Meet Robert Bulatao, a Filipino-American millennial based in San Leandro, California, ready to fight for your basic rights and represent the marginalized groups. This interview was conducted via Zoom on June 28, 2024.
Full interview video: https://youtu.be/rH8pZGv6P1Y
Quick short videos of the key parts of the interview: instagram.com/yourcoolninang
Sarah: So, hi, everyone! This is Sarah of Your Cool Ninang, Samahan, and Subtle Filipino Traits. I am joined by someone who I wish that lives here in my own city, I have Robert Bulatao. BuLAtao, is it BUlataO?
Robert: Its "Bulagabsdhuweuib" everyone say it too many vowels yeah
Sarah: He's currently running for San Leandro City Council District 6, and speaking of that, you want to tell us a little bit about your background and what you're doing for San Leandro?
Robert: A little bit about myself, so I used to be a massage therapist and I was finally able to get health insurance. I was about 26 years old. I went to get a checkup, because it was kind of a luxurious time, around the time I was also going back to school to transition towards becoming a physical therapist. But after I got my check up done, it turned out that I had chronic myeloid leukemia. So at 26 years old, I had forever cancer and I had to change course. My wife and I decided I would be a stay at home dad. After a year of stable and we eventually had our first kid, Dante, in 2012, and our daughter, Nina, in 2014. So I've just been full time stay at home dad, taking care of them, getting really involved in their lives--to the point where about two years ago, I signed on as the PTO president of my kids' school. So that's a Parent Teacher Organization, it's kind of like a PTA for broke schools so that way we don't have to pay those dues. Our school is a Title 1 school which means majority of those students are low income. So I did as much as I could to to make it more equitable and accessible for everybody. We have movie nights, we would charge $1 for a slice of pizza and you get free popcorn. If the kid didn't have $1 for pizza, [we would just say], "just take it, this is all for you <3". We did as much as we could for our community. I've also been very involved in helping local progressive candidates get elected. I also do work with the committee in regards to volunteering, I was doing a lot of the community cleanups--and especially the emergency cleanups. We had those forms a year and a half ago, one thing I noticed was during the quarantine time when everyone was: a lot of the kids I saw for my kids classrooms, they were sitting tables on the couch they didn't have proper chairs. Now my wife, she works in commercial real estate, and sometimes when clients leave, they leave a ton of office furniture. So I was able to repurpose about 82 office chairs to the families of San Leandro that needed them. I'm also on the executive board of a nonprofit youth school for the last two years as well. Yeah, I do a lot for a guy with no job.
Sarah: It's almost like you have several unpaid jobs!
Robert: It's a necessity, people! Someone needs to step in.Sarah:
Sarah: Absolutely. I was also low income, I went to a school that was like, under funded within the district, so I think you're doing very important work here.
Robert: Thank you.
Sarah: I'm sure they appreciate it
Sarah: How many instruments do you play?
Robert: I play flute, ukulele, I play guitar and bass, I can play the bongo drums and I play a mean kazoo
Sarah: So you can be a one man band as well!
Robert: Right, I just need the rig I just need the rig!
Sarah: So.. San Leandro. Were you at the Itchyworms concert when they played at the BAL Theater there?
Robert: No, I missed it
Sarah: They're my favorite band I just had to ask! On your website and your socials, you said you wanted to be the first Filipino or Fil-Am council member in San Leandro. I find it shocking that in a city where it's like 10% Filipino, that they haven't elected one [already]. At the same time I find it believable because I know a lot of older Filipinos do not wanna get involved in American politics. Some of them may vote, some of them, don't. What would you give Filipinos or young people advice if they decide to do that for their community?
