7,000 Islands and Beyond by Xánath Caraza
With more than
7,000 islands, the Philippines has been always comprised of a variety of
cultures. Added to this, the
international connections the Philippines has had over the centuries, such as
China, India, colonial Nueva España (present day
México and additional Latin American countries), and the United States, among
others, the cultural influences over time have abounded. This is naturally reflected in the Filipina/o
diaspora in places such as the United States and México. This includes the U.S. Filipina/o community
of Kansas City, which just celebrated its 50th anniversary of its annual Fiesta
Filipina on June 7, 2025, filled with music, dance, traditional clothing, cuisine,
and more.
Exploring
Filipina/o diaspora stories is my reading of my short story, “China Poblana”, my interpretation of her journey
from India to the Philippines to Nueva España via the historical Nao de China shipping
route from the Philippines to present day Acapulco, México and continuing on
to Puebla. In addition in the United
States, let us remember the vital connection of Filipina/o diaspora communities
to the work of César
Chávez. For today as well is a photo
journal account of festivities of the 50th anniversary of the Kansas City
Filipina Fiesta this year.
Images by S. Holland-Wempe
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