ang oras ay ginto (“time is gold”)

When you think of “home”, what do you see? Who comes to mind? Is it mom at the stove preparing dinner, sitting with your sibling at the dining table helping them with their homework, waiting for dad’s arrival from a long day? Or maybe it’s coming home to chosen family in a new place made familiar by their grace and warm company. Whatever home is for you, it’s important to honor the special ways in which we feel & experience it. Scholar Florante Ibañez further explores such ideas of culture, identity, and home through the Filipino American (Fil-Am) lens in his project for the Vincent Price Art Museum (VPAM) in response to Golden Hour: California Photography from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). 

As a practicing artist whose work more recently confronts the nuances of what it means to be a Filipina American growing up in Los Angeles, it was an honor to be a part of this special project and revive Ibañez’s Digital Archive Initiative in precarious times. 

In one snapshot, a Lolo and Lola stand in front of the Chinese Mann theater. In another, community members stand together during a protest down Temple St. – these are only some of the many beautiful images that have been generously contributed by 23 participants. And although each individual photo contains stories and worlds within themselves, seeing them all together weaves narratives of family and community that cannot be told by anyone else. Visual storytelling in this way is an incredibly powerful art form that allows for the reclaiming of lost histories, community voices, and family records. This opportunity of working intimately with these pictures and captions is one I will wholeheartedly cherish. It felt as if I was invited into the homes of many tito’s and tita’s, offered a seat at their dinner table, and witnessed their kwento (“stories”) firsthand. Growing up in Historic Filipinotown, it was fascinating to dive deeper into the histories of places that still stand and of those that unfortunately cease to exist anymore. Working on this project has made me re-examine personal relations with my family, as well as this city I call home, reminding me to never take it all for granted. 

After working so closely with these photographs this past month and reflecting on the value of documentation, I decided to step out of my comfort zone. One recent afternoon, while I was with my Lola Alicia, my curiosities about her stories and interests compelled me to finally “interview” her. 

My Lola immigrated to the United States in 2015, towards the end of my highschool years. Even though you live with someone, it doesn't necessarily mean you form a quick bond, especially since I left for college soon after her arrival.  So during that afternoon together, I explained to her about the work that I have been doing with VPAM and asked if I could ask her a few questions to share with a wider audience. She happily agreed and we sat down sharing conversation and laughter. Below is an excerpt of that exchange in Tagalog, which I have also translated into English:

Danielle: Okay Lola, first question – ano ang namimiss mo sa pilipinas?

Lola Alicia: Ang namimis ko sa Pilipinas yung culture sa farm. Dun sa farm, Danielle. 

Danielle: Bakit yung farm. What about the farm do you miss?

Lola Alicia: The rice. Yung pagtatanim – pagtatanim ng palay sa bukid. Kasi mula noong bata pa ako, nakita ko na ang pagsasaka. Yung father ko, Danielle, isa siyang magsasaka. 

Danielle: Ano pa?

Lola Alicia: Atsaka, yung gulay. Ang mga gulay sagana sa bitamina, walang spray, walang insecto. Tapos, magandang mag ano ng gatas yung kalabaw. Ang namimiss ko ung gatas ng kalabaw, ang sariwa! Pag gagatasan mo, fresh na fresh yung milk. Talagang, galing sa kalabaw. Masarap yun, Danielle. Yea! 

Danielle: You don’t miss the weather?!

Lola Alicia: Ay! Hindi maganda yung weather dun, mainit.

Danielle: What about … yung street vendors! 

Lola Alicia: Okay lang. Ah, yes – the balut, it’s fresh! Pero number one, mangga. Maganda yun mangga dun, it’s matamis!

Danielle: Yes, ang tamis nga! Okay, second question, paano mo ginawa ang Los Angeles ng parang “home;” para maramdaman mong nasa bahay ka, katulad sa Pilipinas?

Lola Alicia: It’s different kasi, eh. 

Danielle: Mmm, pero, your cooking!

Lola: Ah, natutuwa ako sa pagluluto. Masaya ako sa pagluluto. 

Danielle: What’s your favorite thing to cook?

Lola: Ang gusto kong niluluto ang Kare-kare, Adobo, Tinola.

Danielle: Bakit kare-kare?

Lola: Eh masarap kasi – atsaka may vegetables, may peanut butter!

Danielle: Aye, yes! Okay, anything else? What about teleserye!  

Lola: Ung teleserye! I like teleserye – ang gusto kong teleserye yung, ano, yung kay Coco Martin, FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano! Siya ang magaling. Kahit naman sino gusto si Coco Martin. Sa acting naman, gusto ko rin si Vilma Santos, nanood ako ng mga pelikula niya noong dalaga pa ako.

Danielle: Hahaha, okay last questions! Ano ang paborito mong pagkain at paboritong makita sa LA?

Lola: Paborito ko ang Cheesecake Factory – yung salad nila and the brown tinapay. At ang paborito kong lugar ay Griffith Park – magandang umaakyat sa bundok at mag piknik.  

Danielle: Yes! Pabarito ko din yung Cheesecake Factory. O sige, thank you Lola! 

– ENGLISH TRANSLATION –

Danielle: Okay Lola, first question – what do you miss about the Philippines?

Lola Alicia: What I miss about the Philippines is the farm culture. There at the farm, Danielle.

Danielle: Why the farm? What about the farm do you miss?

Lola Alicia: The rice. Rice planting – rice planting in the field. Because ever since I was a kid, I have already watched farming. My father, Danielle, was a farmer. 

Danielle: What else?

Lola Alicia: And the vegetables. Vegetables there are rich in vitamins; there are no pesticides, there are no insects. And also, the Carabao (a water buffalo, native to the Philippines), gives good milk. I miss the milk of the Carabao, it’s so fresh! When you milk it, the milk is truly so fresh.

It’s organic. It’s really delicious, Danielle! 

Danielle: You don’t miss the weather?!

Lola Alicia: Ah! The weather there isn’t pleasant, it’s hot. 

Danielle: What about … the street vendors! 

Lola Alicia: Eh, not so much. But ah, yes – the balut, it’s fresh! But number one most of all, is the mango. Mango there is the best, it’s sweet!

Danielle: Oh, yes! They are sweet. Okay second question – how did you make Los Angeles feel like “home” as you did the Philippines?

Lola Alicia: Well, it’s different though.

Danielle: Mmm, but, your cooking!

Lola: Yes, cooking brings me joy. I feel happy when I cook.

Danielle: What’s your favorite thing to cook?

Lola: What I like to cook is Kare-kare, Adobo, and Tinola.

Danielle: Why kare-kare?

Lola: Well, because it’s good. And because there are vegetables and peanut butter!

Danielle: Oh, yes! Okay, anything else? What about teleserye (Filipino soap operas)!  

Lola: The soap operas! I like those shows – I especially like the soap opera of Coco Martin called FPJ’s Province! He is the best.  Everyone and anyone likes Coco Martin. But I also like the actor Vilma Santos; I used to watch her movies when I was a young lady.

Danielle: Hahaha, okay last questions! What is your most favorite place to eat and sight to see in LA? 

Lola: My favorite is Cheesecake Factory – their salads and the brown bread. And my favorite place is Griffith Park; it’s nice to hike up to the top and have a picnic.

Danielle: Yes! Cheesecake Factory is also one of my favorites. Alright, thank you Lola!