Robert: Well, first actually we have a lot of barriers to running so we have six districts in our city, and you would assume that if you want to run, to represent your district, you would just campaign around that area--so like around 15,000 people. But instead of doing it that way, which conforms the California voting rights, we do citywide elections. So instead of the 15,000 you would try and campaign to now you got a campaign to 90,000 and that increases the cost of running significantly. So instead of maybe a 10 to 15 thousand dollar election to represent your area, now you have to raise 50, 60, 70 thousand dollars in order to stand a chance if you're running contestant like I am. So if I do get in, one of the things I want to do to lower those barriers--to increase the representation that we have in our city would be to get us to conform to the California voting rights. You don't have to be super political to run, you just have to have a good heart and you have to have an open mind. With me I've been elbows deep in politics for a while after getting diagnosed with cancer. Realizing that it would cost me $20,000 a month, if I didn't have insurance, and that that kind of made me less apolitical and more "oh my God, gotta do something"! So don't be scared, seek help just if you're gonna run and seek help, talk to people. One thing I've noticed is if you have a good heart, if you just wanna talk to people and represent them, they're gonna be very open to it they're gonna be very supportive. Last week, I had actually I was knocking on doors, and there's this one door *knock knock*, and I can see through the window. There's this old dude kind of walking towards the door with a walker, "excuse me sir, are you Filipino?" He's like "yes". I'm like, "Ay! Kamusta po? My name is Robert Bulatao, I'm running for city council. I'm trying to be the first Filipino in city council ever" and I went to my whole spiel and I can see it in his eyes he started he started to cry a little and I could hear it in his voice "this is what we need. I'm gonna tell all of my friends even my puti friends!" and you know it gave me goosebumps just knowing that just running just being able to stand that representation means that much to our community. So we're 10% of this community, we need a voice, and I'm not only here to represent the Filipinos. I'm also here to represent all the people that are living in these low income situations. Being on a single family income. My wife was the one that was working full time and I was collecting disability, but it's still tough. We have eight people living in our house, still got four bedrooms. There's a lot of people living in similar situations in our city, in our area. And if I get elected, I'm also gonna represent all the broke people but I'll be straight up I'm doing my best to get that voice--so that we can fight for more equitable solution. People like to say support diversity, equity, and inclusion; but then they often do the opposite while offering breadcrumbs.
Sarah: know the Bay Area is a very expensive area of America to live in so it's good that you're fighting for them. That just remind me cause you are a millennial, you're fighting for rent control, affordable housing, basically basic human rights. Over here in Dallas, we have former Miss Texas, Avery Bishop, she's running for Texas House. She said she's a Gen Z and, shes fighting for the same things that you are. I believe if she gets elected, she will be the first Fil-Am representative and that's just further reminds me of why aren't there more of us? Why do you think there are not enough millennials running for office other than the the price to do it? Or just no one encouraging them, why do you think they're not encouraged to run for office?
Robert: Beccause the Filipino ones are nurses that's why!
Sarah: That's true!
Robert: But it's not a glorified job. We are, especially in Filipino community, trained to go for the higher paying jobs: become a dentist, become a doctor, become a nurse. But there are other jobs that need to be filled and other ways that we can represent. With millennials, I do believe that there's a lot of apathy. Just growing up and watching basic costs of living, for gas for shelter, just skyrocketing--while getting a degree doesn't really offer you a chance out of that hellhole. It really wears people down to the point where they just tune it out. They pay attention more on the national level, 'cause that's easy. But getting involved, it always seems so difficult because it kind of is. There's a lot of fear that goes into it. I.e. "if I file this wrong, maybe I'm gonna get charged $10,000 fine, if I don't file this at the right time, all of a sudden everyone's gonna know my dirt and start talking smack about me". You know it's a very thankless job that comes with a lot of criticism. But if you're ready to fight for it and go for it it's it's a lot of that apathy and that fear.
Sarah: I mean, unfortunately, we need people who are younger because these laws are being made for us, and who else, you know, can relate to that than Gen Z and millennials..
Robert: and those that are closest to the pain are closest to the solutions.
Sarah: Exactly. Now I call this my Miss Universe question. So I live in Dallas-really big city. Despite having 80 to 100,000 Filipinos we're still very like spread out throughout the North Texas [area]. We don't have a community center, we don't even have a Seafood City, and I know you have several in the Bay Area. Why do you think a Filipino-American community center is important?
Robert: I think it's important because what it'll do is we'll bring us closer. There's a lot of Filipinos out here in San Leandro too, but we don't know each other. Once in a while, you hear: Hey Filipino!" but that's about it. But giving our community that sense of belonging where they can connect with each other; that will help alleviate a lot of what you hear that "Filipinos are ___". We we're not a monolith. There's a lot of us that are very extroverted, but there's a lot of us that are also very shy and introverted. Gving them that option of finding their Kabayan that speak the same languages or at least maybe some Tagalog, we don't all speak Tagalog; but knowing that there's a place where you can meet up with your other people. I think that will help build a lot more community trust and also strengthen our community with way that things are right now. I remember growing up and knowing everybody on the block. In this current economic situation with essentially becoming a record where no one is able to build those proper groups in their cities. And for example, 44% of our single family housing stock is rent-occupied so how are you gonna expect people to plan for the long haul if majority of the housing, people that are trying to build that foundation are not able to just stay there to build those groups to become a part of that community? If we want to encourage we have to address the--
*interrupted by a cute cat, see youtube video for the kitty!*
--so yeah we have to address the housing instability because we have to make sure that people can live here for long term if we want to have a stronger sense of belonging if we want to have people invested in their community, knowing their neighbors.
