I did a lot of family interviews and soon, people trusted me with their stories. I learned to interview family so they’re not self-conscious. Just record and have a conversation. I also dug through letters, journals, then backed up with research. Thanks for the comment!
Thanks for posting this! The "box" scenario sounds like a "box social" that was used at Filipino lodge dances in the 1960s (and which I participated in). I know that Black communities had these, too. I suspect that this derives from some kind of indigenous gifting ritual (I'm thinking also of N. American tribal potlatches). But because it got involved with fundraising for orgs., in some ways it got sort of co-opted into the capitalist system here in the U.S.
This social event still exists in many communities, even here in the US. I just came back from Terra Bella in Central California, where my mom's town mates from San Esteban, Ilocos Sur hold an annual fiesta (since 1955). The pageant candidate who raised the most money gets to be crowned Queen. The proceeds go to community projects or educational scholarships for the children back home.
Interesting. I didn't know it still exists here. When I was a teen, there was push-back against it from some members, so it was stopped. But it can also be viewed as a kind of mutual aid. In the 1930s, the first Filipino newspapers in California used the social box to raise money for publications. It was also used to raise money to support Filipino strikers in Delano.
1947 was a watershed year (WW2 ended December 1946 with Japanese surrender.) I have Ilocano letters and photos from the 1920's, English letters from1930's. Then all ends in 1940. Nothing during the occupation 1941-1946. Very big gap there. Very little shared by my mom and aunties about the period of hiding in Ilocos Norte. I'm told that Manayon is a barangay in the hills, walking/hiking distance away from Sarrat--where they hid for safety away from military soldiers. Then, I recently found a cluster of photos from 1947. There is Relief on all the faces.
They get more sophisticated too - the candidates raise money through ticket sales, and the box social dance is the topping, an extra tip, like the money dance at weddings.)
Donors get a chance to win prizes from the raffles.
Love these stories. How were they passed on to you and how do you remember them all?
I found some older family photographs and they too include blue Xs to mark individuals… that’s how they used to tag people. Haha.
I did a lot of family interviews and soon, people trusted me with their stories. I learned to interview family so they’re not self-conscious. Just record and have a conversation. I also dug through letters, journals, then backed up with research. Thanks for the comment!
Thanks for posting this! The "box" scenario sounds like a "box social" that was used at Filipino lodge dances in the 1960s (and which I participated in). I know that Black communities had these, too. I suspect that this derives from some kind of indigenous gifting ritual (I'm thinking also of N. American tribal potlatches). But because it got involved with fundraising for orgs., in some ways it got sort of co-opted into the capitalist system here in the U.S.
Hi Jean,
Thanks for reading.
This social event still exists in many communities, even here in the US. I just came back from Terra Bella in Central California, where my mom's town mates from San Esteban, Ilocos Sur hold an annual fiesta (since 1955). The pageant candidate who raised the most money gets to be crowned Queen. The proceeds go to community projects or educational scholarships for the children back home.
Interesting. I didn't know it still exists here. When I was a teen, there was push-back against it from some members, so it was stopped. But it can also be viewed as a kind of mutual aid. In the 1930s, the first Filipino newspapers in California used the social box to raise money for publications. It was also used to raise money to support Filipino strikers in Delano.
I wrote about Terra Bella in this article in the Halo-halo Review, published by Eileen Tabios:
https://halohaloreview.blogspot.com/2023/11/a-village-in-fields-by-patty-enrado.html?m=1
1947 was a watershed year (WW2 ended December 1946 with Japanese surrender.) I have Ilocano letters and photos from the 1920's, English letters from1930's. Then all ends in 1940. Nothing during the occupation 1941-1946. Very big gap there. Very little shared by my mom and aunties about the period of hiding in Ilocos Norte. I'm told that Manayon is a barangay in the hills, walking/hiking distance away from Sarrat--where they hid for safety away from military soldiers. Then, I recently found a cluster of photos from 1947. There is Relief on all the faces.
Good for you obtaining pictures and letters! I don't have any of those.
They get more sophisticated too - the candidates raise money through ticket sales, and the box social dance is the topping, an extra tip, like the money dance at weddings.)
Donors get a chance to win prizes from the raffles.