Mum comes over in 1969
Sees snow for the first time
Spreads english mustard on bread like butter
Falls in love
Starts a family
and works HARD for the next 30 years
in the NHS
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, working full time and learning to adjust to a new life.
This mysterious necklace was another familiar treasure in Mum’s jewellery box. It was so unusual, I remember thinking it’s something very old and serious like her rosary beads, but it was also sunny and floral and looked like golden lace.
It’s a Tambourin necklace / Relikaryo – bit of research shows exact spellings and names differ slightly but that’s what I’m calling it! They were made and worn during the Spanish colonial era and became popular around mid 18th century I think. Filipino artisans were already highly skilled in gold filigree which enabled the Spanish to use artifacts like these to spread Catholicism. They were based on the rosary and often had relics related to saints inside the pendant. Post-Spanish rule designs were more inspired by nature like Mum’s which houses a flower.
This one belonged to my Lola (Grandma) but we don’t know where she got it from. Mum said she used to wear it during fiesta or when she went to church, usually with a mestiza dress.
Nanay loved jewelleries! she gave it to me just before I left for England, she said I’d get more use out of it and actually it was good because the agency told us to bring national dress with us, nice smart things to wear to be presentable. So I brought some Mestiza dress and Kimona… actually I’m wearing it in that picture of me sitting in the flower bed outside the nurse’s home!
Mum via facetime 2021
“OHHHHHHH YESSSS there IS a photo of you wearing it! I know the one you’re in yellow, or pastel colours, big hair…”
So we searched for this photo but found others.
Mum clearly liked to pose in or by flower beds in the hospital grounds!
We did spot it being worn by her friend – a fellow Filipina nurse while they were dancing at a hospital event. They used to borrow each others clothes and accessories for dances.
Anyway, we finally found the photo and OF COURSE Mum’s not wearing the bloody necklace in it but here she is in another flower bed.
The thing about grapes
Mum has a thing about grapes.
They were a bit of a luxury in Mum’s family in 1950’s Philippines.
One Christmas we were alright with money so I asked Nanay if I could have a small bunch of grapes for Christmas. We spent Christmas in Caibiran, I was so proud of my grapes that I wore it as a brooch as I believe no one else has one in the island!
Mum via whatsapp. 2021
When Mum started working in England she couldn’t believe how affordable grapes were so she GORGED herself on them and put on loads of weight! there were always some on the windowsill in her Nurse’s room.
Come to think of it we ALWAYS had grapes in the fruit bowl at home! and bunches of black, green AND red for special occasions, like Christmas.
These ceramic grapes were made by Mum when she was working at the Royal Free hospital in London during Occupational Therapy sessions with the patients where she would join in, each bunch took a week to make.
I remember them being on a windowsill at home in the hallway and I remember the plate being broken! I had no idea Mum had made them I thought she’d bought them.
They’re actually really good!
So Mum’s thing with grapes has never left her… pretty sure I was the only child ever to be dressed as fruit at our school fancy dress.
(Just incase you’re wondering, Mum wore the grapes pinned to a pink cotton dress on her left shoulder like a corsage! she designed the dress herself and had it made in town when she was a teenager. During fiesta at Christmas time it’s like open house in the neighbourhood – going door to door eating and partying in their best outfits. When the grapes started to droop and fall off, Mum just started eating them!)
The first Pineapple
There’s a Filipino folktale about how the Pineapple got it’s name.
Thoughts of perusing the market with Mum in El Nido last time we were in the Philippines. Got a tricycle there cos it was too hot to walk, we spent hours roaming the stalls soaking it all in. Mum in her element haggling, chatting with the vendors.
Pungent sweet smells, salty air, gasoline. Pawalano and Tagalog chatter, TSINELAS (flip flops) slapping in the dust, children playing, babies sleeping, tricycles arriving light and leaving heavy, coconut shredding machines, the THWACK of machetes, BUKO (young coconut) juice flowing and rich rich colours everywhere.
We left with bags of PRUTAS (fruit) and SUMAN (glutinous rice cakes) all sorts of KAKANIN (rice goods) to eat on the beach.
There was a mother and her daughter Pina who lived in a tiny village hut, they were poor and the mother worked all hours to feed them.
Pina was spoilt and lazy and just wanted to play in the backyard. When her mother asked Pina to set the table she said “but I cant find the plates or the table!” when she asked her to sweep the room… “but I can’t find the broom!”
And when her mother was sick and asked Pina to make a simple porridge for them she just moaned “but I can’t find the ladle!”
“OH I WISH YOU WOULD GROW A HUNDRED EYES SO YOU COULD FIND THINGS!!!”
The mother went to bed, Pina was quiet.
