Unearthing My Own Baybayin through Philip Taaffe´s Art at the Gagosian Gallery

Born in the Philippines, migrated to Spain  and now living London, I am a perfect example of the  phenomenon of globalization. Like the rest of my people who have moved abroad and others who are also in diaspora,  there will always be a  struggle  of  maintaining a cultural identity.  I am still South-east Asian in so many ways,  but I can also identify with European ideals. As an Asian,  I am very diplomatic to a fault, and yet as a European, I value  individuality, personal expression and non-conformity. Sometimes, I envy the Japanese because everywhere they go, they stay Japanese and nothing else.

But my roots are different. The Philippines is not an ancient civilization like Japan.  It is a by-product of Spanish colonisation, American imperialism and Catholicism. Read More »