Asian Journal- The Filipino-American Community Newspaper

Carina’s inspiration for her books is all personal. Her other historical book, Filipinos in Hollywood, was also done in an attempt to better know her father and understand his life through the history of the Filipinos in Los Angeles. Carina says, "In getting to know my father through my books, it has enlightened me about so many things about the Filipino community and has brought me back to my own roots and lighted a flame within me to preserve this history that I am very much a part of. My children’s cook books (with renowned artist/muralist Eliseo Art Silva as illustrator) are also an attempt to preserve our culture, identity and heritage by passing on this information to future generations. The cook books incorporate Filipino history and food, such as, where adobo came from and it’s Spanish influence, and how it is made."

Montoya is currently working on establishing a Los Angeles Filipino museum that will be housed in an original Victorian house purchased in the 1930s by one of the city’s oldest Filipino families, located in the heart of Historic Filipinotown. The museum will exhibit photographs dating back to the 1920s of Filipino immigrants that came to America and settled in Los Angeles. Photographs of the first Filipino organizations founded in Los Angeles, i.e., Filipino Federation of America, Inc., Philippine Women’s Club, Santa Maria Ilocus Sur Association, Pangasinan Association, Cebu Brotherhood, and many others, will all be on exhibit.

Carina believes that Filipino Americans can contribute better to society and be more recognized as a potent force in the mainstream. "We should not let go of our culture and heritage because that is what defines who we are. If you are proud of your culture and heritage, then you are in a position to make a difference. Change can be a good thing, and power can be reflected in numbers," says the remarkable author."

( www.asianjournal.com )

( Published on March 25, 2009 in MDWK Magazine p. 2 )

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