‘The Forgotten Americans’: Fil-Am photographer puts focus on Amerasians

In a time when many immigrants to the United States face the threat of deportation, Filipino-American photographer Enrico Dungca is currently pursuing what he calls a lifetime photography assignment.

The Forgotten Americans is a series of photographs taken by Dungca of Amerasians in the Philippines; he intends to fight for their rights in the US Congress using the power of photography.

Enrico Dungca (in black cap) speaks at the opening of his exhibit The Forgotten Americans" at the Shopkeepers Gallery in Washington D.C. Photos: Ruston Banal

The subjects of his photographs were either deserted or not recognized by their American fathers, usually US servicemen, and have been fighting for the right to be recognized by the US government as its citizens.

"History shows that photographs can serve as powerful tools in making political and social reform," Dungca said. "A perfect example is the work of the FSA [Farm Security Admnistration] photographers in the 1930s, which eventually combated American rural poverty."

Dungca was born and raised in the Philippines, but moved with his family to the US in the early 80s. He went to the ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, California on a scholarship, and after graduation became a prolific celebrity photographer in Hollywood. In 2013, while on vacation in Angeles City, he encountered a young Amerasian boy in a jeepney who told him about his longing to find his American dad. This encounter started Dungca on his mission.

"The Forgotten Americans" was recently on exhibit at the Smithsonian Asian Pacific Center (APAC) in Washington, D.C. "APAC might have found the importance of the issue. It is quite an honor to be recognized by a prestigious American institution," Dungca said.

 

We're pleased to present a special pop-up exhibit at @shopkeepersgallery all this month! Join us tomorrow (Sat May 6) for the opening of The Forgotten Americans, featuring portraits of Filipino Amerasians taken by photographer @enricodungca ????

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May 5, 2017 at 4:04pm PDT

The prints are 16" x 20" in silver gelatin, printed by Dungca himself. There is one image that is 28" x 38", and it is an archival pigment print. The prints will be mounted at the Pearl S. Buck House in Pennsylvania.

For Dungca, one beautiful advantage in having showcased these photographs in Washington D.C. is that the faces of these forgotten citizens are presented right in America's center of political power. He hopes that US lawmakers will realize that these Amerasians in the Philippines are also children of the United States, and need their help.

H.R. (House Resolution) 1520, authored by Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI) and presented in this year's congressional calendar, is a bill that hopes to reunite these sons and daughters with their American military fathers in the United States.

"The bill was partially inspired by a military veteran who is going through difficulties in bringing his daughter to the United States. Let's remember, the daughter is a child of an American citizen. The veteran...bumped into my photographs and project online, which gave him more strength and inspiration in reaching out to Congressman Ron Kind," Dungca said. 

"The project shows that it's not only [the veteran] who is going through difficulties in achieving rights in living in the United States. Rather, many children fathered by their American fathers."

Photography has become Dungca's weapon in his quest to help the Philippines' Amerasian children. "The Philippines welcomed the United States over a hundred years ago, and adopted its language and westernized culture. She hosted two of the largest American military bases outside of the US mainland for over 50 years and even fought alongside the Americans in times of war," he said. "We [Filipinos] have been welcoming to this greatest nation, and it's about time that this most powerful country in the world welcomes these forgotten sons and daughters of American citizens to their fatherland."

 — BM, GMA News