The Invisible Philippine War and Other Essays: Attempts at Making Sense of This Filipino Life

What does it mean to be Filipino?
If you've ever asked yourself that question, this collection of essays might resonate with you.

The Invisible Philippine War and Other Essays gathers eight works that explore the many dimensions of Filipino identity, arranged into four pairs: Power, Language, Technology, and Machismo.

• Power: Beyond the usual headlines about disinformation, what really fueled the return of the Marcoses in 2022? And what hidden games of wealth and influence shape our country today?
• Language: What happens when non-Tagalogs wrestle with a national language? From Cebu to Barcelona, and through the rise of the Cebuano music scene, these essays unpack the complexities.
• Technology: Can tech reveal who we are? One essay sifts through 2008 Google Trends to map Filipino online behavior. Another uses AI to reimagine the mother of the Santo Niño de Cebu.
• Machismo: What does it mean to be a Filipino man? Reflections from Manila and Mexico grapple with family, drugs, masculinity, and personal growth.

Nick Joaquin once said, “The identity of the Filipino today is of a person asking what is his identity.” These essays are part of that ongoing search — personal, imperfect, and offered in the hope they might help illuminate your own journey through this Filipino life.