by VFM
Shoutout to FASA sa UP and the amazing Yuri Hernandez, the Diversity and Inclusion Program Coordinator at the University of Portland for hosting my book talk. Coming back to Portland to celebrate FAHM and come back to FASA which was just getting off the ground when I taught at UP, was pretty awesome. It was great to see UP alumni who were students in … Read More FAHM in Portland
by VFM
I’ll be back in Portland today, at the University of Portland to talk about the connections between The Labor of Care and Filipino American History Month! I’ll be paying tribute to Dr. Dawn Bohulano Mabalon and her work to champion Filipino American History Month in all corners of the nation.
by VFM
I’ve been a longtime fan of Rocky Rivera, SF-native, Oakland-based Filipina American rapper, activist, & mother. Her newest effort entitled “Rocky’s Revenge” came out last week while I was traveling with my family so I put off listening the the album until I was home in the Bay, perhaps taking a drive to the very SF streets that raised her. All symbolic-like. So I … Read More Listening to Rocky’s Revenge
by VFM
“Larry was Filipino like me, Mama?” asked Aya. “Yes he is, Aya,” I answered. Today, I brought a little Filipino American history lesson in my backpack to teach preschoolers. I didn’t know if they’d get it. Or if they’d like the story. But, I tried. With the help of “Journey for Justice: The Life of Larry Itliong”, published out of the Stockton-based publishing house Bridge … Read More Manong Larry for the Kids
by VFM
I never thought I’d be able to visit Singapore, much less have my work featured in a workshop at the Multinational Migrations: Onward Migration Patterns and … – (ARI) at the National University of Singapore! In these first few days in SG, I’ve done a great deal of exploring–thanks to my cousin, Jamie and her husband, Jeric, Filipino migrants who have been living in Singapore … Read More Labor of Care across the Pacific
by VFM
I’m on sabbatical this Fall! Almost 2 weeks after the Fall semester started for my university, I’m only realizing what a gift this time is. I’m slowing it down: reading a YA novel, writing new ideas, running, going to the tot gym with 1-year old Cy, working shifts at Aya’s co-op preschool, me and Raul even went on a double date yesterday to see … Read More Labor of Care Fall Book Tour
by VFM
A few Filipina migrants in Kabalikat Domestic Workers Support Network (now MIGRANTE New York) would often joke that they lived in a place called, Queenila. Their feet in Queens, their hearts in Manila. This place in-between, not here, nor there, elsewhere became a sticking point for me in my research for the #LaborofCare. I often wondered what it was like to live in this … Read More Queenila
by VFM
I’ve been on a podcast tip on car rides home with my partner, Raul, and when there’s a lgood point to be made, I’m always like, “PAUSE THAT. Because if that was me…” So, finally, here I am on a podcast talking about all things #LaborofCare. Its origins story, more extra cuts and stories that I didn’t fold into the book, and some ideas … Read More The Labor of Care on the New Books Network Podcast
by VFM
After a long day of work at the care home, Nanay–my paternal grandmother, Remedios, or Reme, for short–would sit in the laundry room with a contraption that looked like it was separating her head from her body. After years of working as a caregiver in a care home (or Residential Care Facility for the Elderly/RCFE), she had hurt her back and her neck. But … Read More A Remedy for Remedios
by VFM
A couple of days ago, President Rodrigo Duterte kisses an overseas foreign worker at a press conference in Korea. His administration’s spin excuses his behavior stating, “Malacañang sees nothing wrong with President Rodrigo Duterte kissing a married overseas Filipino worker (OFW) in Seoul, saying it is ‘very [much] accepted in the culture of Filipinos.’” The problem with this statement and Duterte’s action(s) against women … Read More Duterte’s Kiss is a Kiss of Death
by VFM
The Labor of Care is on HELLAPINAY, y’all! In May’s book review roundup from the brilliant Pia Cortez, my book is sandwiched among some pretty awesome titles in their series, #GetLit! I’ve been following hellapinay on Instagram for a while now because its Pinay-centric content gives me my whole life. And when the infamous book-reviewer and homie, Pia Cortez aka the brains and beauty behind Libromance offered … Read More Labor of Care on HellaPinay’s #GetLit
by VFM
Often, when I deliver a talk about The Labor of Care, I can’t help but get choked up about the lives and sacrifices of the women in the book. And during my last stop on this semester’s book tour in Portland, it was no different. More so because I began with the story of my own mother, Mama Irma, and her journey to the … Read More Bridge City
