Reading About the Philippines: In Washington, D.C. Again

Two posts ago I reported that my search for readings about the Philippines had hit a blank wall at KRAMERBOOK, one of the two outstanding independent bookstores in Washington, D.C.  I can now report that the other, equally exceptional bookstore, Politics and Prose, came up equally blank.  Remember, we are talking nonfiction and non-military works.  I had a very helpful member of the staff searching for me at length on a busy Sunday afternoon, May 19.  She found nothing in-store on the computer and then tried her beyond-store search engines.  Nothing.  We chatted a bit during the searchings.

Staff: "You know that we are somewhat limited in what we can stock in the store."  Looking up for a moment from the screen, she acknowledged, "That's a rationalization, isn't it?"

Me: "Yep, and I'm not buying it.  You know that there is a considerable Filipino community in the D.C. Metro Area."  I was taking liberties with, stretching perhaps, my daughter-in-law's comment.  She had told me she had some friends outside the district who had Filipino nannies. 

Staff: "I know that."

Me: "I do understand that you probably have not had requests for books about the Philippines."

Staff: "Right," she said quickly and with some relief.

Me: "So what I will do is to suggest on my blog that folks in the area contact the store to make such requests."

Staff: "OK," she replied pleasantly.

So, you can contact Politics and Prose bookstore by: calling 202-364-1919 or by emailing books@politics-prose.com.  The quest goes on.

Memorial Day in the U.S., May in the Philippines

Memorial Day in the U.S. is two days away, the last Monday in May.  It seemed appropriate that I add one of my favorite photos to the "foto" section of my blog.  It is an old black and white picture of an an American soldier carrying an injured Filipino girl cradled in his arms.  I found it framed and hanging on a wall in the museum on Corregidor Island in Manila Harbor.  I cannot any longer make out the date, though it is most likely sometime in the first months of 1945.  The picture is very grim and yet seems hopeful to me.  You can find it easily, along with a few other photos, in the blog foto gallery.

May in the Philippines is very important as the Month of the Virgin Mary, to whom Filipinos have a great devotion.  Thus I have added an article to the blog, entitled "Maria Sanctissima: Strong Filipinas."  I wrote the article for the May, 2012 issue of VIATimes Newsmagazine, as number six in the series on Strong Filipino Women.  Filipinos embraced Mary when the Spanish colonized the country, in part because they recognized in her aspects of their own Mother Goddess.  The Spanish Friars never quite succeeded in keeping the Mother Goddess out of Filipinos' devotion to Mary.

Happy Memorial Day and Happy May

Reading About the Philippines: In Washington, D.C.

I went to KRAMERBOOKS today to look for books (non-fiction, non-military) about the Philippines.  KRAMERBOOKS is a thriving independent book store in D.C., just off Dupont Circle.  It's a must visit for me whenever we are here visiting, taking precedence even over the Smithsonian Museums.  To save search time, I asked a clerk to check her computer for me by putting in two key words: "Philippines" and "Manila."  Neither one came up as being in the store in any form.  "But I can show you our Asian section," she said, and did.  Stanley Karnow's book, In Our Image, was there, but it is about Philippine-American relations and spends considerable time on political intrigue and wars, which is why I haven't mentioned it before.  Its emphasis is reflected in the sub-title, America's Empire in the Philippines.  Notice where the Philippines finally gets mentioned.  I searched the rest of the Asian shelves but without finding any other likely titles dealing with the Philippines.

Sitting on the Metro on the way home, I told my wife about the conversation I had had with our daughter-in-law this morning.  She and our son and their two daughters have lived and worked in the district for upwards of twenty years.  I asked her if she were aware of a Filipino presence in the area.  "No, but maybe there would be more outside the district."  She thought for a moment and added, "I know several people who have Filipino nannies, because of the language."  That certainly rang true.  I shared the story of an OFW (Overseas Filipino Workers, as they are referred to in the Philippines).  This OFW had graduated from university with a degree in education.  She discovered that she could earn more as a housecleaner in the Middle East than she could as a teacher in her own country.  "I bet some of those Filipino nannies would love to read something about home some times," I concluded.

Final thoughts: Publishers and booksellers don't seem to think that having "Philippines" or "Manila" among their titles will catch attention.  Perhaps they are right, if they are looking for the big sellers.  They might, however, be missing a smaller but appreciative audience.  Oh, and I did some surfing on line related to this post and found one title that might interest some readers: Filipinos in Washington, D.C.  The American emphasis, again, is quite clear.  It is in a series entitled "Images of America."  Not quite what I had in mind, but I will keep looking.  Any suggestions?

Philippine Independence Day and Book Giveaway

An American In The Philippines

 

Sunday, May 12, from Washington, D.C. One month from today Filipinos, at home and around the globe, celebrate Philippine Independence Day. To celebrate Independence Day, I am having a Goodreads Book Giveaway of ten copies of "Sundays in Manila," my travel memoir based on my first three visits to the Philippines ('94, '98, and 2005). In 1998 I was a Visiting Professor for a semester at the U. of the Philippines Diliman (UP). I arrived in early June, about a week ahead of the start of classes to find my way around. Of course, June 12 was an early-semester holiday, and a memorable one for me. It's one of many memorable occasions during my stay. The traffic jams boggled my mind, as a friend and I drove out of the city to get to some high ground to watch the fireworks. But we got there and had a wonderful dinner and conversation while watching the fireworks over Manila Bay. It was a special Independence Day because it marked 100 years since the Filipinos drafted, approved and signed their first constitution. They had the Spanish surrounded and about to surrender, before the Americans showed up and spoiled things. But more about that in the book.

Reading About the Philippines--Still Looking

I have checked Amazon.  They have a couple of standard travel books about the Philippines and several books about World War II in the Philippines.  We are looking for nonfiction, non-military.  History that emphasizes cultural and social aspects would be great.  I have also looked at current offerings on the U of the Philippines Press list.  A few come close but don't quite make the final cut.  Right now I am in Washington, D.C. and will hit some of the independent bookstores to see what is available.  There has to be something out there other than Nick Joaquin's "Manila, My Manila."  Any help welcome.  Maybe when summer vacation in the Philippines ends at the beginning of June?

Author's Review

I just copied my Author Review from my Goodreads author site.  The Goodreads site suggests that authors review their own book and give some background about the writing of the book.  That's what I've done.  If you are interested, click on "Author Review" in the list of articles here.  Enjoy.  rhb