Amanda Mailey
I’m grateful ALIST was given the opportunity to help organize the first Filipino Food Tour in Oregon. As a small business advocate and marketer, this is my way of recognizing and celebrating how I found connection back to my Filipino American identity through the food community. Plus, it’s my birthday on Sunday!
I was born in Santa Clara, California, but raised in Aloha, Oregon. My parents divorced when I was 6 years old and we moved up to Oregon with my mom. Being separated from my Filipino culture and family left a void in my life and feelings of being displaced. During school breaks we did roadtrip down to visit my dad and extended family. My siblings and I are the only cousins who didn’t grow up in a Filipino household. Visiting California was our opportunity to taste Filipino food and connect to a heritage we knew was ours, but unaware of what it meant. It was something we just couldn’t find in our new home growing up in the PNW.
Fast forward to a few years ago, I tasted and smelled the foods cooked by local chefs here in Oregon and I was transported back to the kitchens of my grandma, aunties and uncles. Most of whom have passed on and were the cooks for our family gatherings. Their smiles are in this food. My brain doesn’t remember the names of dishes so I can’t go searching for recipes. But all my senses remember these flavors and I'm even experiencing new ones thanks to the expanding food scene in the Portland Metro area. The best part is I get to share all of this with my 2 kids. Something I wouldn’t be able to do without this group of amazing humans. I owe a lot to this community. I’m thankful for the chance to do something for and with all of them. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate turning 45 years old. My younger self would be proud.
April was designated Filipino Food Month to appreciate and preserve Filipino culinary heritage, as well as the farmers and fishermen who make it all possible. My grandpa Pablo Mendoza Mallare immigrated from the Philippines in 1929 along with thousands of other Filipino farm laborers who boarded ships for the US.
After fighting in WWII he was naturalized in 1944. In 1951, my Grandma Eufrosina Quinzon and Grandpa used the GI Bill money they received to purchase 15 acres of land in San Martin, California. Grandpa was the lead farmer with the green thumb and grandma ran the business side until 1986. Grandma also planted fig, walnut, and persimmon trees that still stand today. To have certain vegetables on hand for her Filipino cooking, they grew small amounts of long beans, bitter melon, eggplant, okra, and opo or calabash squash.
Working with all these talented artists, chefs, bakers, mixologists this month feels reminiscent to my grandparents planting seeds in the earth to connect them to home, culture, heritage and family. Participating in this event, alongside so many other Filipinx-owned businesses, is my way to honor and celebrate my ancestors and their relationship with the earth and building their Fil-Am community. I hope Portland is enjoying what we’ve brought to the Rose City this month. We hope to do this every year. Happy Filipino Food Month!
About Alist
Amanda Mailey is a 20+ year marketing veteran and owner of ALIST, a Filipina-owned marketing and business consultancy specializing in serving women of color entrepreneurs. She's also the founder of WSW, a community of women supporting women. ALIST was founded in 2016 and has served hundreds of small businesses since its inception. Her work has been recognized by the Portland Business Journal, Koin 6 News, and the Portland Monthly.
Role: Amanda is the main point of contact for this event as well as responsible for marketing and event strategy, fundraising, program management, curation of participating businesses, team leadership, strategic partnerships and press relations. Any and all questions should be directed to her. Absent of a fiscal sponsor, ALIST is also collecting and distributing funds according to the agreed budget designed by the organizing team.
