Philippine American Association of Madison and Neighboring Areas
A Taste of Philippine Culture in Madison
A Taste of Philippine Culture in Madison
history of PAMANA in Madison. Overall, it was a great night and the two of us had a great time learning about the
Philippine-American culture.
Upon arriving, we got the opportunity to meet and interview the upcoming President-Elect, Janette Becker. We
asked her several questions about the purpose and goals of PAMANA, and she was able to fill us in with a
plethora of good information. According to Janette, the goals of PAMANA are simple: the group aims to preserve
the heritage and culture of Philippine-Americans, and to give those involved a sense of belonging to a group of
their own. PAMANA also gives aid and support to families who are located in the Philippines. Additionally, Janette
stated that another goal of PAMANA is to reach to other Filipino-American families in the Madison area who might
have never heard of the organization before, and to let them know they are always welcome. In addition to the
organization’s goals, we also asked about the purpose of the PAMANA Holiday Celebration. Similar to the goals of
PAMANA, Janette said the event was created not only as a celebration of the holidays, but as a celebration of the
Philippine culture as well. It is also used as a way to let the people of Madison know about the organization and the
good things and services it does on a regular basis.
Aside from the Holiday Celebration, we wanted to know more about other events they coordinate or are part of. In
addition to this specific celebration, the group holds several fundraising events throughout the year, which is where
most of PAMANA’s budget comes from. Similar to the Holiday Celebration, PAMANA holds spring and summer
celebrations, and even a Valentine’s party in February, much like the celebration we attended. Another fun event is
a fashion show, which has become more popular in recent years. As far as other events, Janette informed us that
they are regularly involved with United Way and the many events and service projects that they coordinate. Also,
she told us that there were one or two other Philippine-American organizations in the area, but that she feels they
must not be competitive with each other if they want to achieve success. Instead, the groups must work together to
improve the community as a whole in order to preserve their culture.
Unfortunately, not everything involved with PAMANA is celebratory. We asked Janette about some of the difficulties
the group encounters and some of the challenges she may face in her presidency. One major difficulty PAMANA
regularly encounters is a lack of money and volunteers for the several events they coordinate. She says it is hard to
get the community involved with only limited help at times. Also, although PAMANA has made many positive
influences on the community, Janette says there is always room for more to be done and more awareness to be
had in the community.
After speaking with Janette, we sat down with Agnes Cammer, a past president, and long time member of
PAMANA. She had written up a document of her history of involvement with the group, which detailed how and why
she had joined PAMANA in the first place. She went on to tell us about her personal history in the U.S. since 1958,
and how she came to find PAMANA after the incredible support the group had showed her after the loss of her
husband. Stemming from that event, she said that PAMANA was like a group of support for her and there were
always people there to share stories, enjoy home-cooked meals, and go to for support. After officially joining
PAMANA, she decided that she had wanted the group to give back and do great things in the community. As
president, her biggest goal was awareness. She knew that there were many Philippine-Americans in Madison
who had no awareness of PAMANA, just as she had been before the loss of her husband in 1979. She felt it was
important for Filipino Americans to come together for a sense of belonging because she had known what it was
like to not be involved in the community. After speaking with Agnes, it is evident how passionate she is, and has
always been, for PAMANA and the Philippine-American community.
Thanks to the PAMANA Holiday Celebration, the two of us were able to learn a great deal about this influential
organization known as PAMANA. By interviewing the President-Elect, Janette Becker, we were informed about the
purpose and goals of the organization, and even about some of the difficulties involved. By speaking with Agnes
Cammer, we learned all about the history of the association, as well as her personal involvement over the years.
All in all, this was an awesome night and the two of us learned a great deal about the Philippine-American
community in Madison. We would like to thank all of those involved with PAMANA for their hospitality, and we intend
to spread our knowledge across campus.
Max Ditlevson & Derek Shimeck are students at UW-Madison This article was submitted as a project for Asian
American Studies 240 course under Asst. Prof. Jan Miyasaki.
Philippine-American culture.
Upon arriving, we got the opportunity to meet and interview the upcoming President-Elect, Janette Becker. We
asked her several questions about the purpose and goals of PAMANA, and she was able to fill us in with a
plethora of good information. According to Janette, the goals of PAMANA are simple: the group aims to preserve
the heritage and culture of Philippine-Americans, and to give those involved a sense of belonging to a group of
their own. PAMANA also gives aid and support to families who are located in the Philippines. Additionally, Janette
stated that another goal of PAMANA is to reach to other Filipino-American families in the Madison area who might
have never heard of the organization before, and to let them know they are always welcome. In addition to the
organization’s goals, we also asked about the purpose of the PAMANA Holiday Celebration. Similar to the goals of
PAMANA, Janette said the event was created not only as a celebration of the holidays, but as a celebration of the
Philippine culture as well. It is also used as a way to let the people of Madison know about the organization and the
good things and services it does on a regular basis.