Sarah: I forgot to ask, do you have a -- maybe San Francisco does-- but does San Leandro have a dedicated Filipino community center, or do they fall under the San Francisco or Bay Area one?
Robert: No, we have we have our normal community center, we also have a senior community center, but nothing for the Filipinos here.
Sarah: Ok yeah, but we both agree we need one! I mean, sometimes you need to look for "who's a Filipino immigration lawyer, or Filipino doctor specializing in Filipino conditions?"
Robert: Or at the very least, for Filipino-centric community events going on in the city. Then you get to know each other .
Sarah: Exactly, and to support local Filipino businesses
Robert: Maybe I'll host a Filipino bingo next
Sarah: That sounds good, for the older people who might be staying at home but they don't want to socialize, but everyone wants to play bingo!
Robert: :)
Sarah: Now time for the fun questions! I usually ask these on the street, but you know, we're different in areas. What do you think is a song that all Filipinos should know? And I tell people it doesn't have to be like Tagalog or OPM.
Robert: This is what I like: "Magasin" by Eraserheads.
Sarah: Oh my God, You picked the right song and the right band, theyre one of my favorites!
Robert: Aye there we go!
Sarah: I saw them last year!
Robert: Oh nice, I didn't know they were still touring together!
Sarah: They're having another tour and I think they're stopping in California.
Robert: Oooh I might think about that! For me that song holds a special place in my heart. Because before I became more fluent in Tagalog, I was pretty much assimilated in America, didn't speak a lick of Tagalog until my late teens. Practicing karaoke songs, and "Magasin" was one of my favorite ones, that's one of the ways that became a lot more comfortable with the pronunciation will help you do that.
Sarah: Such a fun song too! You mentioned karaoke, that's actually my second question. What's your karaoke go-to other than "Magasin"?
Robert: I like to sing "Creep" by Radiohead. I also like "Toxicity" by System of a Down".
Sarah: Can you do the screamo/growling?
Robert: Oh yeah! So I also used to be the lead singer of a anime cover band.
Sarah: No way, that is so cool! You've worn so many hats in your life.
Robert: I'm a Jack of all trades master of some! One last one that I like to sing would be "Santeria" by Sublime.
Sarah: That's a good one! And then lastly, if you know, like if you have speeches to do, or anything involving politics and they allow like a WWE entrance song, what would be yours?
Robert: I will go with "Virtual Insanity" by Jamiroquai
Sarah: Oh yeah that one I don't know but I will look that up!
Robert: *samples the song*
Sarah: Let me share my screen and I have a surprise for you! *shows the doodle I made of Robert*
Robert: I like it, I like it! Captures my eyes how far apart they are!
Sarah: oh wait no, thats just my art style!
Robert: I love it!
Sarah: I saw a picture of you in a barong so I pick that one. I know campaigning is a serious thing, obviously you don't have to use this one, but for social media, if you wanted! I'll send you the PNG but I figured I'd draw you!
Robert: I love it, thank you!
Sarah: That concludes all of my questions, can you tell us how to find you, how to support you, what we can do outside of California?
Robert: Outside of California, what you can do is, if you want to go to my website: rb4sanleandro.com or you can follow me on my socials all, my campaign socials @rb4sandeandro give those some likes, shares, and comments--just because we're trying to fight those algorithms and we're doing everything grassroots. The way that we're gonna win is it's gonna be through word of power. I think as long as we can get the word out, people don't want to set it forward. That's one reason why we have such no vote for return, they don't want the status quo. They don't want the standard politician, they want people that look like them, that talk like them, that represent them, that understand their issues. So yeah follow me on all my socials, help out with the algorithm, you can donate to my website as well. If I can get 100,000 Filipinos to donate one dollar, I think that'll be, I'm not really good at math, but that might be like a lot!
Sarah: After they remove the taxes yeah, thats a lot!
Robert: And you know like what what I'm what I'm seeing is they they don't understand our ability of the people, and they think that if we don't know what's going on, if they don't if we don't know, that we're fighting for our presentation, that we're not gonna win. But they don't understand the true power of people. Do you know what it is?
Sarah: Bayanihan?
Robert: No, I was gonna say tsismis!
Sarah: I mean, yeah that's true!
Robert: We have a whole army of Mariteses, we're just gonna send them out to the send our word to everybody! And really that's all we need, just a lot of people talking to each other, and giving that support.
Sarah: I mean ,we pushed people like Bretman Rock to stardom, which we need to do the same for people running for office, right?
Robert: Exactly.
Sarah: Thank you for joining me, it was a very fun conversation! I'd vote for you but unfortunately I'm over here..
Robert: It's the thought that counts!