Tag Archives: filipinonurse

Nanay loved jewelleries

I’m sorry I can’t tell you more about it, I don’t know the history of them Mum via facetime 2021 I forget Mum was only in her twenties when she left the Philippines, so a lot of my enquiries come to a dead end. From then on she was immersed in a completely foreign culture,Continue reading “Nanay loved jewelleries”

some light

Mum dancing at one of the hospital social evenings, the Filipina nurses were entertaining the staff and guests with some folk dances from home. This dance is called the PANDANGGO SA ILAW – Dance of Lights. I think it originated in Mindoro during the Spanish colonial era. Some say the candles were to mimic firefliesContinue reading “some light”

Birthdays

“Do you remember the first birthdays you had here Mum?” “Oh we had parties together in the Nurses home… lots of food!” You can see the can of tinned fruit cocktail in the second photo! My earliest memories of eating different food was at Filipino parties. There was always Pancit – fried noodles with chicken,Continue reading “Birthdays”

“Deep and tender devotion”

The play I’m working on at the moment is set on a geriatric ward in an English hospital… it’s the new Alan Bennett play ALLELUJAH! Mum worked on geriatric psychiatric wards, when I’m listening to the dialogue or the songs of the play backstage… or catch a glimpse on the monitor, I think of herContinue reading ““Deep and tender devotion””

NWLDN and OFWs

I haven’t posted in a while. I’ve been working on a play at Hampstead theatre which is in the area I grew up in. There were quite a few Filipinos around when I was growing up, but I didn’t really know any of them. Mum would sometimes stop in the street and chat to FilipinoContinue reading “NWLDN and OFWs”

Mother’s day

Well today is the best day to start telling Mum’s story. Sometimes I call her Mum and sometimes Mama – I’m half Filpina half English it’s the influence of two cultures I suppose. Leaving her family and the country she grew up in must have been a heady mix of excitement and WTF am IContinue reading “Mother’s day”