Our Houses of Spirits
/Who among us can’t sing Bahay Kubo, an anthem of Filipino childhood written by National Artist Felipe Padilla de Leon celebrating the simple virtues of a humble nipa hut with a bountiful vegetable garden? Contributing writer Claire Mercado-Obias (A Tiny But Mighty Home) writes about the book Our Nipa Hut by Fil-Am librarian Rachelle Abalos, who shares her memory of growing up in the Philippines in a modest home that kept them safe through life’s challenges.
A sharp contrast to the nipa hut are the magnificent ancestral mansions of the rural gentry in Houses that Sugar Built: An Intimate Portrait of Philippine Ancestral Homes by Gina Consing McAdam and Siobhán Doran. Contributing writer Vic Salas (Up Close and Architectural: Houses that Sugar Built) reviews the book of stories and photographs that intimately explores the grand aspirations, both architectural and cosmopolitan, of the sugar barons that built them.
Of course, all homes simple or grand have to withstand nature’s mercurial temper, as shown by the most recent deluge that brought record floods to Metro Manila and other environs. Writer Rossana Lopez reminds us that devastating inundations also eat away at spiritual foundations: “Why do we put up with this?” asks Rossana, decrying the recurring disruptions to life and comfort that inclement weather brings (What the Rains Wash Away). She observes that the vaunted resilience of Filipinos can be self-defeating.
Can be self-defeating, it must be clarified, because resilience has indeed been a necessary part of many Filipinos’ life stories, such as the one contributing writer Virgilio A. Reyes, Jr. relates (War and Deliverance) of family members who had to rebuild their lives, and successfully so, from the ashes of the Second World War in the Philippines.
[Video of the Week] Olympic Pole Vaulter EJ Obiena
In the Know
Immigrant nurses “penalized” for quitting work reach settlement
https://asamnews.com/2024/07/26/stay-or-pay-traps-filipino-immigrant-nurses-says-lawsuit/
On remote island, Chinese patrols disrupt Filipino livelihoods – and gender roles
https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-Pacific/2024/0723/south-china-sea-philippines-china-thitu-feminist-equality
Two members of a Washington family sentenced for selling fake Alaska Native art in Ketchikan
https://alaskapublic.org/2024/07/12/two-members-of-a-washington-family-sentenced-for-selling-fake-alaska-native-art-in-ketchikan/
Meet Fil-Am Olympic gold medalist in fencing Lee Kiefer
https://usa.inquirer.net/154198/meet-fil-am-olympic-gold-medalist-in-fencing-lee-kiefer?utm_source=usa_gallery_feat_story
Rugby Sevens bronze medalist Alena Olsen on her proud Filipino American heritage
https://www.instagram.com/megreyes_/reel/C-D1LOSypFi/
In SF Central SOMA, a beloved vehicle is driving the neighborhood’s Filipino revival
https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/s-f-central-soma-filipino-19599903.php?
Anti-Asian Hate Watch
Here are With LGBTQ+ Hate Crimes Rising, How is California Responding?
https://ethnicmediaservices.org/stop-the-hate/with-lgbtq-hate-crimes-rising-how-is-california-responding/
Senate hopeful Adam Schiff reinforces support for AAPI communities in Oakland outreach
https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/adam-schiff-oakland-aapi-19596772.php
Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff visits Wausau
https://www.wjfw.com/news/second-gentleman-doug-emhoff-visits-wausau/article_adb1a6e8-4c6f-11ef-b109-2332a6486180.html
Funding provided by the State of California.
