In one interview with Mang Demi, he reflected on his love for his work and dedication to the park. When the conversation came around to the existential ‘why’ of everything created in the garden, he responded without a sense of urgency, “konti lang ‘souvenir'”, which roughly translates to: “make a little bit of a souvenir.” Mind you Mang Demi’s native language is Illocano, but these words are in Tagalog, or more accurately a combination with English, ‘Taglish.’ Filipino migrants with their numerous dialects from around the islands created this lingua franca in the US. The combination of Tagalog and English, a common form of communication between immigrants, marks the merging of the Filipino and the American to create an identity often divided between loyalty to two nations and two cultures. The phrase “konti lang ‘souvenir’'' is a good starting point to reflect on Mang Demi’s work amidst issues of memory, migration, and complicated identities, all set against the post-colonial culture of the Philippines. (Full essay coming soon)
