Episode 206 – Experiences of a Filipino Adoptee with James Beni Wilson

This Filipino American Life

Did you know that there are currently over 1.8 million orphaned or abandoned children in the Philippines? While formal adoption rates of these children are comparatively low, a significant number of orphaned Filipino children have been transnationally adopted by families in the United States over the decades. In 2000, for example, there were over 10,000 Filipino adoptees living in U.S. households. Just last year, there were 67 adoptions from the Philippines by American families.

This TFAL episode sheds light on some of the experiences of a Filipino adoptee who grew up in the United States with a non-Filipino family. We are grateful to have James Beni Wilson on the pod to share his journey. Listen as he discusses the emotional highs and lows of growing up in a white family in Michigan, his search to find his cultural heritage in the Midwest and in the Philippines, his fateful meeting with his biological parents, and his continuing activism for the Filipino American community. The adoption experience is something that none of the TFAL crew can ever imagine. We hope you all learn a little something from this episode as we had.

Check out Binitay, the documentary James made chronicling his journey back to the Philippines. And here are some pics he shared with us.

Listen or download the episode through the embedded player on our site, or subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever your favorite podcasts are found.

What did you think of James’ story? Leave us a voicemail (805) 394-TFAL or email us at [e-mail].

*Please excuse some of the background noise in this episode.