R stands for respectful. E stands for empathetic. K stands for kind, while S stands for safe with my teachers. I am a scholar of my school, and today, I got outstanding marks.”
She added, “I respect those around me. I am kind. I make folks safe around me.”
I told her that I am that way to her, as well as others.
Beautifully taught to her by her school. I was quite happy hearing that plus the school guards whom I have met, C and M, are friendly and caring towards the kids.
The next day, we were talking about the birth of Jam’s sister. Wow, that’s wonderful, isn’t it? She paused. Not much to say. It got her to recall what she does in her upper bunk bed.
“Grandma, I stand like this, at the edge. It is to practice how to safely fall.”
What? I gasped. She looked at my horrified face.
“Grandma, really, you don’t know much about happiness.”
I laughed. I suppose jumping, conquering heights, and landing on your feet are learned skills, and being airborne is a joy to her.
I keep learning how to live joyfully with her.
She posed to get her photo taken and was grateful for the ensaymadas she got from @miko Zuniga.
“Since the time of the two-part article, Ollie has continued working successfully to make a real difference in people’s lives. He provided me with these updates:
“In 2016, Ollie was given the Secretary’s Diversity and Inclusion Award from John King, Jr., appointed to his Cabinet post under President Obama. The next year, he was inducted into the Susan M. Daniel’s National Disability Mentoring Hall of Fame and was named an Angel in Adoption by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute. His sons and he were named Persons of the Week and featured on ABC’s World News Tonight with David Muir.
Over the ensuing time, Ollie’s sons received a year of intensive training to enhance their independence and now attend Southern Virginia University. Meanwhile, with his boys now away, Ollie relocated back to West Covina, California, to be closer to his parents. His permanent residence has now changed accordingly as he works remotely full-time as Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education. He was also bestowed with the Marc Gold National Achievement Award for his groundbreaking resource book, geared toward optimizing economic empowerment for persons with all types of disabilities. In July 2021, he was unanimously elected chairman of the Board of Directors of a multi-million-dollar national non-profit organization.
Most recently, Ollie is running for West Covina City Council, District 4, a nonpartisan position. If elected on November 8, he will be the first blind Filipino-American elected official in West Covina history.”
“[Ollie] Cantos, like the [blind] brothers [Leo, Nick, Steven Argel] had a hard time growing up. He says he didn’t have any friends, and people made fun of him. He taught the brothers how to use their canes better by taking them to the corner store. One day, the store clerk asked Cantos if Leo was his son. Before Cantos could answer, Leo put his arm around him and said, “Yeah, that’s my dad.” As Cantos remembers it, Leo said, “Well, you take us places, you protect us, you help us with our homework and make us happy. Sounds like a dad to me.” “Whenever I hear you call me ‘Dad,’ ” Cantos tells the three brothers, “it’s the highest compliment to me. You three used to be in the same situation that I was, and to see you come out of that and to be the way you guys are now, it’s impossible to describe how grateful I am that I get to be your dad.” Jasmyn Belcher, NPR Radio, 2014.
In an Asian Journal exclusive, September 14, 2014 in a sit-down lunch at Salo-Salo Grill in West Covina, California, Ollie shared his bipartisan mentoring principles. Ollie by the way has his “boys’, triplets who are blind, whom he has been mentoring to be more self-reliant. Hence, the NPR radio program on the four of them.
Olegario Cantos was one of the 50 inspiring alumni recognized by Loyola Law School last Sept. 20, 2014 over a gala attended by over a thousand. Peter Cetera, an American singer, songwriter, bassist, producer and member of the rock band Chicago provided the entertainment.
And to think that Olegario (Ollie) D. Cantos VII graduated in 1997, yet illustrious enough to join some of these prestigious folks, the likes of Gloria Allred, the lawyer of precedent – setting cases on women’s rights and discrimination for 30 years; John Anderson, for which an entire UCLA School of Management is named for him and his philanthropic gift of $50 million to Children’s Hospital; Hon. Ben Cayetano, the first Filipino-American governor of the State of Hawaii; Johnnie Cochran (deceased) the finest lawyer of social justice and civil rights who defended O.J. Simpson, Michael Jackson and Geronimo Pratt; and Hon. Otto Kaus (deceased) an associate justice of the California Supreme Court.
