Oral History

I interviewed one of my coworkers. His name is Anselmo Umerez.He is 45 years old.He immigrated here from the phillipines in 2000.He is a college graduate of the phillipines.He works in the item processing department at Corus Bank as a balancer.

How was yourlife in the Phillipines?

Good,very very good.

How old were you when you came to America.

I was 37,38

Why did you decide to come to America.
I was petitioned by my mother .She wanted me and my siblings to come join her.It took us almost seven years for the petition to be approved by the U.S government.

Do you like your life here?

Financially yes, but I prefer living in the Phillinpines.

Why?

Friends,Family,everything is really really really good.The enviornment in which I lived was nice.Everything was much better.

Now,when you said financially,what do you mean by that?

What I earn here at corus,is more than what a regular employee earns in the Phillipines.I earn what a supervisor would earn in the Phillipines.This is because the dollar is worth 38 pesos in the Phillipines.

Have you ever experienced any social injustices in the United States?

No,what do you mean like racism?

Yes,any type of discrimination, maybe because of your accent?

No so far so good.

Do you plan on going back to the Phillipines.

Yes,but not permanantly I would like to go back and visit.I will possibly go in July.