It was in 2006 when Hospital Corpsmen 1st Class Gilbert Umayam initially

It was in 2006 when Hospital Corpsmen 1st Class Gilbert Umayam initially participated in Naval Hospital Bremerton’s Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Celebration.

Back then as a young hospital corpsman third class, he outwardly displayed no nervousness as he accomplished a flawless rendition of the traditional Filipino dance ‘wasiwas’ in front of an enthralled and receptive crowd. The same held true on May 30 as again he rhythmically flowed through the unique and timeless ‘tinikling’ dance also with its roots in the Philippines Archipelago.

The dance highlighted the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month celebration at the command, which also featured various Asian and Pacific displays and exhibits as well as a personal-focus on this year’s theme of “I am beyond.” Several NHB’s Asian American and Pacific Islander Sailors and staff members were featured, including Hospitalman Seiko Rutherford of Branch Health Clinic Bangor.

Rutherford, an Osaka, Japan native learned the English language in 2006 and realized her dream of moving to America after and joining the Navy. She also shared personal beliefs of her heritage.

“I cannot live without Japanese food. Contrary to what many might think, we don’t eat sushi every day. Although there are lots of similar restaurants like fast food places that are in America, the local food is so much better and tastier,” shared Rutherford, noting that she also follows the Japanese cultural traits of being polite and respectful in her interactions with others.

“I never want to be rude or cause anger in another,” Rutherford added.

For Debra Crawford, Director for Surgical Services secretary, her roots are from the island of Tawi-Tawi, located at the extreme southern end of the Sulu Archipelago portion of the Republic of the Philippines.

“My mom came to the United States in 1973 and our island chain is known as ‘Turtle Isles,’ due to being the only living areas in the entire world for the Green Sea Turtles. It is a Turtle Islands Heritage Protected area by the Philippines (and Malaysia) to protect the turtles and their nesting sites,” said Crawford.

Umayam and other Sailors of Asian and Pacific Islander heritage comprise 6.5 percent of our active duty Navy personnel. There are currently over 20,000 active duty Sailors, approximately 4,000 Reservists and about 18,900 civilians of Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage, including 10 flag officers, nine members of the senior executive service and 176 master chief petty officers.

The tinikling dance has been a heritage celebration favorite since the inception of the event as well as being one of the most popular and well-known traditional Philippine dances. The history of the dance predates the Spanish era of the island-nation and involved two participants beating, tapping and sliding two bamboo poles on the ground and against each other in rhythmic coordination while one or more dancers step over and between the poles in rhythm. The name is derived from an indigenous bird known as tinikling, and originated in Leyte among the Visayan Islands in the central Philippines as an imitation of the tinikling bird dodging bamboo traps set by rice farmers. The dance imitates the movement of the tinikling birds as they gracefully and skillfully maneuver between the grass stems, run over tree branches or dodge the traps.

“The wasiwas is fun but more of an individual dance than the tinikling dance which has a lot more people involved. Because the tinikling can have more dancers take part, I think I like it better. What was neat was that we had dancers that had never done the dance before but we held a number of long practices beforehand and they all caught on and did really well,” Umayam said.

HM1 Julian Rodriguez of BHC Bangor Dental Clinic handled master of ceremony duties and explained that since 1977, the month of May has been the time to recognize the achievements and contributions of Asian Americans, Pacific islanders and native Hawaiians to the American story. Diversity of ideas, experiences, areas of expertise and backgrounds is necessary to fulfill the variety of missions asked of the Navy today and into the future.

“I was honored to be involved and take part in our Diversity Council’s presentation,” Rodriguez said.

According to Hospital Corpsman Chief Beverly Glauber, the month of May was chosen to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese to the United States on May 7, 1843 and to mark the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. The majority of the workers who laid the tracks of that nation-tying railway were Chinese immigrants.

On October 5, 1978, then-President Jimmy Carter signed a joint resolution designating the annual Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage week. A dozen years later, then-President George H.W. Bush signed an extension, making the weeklong celebration into a month-long observation.

The ceremony at NHB wrapped up the official observation for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage, but staff members that embody the rich cultural diversity and legacy continue to keep the varied traditions alive, throughout the year.

For more news from Naval Hospital Bremerton, visit www.navy.mil/local/nhb/.