When the mother got up to make the porridge Pina had gone. Days, weeks, months went by. Still heartbroken the mother carried on and one day sweeping the backyard where Pina used to play she noticed a strange new plant and a fruit like a head with hair on top, it had a hundred eyes.
She named it PINYA (Pineapple)
OMG! Mum’s in the Guardian
Well, today was a total surprise!
Mum’s photo featured in this Guardian article about the upcoming Heart of the Nation exhibition at the Migration Museum which launches on Monday.
I’ve been collaborating with them during lockdown, they approached me via instagram and asked if I’d like to tell Mum’s story of coming here to work in the NHS. It’s so encouraging that people do want to hear these stories and share them and recognise the work and contribution migrants make to our world.
It’s so surreal to have such a personal, familiar photo in a national newspaper, but LOOK at Mum!
MAGANDA !
Professional Status
Midwifery graduation. Cebu, Philippines 1963
Mum’s training at the school. She’s ready, had her hair done in a french twist at the salon, uniform is immaculate, red lipstick *
Waiting for the call to attend the ceremony and join her classmates up on stage to collect her midwifery diploma and graduation ring.
…
“Sorry but you can’t graduate Miss, your family haven’t paid the last instalment of tuition fees”
Mum calls her older brother Romeo
“Please come and take me home…”
Uncle Romi – a maritime engineer, asks his skipper if his sister can come aboard. Mum sleeps in his cabin. It takes a day and a night to get back.
Few months later Mum travels to Manila to take the board exam and returns to Toledo City – a gold mining city in Cebu to work, this is where she meets Tanny, the friend she would later came to London with.
Every time they pass her old school it’s bitter sweet for Mum. They go wandering round the town on days off, and one day Mum sees this ring in a pawn shop.
” I liked it because it was solid gold! It was much nicer than my school ring which had a ruby… I said to myself YES! this ring will make me look professional and give me status! so I bought it for myself “
Mum only just told me this story, I’d never even looked that closely at her graduation ring, it’s not even from the same year let alone school!
*Mum said at Midwifery school students were told that one of the requirements was to wear Red lipstick on duty, this was incase they felt ill attending a delivery and so as not to frighten the mother to be!… Mum wore Revlon.
TALAGA
During my last big theatre job a young film maker Mona Bakht asked me if I’d like to be part of her documentary about Filipino heritage and identity.
Was so nice to think someone was interested in what I’m doing and my experience but…
TALKING. ON. CAMERA scared the shit out of me!
By the time I plucked up the courage to do it I was onto the next job and struggled to find the time… then of course, our show was suddenly closed and the world went into lockdown.
My interview was via Zoom and it’s one of the most nerve wracking things I’ve ever done but I’m so proud to be part of this film. If I’m honest it feels like some kind of acceptance or arrival – which seems weird to say given what Pearls of the NHS is about.
Although it’s not in the film we both talked about prejudice from all sides and not feeling as if you belong or are enough – especially if you can’t speak Tagalog.
The film is called T A L A G A – Mona introduces it by saying it “responds to the question Where are you really from?”
trailer https://player.vimeo.com/video/431608487
full film as part of the No room left in the margins film festival https://www.bombfactory.org.uk/noroomleftinthemargins
me being nervous on zoom…
#filipinofood4NHS
I’ve been making these during lockdown
I know most of us really don’t have a spare fiver at the moment, but if you do…
You can either scroll to the top and click on shop
or this link
https://pearlsofthenhs.com/ribbon/
Thanks so much
Lee
xx
Pearls of the NHS tribute ribbon
There are many Filipinos working in the NHS right now. I heard about an AMAZING collective who are cooking and delivering free Filipino meals to NHS staff (from all backgrounds) at work during this global pandemic. I’ve handmade this tribute ribbon to show support and raise funds. For me the pearl represents Filipinos past and present who like my Mum have worked hard and in some cases given their lives to serve in the NHS. All profits from the sale of my ribbon will be donated to FILIPINO FOOD FOR NHS STAFF Thanks for supporting Lee X https://www.gofundme.com/f/filipino-food-for-nhs-staff?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link-tip&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet
£5.00
This is history
My heart has been so heavy these past few weeks. We’ve reached a tipping point.
This is history. We’ve seen the best of people and the absolute worst.
The socioeconomic disparities in health have become brutally apparent during this global pandemic.
Recent events in America in particular the death of George Floyd are a painful reminder that we only seem to notice the experience of others and push for change when we’re faced with horror.
The word that I keep going back to is
R E F L E C T
Look at yourself
Would you want to be treated in this way, would you do this job?
I am looking at myself.
REST IN POWER
Mum is so upset about the Filipinos working in the NHS/ care sector who have died after contracting Covid-19.
