The immigrant experience in 'Ilustrado' was only a small part of what I intended to be a broader look at the Filipino experience, even if that broader look was itself merely a specific perspective. Miguel Syjuco broadexperiencefilipino Change image and share on social
I grew up with a very privileged background. My father served as one of the cabinet ministers in Arroyo's government, and he's been a congressman for many years, and he's running again. Miguel Syjuco arroyobackgroundcabinet Change image and share on social
I want to write a book that makes people debate, and makes people think, interact with each other and exchange ideas... I write because I'm engaged in this big conversation. Miguel Syjuco bigbookconversation Change image and share on social
When you live in the Philippines or a country like that, you develop something of a very thick skin because you're confronted every day with all of the problems all around you. Miguel Syjuco confrontcountryday Change image and share on social
The Philippines, it has a politics of patronage. Family and favors, in addition to the old cliche of guns, goons and gold, really do still hold a lot of sway. Miguel Syjuco additionclichefamily Change image and share on social
Postmodernism was a reaction to modernism. Where modernism was about objectivity, postmodernism was about subjectivity. Where modernism sought a singular truth, postmodernism sought the multiplicity of truths. Miguel Syjuco modernismmultiplicityobjectivity share on social
What I do know is that writing is the thing I am best at, and I don't have the stomach, the ability, the strength or the courage to enter the political arena. And I think writing can be a political act, if only to let those people accountable know they are being watched. Literature can be a conscience. Miguel Syjuco abilityaccountableact share on social
I don't see myself as any different from all the other Filipinos who have gone abroad looking for opportunity, to be a nurse, a labourer, a maid or a prostitute. Miguel Syjuco abroadfilipinolabourer Change image and share on social
I love my homeland, but it's an absurd country. Politics in the Philippines is like spectator sports! Miguel Syjuco absurdcountryhomeland Change image and share on social
Fiction is a very powerful tool for teaching history. The Philippines was the first Iraq, the first Vietnam, the first Afghanistan, in the sense that it was the United States' initial or baptismal experience in nation-building. Miguel Syjuco afghanistanbaptismalbuild share on social