Reno Ursal's Blog, page 6

2017 New Immigrant writing winner is Filipina!

Congrats to Grace Talusan for winning the Publishers Weekly's Restless Books New Immigrant Writing award for nonfiction! I have another book to add to my must-read list!

http://www.restlessbooks.com/blog/2017/8/1/meet-grace-talusan-winner-of-the-2017-prize-for-new-immigrant-writing

In the Country

I'm in the middle of reading Mia Alvar's "In the Country", a collection of nine short stories with a distinct Filipino perspective. One story is of a Filipino teacher in an Arab country. Another is of a white girl living in Manila. So far, I've found each story holding on to an unwritten fundamental authenticity that readers of all backgrounds would enjoy reading.

I applaud books like these. We need more storytellers, more writers to highlight the Filipino hues that make up the world's colors. Too many times, many Filipino writers and filmmakers have unintentional flaws in their storytelling. Some make the Filipino viewpoint an afterthought for the sake of satisfying a mainstream audience. Others make their stories have too many Filipino inside jokes and forget the important non-Filipino readers. It wasn't until I read Melissa De la Cruz's "Something In Between" did I finally read a novel that showcased the credible balance of a Fil-Am protagonist making their way n the world. Now with In The Country, I find another author working on this balance.

This gives me hope that Filipino American storytelling is evolving and morphing into a credible genre. We need to support books like these to prove to publishers there is an interested audience. I sure hope there is an interested audience. We need more successful Filipino writers, more impactful stories with Filipino protagonists.

Which has me biting my tongue about my writing. If all goes well, an announcement soon. Keeping my fingers crossed.

10 Rules of Writing to break when writing fiction

I love this Publishers Weekly article on ten rules of writing to break when writing fiction written by Max Winters, the author of “Exes.”

After attending writing workshop after writing workshop and being told how to write fiction, I realized it was all BS. At least most of it because the most long lasting novels have broken rules taught in the academia. So what does this say about academia? Hmmm.. a good debate. 

Check out the article here! 

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Something In Between

Something in Between by Melissa de la Cruz

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this book in a day. My emotions were up and down with each page as I was strongly affected by a novel written about a Filipino American family. The title of the book “Something in Between” encompasses an emotional feeling for many 2nd generation Filipino Americans. We were raised in America, yet love our homeland unconditionally. We are held in high regard for our strength in English, yet a disappointment for our weakness in Tagalog and other dialects. We have American swag, yet a Filipino hue. With this novel being a rare novel that has as a Filipina American as the main protaganist, this was an emotional read for me.

Jasmine de los Santos wasn’t just a character, but also represented a young me growing up in in the 1980’s. Yes I’m male, but the struggles and pain she felt in the novel resonated with the uncertainty I felt as a Filipino American teenager. I know there are more like me who can relate to this gray area feeling and although I can only speak from my limited Filipino American self, I have a feeling this is shared by many American children of first generation immigrants.

I felt every aspect of Jasmine’s Filipino family and her struggles as a Filipino American teenager. In my mind, Melissa de la Cruz’s writing style in this novel gives readers a snapshot of what it’s like being Filipino American. Things happen quickly and it’s not served on a silver platter. Filipino American lives are jumbled, constantly switching between our “Filipino” and “American” identities. It’s an internal switch, undetected by most, unless you are attuned to this push and pull.

The author gives a realistic view of the general theme of immigration in America. There was an air of uncertainty throughout the book, yet their resolve to keep going and using humor as a coping mechanism kept me turning the page.

And the foundation is a love story between Jasmine and Royce, a love story on the cusp of sappiness until it’s pulled back just enough for me to read on. I can see some readers growing annoyed at Jasmine’s up and down feelings, but I didn’t look at this way. Jasmine was going through teenage love, and as we all can probably agree on, teenage love is an emotional ride of extreme highs and lows.

Thank you Melissa de la Cruz for writing this, for garnering support from Harlequin to publish this book. I’m strongly affected by “Something In Between” and highly recommend.

View all my reviews

America is in the Heart

An important novel for Filipino American literature is “America is in the Heart” by Carlos Bulosan, the first novel written in English by a Filipino in America! With today’s political climate, this novel gives Filipino American context on the “America” we live in. Check out my Goodreads review.

America Is in the Heart: A Personal History by Carlos Bulosan

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A masterpiece of a novel for Filipino American literature! The first published novel by a Filipino in the United States!

Carlos Bulosan gives a heartfelt depiction of his life as a Filipino immigrant during the Great Depression. You can feel his heartbeat throughout the novel. Even the parts that seems disjointed is a reflection of the real life hardships he faced. An English grammar aficionado may cringe in some parts of this book, but I personally applaud Carlos Bulosan for his attempt at writing in his second language. He grew up in the Philippines and migrated to the Philippines with the hope of having a better life. This is a theme many Americans can relate to!

I give this 5 stars due to its historical context and important for Filipino American literature.

View all my reviews

Fil-Am perspectives in Hollywood?

The presence of Filipino Americans in Hollywood is an issue close to my being.

On May 31st, there was a panel hosted by Fil-Am Creative regarding this very subject. Fil-Am Creative is a collective of actors, writers and producers who strive for their voice to be heard in the Hollywood minefields. How do we navigate in this minefield? This is a daunting task for anyone who attempts to make it in Hollywood.

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But imagine Filipino Americans trying to make it?  We are background players in the big budget movie entitled “Hollywood” functioning as gaffers, writers and producers, but fuh-get-about being on-screen!

