@EveryDaySexism “I was 11, and then 22.”
I WAS 11, AND THEN 22. I was 11 years old. My father’s good friend, Ray, came over. I was sipping water outside my house and reading a book. I wore a gray tank top. Ray–I called him Uncle–stood in front of me and his shadow covered my entire body. He asked where … Read more
This is the hardest story I had to write.
Yesterday, I told my psychiatrist that I’ve been writing this one wretched and very personal story for three years. He was shocked. “Three years?” he asked, holding his pencil and sitting forward, “Really, three years? Excuse me for being shocked. I’m just so impressed.” I was hoping to finish this story in time … Read more
IF THIS AIN’T POETRY [a poem about hair]
IF THIS AIN’T POETRY if i don’t quite believe in myself, like myself / will i ever cut my hair? / it’s just this brown, elongated thing // i want it all off / burdens, salt, querida, past, what? // if i chop it off, all of it / tell me it’d change … Read more
Be “walang hiya.” Shameless. Without shame.
I had an interesting conversation today with an older pinay, who recently read my winning story over at Glimmer Train, which was previously published at Kweli Journal. (As a note: Kweli Journal and Laura Pegram helped me extensively with this story during the Kweli Scholar Program and published “Walang Hiya, Brother” in their Winter 2013 Issue. Glimmer Train accepts … Read more
Back to Conan’s words that saved me from being angry:
I really hate Upworthy‘s title for this, but whatever. In 2010, I remember sitting next to my husband and watching Conan struggle with this speech. I desperately needed to hear his words doing that time. 2010 was a very hard year. 2011 was harder. 2012 was the worst–my mama passed away and I miss her every … Read more
Won First Place @GlimmerTrain March Fiction Open <3
It’s with honor and pleasure that I finally announce this publicly: I won FIRST PLACE ($2500) in Glimmer Train’s March Fiction Open. Most of you already know this (so sorry for being redundant). <3 “I am terrified of beginnings, like all emerging writers are. I have no answers to overcome this fear other than this: … Read more
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