PinnedI Will Never Be As Brave As My MotherBy Elizabeth Ann Quirino When I saw on the calendar that today was International Women’s Day, I thought of my late mother Lourdes “Lulu” Reyes Besa and her bravery during World War II. I could never be as brave as she was. Several years ago, sometime before the year 2000…World War II5 min readWorld War II5 min read
Dec 22, 2019The Perfect Christmas GiftElizabeth Ann Quirino Their house in Malate, Manila had been bombed and leveled to the ground in February 1945. Their home was gone and all their worldly belongings in it. But the young, unmarried Filipina in her 20s named Lourdes Reyes was neither bitter or angry. Instead, she was grateful…Christmas4 min readChristmas4 min read
Nov 27, 2019Member-onlyHow Filipinos In America Give ThanksBy Elizabeth Ann Quirino We love our family celebrations. But we love the food we serve with it even more. What is a typical American Thanksgiving like in a Filipino home here in the States? Food is a journey from the appetizers to the end of the meal, and desserts…Filipino American5 min readFilipino American5 min read
Jun 8, 2019My Father Did Not Want Me To DriveBy Elizabeth Ann Quirino My Father Did Not Want Me to Drive Unlike teenagers here in America, I did not learn how to drive till I was past my teen years when I lived in the Philippines. We did not have driver’s education classes in the Filipino school curriculum. During…Short Story4 min readShort Story4 min read
May 9, 2019Why I Never Celebrated Mother’s Day with MomBy Elizabeth Ann Quirino One day, during a chat with my writing teacher I told her a story of how I spent my summers as a child in my hometown, Tarlac, a province in the Philippines. I remember from those days how I helped my mom make mango jam. There…Food5 min readFood5 min read
Apr 10, 2019The Filipino Pabasa: I Sing A Little Prayer for Youby Elizabeth Ann Quirino By Elizabeth Ann Quirino If you are in the Philippines during the Lenten Holy Week, a few days before Easter, the country shuts down and nearly all business establishments are closed. Basically, everyone is praying and practicing religious rituals which have been passed on for generations. …Religion4 min readReligion4 min read
Apr 4, 2019Why My Father Said, “Don’t Cry”Don’t Cry in Kindergarten By Elizabeth Ann Quirino On my first day at kindergarten, as I was getting dressed, I overheard my parents talk about me. Mom was bringing me to school. “No matter what happens, if she cries, do not bring her home before school is over. …Short Story4 min readShort Story4 min read
Feb 14, 2019A Heart That’s Not PerfectA Heart That’s Not Perfect By Elizabeth Ann Quirino I see hearts everywhere and therefore I baked this Heart-shaped Bibingka, the Filipino Rice Cake for Valentine’s. I see heart-shaped cakes, with chocolate frosting cascading down luring us to take a slice. I love hearts. …Valentines Day2 min readValentines Day2 min read
Jun 16, 2017One Week at the BeachOne Week at the Beach One Week At The Beach Every Year I luxuriated in wiggling my bare toes into the ocean waves, just to get a feel of the water temperature. Then I ran back to the sand, buried my toes in the cold, grainy brown surface. I settled…Short Story3 min readShort Story3 min read