There have been tangible strides made in TV with actors like on CBS’s “Code Black”, on NBC’s “The Good Place,” and on CBS’s “MacGyver”. They are working in Hollywood, and I know just having a regular acting gig deserves a round of applause!

But…they play characters written through the lense of the Establishment (yes, I capitalized the E on purpose, so take that blog copy editors!).

What about our stories? Our perspective? This is why I love knowing Fil-Am Creative exists. Youtube channels, television pilots, short and feature films are being made and looking for support, created and influenced by talented Filipino-Americans who deserve their voice to be heard. Fil-Am Creative provides a platform to be heard.

Filipinos have a diverse set of perspectives that need a place to be heard. Filipino immigrants have a different viewpoint than third or fourth generation Filipino Americans. We are such a diverse group. Muddling through this diversity within ourselves is a challenge in itself. A support group like Fil-Am Creative can recognize these differences (thank God!).

For me, it’s a big sigh of relief knowing there is a movement of Fil-Am stories being told in the shadows of Hollywood’s elite.  I was lucky enough to meet a few people behind the scenes of this organization. My first thought: why didn’t I know about them before?

I’ve been reawakened.

For those who haven’t heard of Fil-Am Creative, check out their Filmmaker movement post, which gives you surface view of the work involved to support Fil-Am content creators! With funding always the issue in getting projects from infancy into public view, those with financial resources can get behind a support group like Fil-Am Creative and influence the creation of more great content! It’s gotta be great though. No junk, or else we add to the skepticism already prevalent to most who hear the words “Filipino American film.”

Let us not lose sight of one thing; a movement cannot be just one feature or one short. We must have a series of “quality” projects that allows us to be self-sufficient. Hmmm…I feel like I’m posting a car-ride lecture to my kids! Now I feel their pain.

Let’s. Not. Stop! More Fil-Am content please!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Warriors Parade 2017

I breath basketball outside of writing. I’m the Varsity Girls Head Coach at our local high school and the founder of a 501c3 AAU basketball club. And a hardcore Golden State Warriors season ticket holder!

I secured an invite to be in the Warriors Parade +1. My son NOAH was the lucky one — his sisters declined so he definitely owes them!

They put us in one of the Coaching Staff trolleys. It was fun to see Coach Kerr and Coach Mike Brown running to and from the trolley during the parade!

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We also met Ronny, the guy who had Klay Thompson sign his toaster!

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Met this fan favorite too!

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NOAH was shy to meet these girls, but meet them he did (with a little push from me)!

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Dubnation started to wonder — who is that bandana boy in the Coaching staff trolley?

We had a lot of room in the trolley once the coaches consolidated into another cable car!

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Hung out backstage during the Rally. NOAH got autographs and we got our fill of shrimp, chicken kabobs and fruit!  We really enjoyed the shade in the tent!

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We then decided to go out to the Rally after seeing players and staff play jokes on each other backstage!

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The Warriors have been a big part of our lives! The 2017 Warriors Parade had to be at the top of the list of Warrior experiences for our family. Win or lose, we will always be proud members of #Dubnation!

Thank you to the Warriors for taking care of us! NBA Champs baby!

Seek the truth

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My activism

I see myself in this photo taken at George Washington University (aka G-Dub!) in Washington DC, circa 1995. So many great people in this photo I consider contemporaries in the Filipino American community. Ben DeGuzman, Aleks Figuora, Melanie Fontanilla Ginelsa, Elrick Jundis, Jeff Castaneda, Eric Galvez, Matt Esparrago, Gigi Miranda.

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Out of these names, two have died at such young ages. Joe Montano worked for years on Tim Kaine’s staff. Gigi Miranda was a teacher in Hawaii. Both died in 2016. I sorely miss their energy.

Back then, all of us competed for affection, relationships and to make a mark in the world. We were young, idealistic, energetic. Life was our oyster.

Today, life is still our oyster, but now we all have wisdom from experience.

When I moved to California, I dived into the world of Classified Records, establishing relationships with another set of Filipino Americans who changed the world through music. It was a fun three year ride where I combined my love for music with my community. I have to admit, I didn’t feel very much support from some people during this time. A lot of competing factors contributed to this feeling, with my own insecurities about my future probably being the biggest culprit. The lack of support made me strong, but also made me careful. I know I can withstand the uncertainty.

Today, as a father of three, I have a realist perspective on what it means to change the world for the better. I’ve struggled through the doubt of an unknown present and future. I’ve stayed active throughout the years and have made a commitment to continue to be active in my community.

I’m trying to apply this activism to my writing. I feel a clock ticking at the back of my head to let the world read my stuff. regardless if people like it or not.

Perhaps soon. I surely hope it won’t be too late.

The journey

I’ve documented the struggles of writers like me burning the midnight oil. We work full-time jobs, focus on family and in our spare time…we write. Something keeps us writing when we can, even if we feel vindicated no progress has been made due to life circumstance.

When someone asked me how my writing was going, I squirmed and changed the subject as quickly as possible. Inside, I felt like a failure. What’s wrong with me? Why can’t I get this published?

But there are landmarks in the writing process only visible to the writer, landmarks worth noting. Perhaps in the plot and character development. Perhaps the introduction of a new scene, a new element that gives the story more life. 

I’ve had a bunch of them lately. This novel is no longer a point of stress. No no no! I’m learning to appreciate this novel for opening doors as I research the history of the Philippines and Asia. It’s given me insight on the psychology of my people, of family, of myself. Even if this little manuscript never sees the light of day, it has opened my eyes on the world around me. 

For the first time, I’m sincerely enjoying the ride.