Fil nurse-turned-detective highlights story of a Filipino in the diaspora during the Phil flag raising in NYC
Our Filipino people will only continue to move forward and positively impact our great city if we never forget where we came from and those who have brought us here to this point. - Angelica de Leon Velez
By Marivir Montebon
New York – The 125th Philippine Independence Day celebrations in the Big Apple was capped by the raising of the Philippine flag at the Bowling Green Park in lower Manhattan on June 16, 2023. The mood at the park was convivial despite the overwhelming noise that’s typically NYC. The story shared by an NYPD police officer encapsulated the heart of the struggle and success of the Filipino in the diaspora, giving the ceremony a refreshing breath.
Angelica de Leon Velez, nurse-turned-cop shares her inspiring story during the Philippine flag raising ceremony at the Bowling Green Park on June 16, 2023 to commemorate the 125th Philippine Independence Day celebration in NYC.
The flag raising ceremony was the second year that the city government had tendered with the incumbency of Mayor Eric Adams. Philippine Consul General Senen Mangalile, in his opening remarks, exalted the Filipinos who fought for freedom from Spain that eventually earned the country’s independence and status as the first Republic in Asia.
Philippine Consul General Senen Mangalile; behind him is Commissioner for Immigrant Affairs Manuel Castro who was the event host.
He also celebrated current Filipinos in New York whose labor, talent, and expertise have contributed to the vigor of New York. There are approximately 85,000 Filipinos living in New York.
NYC Mayor Eric Adams
Two of Adams’ key officials are of Filipino heritage. Deputy NYC Mayor Maria Torres-Springer and Anne del Castillo, the commissioner for the media and entertainment.
In his speech, Adams emphasized that the symbolism of the flag raising was to be balanced with the substance of acknowledging the Filipinos, “giving them the voice and visibility” as well as the respect and gratitude of their contributions to New York.
NYC Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer
Commissioner for Media and Entertainment Anne del Castillo
Consul General Mangalile gave Adams a token after his speech, a self-portrait painted by award-winning artist Ronald Cortes, an employee at the Philippine Consulate General in New York.
ConGen Senen Mangalile gives Mayor Adams a self-portrait token painted by artist Ronald Cortes (left) after his speech.
Commissioner Manuel Castro of the NYC Mayor’s Office for Immigrant Affairs hosted the program. The University of the Philippine Alumni and Friends Rondalla rendered folk music while the San Lorenzo Ruiz choir sang the American and Philippine national anthems.
A refreshing guest at the ceremony was Angelica de Leon Velez, a member of the New York Police District. She was a teenage mother, who decided to take up nursing and practiced nursing but soon decided to change profession – a police detective.
Angelica de Leon Velez
Her narrative is one shining story of a Filipino immigrants’ daughter, struggling and thriving in New York with personal growth and grit with the loving support of Filipino parents.
Angelica Velez’s full speech:
“Magandang hapon po. Good afternoon, everyone. I'd like to first thank the Philippine Consulate General along with the Mayor's Office for the opportunity to be part of such an amazing moment.
My name is Angelica De Leon Velez. I am a first generation Filipino American, born and raised in Queens, New York. My parents emigrated from the Philippines in the early 80s leaving behind their world for a piece of the "American Dream". My father was a merchant marine, and my mother was a nurse. They met here in New York and by the grace of God, are still together hand in hand.
I am standing here today because of my parents. Most Filipino households take pride in their children. My parents worked two jobs each to provide an amazing life for my sister and I.
I can honestly say that I was my parents’ pride and joy up until the age of 16. I played classical piano starting at the age of 5, received honor roll awards, merit awards, became one of the first females to be an altar server at my parish, volunteered as a candy striper at nursing homes and ultimately receiving scholarships for school.
One scholarship was to attend a private all-girl high school that my parents dreamed of. All this and yet, I knew the system and I played it well.
I was a rebellious teen and as long as i brought home good grades, I took it upon myself to hang out late and sometimes never come home. I made my parents’ lives hell.
Everything finally caught up to me in my senior year of high school. I was 17, pregnant, just graduated high school and about to enter my first semester of college. I could not go to my first-choice college because my son would be born in the middle of the semester.
My parents were too distraught, disappointed, and hurt to speak to me. My friendships dwindled because everyone was going away to college, and I was alone. I will never forget that cold December day, I went to the only place I felt safe, which was my parish church.
Ironically, I saw my father there as well. It was here and that moment when I made amends and I promised my family that no matter how hard it would be, I would continue my studies.
Despite all the ridicule my family endured of having a daughter that became a teen mom, they supported me. I was able to complete my nursing studies and get my license. The saying we often hear, "it takes a village to raise a family,” well my village watched my son while I balanced a full-time job and attended classes.
My family worked around their own work schedule to help raise my son while I worked as a nurse. It was an amazing experience but as the comedian Jokoy says, this wasn’t my dream career. I loved being a nurse and I worked hard to achieve that goal.
However, unbeknownst to my family, I took the police exam a couple years prior. No one knew that my dream was to become a detective. When my investigator called me to ask if I was still interested in becoming a police officer, my mind said, don’t do it but my heart said, "hell yes."
How was I going to explain this to my parents? All that studying, time, sacrifice, school loans and for what? Let's just say, my mom and dad were not initially thrilled with my career change.
My parents would remind me that as a woman, especially being a Filipina, I would have a hard fit with the dynamics of the cop culture and be more of a liability in the streets than an asset. Their words were spoken out of tough love, but I took it as a challenge.
The first few years of my police career started in the housing developments of East Harlem, the south Bronx, east New York, and Brownsville.
A couple years later, I worked my way to the Detective Bureau in Narcotics. Many of these places have never seen an Asian female cop before. Positive and negative comments alike were made but I took it as an opportunity to start a conversation and grow from it.
Being born and raised in the city, I was able to connect with people and bridge that cultural gap.
That is the amazing thing about Filipinos especially from New York City. No matter where they are, who they are with, and what circumstances they are in, we adapt. We make the best of our situations and continuously work to improve and be the best at what we do. We do it with a smile, regardless of what we're feeling on the inside.
I can test this theory anywhere. If you know or work with a Filipino, hands down they are foodies, love to laugh but get their job done. We are a people that love to serve and help others and will do it while having fun.
Even though I did not grow up seeing Filipinos or aspects of my culture on any mainstream outlets, my family enriched us with our heritage merely by throwing big family parties filled with amazing food, participating in Santa Cruzan events, karaoke and line dancing at any social gathering, eating out at 69 Street in Woodside and the yearly parade here in Manhattan.
Fast forward to the present day, I literally screamed yesterday when I saw a Jollibee in the heart of Times Square! Of course, we had to stop, and I introduced my coworkers to the chicken joy and they loved it.
Today, my own children can turn on the TV, switch on the iPad or listen to music and can find an artist, a movie or show with someone that looks like them. Our society, though not always perfect, is evolving for the better because of the cumulative effort people bring to the table.
People are appreciating each other's cultures, communicating, sharing, and learning from one another which will only strengthen the ingredients and fortify New York City's melting pot.
Dr Jose Rizal, who was a great Filipino hero, stated, “Ang hindi marunong lumingon sa pinangalingan ay hindi makakarating sa paroroonan.” (He who does not know how to look back at where he came from will never get to his destination).
Our Filipino people will only continue to move forward and positively impact our great city if we never forget where we came from and those who have brought us here to this point.
Thank you for your time. Maraming salamat po, mag ingat po kayo lagi at mabuhay ang Filipinas!”
