HIST 240 - History of Ethnic Groups in California: Almira Coronado

Almira Coronado is an immigrant from the Philippines. She is married and has a daughter. She and her family reside at Daly City, California for 19 years. Almira used to work in Merrill Lynch at San Francisco and decided to have her own business. She is the owner of Air Manila Travel and Tours - a unique travel agency located at Serramonte Mall in Daly City that specializes travel to Philippines and Asia.

The topics that were discussed in this video interview were the following:

Immigration
Diversity
Education

Immigration

Almira Coronado migrated to California with her mom and dad in October 1997. Her family was able to come to the United States when her aunt petitioned her grandfather and then her grandfather petitioned them. Almira was 17 years old when she migrated and she expected that she would go back to school.

Based on the textbook Competing Visions A History of California by Cherny, et. al., the authors emphasize "California continues to attract newcomers. There is not only a dramatic expansion of the state's Latino population, but an increase in the number of residents categorized as Asian/Asian Pacific Islanders (AAPIs)" (p 430). This quote shows the increase in population in the year 1990 of Asian/Asian Pacific Islanders in California. More Asians started to immigrate back then.

Family Picture - Christmas 2010

Diversity

California is one of the diverse states in the United States of America. Even though there are many different culture and ethnic group in California, Almira does not feel disconnected. She likes being surrounded by people from different ethnic groups. The most diverse environment she had ever been exposed to was back in college at University of California, Davis.

Based on the textbook Competing Visions A History of California by Cherny, et al., the authors emphasize that "The data for 1860 show the influence of the Gold Rush, when people from around the world descended on California to strike it rich" (p 184). This quote shows the diversity in California during and after Gold Rush. There were so many people form different country and ethnicity came and settled in California during this time period.

Best friends

Education

Education is very important to Almira. Before she got married, education was her top priority. One of the things that she wants to do is to reach out to new immigrants especially teenagers from the United States because she wants them to value education.
Almira finished high school at St. Augustine School in the Philippines and at Jefferson High School in Daly City. She graduated college from University of California, Davis.

From the academic journal article We Don't Sleep around like White Girls Do": Family, Culture, and Gender in Filipina American Lives by Yen Le Espiritu, she mentioned that "This is the way it is supposed to work: Okay, you go to school. You go to college. You graduate. You find a job. Then you find your husband, and you have children" (p 430). This quote emphasizes how education is really important and top priority not just for Filipino teenagers but also for every teenagers in the United States.