By Maika Carrillo
My love for reading and books started when I was young. My parents, especially my father, encouraged my siblings and me to read. It started with Dr. Seuss and then moved to the great classics like Jane Austen, Thomas Hardy, and the Bronte Sisters. At school, we were encouraged to read both Filipino and foreign books. I grew up reading Jose Rizal, Bob Ong, Lualhati Bautista, Amado V. Hernandez, F. Sionil Jose, Nick Joaquin, and so much more.
But after a couple of months, the homesickness finally hit me. There was this nagging feeling and yearning that I couldn’t shake off. I found myself longing for books by Filipino writers. I began searching for them here in the UK, realising that as a minority in a foreign land, the representation of one’s culture and identity isn’t just important — it’s essential. I knew that Filipino writers would understand what it feels like to live away from our motherland, to carry that constant pull to return home.
Here are books by four Filipino writers in the UK that you should definitely check out:
1) War Dove by Troy Cabida
War Dove is a poetry pamphlet published by Bad Betty Press in 2020. This poetry collection reflects mostly of Cabida’s journey of coming to terms with one’s self while also protecting and defending one’s self from the harshness of society. I felt a particular connection to several poems, especially Phonetic, Bonds, and Calatagan, 2019.
In the poem “Phonetic”, I commend how he has captured one of the traits that Filipinos are known for: resilience. I cannot forget this line when I first read it:
“Tagalog is a tactile being,
arms and feet familiar to earth and sun,
to years of toil and exhaustion.”
Reading this line made me realise how we Filipinos work hard; we worked hard to gain our independence from our colonisers as we work hard today to gain freedom from the hardships of life.
The last poem in this collection called “Not Dying for London” has also caught my attention, its word play and creativity is just superb:
“dying as in Sunday evenings talking to a bridge/as in rejecting a hug/as in a sleeping drunk/as in your back as a symphony of cracks/as in the path I chose/as in a side effect of truth/as in a side effect of silence/as in not speaking”
Cabida’s poetry collection is lyrical, well-crafted and resonates deeply into the soul. I highly recommend reading it in one’s own time as these words need to be savoured slowly with a good cup of tea or coffee.
2) Moments That Made Us by Joan Cruz
A debut poetry collection independently published in November 2020, Moments That Made Us is a true reflection of what nursing is all about. This collection is divided into three parts.
The first part mainly describes not only the struggles but also the little joys and delights of being a nurse. The very first poem “Legacy” is an embodiment of Florence Nightingale:
“We sprung from a woman’s courage,
a caring heart and a vision so clear
With wise words, she had taught us,
“How very little can be done under the spirit of fear.”
So that during times of turmoil,
we can rise to be who we need to be
Unseen heroes that are nurses,
Nightingale’s living legacy.
The second part consists of poems that tell stories about people and their illnesses (cancer, dementia, stroke); that these people are human beings that are more than their illness or disease. Also included in this part of the book are poems about existing social issues: homelessness, drug misuse, domestic violence and struggles with mental health.
“The CAT scanner bared your bones but not your spirit.
Underneath crushed bone, you are not broken where it counts.
And from there, one day, may you find it in you
to sprint without turning back,
To pack your bags together with all the reasons that kept you
from letting go of the man
who’s greatest kindness in this life
was knocking you out cold.”
As for the third part, all poems echo the experiences of an NHS frontliner during the COVID pandemic. More than the hardships comes the compassion and true essence of Nursing during an unprecedented time. As they face death while they go into their shifts every time, their courage and tenacity didn’t falter even if it means they would also catch the disease and die alone.
“While you were out there clapping,
You thought you saw people bowing their heads.
This is our life, not a curtain call,
They were not bowing, they were dropping dead.”
Truly a gem, this poetry collection is a quintessential homage to all nurses and healthcare professionals all over the world.
3) Antiemetic For Homesickness by Romalyn Ante
Also a debut poetry collection published by Chatto & Windus in July 2020, Antiemetic For Homesickness is a remarkable literary work as it has been longlisted for the Dylan Thomas Prize 2021 and shortlisted for the Jhalak Prize 2021.