Aside from the Holiday Celebration, we wanted to know more about other events they coordinate or are part of. In
addition to this specific celebration, the group holds several fundraising events throughout the year, which is where
most of PAMANA’s budget comes from. Similar to the Holiday Celebration, PAMANA holds spring and summer
celebrations, and even a Valentine’s party in February, much like the celebration we attended. Another fun event is
a fashion show, which has become more popular in recent years. As far as other events, Janette informed us that
they are regularly involved with United Way and the many events and service projects that they coordinate. Also,
she told us that there were one or two other Philippine-American organizations in the area, but that she feels they
must not be competitive with each other if they want to achieve success. Instead, the groups must work together to
improve the community as a whole in order to preserve their culture.
Unfortunately, not everything involved with PAMANA is celebratory. We asked Janette about some of the difficulties
the group encounters and some of the challenges she may face in her presidency. One major difficulty PAMANA
regularly encounters is a lack of money and volunteers for the several events they coordinate. She says it is hard to
get the community involved with only limited help at times. Also, although PAMANA has made many positive
influences on the community, Janette says there is always room for more to be done and more awareness to be
had in the community.
After speaking with Janette, we sat down with Agnes Cammer, a past president, and long time member of
PAMANA. She had written up a document of her history of involvement with the group, which detailed how and why
she had joined PAMANA in the first place. She went on to tell us about her personal history in the U.S. since 1958,
and how she came to find PAMANA after the incredible support the group had showed her after the loss of her
husband. Stemming from that event, she said that PAMANA was like a group of support for her and there were
always people there to share stories, enjoy home-cooked meals, and go to for support. After officially joining
PAMANA, she decided that she had wanted the group to give back and do great things in the community. As
president, her biggest goal was awareness. She knew that there were many Philippine-Americans in Madison
who had no awareness of PAMANA, just as she had been before the loss of her husband in 1979. She felt it was
important for Filipino Americans to come together for a sense of belonging because she had known what it was
like to not be involved in the community. After speaking with Agnes, it is evident how passionate she is, and has
always been, for PAMANA and the Philippine-American community.
Thanks to the PAMANA Holiday Celebration, the two of us were able to learn a great deal about this influential
organization known as PAMANA. By interviewing the President-Elect, Janette Becker, we were informed about the
purpose and goals of the organization, and even about some of the difficulties involved. By speaking with Agnes
Cammer, we learned all about the history of the association, as well as her personal involvement over the years.
All in all, this was an awesome night and the two of us learned a great deal about the Philippine-American
community in Madison. We would like to thank all of those involved with PAMANA for their hospitality, and we intend
to spread our knowledge across campus.
Max Ditlevson & Derek Shimeck are students at UW-Madison This article was submitted as a project for Asian
American Studies 240 course under Asst. Prof. Jan Miyasaki.
(Left-right ) Max Ditlevson, PAMANA President Jun
gonzales, President-Elect Janette Becker, and
Derek Shimeck
gonzales, President-Elect Janette Becker, and
Derek Shimeck
By Max Ditlevson & Derek Shimeck
Throughout the city of Madison, Wisconsin, there are many
different racial and ethnic groups and cultures. As busy
college students, it is sometimes difficult to stop and realize
how diverse the city of Madison really is. In order to become
more aware of the diversity around the city, the two of us
attended the PAMANA Holiday Celebration at the Goodman
Community Center on the east side of Madison. PAMANA is
the acronym for the Philippine-American Association of
Madison and Neighboring Areas. At the event there were
many activities from face painting, music and dancing, a
silent auction, and even several raffle drawings. Also, a
potluck-style meal was provided with many different
Philippine dishes and delicacies. Near the end of the
celebration, Santa Claus even stopped by! While celebrating
the holidays, we also got the chance to meet, and interview,
a few leaders of PAMANA from the past and present. They
told us all about the purpose of the group as well as the
Throughout the city of Madison, Wisconsin, there are many
different racial and ethnic groups and cultures. As busy
college students, it is sometimes difficult to stop and realize
how diverse the city of Madison really is. In order to become
more aware of the diversity around the city, the two of us
attended the PAMANA Holiday Celebration at the Goodman
Community Center on the east side of Madison. PAMANA is
the acronym for the Philippine-American Association of
Madison and Neighboring Areas. At the event there were
many activities from face painting, music and dancing, a
silent auction, and even several raffle drawings. Also, a
potluck-style meal was provided with many different
Philippine dishes and delicacies. Near the end of the
celebration, Santa Claus even stopped by! While celebrating
the holidays, we also got the chance to meet, and interview,
a few leaders of PAMANA from the past and present. They
told us all about the purpose of the group as well as the