Feeling hopeful at Radburn school’s Philippines Culture Day

By Marissa Bañez

“Happy Culture Day!!!”

Students at Radburn Elementary School, a public school in Fair Lawn, New Jersey,  echoed that greeting while marveling at Filipino artifacts and other items during their Philippines Culture Day. 

They put on bamboo conical hats and Filipino clothing, and decorated a cardboard jeepney.  They ate Filipino food – pancit, lumpia, pandesal, queso de bola, and ube treats.  They were treated to a Filipino martial arts demonstration, ancient Baybayin script writing lessons, and traditional dances.  Some teachers even tried the tinikling.

Every year since the 1980s, the school highlights a country or culture that’s represented within the school community, allowing the kids to have an all-day immersive experience. This year, Atty. Kristine Vo spearheaded the organization of the events and other details for the Philippines Cultural Day, which took place on March 13, 2026.

I participated as an author of children’s books, featuring a Filipina fairy.  I introduced the Fortune Fairy of Hope in my first book, Hope and Fortune, and gave her a “cameo appearance” in my second book, Hues and Harmony (How the Rainbow Butterfly Got Her Colors).  I told the kids about how the Fortune Fairy of Hope represents the Philippines through her clothing – her terno, tapis, and giniling – and that she is based on my Filipina mother.

But my books aren’t Filipino-centric.  I created my characters to represent several cultures and races.  I wanted them to resonate with as many people as possible and to plant seeds of curiosity in my readers about others who may not look, think, or live like them.

Unfortunately, the world (not just the USA) is increasingly xenophobic, with people closing their ears, eyes, hearts, and minds to others who look, think, and live differently.  They don’t want to know about other cultures and traditions.  They want to stay within their comfort zones, distrusting and hating everything and everyone beyond, oftentimes with no basis except for a vague discomfort with and fear of the unknown. 

I recently wrote a published piece entitled Lost and Light in which I said that “what defeats fear is knowledge and being enlightened.” The first step in defeating fear of the unknown and unfamiliar is being open to learning and then, hopefully, building mutual understanding upon common grounds, while respecting differences.

I’ve always liked learning about other people and cultures – through travel, books, music, art, fashion, conversations.  Despite cultural dissimilarities, there are basic human traits that we all share to some degree. That’s a good starting point toward the enlightenment that defeats the dark space inhabited by fear, distrust, and hatred. 

The Radburn students, most of whom were not of Philippine ancestry, were clearly excited to learn about us.  They listened with interest as I told them about what the Fortune Fairy of Hope symbolized. 

I’ve done about 75 book readings in several states.  Almost every single kid – regardless of their racial or cultural backgrounds – has been very open to learning about the diverse characters in my books.  Many tell me they like my books (like a few of the Radburn students) and some adults have thanked me with tears in their eyes.

I’m always optimistic about our world after my readings…until I see the news, which is filled with stories about xenophobia.  What’s the tipping point at which people become either accepting of others or xenophobic?  

I believe xenophobia is grounded in insecurity about one’s supposed place in a hierarchical society, whether based on race, color, creed, gender, fame, or wealth.  What many people don’t realize or refuse to acknowledge is that much, if not all, of that has been engineered and manipulated by a few people for their own purposes and aggrandizement. 

A stark example is the “politics of resentment,” attributed to former President Lyndon B. Johnson: “If you can convince the lowest white man he’s better than the best colored man, he won’t notice you’re picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he’ll empty his pockets for you.” 

Although Johnson was speaking from his perspective as a politician, the underlying principle applies to everything upon which xenophobia is rooted.  Flattery will get you everywhere.

The seemingly endless cycle of hatred and distrust against each other destroys our sense of humanity – the common ground that binds us together at the most fundamental level. Sometimes, it’s overwhelmingly distressing.

Still, it’s this feeling of despair that makes me grateful for the Philippines Culture Day. The kids’ joyful cries of “Happy Culture Day” as they celebrated a culture unlike theirs was heartwarming and hopeful.  As the Fortune Fairy of Hope said:  “Give yourself permission to cry.  Just know that things will get better as time goes by.” 

Hope springs eternal.

Marissa Bañez is a lawyer and children’s book author.  She is a frequent contributing writer to The FilAm and has published numerous articles, essays, and reviews with several publications.