I have not had the pleasure of reading much Filipino literature besides articles in Filipino-Canadian newspapers like the Balita, but I have been fortunate to purchase and read Filipinos in Canada: Disturbing Invisibility.
Filipinos in Canada: Disturbing Invisibility was a great book for me to read as a university student and Canadian-born Filipina. My three favourite chapters in the book were Chapter 2 (Filipino Canadians in the Twenty-First Century: The Politics of Recognition a Transnational Affect Economy), Chapter 17 (Educated Minorities: The Experiences of Filipino Canadian University Students), and Chapter 18 (Mas Maputi Ako sa 'yo [I'm lighter than you]: The Spatial Politics of Intraracial Colourism among Filipina/o Youth on the Greater Toronto Area).
To quote a relevant example from Chapter 17:
"Students describe a lack of recognition of Filipino students, especially academically. [...] Similarly, students felt themselves to be both marginalized and privileged to be at UBC [University of British Columbia] because they observed the absence of other Filipinos. While students interviewed are seen as successes, many are constantly reminded that they are only a select few on campus" (Coloma 368-369).I often felt like the only Filipino studying English and Political Science at my university. I never or rarely see other Filipino students in my classes.
I found it particularly amusing reading this section in Chapter 18:
"...Grace later suggests that dark-skinned Filipinas from Scarborough are a lower-class type of beauty, which Grace describes as 'ghetto fabulous.' She seems to suggest that there exists an unattainable standard of beauty that the ghetto fabulous cannot live up to.[...] she [also] seems to suggest that Filipinas from Scarborough simply cannot achieve this higher standard of beauty because their lower-class status, imprinted on their very skins, serves as a barrier, preventing them from achieving the socio-spatial mobility that light skin affords middle-class Filipina/os" (Coloma 393).
As a dark-skinned Filipina from Scarborough, I can honestly say I am happy with my skin colour but I have heard about Filipinos preferring lighter-skinned Filipinas over darker-skinned. As for being from Scarborough, I have to admit, I do play up that I'm from the 'ghetto,' but I would never describe myself as 'ghetto-fabulous.' And I personally think that dark-skinned Filipinas are as pretty if not prettier than light-skinned Filipinas. In the Filipino channels, we get in Canada (TFC and GMA) I often see light-skinned Filipinas being represented in Filipino TV shows.
Before I go on too much of a tangent: buy this book! Filipinos in Canada: Disturbing Invisibility is a great compilation that covers a range of topics on Filipino-Canadian identity and it's just an awesome read in general (especially for those interested in cultural politics, anthropology, and political science). The only thing I would say could be improved is if they had the pictures/visuals (in the book) in colour and on a nicer sheet of paper. Aside from that, the book is amazing content-wise, and I would highly recommend it!
Work CitedColoma, Roland Sintos. Filipinos in Canada: Disturbing Invisibility. Toronto: University of Toronto, 2012. Print.
