Dawn Bohulano Mabalon remembered as a progressive and inspiring mentor, a loyal friend

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Christine was one of the ‘bride’s women’ at the wedding in Stockton, Calif. of Dawn Bohulano Mabalon and Jesus Gonzales on October 10, 2009. Dawn made it very clear they were bride’s ‘women’ not bride’s ‘maids.’

Christine was one of the ‘bride’s women’ at the wedding in Stockton, Calif. of Dawn Bohulano Mabalon and Jesus Gonzales on October 10, 2009. Dawn made it very clear they were bride’s ‘women’ not bride’s ‘maids.’

By Cristina DC Pastor

To her best friend, Dawn Bohulano Mabalon was the always-knowledgeable older sister, the progressive mentor, and the giggly girlfriend who enjoyed her visits to NYC.

Christine Capacillo’s memories of the historian, author, activist, and professor revolved around these expressive images of Dawn. According to reports, Dawn’s “sudden death” on August 10 happened while she vacationing with family in Hawaii. The exact cause is yet to be determined, but it’s been reported that she had an asthmatic condition. The author of the award-winning book, “Little Manila is in the Heart: The Making of the Filipina/o American Community in Stockton, California,” was 46.

The two met in 1995 when Dawn became a guidance counsellor to Christine, then a History student at UCLA and the first person in her family to go to college. At the time, Dawn was completing her master’s degree in Asian American Studies.

“We clicked right away,” recalled Christine, a Program Director at iMentor NYC, when interviewed by The FilAm. “She understood the complexities of being low-income, being Pinay going through the college experience. She helped and supported me.”

The two became fast friends, while Dawn is six years older – “I called her Manang Dawn” — and have maintained an enduring friendship lasting more than two decades. It was Dawn and another close friend, Prof. Allyson Tintiango-Cubales, “who exposed me to Pilipino cultural night…and very progressive discussions about Pinay identity and struggle,” Christine said.

Christine was there when Dawn received her Ph.D. in History from Stanford University in 2004. ‘She inspired me to pursue my master’s degree in Developmental Psychology. She wrote my letter of recommendation.’

Christine was there when Dawn received her Ph.D. in History from Stanford University in 2004. ‘She inspired me to pursue my master’s degree in Developmental Psychology. She wrote my letter of recommendation.’

“First time I was exposed, I was proud to be Filipino. I didn’t know how deep that was. Seeing Dawn graduate with her Asian American master’s degree was so empowering, so inspiring for me. I was there at her graduation,” she said. Dawn and her long-time close friend and colleague Allyson wrote in 1995 the spoken word, entitled “Resistance and Struggle are Sisters.”

Christine was one of the “brideswomen” at Dawn’s wedding to Jesus Gonzales in 2009. “It was intentional in that she wanted to get married in October on Filipino American History Month,” she said.

“I was honored to be included as one of her bride’s women, not bride’s ‘maid,’ she made this term very clear,” said Christine. In fact, Christine who is supposed to be marrying her fiancé Stan Kelly, has been eyeing Dawn for the role of candle sponsor, but never got the chance to let her know that because of the tragedy.

In one of Dawn’s visits to NYC, Christine recalled a happy meeting in Chinatown and a laughter that was loud even by New York standards. “For a time, she would go to New York every year, and we would see each other.”
The last time she saw Dawn was May 10 in San Francisco. “We had dinner and ice cream,” said Christine.

She was telling Christine about the Mabalon family’s plan to take a vacation in Hawaii with husband Jesse, her sister and her sister’s kids. “Dawn has been to Hawaii many times. She was very happy to be going on vacation in Hawaii.”

She learned of Dawn’s passing from Allyson the Friday it happened.

“I got call from Allyson, normally she’d text. There was a pause then she said, Hey, are you sitting down?…I was in disbelief. I ended up crying, I haven’t cried like that in a long time,” she said.

Friends of Dawn, including Christine, gathered on August 17 at Purple Yam in Brooklyn, her favorite NYC restaurant where her book “Little Manila” launched in 2013. It was a night marked by sadness and also uproarious laughter. Author, professor of Psychology, and another close friend Kevin Nadal organized the memorial dinner. Dawn was remembered as a friend and sister who was “smart, witty, sharp, quick…loyal as f—k.”

Said Kevin through tears, “A part of me wants this to be a dream.”

© The FilAm 2018

At a gathering of friends at Purple Yam Brooklyn, Dr. Kevin Nadal (top photo) remembers Dawn as a loyal friend, ‘the best person you will ever meet.’ The FilAm Photos

At a gathering of friends at Purple Yam Brooklyn, Dr. Kevin Nadal (top photo) remembers Dawn as a loyal friend, ‘the best person you will ever meet.’ The FilAm Photos



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