Growing up in the street, I learned that the street will always be an equalizer and common ground for everyone, regardless of different walks of life, roots, culture, and passion– the street can be a shared space too for your upbringing, identification, and community; your streets can be a reflection of who you were and who you can be.

This isn’t a skateboarding article and story; rather, this is a glimpse into the life of one of our skater homies, Kurt, known as “Passa” to his friends, a hard-working father, a free spirit, a skater, who invited us to have a look at the other side of his life as a member of West Side Islanders 310.

The OGs permitted us to attend, talk with them, and have a sight during their Anniversary celebration last March, which was held in Palanan, Makati. A night of celebration of life, familia, and future; and here’s how our conversation goes during that night:

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Life shaped by the Street

Based on our research, West Side Islanders started in Long Beach, California, around the 80s or 90s, a street gang that started with multiple ethnic backgrounds banded together, coming from their history as immigrants, keeping everyone in tight and protection of their kin, such as Chamorros, Hawaiians, Samoans, and Filipinos, and more on the line-up, all repping their roots.

At present, the West Side Islander 310 here in the Philippines is a next-in-line birthchild of it. West Side Islander 310 has spread to many cities across the country and into the hoods, creating their own chapters, honing the roots of the streets guided by the OGs and Veteranos, building a family that looks out for and better each other.

"Di naman kami grupo e, pamilya kami -- pamilya kami na lumalaki, pero piling-pili lang yung dapat pumasok samin....simple lang pare, pahalagahan mo yung mga nakapalibot sayo...ngayon pag 'di ka pinahalagahan ng mga nakapalibot sayo, tapon mo...Pero samin, pamilya kami. Mananatili kaming pamilya, ilang dekada… kahit isang daan pa. Mananatili kaming pamilya." as OG Rockman answered when asked what West Side Islanders 310 meant to him, and his reminders to his fellow homies.

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From Streets to Service

We also had a chance to talk with OG Jun and OG Tom of San Andres Hood (San Andres, Manila), who serve as guides to the neophyte and homies, and mentors when it comes to resolving any hood problems and programs.

"Iba na yung panahon ngayon, hindi na kagaya noon na parang sabay lang sa puro pagiging agresibo, syempre wala na dapat ganun... pinapayo namin na mas maging: mabuti lang sila, hindi naman away yung hanap namin dito. Pamilya, kapatid, tulungan lang ang gusto namin dito. Maging responsableng homeboy sa isa't isa." OG Jun and OG Tom shared a common response.

On the lens of stigma, gangs are always portrayed in their norms of inclinations to violence, but what society is not talking about are some of the different reasons why it can emerge due to coping or defense mechanisms related to the broader context of urban social, economic, and spatial segrations, as well as exclusions and discriminations. Adding to it is the mistrust of the system that eliminates their opportunities and their means to thrive. That’s why, at present, OG Junjun and OG Tom proudly told us that West Side Islanders 310 pushed and broke through a lot of stereotypes and have been taking good care of their members, their hoods, and their streets.

I even got a chance to hear stories from them that some of the members are now corporate and medical professionals, music studio and label managers, known hip-hop emcees, food business owners, entrepreneurs, and community mentors, who are present at the event, taking part to help the familia, and guiding the next generation. A counter-culture built from initiatives, programs, people thriving and looking out for each other, versus a modern-day system and stereotypes that expect them to fail.

"May mga programa rin kami na mga nilalatag ngayon... kumbaga darating tayo sa mga magagandang adhikain na programa namin. Tulad ng kapag may street children, tutulong kami sa mga street children, gumagawa ng feeding program. Kapag may mga nasunugan, tulong sa mga brother namin." OG Tom added.

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Forming the Future

Their anniversary serves as a marker for anyone to identify how long they have been existing, and how many years they will still exist.

"Ito yung parang way para magka-kilanlan yung magkaka-ibang hood, yung mga ibang magkaka-homeboy. Makilala kung sino yung mga nauna pati mga kasabayan nila." OG Junjun answered.

A righteous way of what family really does: a reunion, the act of coming together again, from generation to generation.

"Ano yung halaga nitong pagtitipon namin? Para manatili kaming matagal." OG Rockman pointed.

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The Swag and the Fly

Seeing them celebrate, introduce themselves to other younger homies from different hoods, share stories and beers, cheering for each other, I cannot help but notice how everyone is well dressed and properly glammed up: polos and shirts perfectly ironed, no crease; hair perfectly aligned, tapered, and clean-shaved; clean shoes, and shiny accessories all in place. So then I asked Kurt what the wisdom is behind the fashion they have:

"Respect sya g. Respect sa sarili mo, para samin bago ka lumabas ng bahay dapat maayos ka. A-ayusin mo sarili mo kumbaga. Hindi sya porma lang na ipapakita mo paglalabas ka e'...disiplina mo yun, kumbaga dala mo dapat yung sarili mo at hood mo una palang" Kurt answered. He even jokingly said that some of them have clothes that are for special occasions like this. They take pride in making sure that they themselves and their gang will look fly.

I never thought that spending a night in their presence would teach me something, and as of writing this, it makes sense to me:

• The clothes, the throw-ups, the colors, the gang signs are just the surface of it; yes, it represents who they are, but what’s deeper is how they respect and believe in themselves.

• They discipline themselves to handle their lives on their own merits, to survive, stay alive, and be bigger. Everyone of them will take good care of their own life so that they will be able to take good care of the people around them: their family, their hoods, their gang.

• Their swag and pride, it’s not only about clothes– it’s about how they are rooted to their self-confidence: to see the better version of themselves than yesterday, the high respect they have for themselves, surround yourself with people who respect and celebrate you, and after every survival and life challenges you all will have, — celebrate, suit up & be fly, and show everyone that you all made it.