfilipinocinema.org

This episode is a 20-year close retrospective look back at a singular moment that forever changed my life.”- Edrian PangilinanListen now to the content creator and filmmaker, Edrian Pangilinan’s personal immigration story as he creates a relatable and empathetic experience for listeners. While the details may be unique to his own life, the underlying themes of resilience, identity, and the search for belonging resonate with individuals who have undergone similar transitions or faced significant upheavals in their lives. This episode provides a space to explore not only the challenges, but also the triumphs and personal growth that can arise from such experiences.--Facilitating the conversations are award-winning filmmakers and SDFC co-founders Benito Bautista and Emma Francisco Bautista, and Alicia de Leon Torres, Deputy Director of the Nemeth Foundation and SDFC Board Member. Sound design and edit by SDFC Technical Director, Miko Aguilar. Key art design by SDFC Communications & Social Media Manager, Tiara Liz Deriquito.Nemeth Narratives is presented by The Nemeth Foundations in partnership with San Diego Filipino Cinema and New Americans Museumsdfilipinocinema.org

I AM MAGIC, TOO is about how my journey with grief and spirituality led to self-discovery and healing. I chose this particular story because i wanted to show the power and magic that comes with digging into your roots and understanding who you are. - Pauline ScullyPauline Scully is your friendly neighborhood storyteller. She’s a small business owner, a director and a video producer. She has a deep appreciation for how one small story can make a massive impact. She believes that communication through narratives has the power to initiate change and shift perspectives. As a lifelong creative, she is grateful that everyday she gets to help others tell stories of all shapes and sizes and is finally learning how to begin telling her own. ----Facilitating the conversations are award-winning filmmakers and SDFC co-founders Benito Bautista and Emma Francisco Bautista, and Alicia de Leon Torres, Deputy Director of the Nemeth Foundation and SDFC Board Member. Sound design and edit by SDFC Technical Director, Miko Aguilar. Key art design by SDFC Communications & Social Media Manager, Tiara Liz Deriquito.Nemeth Narratives is presented by The Nemeth Foundations in partnership with San Diego Filipino Cinema and New Americans Museumsdfilipinocinema.org

Explore the vibrant culture of Filipino fishermen and their deep connection to the sea. "Margarita Island'' retells ancestral Filipino wisdom about the relationship with "buwayas" or crocodiles. Through the artful use of audio, Marion Aguas captures the essence of the tradition of sharing our Filipino culture, in the same way that these myths and customs have been shared for centuries.''I made 'Margarita Island' to continue the practice of sharing our Filipino myths and customs through oral storytelling. Through the audio in the film, I am able to pass down a piece of ancestral Filipino knowledge the same way that the protagonist hears about the story of buwayas from their father." - Marion AguasMarion Aguas (he/they) is a photographer and filmmaker based in New York. They cut their teeth in the streets, documenting and organizing with the Filipino National Democratic movement and the W.O.W. Project, a women, queer, and trans-led community initiative that uses art and activism to protect NYC Chinatown’s culture. In 2017, they started a portrait project of queer Asian-Americans, which inevitably led them into the QTBIPOC nightlife and drag scenes in New York. Informed by their own experience as a trans person of color, Marion uses their camera to immortalize queer joy as a form of liberation. They have shown work at The Wing Luke Museum, Red Hook Labs, the San Diego Filipino Film Festival, and MoodRing. ----Facilitating the conversations are award-winning filmmakers and SDFC co-founders Benito Bautista and Emma Francisco Bautista, and Alicia de Leon Torres, Deputy Director of the Nemeth Foundation and SDFC Board Member. Sound design and edit by SDFC Technical Director, Miko Aguilar. Key art design by SDFC Communications & Social Media Manager, Tiara Liz Deriquito.Nemeth Narratives is presented by The Nemeth Foundations in partnership with San Diego Filipino Cinema and New Americans Museumsdfilipinocinema.org

