I write with sadness that my friend's son, Kenneth Sula, has been seriously injured in a knife attack in Lake Sebu. I spent some time in Davao with Kenneth, and two other Lumad (indigenous peoples) students, the wonderful cousins Merlita & Silme Rico. I loved spending time with these young university students and purposely had them all meet so that Merlita and Silme could be a support system for Kenneth, who just moved to the big city. We spent the day shopping for tennis shoes, as Kenneth's last pair of shoes had been ruined when his teachers brought him hiking up to Mt. Apo.

I just spoke with Luanda about how the lumad students will soon be on their own, as I believe the money for the dorm they stay in will soon be depleted. I still want to have a fundraiser, and have been thinking a lot about it when I received the email below from Rosie.

Today we really need your prayers.

Remembering Lubuagen

My fondest memories are of staying with the Bawer family in Lubuagen, especially during the 100th Anniversary of Provincial Government. This was one of the last photos I took when I took the bus back to Baguio.

Reflections on Kalinga

These three Bawer women are a wonderful reflection of their parents, Maria & Cirilio Bawer. My stay at the Bawer home was excellent--with the sharing of food, conversations, Kalinga wisdom, and a fabulous visit to the rice terraces, and artists of Lubuagen.

Cultural Resilience

Globalization: Response and Responsibility. This year's theme at the I-Hotel Manilatown Center's art series.

So this brings up a good question for all of us: How will you be culturally resilient in the midst of globalization? How will I?

Although I'm still going through a quiet transition, adjusting to my return to the U.S. and processing my experience in the Philippines-the joy and pain of it--I think about personal response and responsibility in the global world quite a bit. The next step is to make change. For now, I am formulating my direction...so it was great to be included in this section of the show: "Cultural Resilience." But my initial thoughts on this are on display at the show...along with artwork by Clarissa Cue, Johanna Poethig and Shizue Seigel. The work displayed, while unified by questions of identity, also show great contrast in response to the question of Globalization, each artist responding differently.

But, what will all of our responses to globalization be? My own has been to look back to the past, to my precolonial roots...to "indigenize" myself...a common thing for many Fil-Ams to do. In Iloilo at the KAPWA2 Conference, Filmmaker Kidlat Tahimik recommended that we bring out the "Indo-GENIOUS" of our ancestors... I saw a lot of this with the young artists I met in the Philippines and of many young artists here in the states. I think it's a cultural phenomena that's occurring worldwide, under the radar of major media and probably not getting play because it's a powerful thing.

Going to the I-Hotel Manilatown Center yesterday was a good thing for me. Good for my family too. It gave Uncle Donn an opportunity to explain to Miles the importance and history of the I-Hotel. My mom came, and so did three of my kids and their significant others, along with my sister Kelly, and grandbaby Amaya. Memories of visiting the I-Hotel with dad and remembering all the history there and seeing the manongs in my mind--these were good things. Revisiting the past is always good.

Which brings up another thing: The archive at the center is up and running. Here's a good way to review the history of the I-Hotel. You can access it at: manilatownarchives.blogspot.com

Check out the show "Cultural Resilience," at the I-Hotel Manilatown Center, 868 Kearny Street (at Jackson), San Francisco, CA. It runs until November 15th, 2008. Gallery hours: 1-6 pm (Tues-Sat)

Reflections on Returning

I flew back to San Francisco on August 23, 2008. A two month journey. The deepest valley was the grief of losing Kulpna so suddenly. Stopped me cold. Couldn't do art research & thankfully, Bryan Ellorimo, my Cultural Guide & exquisite Kulintang player, turned to me in Gen San to tell me, "Maybe we should go to Davao, mam. Your heart is broken..." It was the best advice. I couldn't focus on gathering documentation on indigenous arts & cultural, while grieving for such a wonderful woman.

My exit from Mindanao was amidst the failure of the MOA between the Philippine National Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Once the Supreme Court pulled the MOA, fighting broke out. Land issues in Mindanao are deep and conflicts span generations, if not centuries. I am saddened that the peace process fell apart. I have friends on all sides: the Lumads (Indigenous Peoples-IP), Moros (Muslim Pilipinos) and the settlers (Pilipinos from other islands).

The parents of my niece's high school friend were shot in the head over land issues while I stayed in Davao. My T'boli friends grieve over loosing most of their land to the settlers: 70% T'boli population in Lake Sebu own only 20% of the land. I am told that Datus who stand up to the injustice are murdered. Another datu from a different tribe was indignant that IP ancestral domain was included in the PNG/MILF MOA, and anticipated the war days, maybe weeks before it began.