In working with a Democrat, how do you as a Republican manage it? “It is about trust. Trust is about meeting a need they have in you. Their vested self-interest will make them bring you onboard. When they say, “we need to see if you are a good fit,” that is a code for “for what we need, do the skills that you have to offer meet ours? When you are told you are not a good fit, that could mean either the match is not right or the person being interviewed did not put her best foot forward. Remember it is not just about the telling the truth, as you have no credibility yet with the person listening to you, and if you have no credibility with them, you will not be believed. It is about meeting their needs with the skills that you have. It is never about you, it is about meeting their needs first.”
He goes on, “If you are thinking down deep that you are not worthy, you will sabotage yourself. But when you value yourself, when you see something wrong, you make it right. Whatever we have in our lives, we have envisioned that level of success once before. We have realized that success in our minds before. Stepping into the future means even if we don’t have it now, it is about what we want for ourselves here and now. The secret is in having them see in you that what they need is in you. It is about matching your job skills with what the company needs.”
We talk more, sharing examples one to the other. I remember how I envisioned covering an event in the White House and Ollie was not working in the White House anymore; he was there before as one of younger GW Bush’s speechwriters. He was then working for the Department of Justice.
He told me to keep at this vision, to imagine the details of going inside the White House. I wished I taped our phone conversation, but like a dreamer, I followed his advice and the dream came true. I was given an invitation to cover the Presidential Medals of Freedom and those being awarded were Dolores Huerta along with Toni Morrison, John Glenn, Madeleine Albright, and Bob Dylan. Dreams do come true, and to think, my security clearance was given to me on the day of May 28, 2012, but faith made me book my plane tickets and hotel room, and my dream came to pass. I am even sharing the photo to memorialize that dream coming true. Next, a dinner with the White House and with Pope Francis, what a big one, isn’t it?
“Don’t talk about beliefs. But, when you do, do it in a way that overlaps with the interests of the other party. Describe part of you are, not all of you, not representing!
For example, he said that there are a number of children of immigrants who are undocumented.“They were brought to America at a very young age, and the only country they came to know is America, and they went to schools here and the only language they speak is English. Both Democrats and Republicans support these children of immigrants to be documented. Pass this!”
Lastly, “Never speak ill of a person at a personal level. Like I do not like hearing folks accuse the President of being a Muslim or comparing him to a Nazi dictator. He is not any of those. Don’t demonize people. So what if they are Muslims, there are also faithful Americans who practice their religion and we must respect their rights to worship under the Second Amendment. Never engage in personal attacks. Find ways to genuinely support the other person. If you find something they love, support them privately. For me, it is cancer research and dogs. There is not a single dog that I cannot love.”
I thought that would be our last question but I followed it with another, “How do you maintain such optimum level of enthusiasm?” To which he declared, with confidence, “There is more to be grateful for everyday, I have more new reasons on becoming an idealist. There are forces contrary to our ideals, but that means we find ways to address them.” His triplets of strength come from idealism, gratitude, and creativity.
As we were about to end our interview, a sweet woman in her fifties walked quietly toward Ollie. She motioned me not to say a word. Her yellow t-shirt gave her away. I figured she is the source of sunshine for the day. She gave him such a lingering kiss on the cheek while Ollie simply relaxed, did not flinch, and received fully the warmth of her kiss. It made for such a loving, endearing moment between two friends of two decades now, Ollie Cantos and Ann Dickerson.
I have only known Ollie for seven years now, and each meeting is marked by a surplus of joy and mentoring exchanges. Each encounter is supremely positive, and each meeting ends with a lingering hug. No wonder Ollie became one of the 50 inspiring Loyola alumni from a pool of 16,000 who passed through their Los Angeles campus. The last time Ollie was with our common friend, Loida, she cried reminiscing her love for Reginald, and our early snack of coffee and cake became hours into the midnight. Good thing we ate at Cendrilon a second time, Ollie can entrance you in his field of dreams for hours, even 19 hours with him is not enough! I think that happens with me when I encounter “spirits of light,” I linger and linger in their presence and I do not want to leave them. Good thing, I have a loving, supportive hubby who understands how passionate I become when I interview subjects!
I have intersecting spaces with Lolit as THE clinic as board member, while she worked there; I was a SIPA board member, and she worked there; I am PWC supporter while serving as LA City Civil Service Commissioner, I am a writer for Asian Journalist here in CA, while she was a journalist in the Philippines.