Most Filipino women who grew up in a predominantly white community have always felt the pressure to conform to certain beauty standards. This not only affects one's self-esteem but also perpetuates the idea that one's worth is tied to their proximity to these unattainable beauty standards. In Isabel Adamos' episode titled "Whitewashed", she sheds light on colorism and conformity and explores the plights of those who are affected by these harming belief systems in hopes of opening a conversation and creating a space for marginalized voices to be heard. Isabel Adamos is a filmmaker and aspiring film editor based in San Diego, CA, whose filmmaking talents have been recognized through top honors and nominations at festivals such as the iVIE Awards and the All-American High School Film Festival. Having obtained associate degrees in Film, TV, and Electronic Media, alongside Language Arts and Humanities, she is now working toward a bachelor’s degree in Television, Film, and New Media with an emphasis on Production at San Diego State University. Her projects have been featured in exhibitions such as SDFC’s 2020 Lokal Shorts, alongside on television through MyxTV’s Filipinx Film Week.----Facilitating the conversations are award-winning filmmakers and SDFC co-founders Benito Bautista and Emma Francisco Bautista, and Alicia de Leon Torres, Deputy Director of the Nemeth Foundation and SDFC Board Member. Sound design and edit by SDFC Technical Director, Miko Aguilar. Key art design by SDFC Communications & Social Media Manager, Tiara Liz Deriquito.Nemeth Narratives is presented by The Nemeth Foundations in partnership with San Diego Filipino Cinema and New Americans Museumsdfilipinocinema.org

Asians are known to come from traditional communities that perpetuate honor in their family, ethnicity, and culture. When one fails to do so, it leads to what we call “Asian shame”. Consequently, individuals who feel that they have disgraced their kin hide and isolate themselves physically and emotionally from society to deal with it. Get to know more about “Asian shame” as San Diego choreographer and filmmaker, Trixi Agiao, talks about how secrets and shame have shaped her life in this week’s episode of Nemeth Narratives podcast. Trixi Anne Agiao is a socially conscious choreographer and filmmaker using the digital guise of The Thoughtful Beast. Trixi creates work centered on fighting the stigma against mental illness and mental health. Utilizing visual storytelling experience as a dancer and choreographer, Trixi sets out to make videos that kinesthetically connect with her audience.----Facilitating the conversations are award-winning filmmakers and SDFC co-founders Benito Bautista and Emma Francisco Bautista, and Alicia de Leon Torres, Deputy Director of the Nemeth Foundation and SDFC Board Member. Sound design and edit by SDFC Technical Director, Miko Aguilar. Key art design by SDFC Communications & Social Media Manager, Tiara Liz Deriquito.Nemeth Narratives is presented by The Nemeth Foundations in partnership with San Diego Filipino Cinema and New Americans Museumsdfilipinocinema.org

Have you ever thought of the words you would want to say to your younger self? There’s no denying that sometimes we wish we could talk to the younger version of ourselves, especially amid hardships and trials. For this week’s episode of Nemeth Narratives, we’ll hear about the series of letters that Martha has written to her younger self at pivotal moments throughout her life.“I chose to tell this particular story as a way to confront and subsequently heal the part of myself that was conditioned to believe that I would never be “good enough” because of what I looked like and the culture I was born into.”  - Martha GatersMartha Gaters (@marthagaters) is a Filipina-American filmmaker from San Diego, CA. She holds the firm belief that creativity exists within every one of us and can manifest itself in many different ways. From a young age, she always formed deep emotional connections to works of fiction, particularly for the screen. With every story she tells, Martha hopes to leave audiences inspired in the way her favorite works have inspired her.----Facilitating the conversations are award-winning filmmakers and SDFC co-founders Benito Bautista and Emma Francisco Bautista, and Alicia de Leon Torres, Deputy Director of the Nemeth Foundation and SDFC Board Member. Sound design and edit by SDFC Technical Director, Miko Aguilar. Key art design by SDFC Communications & Social Media Manager, Tiara Liz Deriquito.Nemeth Narratives is presented by The Nemeth Foundations in partnership with San Diego Filipino Cinema and New Americans Museumsdfilipinocinema.org

