Résumés
Abstract
Balikbayan (from the Tagalog words balik, to return, and bayan, town or nation) boxes, which mostly contain pasalubong, or gifts, for relatives and friends, are staples in the transnational existence of many Filipinos and have come to represent the balikbayans, or the returning persons, themselves. Utilizing the rites of passage concept and the dialectic of gift-giving, reciprocity and reproduction, this article looks at balikbayan boxes as metaphors for the dislocation experienced and felt by many first-generation Filipino Americans. It presents the preparation of the boxes as an allegory for the bonds that bind Filipino Americans to those who remain in the Philippines. In reading these boxes as a location of balikbayan identity, it emphasizes the liminal status of first generation Filipino Americans both in their native and adopted countries.
Résumé
Les boîtes balikbayan (du tagalog balik, revenir et bayan, ville ou pays), qui contiennent surtout des pasalubong, ou cadeaux, pour les parents ou amis, sont littéralement des éléments de base de l’existence transnationale de nombreux Philippins et en sont venues à représenter les balikbayans, ou ceux qui reviennent, eux-mêmes. En utilisant les concepts des rites de passage et de la dialectique du don, de la réciprocité et de la reproduction, cet article considère les boîtes balikbayan comme des métaphores du dédoublement expérimenté et ressenti par beaucoup de Philippino-américains de la première génération. Il présente la préparation des boîtes comme une allégorie des liens qu’entretiennent les Philippino-américains avec ceux qui restent aux Philippines. En considérant ces boîtes comme l’un des « lieux » de l’identité des balikbayans, il met l’accent sur le statut liminal qu’ont les membres de cette première génération de Philippino-américains, à la fois dans leur pays d’origine et dans leur pays d’adoption.
Parties annexes
References
- “100 Things About Being Pinoy.” 1998. The Freeman’s TGIF, August 7: 7.
- Aguilar-San Juan, Karin ed. 1994. State of Asian America: Activism and Resistance in the 1990s. Boston: South End.
- Bogardus, Emory S. 1976. “Anti Filipino Race Riots.” In Jesse Quinsaat ed., Letters in Exile: An Introductory Reader on the History of Pilipinos in America: 51-62. Los Angeles: UCLA Asian American Studies Center.
- Bonus, Rick. 2000. Locating Filipino Americans: Ethnicity and the Cultural Politics of Space. Philadelphia: Temple University Press.
- Carrier, James. 1991. “Gifts, Commodities, and Social Relations: A Maussian View of Exchange.” Sociological Forum 6: 119-36.
- Cheal, David. 1987. “‘Showing Them You Love Them’: Gift Giving and the Dialectic of Intimacy.” The Sociological Review 35: 150-69.
- Clifford, Mary Dorita. 1976. “The Hawaiian Sugar Planters Association and Filipino Exclusion.” In Jesse Quinsaat ed., Letters in Exile: An Introductory Reader on the History of Pilipinos in America: 74-89. Los Angeles: UCLA Asian American Studies Center.
- Cordova, Fred. 1983. Filipinos: Forgotten Asian Americans. Dubuque (IA): Kendall/Hunt.
- Cruz, Reil G. 1998. Principles of Travel and Tourism: With Special Reference to the Philippines. [n.p.]: Reil G. Cruz.
- de Castro, Steven. 1994. “Identity in Action: A Filipino American’s Perspective.” In Karin Aguilar-San Juan ed., State of Asian America: Activism and Resistance in the 1990s: 295-320. Boston: South End.
- Espiritu, Yen Le. 1995. Filipino American Lives. Asian American History and Culture. Philadelphia: Temple University Press.
- ________. 2003. Home Bound: Filipino American Lives Across Cultures, Communities, and Countries. Berkeley: University of California Press.
- Glassie, Henry. 1991. “Studying Material Culture Today.” In Gerald L. Pocius ed., Living in a Material World: Canadian and American Approaches to Material Culture: 253-266. St. John’s: Institute for Social and Economic Research.
- Hagedorn, Jessica. 1993. “Homesick.” In Danger and Beauty, New York, Penguin: 185-187.
- Hendry, Joy. 1995. Wrapping Culture: Politeness, Presentation, and Power in Japan and Other Societies. Oxford: Clarendon.