“They came here to work hard”
Leilani Medel
Oscar King Jr
Elbert Rico
Arnel Ganias
Linnette Cruz
Elvira Bacu
John Alagos
Larni Zuniga
Amor Padilla Gatinao
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 fireflies in the evening… others say it was to guide the fisherman home depending on which area you come from – mountains or sea.
Mum’s wearing her pink Mestiza/ Terno dress, it’s so beautiful
it’s covered in pearls.
Thursdays 8pm
I’m not really sure where to start, been meaning to write for weeks
Seems apt to start again on a Thursday evening when we hang out the window and clap for our NHS, carers, keyworkers.
I can’t remember the last time I put a poster up in my window?!
Now I have a massive bootleg NHS one that blocks the glare from the midday sun
and a matching T-shirt.
I bought my first Sports BANGER T to show support during the junior doctors strike.
It’s been re-released and sold out over and over since lockdown to fund healthy food & drink drops to ICU teams in our local hospitals and care centres.
So now I have two.
What a time.
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, pork and veg
Adobo – chicken/pork marinated in soy sauce and garlic
Leche Flan – kind of a Filipino creme caramel soooo delicious
and Filipino Fruit Salad – basically tinned fruit cocktail with condensed milk and sometimes there was young coconut, mango and jackfruit thrown in (which blew my tiny mind)…sometimes there was cheese in it ! and sometimes there were raisins which I picked out one by one!
The parties were loud, full of laughter and all about the buffet.
The women were so glamorous, beautifully manicured hands, fancy shoes.
“Maganda!” they would say – pinching our cheeks! I was way too shy at parties but I loved getting dressed up and hearing Tagalog and piling the food onto paper plates… my sister and me would sit with it balanced on our knees and wash it all down with coke.
working class heroes
I can’t not talk my about my parents on Valentines day!
A Fireman and a Nurse
How lucky I was to grow up with so much L O V E in the house
45 years strong…
lots to say
but sometimes I get really stuck
usually starting a collage helps
being shy can be so frustrating when you want to communicate something and expressing myself visually is often the easier way
Meeting Grandma
My English Grandma was from Portsmouth. She was petite with velvety soft pink skin, thick wavy silver hair that was always short and the brightest blue eyes.
She liked to wear Navy with a white shirt underneath, usually with a broach or neck scarf.
“Oh your Grandma said she thought I looked like a Princess!…It must have been 1972 my hair was very long. I was wearing a long brown patchwork fake fur coat, a copper silk skirt and a white turtle neck top”
I would always talk about art with my Grandma, she was really creative always painting or making something.
She loved the Post – Impressionists.
Grandma later painted this picture of Mum.
Hand carry
This is the handbag Mum came over with
“What would you have had in it for the flight?”
“Sunglasses, purse, sweets, passport
…I bought it for myself in a very popular market in Makati, Manila…Manila was a new place for me. I wanted to bring some native things with me not just an ordinary bag”
Every now and them I would have a nose around Mum’s wardrobe and this bag was on the right hand shelf – with weird and wonderful things inside.
…some were still there when we opened it today : )
- a camera flash fan
- compact mirror
- avon lipstick
- catholic pendants
- a hair pin
Argos
I had romantic ideas of the gift of a watch
“Where did you get your Nurses watch from Mum?”
“Argos in Basingstoke”
“Oh”
White socks
I’m pretty sure in 1969 – Mum was amongst some of the first Filipinos to come over to work in the NHS.
I’m trying to find out more, there isn’t much written officially about Filipino nurses during this period, partly why I’m doing this I suppose!
Mum came over with her friend Tanni, there were three Filipino nurses already working at their hospital – so they became a group of five.
I wonder what kind of impression these women made, visually? I’ve always been interested in how people express their identity through the way they present themselves; the choices we make, the attention to detail.
“I introduced the white socks and shoes!” Mum said
“They loved our new style. You never saw a Filipino with a creased uniform, we were really proud of how we looked and the other nurses copied our style!”
Tanni died during childbirth.
What Mum must’ve gone through losing her. She was an experienced midwife in The Philippines and had seen it all, she just couldn’t understand how it could happen here.
” … to come all this way and die”
Tanni’s daughter was adopted by the hospital Manager and his family, who were Scottish. I don’t know what became of her but along with my sister and me – we are all some of the first women born here with Filipina mothers.
Pearls passed down
Mum recently gave me one of her pearl rings to wear. I’ve borrowed it before but this was more of an official thing.
It was given to her on her 21st birthday from her Nanay (Mum) my Lola (Grandma) before she left The Philippines for England.
“I was doing midwifery at that time so I couldn’t wear it when I was working, but I kept it in my room and only wore it for special occasions… if I went to a party or to go shopping or to church!”
I asked Mum if it came in a box…
“No! she just took it off her hand and gave it to me!”
identity
perhaps I’ll discuss later but I’m more about the visuals…. feeling this like this lately
Pearls of the NHS 