Vincent Van Gogh once said, “There maybe a great fire in our soul, yet no one ever comes to warm himself at it, and the passerby only see a wisp of smoke coming through the chimney, and go along their way.”
But, not Lolit, folks visit her and they sit by her to get warmed up by the burning flames of her heart, in her own words, fired up by the sacrifices of her comrades who gave up their futures for democracy to be restored in the Philippines.
I was one of those who sat by the fireplace of her heart, decades ago, when she was stoking the fire with new stories of caregivers who are not allowed to eat their patis and bagoong with their rice, vegetables and fish. Stories of caregivers who stay awake through the night and not paid. I shared with her the stories of the Thai garment workers 1995, rescued by then Asian American Legal Center, now Asian Americans Advancing Justice in LA, who filed a case against the slaveowners, modern garment manufacturers. I referred Lolit to the UCLA Labor Center, to seek help from the LA County District Attorney and to pass legislation for bill of rights for these caregivers.
Lolit listened, and each time I went to visit her, she has new stories of how they were organizing the caregivers, the coalitions they were forming, even recruiting me to join them in their trip to Sacramento seeking dialogues with Assemblypersons and to pass bills for better working conditions.
Fast forward today, we are all warmed up by Lolit’s passion of loving each one of us, each and every one of us with light in our hearts. That was what she saw and that bright light she stoked with stories of better humanity.
To me, she led without being in the limelight, she led with humility opening up to others to lead, she led with a full recognition of her self-value-a mother, a wife, a community organizer.
She personified grace, a heart that was alive with love and a talent that she spared nothing and all to share to serve and to connect with others.
May we be the grace, the flaming hearts of love that she lit in us to see the humanity in the caregivers, in the household help, in the workers, that when folks approach us, they are warmed up by the fires burning in our hearts with love and concern for others.
#princess2015la told me about her two friends, Jamie and Tiago. They wanted her to ask permission from their mom for a playdate. She smiled and simply let them deal with their mom. Her critical thinking skills are alive.
She had a slice of pizza, several spoons of mac and cheese, 1/4 dragon fruit and guava nectar. Then, without any prompting, she cleaned up after herself and put the dishes on the sink.
I love your daughter so much, I told her mother, @coriput.
Yesterday she asked why I was not enthusiastic, “why are you low in energy, Grandma?”
She carefully looked and listened to the songs and smiled. “It’s not like the funeral of Auntie Sarah,” she said. I pointed out the songs were somber, sad, and haunting songs. Here, Lolit wanted a karaoke and joyful memorial.
She lingered some more, talking to me until I felt much better. She simply listened, and that was enough to comfort me.
My #princess2015la is such a beautiful, sweet, emotionally mature, and loving girl. I love my afternoons of picking her up!
I have intersecting spaces with Lolit as THE clinic as board member, while she worked there; I was a SIPA board member, and she worked there; I am PWC supporter while serving as LA City Civil Service Commissioner, I am a writer for Asian Journalist here in CA, while she was a journalist in the Philippines.
Vincent Van Gogh once said, “There maybe a great fire in our soul, yet no one ever comes to warm himself at it, and the passerby only see a wisp of smoke coming through the chimney, and go along their way.”
But, not Lolit, folks visit her and they sit by her to get warmed up by the burning flames of her heart, in her own words, fired up by the sacrifices of her comrades who gave up their futures for democracy to be restored in the Philippines.
I was one of those who sat by the fireplace of her heart, decades ago, when she was stoking the fire with new stories of caregivers who are not allowed to eat their patis and bagoong with their rice, vegetables and fish. Stories of caregivers who stay awake through the night and not paid. I shared with her the stories of the Thai garment workers 1995, rescued by then Asian American Legal Center, now Asian Americans Advancing Justice in LA, who filed a case against the slaveowners, modern garment manufacturers. I referred Lolit to the UCLA Labor Center, to seek help from the LA County District Attorney and to pass legislation for bill of rights for these caregivers.
Lolit listened, and each time I went to visit her, she has new stories of how they were organizing the caregivers, the coalitions they were forming, even recruiting me to join them in their trip to Sacramento seeking dialogues with Assemblypersons and to pass bills for better working conditions. Fast forward today, we are all warmed up by Lolit’s passion of loving each one of us, each and every one of us with light in our hearts. That was what she saw and that bright light she stoked with stories of better humanity.