This episode is an excerpt reading of  "Senseless" scenes 1-12, featuring the voices of the actors/actresses of the final film. "Senseless" was a short screenplay of the short film with the same title, written and directed by San Diego filmmaker Seth Dacio. The film is now about to do its film festival run. "Senseless" is a true story about a 17-year old young man who goes through the physical and mental hardships of a personal medical crisis.Seth Dacio, a Filipino American, started as a background actor at a young age on well-known TV shows such as “Lie to Me,” “Bones,” and “The Cleaners.” Over the years, he moved away from the acting aspect of filmmaking and moved towards creating his films. He always remains persistent in creating the best possible creative projects with over nine years of experience as a working filmmaker and five years as an FAA Certified Drone Pilot.----Facilitating the conversations are award-winning filmmakers and SDFC co-founders Benito Bautista and Emma Francisco Bautista, and Alicia de Leon Torres, Deputy Director of the Nemeth Foundation and SDFC Board Member. Sound design and edit by SDFC Technical Director, Miko Aguilar. Key art design by SDFC Communications & Social Media Manager, Tiara Liz Deriquito.Nemeth Narratives is presented by The Nemeth Foundations in partnership with San Diego Filipino Cinema and New Americans Museumsdfilipinocinema.org

“The purpose of this love letter is an effort to release our attachment to the expectation of what love should be and accept love for what it reveals to heal our deepest wounds.”- Jessica MercadoJessica Mercado is an elementary educator serving in the Skyline/Paradise Hills community. Her passion for the martial arts of the Philippines through Doce Pares Orihinal Eskrima inspires her to reconnect with her inner voice through spiritual healing and self-love.--Facilitating the conversations are award-winning filmmakers and SDFC co-founders Benito Bautista and Emma Francisco Bautista, and Alicia de Leon Torres, Deputy Director of the Nemeth Foundation and SDFC Board Member. Sound design and edit by SDFC Technical Director, Miko Aguilar. Key art design by SDFC Communications & Social Media Manager, Tiara Liz Deriquito.Nemeth Narratives is presented by The Nemeth Foundations in partnership with San Diego Filipino Cinema and New Americans Museumsdfilipinocinema.org

“Though Happy Here (2020) was shot and produced during the peak of lockdown, the story remains relevant and intact in a purely audio format.”- Marissa RoxasMarissa is a queer, Filipino filmmaker based in San Diego, California. Representation is powerful which is exactly why she decided to pursue a career in filmmaking. Though she has an experience in the director’s chair, her true passion lies in cinematography. Marissa is currently working on building her portfolio as a Director of Photography and hopes to continue her career in that direction. However, she continues to create videos in her own voice on Youtube and is currently developing a script that explores the themes of sexuality, acceptance, and identity as a Filipino American. When she’s not making films, you can find her training in various martial arts such as Kajukenbo, Muay Thai, and Boxing.--Facilitating the conversations are award-winning filmmakers and SDFC co-founders Benito Bautista and Emma Francisco Bautista, and Alicia de Leon Torres, Deputy Director of the Nemeth Foundation and SDFC Board Member. Sound design and edit by SDFC Technical Director, Miko Aguilar. Key art design by SDFC Communications & Social Media Manager, Tiara Liz Deriquito.Nemeth Narratives is presented by The Nemeth Foundations in partnership with San Diego Filipino Cinema and New Americans Museumsdfilipinocinema.org

Our first episode of the Nemeth Narratives podcast is out now on Buzz Sprout! Be inspired by the story of Ellixis Julio (@ellixis.j) as he shares how he conquered his fear of the water into finally becoming the surfer that he is now.  "Most people who know me know that I am a surfer and think that I have been a waterman my whole life. There was so much struggle and journey behind all of that, and it has been so long to the point where I look back at myself and can’t believe I was the same person. I wanted to inspire others, sure, but ultimately I made this piece to honor that high school boy who didn’t have a lot, didn’t know a lot, but had all of the heart." - Ellixis JulioEllixis Julio is a local San Diego Surfer, Creative, and Bioengineer. When he’s not chasing swell or creating with his camera, he’s immersing himself in Japanese culture and language.--Facilitating the conversations are award-winning filmmakers and SDFC co-founders Benito Bautista and Emma Francisco Bautista, and Alicia de Leon Torres, Deputy Director of the Nemeth Foundation and SDFC Board Member. Sound design and edit by SDFC Technical Director, Miko Aguilar. Key art design by SDFC Communications & Social Media Manager, Tiara Liz Deriquito.Nemeth Narratives is presented by The Nemeth Foundations in partnership with San Diego Filipino Cinema and New Americans Museumsdfilipinocinema.org