S5 Ep. 5: Breaking Generational Poverty with PAGA & The Filipino Amerasian Story

Welcome to Season 5, Episode 5 of The Loida Lewis Podcast! Today, we uncover a vital, deeply emotional piece of US-Philippine history: the reality of Filipino Amerasians.Tita Loida welcomes the leadership and beneficiaries of the Philippine American Guardian Association (PAGA), an organization founded in 1921 to support the children of US military personnel left behind in the Philippines. Alongside PAGA Chair Lisa Kircher and Executive Director Jill Cortes, we hear real, raw stories of hope and survival from scholars who are breaking the cycle of generational poverty.From young students navigating life without their parents, to former Executive Director Deanna Bajar using DNA testing at 80 years old to finally locate her American family, these stories will stay with you forever. We also dive into PAGA’s 2026 goals, the structural impact of EDCA, and the crucial push for the US government to provide justice and humanitarian aid to the Amerasian community.✨ What we discuss in this episode:A Century-Old Mission for Filipino AmerasiansStories of Resilience from PAGA Beneficiaries and StaffBreaking Generational Poverty Through EducationThe Power of DNA Testing: Finding Family After 50+ YearsThe Impact of EDCA and the Search for Recognition📚 Empower yourself with books by Tita Loida and Tito Reggie:How to Get a Green Card (HTGAGC): https://amzn.to/4vuXzrw #adWhy Should Guys Have All the Fun? (WSGHATF): https://amzn.to/4xbKx3B #adWhy Should White Guys Have All the Fun? (WSWGHATF): https://amzn.to/4oaaRao #adRate and review us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts for a chance to be featured on a future episode! Email your questions to [email protected]. Let’s live, love, laugh, and learn together.