To me, she led without being in the limelight, she led with humility opening up to others to lead, she led with a full recognition of her self-value-a mother, a wife, a community organizer.
She personified grace, a heart that was alive with love and a talent that she spared nothing and all to share to serve and to connect with others.
May we be the grace, the flaming hearts of love that she lit in us to see the humanity in the caregivers, in the household help, in the workers, that when folks approach us, they are warmed up by the fires burning in our hearts with love and concern for others.
I was hesitant to attend as I fell down and bruised my left ear, quite swollen and a headache after.
But, I was driven to pay homage to a selfless, quiet without touting her own successes, but what @Pilipino Workers Center is doing and is gaining wins.This event could not be reenacted. I wanted to feel the collective energies.
It took collective determination of Aquilina Soriano Versoza who had to fly a day early, rebook flights, and a four hour wait for the plane to be fixed, and finally the team of PWC arrived at dawn, in time to attend Lolit’s memorial.
Loving another takes sacrifices and actions. I applied that theme and got the energy to drive myself.
Gauging from those who came, from the physical attendance of the State Labor Commissioner Lilia Garcia-Brower, Bill Gallegos, Angelica Salas, Steve Angeles and family, worker leaders, media folks like Fe Koons and myself, Sokie Yee’s boundless energies of emceeing while leading an over capacity hall spilling to the patio, to the attendees on zoom of over a thousand, you sensed Lolit was highly respected, loved, and valued.
It comes from her highest sense of self-value, choosing consciously to live, despite being a political prisoner under the dark Marcos dictatorship of jailing opposition without due process and without charges. Other activists succumbed to despair and untimely death. She survived choosing to live for her then 6 month old infant and the love of her life, Dong Lledo.
After 3 months, she was released and she chose to rebuild her personal life after sacrificing her future for the movement to restore democracy in the Philippines, away from finishing her medical degree, and after being her school’s valedictorian, both in elementary and in high school.
She then pursued a Master’s in Industrial Relations degree from University of the Philippines and emigrated to join her family in California.
She worked for T.H.E. Clinic, SIPA, then, she was recruited to help organize the caregivers and domestic workers who were paid slave wages and treated like indentured servants, unable to eat their patis, bagoong, rice and fish at lunch.
Hearing these unfair working conditions, not known as these were hidden in private rich folks’ homes, including not getting overtime, Lolit became a masterful builder of lives. She listened well, encouraging them to have dignity in their lives, while assisting these undocumented workers to have green cards.
She helped organize them to believe in themselves, as she believed in herself and the collective power of organized workers.
Fast forward, decades later, these caregivers are now paid overtime, and receive living wages they can subsist on.
Speaker after speaker, without any prior coordination or planning, these speakers spoke of her humility, her smarts in learning the US labor laws, her non-stop ability to share the caregivers’ stories, her joyful singing, her broad smiles and her love of family and ordinary folks, made extraordinary in her presence, of being a bright light in this darkness of oppression.
She saw them all, and beyond their hurts as suffering caregivers, she saw their potentials to take charge, to design and to lead their lives, as others.
Mabuhay ka Lolit! Presente!! The world is better than you found it, because of what you selflessly did!
I love my niece Jennifer. From the moment we met, we were on a soulful journey of being our best selves. I bonded with her in SF, and when I visited Hawaii with friends to attend a wedding, we bonded for a day with her hubby and newborn son. Then, driving to a wedding, I made plans weeks ahead to connect with her. She took intentional actions, despite having two young ones to care for to make time for me. No excuses, just pure love!!
As a mom of two young infants and toddlers, it warms my heart that she’s joyfully giving care to both of them. I love that she anticipates their needs and carefully organizes the organic meal of her two sons.
Then, during our dinner by the waterfront, she breastfed her 5-month-old infant, D., while her supportive husband, K, took care of the older boy. They were both calm when T cried, wanting to go to the ocean, and simply allowed him space to understand that ocean is not for him to swim in.
Thank you, Jenn and K, for taking the time to connect with us. We love you and wish you the best in everything life can offer. I am happy to see you happily married and growing a beautiful, peaceful family in love and connected with one another. Thank you, K, for loving our beautiful, soulful Jenn.
