CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, USA — I felt humbled when Irma Faith Pal invited me to contribute in MetroPost. To me, this is another form of public service. So, in spite of my hectic life here in Chicago as a retiree, I said “yes” to Irma on a fortnightly bases.
Let me introduce myself: My maiden name is Elsie O. Sy, one of the six first batch of Journalism graduates in 1969 at the Silliman University School of Journalism. Immediately after graduation, I went to Manila, the Mecca of serious journalists.
My controversial articles caught the editor’s eye of the Free Press, then the Bible of Journalism. Modesty aside, I never had a problem with “rejection slip”. All my articles were accepted by al major metropolitan newspapers and magazines.
Another blessing: as a freelancer, I was working fulltime as Special Assistant/writer to (the late} Sen. Lorenzo G. Teves at the Congress of the Philippines. When Martial Law was declared in 1972, I was appointed national youth program coordinator for the Samahanng Bagong Kabataan (Sabaka) under the Department of Public Information.
Another plus, I was one of the cultural writers for First Lady Imelda R. Marcos. I was flying high, so to speak, which includes travel to European countries as a cultural press officer.
However, in pursuit of my “American Dream”, I immigrated to the United States (here in Chicago) in 1976 when my Immigrant Visa application was approved; got married to a Caucasian on the same year.
My column here in the MetroPost will be a conversational sharing of the Real Realities of my “American Experience” and that of other kababayans in America.
For readers to know me better, let me start this column with an article which will introduce me, written by the Asian American Institute in Chicago. This will give Metropost readers an idea how we immigrants struggle for acceptance, and be respected in mainstream America:
Elsie Sy-Niebar knows how important it is to “fight for our rights.”
Since immigrating to the U.S. from the Philippines over 30 years ago, she can recall the times in her life when she endured racial discrimination, biases, and the overall attitude that she did not belong here.
Elsie can remember being asked in grocery stores if she could speak English. She has also experienced harassment from bosses who thought they could intimidate her.
“We cannot remain quiet,” she says, referring to the racial stereotyping of Asians as “the quiet immigrants.” “Our experiences as immigrants and citizens of this country are important to talk about in the open.”
Elsie retired after working for over 20 years with the city of Chicago (last position as Assistant to the Commissioner).
In her years working with city government, she helped to bring forward the cases of many immigrants. She understood how so many people and the issues that they face are so frequently forgotten because their stories are not heard, and they have no advocates speaking out for them. From young, immigrant children who struggle in public schools to young women (especially “air mail brides” who met their American husbands through “pen pal” and internet dating) who find themselves alone after immigrating to the U.S.
She knows the situations of many to be so difficult and, yet, she is always amazed at the resilience and the courage of immigrants in America.
As a city employee, issues affecting the Asians are usually referred by the city of Chicago to her, usually serving as a resource speaker at conventions, and as motivational speaker in high school classrooms.
For several years, Elsie was “Principal for a Day”, an annual program of the Chicago Board of Education.
“I worked so hard after I arrived in the U.S.,” she shares. “I knew that I wanted to succeed here, and to truly make America my home.”
She can recall dreaming about coming to the U.S. even as a young child. She knows that this is the case for so many immigrants who come to the U.S. Elsie knows that there is great sacrifice, but also tremendous hope for all who choose to be immigrants and citizens in a new country.
Soon after coming to the U.S. in 1976, Elsie married Dennis Niebar, a Caucasian. Together, they faced many challenges as an interracial couple in America, like “educating America by speaking to the American media that Filipino brides are mostly educated and hardworking professionals,” she pointed out.
Elsie and her husband’s Love Story was featured several times in mainstream newspapers and a TV reality show — “to educate America that Filipino women are not ‘dumb airmail brides’ as stereotyped by the American press,” Elsie added.
Because of their real life experiences, Elsie co-founded with another Filipina married to an American, the Chicago’s Filipino International Couples’ Society, a network of social support for many interracial families.
When she was sworn in as an American citizen in 1980, she told her (White American) husband, Dennis: “I will retain my Asian identity by keeping my last name and hyphenate your last name as in “Sy-Niebar.”
When friends asked Dennis ”How come your wife has a different last name than you as her husband?”, his quick response with a big grin was: “That’s just one of my wife’s notorieties.” (Dennis passed away in 2002 after visiting the Silliman University campus.)
Elsie is also very active in her parish (currently serving as a Ruling Elder, and chair of the Mission) at Faith Community Presbyterian Church in Chicago.
Elsie knows that she will always be a hyphenated American. “I accept that,” she says. All she hopes for is that “America will continue to be a place where all can be accepted for who they are. However, we must stand up and speak up in order to be heard,” she underscored. (Reprinted from the Asian- American Institute’s 100 Stories in 100 Days, a compilation of Asian-American experiences of immigration during US President Barack Obama’s first 100 days in office.)
Elsie’s landmark contributions in Education, among others: Had the first Asian-American appointed as a member of the City of Chicago Department of Education School Board in 1980; she was the first Asian appointed as commissioner of the School Board; for several years, Elsie was “Principal for a Day, Chicago Public Schools; created the Asian American Seniors’ Day celebrated during Asian American Heritage Month (May); Elsie is a recipient of more than 50 awards from all branches of government, professional, and charitable organizations, for Outstanding Public Service”, etc. As a retiree, Elsie continues her advocacy and community service. Since 1986, she is the senior editor/columnist in Chicago’s Via Times NewsMagazine.
