Arnel A. Dolores: My Transition to the United States

Arnel Dolores is a 20-yr old Filipino American immigrant who currently resides in Daly City, CA. In the interview, he describes the experience he went through at such a young age as he transitioned from the Philippines to such an unfamiliar territory known as America, while not knowing what to expect. However, after adjusting for quite a while, he realizes this new life of his is quite nice. He's glad his mother made this decision, as it's given him opportunities and new found friendships that he never would had imagine if if he stayed in the Philippines.

Table of Contents:

1. Origin

      2. From Philippines to the U.S.

3. Future Goals and Plans

Roots & Origin

He reflects on where it all started, which was TayTay Rizal, Philippines. Arnel explains who he grew up with, along with the conditions his city was in while he was a child. 

"Chinese grasped the opportunity to claim U.S. citizenship and used their new status to send for their sons and daughters" - Xiaojian Zhao (AJA: Chinese American Women Defense Workers in World War II 142

Analysis: He mentions his mother had come to the states first in order to earn citizenship in order for her to go back and get him and the rest of the family to transfer to California.

From Philippines to the U.S.

Arnel describes the hardships he faced when moving to the United States at such a young age. Everything was just so different from the Philippines. The environment, the people, and especially the American culture.

"A majority [of Asian Americans] came [to California] with few resources, poor English language skills, little understanding of American culture, and a history of emotional and physical trauma." - Competing Visions (401).

Analysis: As a Filipino immigrant, this is what Arnel had to go through. English was a language barrier between him and other children at school.  

"And who should be surprised at a population of young men who responded positively to the voluptuous opportunities that gold dust  provided?" - Albert L. Hurtado (AJA: Sex, Gender, Culture, and a Great Event: The California Gold Rush 5).

Analysis: Although, he was not involved in the Gold Rush. This quote is significant since "opportunity" is the theme here, which he has seized ever since he came to America.

Future Goals and Plans


Here he reflects back on his journey so far and expresses how he hopes to take this opportunity and become a nurse, while eventually opening his own clinic. When I ask him if he would visit the Philippines again, he replies "yes, but probably for vacation". Since he hopes to achieve his goal here in the States and being that California is his new home now.

Works Cited:

Albert L. Hurtado. Pacific Historical Review, Vol. 68, No. 1 (Feb., 1999), pp. 1-19. University of California Press.

Cherny, Robert W., Gretchen Lemke-Santangelo, and Richard Griswold Del Castillo. Competing Visions: A History of California. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2005. Print.

Xiaojin Zhao. California History, Vol. 75, No.2 (Summer, 1996), pp. 138-153. University of California Press in association with the California Historical Safety.