Filipino American TV to feature history-making Beach firefighter

When Kathleen Simpao joined the Thalia Fire Department last year, she had no idea she was making local history.

It turns out Simpao is the first Filipina firefighter in Virginia Beach. When Jay Sanchez, the television producer and creator of Filipino American Television, found out, he decided to feature Simpao during his show's upcoming second season on WHRO, channel 15.

Sanchez, a Filipino American, found out about Simpao through word-of-mouth from the area's sizeable Filipino community.

Hampton Roads is home to about 40,000 Filipino Americans, Sanchez said, making it the largest concentration of Filipinos on the East Coast.

When Sanchez, a Norfolk resident, realized the area was home to such a large Filipino population, he decided to create a locally produced show celebrating the culture.

"The concept of the show is to highlight Filipino personalities and role models, both visiting and local," Sanchez said. "So anybody that fits into those themes is a potential story for Fil Am TV."

Simpao was surprised to learn she was the first female Filipina firefighter in Virginia Beach. She had no idea she would earn the distinction when she joined the department in February 2007.

"I'm from California, so it's a lot different there," Simpao said. "Back in California, the departments are very diverse."

Since she was 19, Simpao wanted to become a firefighter. She was following in the footsteps of her father, uncles, stepsister and many friends. For her, a career as a firefighter was nothing unusual.

"It was always something that I was surrounded by back home," Simpao said.

Although some traditional Filipino families may not be as supportive of a public service career, Simpao said, because they have safety concerns and may not be familiar with how public service departments operate, her family was incredibly supportive.

"My mother was very supportive because we knew a lot of people who were firefighters," Sampao said.

Fil Am TV viewers will get a chance to see Simpao experience station life at 5 p.m. Sunday when WHRO kicks off its second season of Fil Am TV.

The season will also feature Arnel Pineda, the new lead singer for the band Journey; a segment on local Filipino podcasters and their thoughts on current affairs and events; and another segment on a local summer Filipino basketball league.

"I'm in my mid- to late-thirties," Sanchez said. "Folks like me who have shunned our culture are wanting to get to know their culture. They're having kids now, and they're wanting to share their culture with their kids.

"That's what drives the content. There's always people doing things to either share, or discover, their culture."

Rita Frankenberry, 222-5102,

rita.frankenberry@pilotonline.com