This was the context with which I traveled Mindanao. But juxtapose this against the time I spent with the Cultural Workers I visited in Lake Sebu and South Cotabato. Although my visit was short, the music shared with us was spectacular--very moving and heartffelt--the "love-laced" tribal chants of the T'boli women and the fast-paced agong contests of the Maguindanaon men, mostly members of Master Danongan Kalanduyan's family, were great highlights of my trip. Meeting a Maranao Princess was a delight I hadn't expected and Ate Bai Bing was such a caring, wonderful person, and a proud Bangsamoro.

Returning to Luzon, especially the Cordillera Mountains was especially healing for me. Reconnecting with friends and relatives in Manila, and especially in Baguio, helped me recalibrate my senses. I needed to breath the fresh air, let the mountain spirits cool me and see the Chico river flow below me, while the Kalingas of Lubuagen celebrated their 100th year of Provincial government. I was caught up with the excitement of a community celebrating the wealth of their tribal music, dance and culture. I am especially grateful to Ruel Bimuyag and the entire Bawer family, who facilitated with their familial warmth, my return to balance, to community belonging and to balance. I am grateful to the community members of the Mabilong Barangay, who welcomed me back with open arms, and with their compassion and generosity, helped me heal my ailing heart. It was in the mountains overlooking Lubuagen that my grief began to fall away. Those mountains bring me a peaceful heart and a clear mind.

And now I am happy to be home. My return visit to Lubuagen brought me full circle. Once I returned to Lubuagen, I was ready to return to the U.S. Can't explain it much, except that my own indigenization of myself is connected to the land & for me that land is the La Union/Cordi area...I am certain my ancestors walked those mountains at one time. I could feel it.

My homecoming a happy one--greeted by Amaya (my grandchild) & Sandino (my son) at the airport & Keenan, Cory & Aja at the house. A simple and quiet homecoming & of course my own bed!!! Then, all my kids, Shy, Alicia, Amaya & Aliyah Sky (my grandaughter) for Dario's (my son) 25th Birthday on August 24th. A perfect homecoming. It's good to be home. THANK YOU FAMILY!!!

Quick Report from Baguio

It's true. I am a horrible blogger.... Been here for almost 2 months and haven't really written much...but the experience has been life changing.

I have met so many wonderful people, visited the most amazing places, been brought down by grief and uplifted by the mountain spirits and the people who live in them...I just returned from two days in Lubuagen to witness the celebration of 100 years of government. The mountains & river & presence of the Mabilong community was healing for me. Going there brought my trip full circle as it was the first IP community to embrace me during this trip. I hold Lubuagen as a special place in my heart.

I will always remember the Kalingas of Lubuagen, the Ifugaos of Banaue & Happao, the Bontoc of Sagada, & the Benguet of Baguio... Deep in my soul I'll always walk with my fellow Pinoy artists of Mindanao, Panay & Luzon, all of us reaching back to our roots and using modern technology woven with ancient knowledge to make new creations of beauty.

Thanks for my text buddies-- it really helped to have a connection when I didn't feel connected. Big thanks to all my travel buddies, host families, fellow artists, healers, family members who made this trip my best homecoming ever. I appreciate and love you all.

Two Poems for Kalpna

Poem 1: For Kalpna



You are like a butterfly
coming to me through the
clouds, the sun
I see your face
your smile, bright eyes
full of amazement
I think of how you love
Ganesh
and how easily an EastAsian
like you
can make friends
with my own people


our days together
short, like a butterfly
flit into our lives--flying through Davao
with your sparkling spirit
refreshing, like the coolest water
flowing from Mt. Apo
from the mountain spring


even my heart hurts
to think of your pain
but I will always treasure my
moments with you
How you welcomed me
into the 2008 circle
and the beauty of
you, one butterfly on your leg
your smile
your warmth
the essence of you
always coming to me
from the
sky




Poem 2:

Five of us in search
Of a conversation
Spending time with Kublai
A Fulbright adventure to meet an artist
Share stories and even wine & cheese
A gift from the artist

Kalpna, Luanda, Aimee, Anthem and Holly
Americans & Kublai truly valued our conversations
Told Kalpna of his Indian friend, supporter
Of the arts
And also told her he wanted to travel to
Her homeland, India

What do you value?
He asked
Each one responding
After our conversations of BUDA
Parks, homes in the mountains
The search for the best waterfalls
Being saved from a bad TRIP in Palawan
Why wandering Mindanao was preferable
to showing work in the U.S.
and even UFOs


We laughed, shared, took pictures of Kublai’s
Latest series—which of course,
Won’t be completed until the 150th painting is done
And in this series of paintings
And in this series of conversations
I look back and also value the special time
We shared at the top of Ponce Suites
A moment with a great artist
And a moment with great friends
A moment to treasure forever

I value conversations
Says Kublai
Now thinking back
So do I now see the value of our conversations
This conversation at Ponce Suites etched in my memory
Another beautiful night shared with Kulpna & friends