This book captures the essence of the experiences of OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) and Filipino migrants: the homesickness, longing and struggles of being away from Inang Bayan. Perhaps among all the poems in this book, every OFW could easily relate to the heart-felt poem entitled “Notes Inside A Balikbayan Box,” below
“Dear son,
In my place, here is a Balikbayan box.
Here are the LeBron James rubber shoes (size 9)
and the video game tapes to replace all the palm cakes
I owe you for every Simbang Gabi and PTA meeting
I could not attend. I promise I’ll be there for Christmas.
I know I’ve been saying this for a decade now.”
Through the whole book, Ante voices out the pain of the parents who leave behind their kids to seek greener pastures elsewhere, and the pain of the children who are left behind.
“Because my mother has followed the sunset,
because she has burnt her lips on mash and gravy
in a three-minute lunch break.
Because she calls me Anak – my child, my baby.
She asks, What do you want for Christmas? for your
birthday?”
The poem “Half-empty” is an ode to all Filipino nurses working abroad:
“Drug:
Migrationazoline (available in full or half-empty bottles)
Side effects:
– drowsiness/vertigo/nausea
– behavioural changes
– weight loss (when you deprive yourself of a steak bake
and ceaselessly convert pounds to peso)
– severe acne (unknown relatives who demand money)
– low mood (on occasions as Noche Buena)
– bloating (as you yearn for the sweetness of lanzones or
see flakes of desiccated coconut in the black November
sky)
– intermittent euphoria (when you hand the bald girl her
crocheted unicorn hat and her mother the discharge
form)
– acute insomnia (when a child on a stretcher is rushed
through the door – his face blood-soaked, and for a
second you think of the one you left back home)”
Over all, Ante’s poetry collection explores the complexity of longing for your home country and belonging to a new country where you try to live and survive. All through out, the book is studded with familiar Tagalog words, which for me upon reading these words evoke a true yearning of coming back home. I hold this book close to my heart as I relate to it so much.
4) The Philosopher Joel by Danny Obillo
A unique fiction novel, this book is published by independent publisher A Tree In Bani in 2020. The story starts as a foreigner wanders off in the province and meets Joel, a local, in such an unconventional way. Soon, Joel invites the foreigner to come with him to show him around and partake with the province’s fiesta as well.
Along the way, the foreigner and Joel develops a unique friendship, with mostly Joel sharing his philosophical insights on almost everything (including multos and his fascination of siopao), which mainly confuses and amazes the foreigner at the same time.
The writing is witty and funny, from Joel’s Filipino accent, exchanging the Fs and Ps or the Vs and Bs, to finding the characters in embarrassing and unforgettable situations. But don’t let that fool you, as this book is packed with profound understanding of the history of humankind.
“He claimed that dead stars cannot die again, not with the porce of a million exferiences nor with the will of the most desperate mind. Whateber it was he looked for was contained somewhere within those worlds and it was his duty to crack open space so he could see its contents.”
This book also showcases how truly Filipinos are hospitable and trusting, taking in a stranger and developing a human connection I’m sure any foreigner would treasure.
5) Tall Story by Candy Gourlay
First published in May 2010 by David Fickling Books, Tall Story tells the story between half- siblings Andi and Bernardo who both live worlds apart but yet has so many things in common, especially basketball. Told between alternating viewpoints of Andi and Bernardo, their relationship as brother and sister seem to flourish now that they are closer, only that both characters needed to adjust to changes in their lives as Bernardo comes to the UK to live with his family.
As Bernardo stepped into the UK, he was greeted by the sight of a small, energetic girl beaming up at him. Andi’s eyes widened in astonishment as she beheld her brother’s towering height, standing at an incredible eight feet. He was not just tall; he was a gentle giant. Initially taken aback by Bernardo’s extraordinary height, Andi soon found herself drawn into his “magical” world. Together, they discovered the wonders of a unique sibling bond, overcoming their differences and embracing the joys of being family.
Gourlay’s incorporation of Philippine mythology into the story in such a unique and creative way makes this book not only a perfect read for children and adults alike, but also a captivating journey through the rich cultural heritage of the Philippines, blending timeless tales with modern storytelling to create an experience that resonates with readers of all ages.
