Celebrating AAPI Month: Meet Rex Alba, the Bisdak Chef

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — This month we're learning about Asian Americans who live in Central Ohio and how they contribute to our community.

It's a part of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

MORE | Asian Restaurant Month

For Rex Alba food brings about a sense of satisfaction.

He says cooking helps him deal with stress.

And it's how he now showcases his Filipino traditions.

"I want to show the people how Filipino cuisine is cooked authentically," said Alba.

It's why he started his YouTube channel called 'The Bisdak Chef'.

He says he believes sharing true foods from his culture helps to build a better understanding of different ethnicities.

But getting to a point where he felt comfortable to share, didn't come without its own challenges.

Alba and his wife moved to the United States about 18 years ago.

"My wife is a registered nurse at The Ohio State University Medical Center, and they petitioned nurses at that time. And we are fortunate she is part of that batch. And I got included as a spouse," he said.

Alba says he was excited about the move in hopes of achieving his own success.

But he had to give up his restaurant in the Philippines and start all over.

His first job was at McDonalds.

He said one of his bosses didn't appreciate a Filipino working there.

"I was frying fries and I was just crying the whole time because she was insulting me the whole time. It was really hard; I don't want any other culture to experience that," he said.

Alba used that motivation to work hard and get his physical therapy degree.

"When I was starting my physical therapy profession and when I was in Indiana as a traveling PT there was one patient who I needed to evaluate. And when I came in his door he said, I don't want you. 'Why sir', I said. I'm your physical therapist...'I don't like your color', he said. I said 'Why', and he said 'I don't like Chinese'. 'But I'm not Chinese'. He said, 'I don't care you look the same'."

Those words still hurt but haven't discouraged him.

He keeps achieving. The drive pushed him to be a contestant on Ninja Warriors. He's also appeared in several movies.

And he's now got another business, selling one of his favorite Filipino treats - Chicharrones.

"Pork rinds should be meaty and tasty not just airy," he said.

He says he and his wife moved to Ohio in hopes of bettering their lives.

They've become U.S. citizens and are living out the American Dream... now hoping his food will help inspire change.

"I don't think it's going to change overnight, but we just keep on pushing and hopefully people will hug and embrace everybody's culture."