Written by: Ericka Serrano

Kamusta mga kaibigan! Happy Filipino American History Month to those who celebrate and to those looking to celebrate. According to the Filipino American National History Society website, Filipino American History Month celebrates the first recorded presence of Filipinos in the United States. It wasn’t until October 2009 that the United States officially recognized Filipino American History Month (so, technically, Filipino American History Month is 13 years old!)

To help celebrate Filipino American History Month, Books are Magic has let me gather as many Filipino-American authors and their books that I love, and because I cherish my Filipino heritage so much, other Filipino authors from around the world. I know, I know – October is Filipino American History Month, but what can I say? I love telling folks about Filipino authors!

Diwata, Barbara Jane Reyes

The first book on this list is Barbara Jane Reyes’s Diwata, a Tagalog word meaning “muse,” but also a Filipino term for a mythical being typically found in nature. Diwata’s poetry lives solidly in Filipino heritage and culture but also in the anger and hurt Filipinos have lived with since, you guessed it, colonialism wreaked havoc on our islands. I highly recommend this book of poetry if you’ve read Warsan Shire’s Bless the Daughter Raised by the Voice in Her Head or if you’re looking for a book of poetry that explores Filipino lore and mysticism.

Once Upon a Sunset, Tif Marcelo

The second book on this list is Tif Marcelo’s Once Upon a Sunset, starring Diana, an OB/GYN whose life is shaken up professionally, romantically, and personally. We follow Diana as she takes time away from her hospital job and travels back to the Philippines to reconnect with her Filipino roots. Tif Marcelo does a wonderful job of including Filipino food and culture woven throughout Once Upon a Sunset, and it feels just like coming home.

Patron Saints of Nothing, Randy Ribay

The third book on this list is Randy Ribay’s YA book Patron Saints of Nothing, another book where our main character Jay travels back to the Philippines to uncover the mysteries behind his cousin’s death under Duterte’s ruling. There are so many things to love about this book, but most importantly is the opposition of Duterte’s terroristic and horrific drug war that’s cost many Filipino lives. If you’re looking for a smart, complex YA book, Patron Saints of Nothing is the one for you.

Fairest, Meredith Talusan

The last book I’d like to highlight for FAHM is Meredith Talusan’s Fairest. Talusan’s involvement in the literary community runs deep, and it’s only right I include their work in this list! In Fairest, Talusan explores the many identities they belong to: the trans community, the albino community, the immigrant community, the disabled community, and more. Talusan really shines as a literary fixture in this memoir!

Filipino Stories Beyond America

Alright, alright: I’d mentioned earlier that in my excitement to compile a list of favorite Filipino titles, I did include Filipinos from around the world: Filipino-Australian Yasmin Newman’s Under Coconut Skies and Miguel Syjuco’s Ilustrado.

Yasmin Newman’s Under Coconut Skies is a gorgeously written cookbook, with modern takes on traditional Filipino recipes. It helps that there are stunning photos included that showcase the many nooks and crannies of the 7,000-island archipelago.

I Was the President’s Mistress, Miguel Syjuco

Miguel Syjuco, author of I Was the President’s Mistress!!, actually had a quite polarizing text come out over a decade ago. Ilustrado’s many reviews come with a warning not to know too much going into this text, and I agree: go in with no idea of the book, and enjoy the wild ride of Syjuco’s early literature.

If you made it to the end of this post, I want to say, from the bottom of my little Filipino heart, maraming salamat sa inyong suporta sa pagbabasa ng post nito (thank you very much for your support in reading this post).

P.S. Hi, Mom and Dad! Thanks for indirectly raising me unabashedly Filipino. Lahat lang para sa inyo.

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