- Ignacio, Emily Noelle. 2005. Building Diaspora: Filipino Cultural Community Formation on the Internet. New Brunswick (NJ): Rutgers University Press.
- Jocano, F. Landa. 1969. Growing Up in a Philippine Barrio. New York: Holt.
- Krasno, Rena. 1996. Kneeling Carabao and Dancing Giants: Celebrating Filipino Festivals. Berkeley: Pacific View.
- Lévi-Strauss, Claude. 1976. “The principle of Reciprocity.” In Lewis A. Coser and Bernard Rosenberg eds., Sociological Theory: A Book of Readings: 61-70. New York: Macmillan.
- Lynch, Frank. 1973. “Perspectives on Filipino Clannishness.” Philippine Sociological Review 21: 73-79.
- Mauss, Marcel. 1954. The Gift: Forms and Functions of Exchange in Archaic Societies. Glencoe (IL): Free Press.
- Melendy, H. Brett. 1976. “California’s Discrimination Against Filipinos 1927-1935.” In Jesse Quinsaat ed., Letters in Exile: An Introductory Reader on the History of Pilipinos in America: 35-43. Los Angeles: UCLA Asian American Studies Center.
- Mulder, Niels. 1997. Inside Philippine Society: Interpretations of Everyday Life. Quezon City (Philippines): New Day.
- Murray, Francis J. 1973. “Lowland Social Organization I: Local Kin Groups in a Central Luzon Barrio.” Philippine Sociological Review 21: 29-36.
- Panopio, Isabel S. and Realidad Santico Rolda. 1988. Sociology and Anthropology: An Introduction. Manila: Goodwill.
- Pertierra, Raul. 1992. “The Cultural Economy of Migration.” In Raul Pertierra ed., Remittances and Returnees: The Cultural Economy of Ilocano Migration. Quezon City (Philippines), New Day: 1-23.
- Pido, Antonio J.A. 1986. The Pilipinos in America: Macro/Micro Dimensions of Immigration and Integration. New York: Center for Immigration Studies.
- Posadas, Barbara M. 1999. The Filipino Americans. Westport (CT): Greenwood.
- Rafael, Vicente L. ed. 1995. Discrepant Histories: Translocal Essays on Filipino Cultures. Manila: Anvil.
- ________. 2000. “‘Your Grief Is Our Gossip’: Overseas Filipinos and Other Spectral Presences.” In White Love and Other Events in Filipino History: 204-227. Durham: Duke University Press.
- Okamura, Jonathan Y. 1995. “The Filipino American Diaspora: Sites of Space, Time, and Ethnicity.” In G.Y. Okihiro, M. Alquizola, D. Fujita Rony, and K. Scott Wong eds., Privileging Positions: The Sites of Asian American Studies: 387-400. Pullman: Washington State University Press.
- Root, Maria P. P. ed. 1997. Filipino Americans: Transformation and Identity. Thousand Oaks (CA): Sage.
- Sanchez, Rene. 1999. “L.A. Shooting Suspect Faces State, U.S. Charges.” Washington Post, August 13: A1.
- San Juan, Carolina. 2001. “Ballroom Dance as an Indicator of Immigrant Identity in the Filipino Community.” Journal of American and Comparative Cultures 24 (3-4): 177-181.
- Steinberg, David Joel. 1990. The Philippines: A Singular and a Plural Place. Boulder (CO): Westview.
- Turner, Victor. 1969. The Ritual Process: Structure and Anti-Structure. New York: Aldine de Gruyter.
- van Gennep, Arnold. 1960. The Rites of Passage. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
- Weiner, Annette B. 1980. “Reproduction: A Replacement for Reciprocity.” American Ethnologist 7: 71-85.
- Alicia. 1998. Interview by author, 14 August, Los Angeles. Tape recording.
- Alicia. 1999. Interview by author, 21 August, Los Angeles. Tape recording.
- Dahlia. 1999. Interview by author, 26 August, Los Angeles. Tape recording.
- David. 1998. Interview by author, 1 November, Los Angeles. Field notes.
- Francisca. 1999. Interview by author, 21 August, Los Angeles. Tape recording.
- Frankie. 1998. Interview by author, 1 November, Los Angeles. Field notes.
- Isabel and RJ. 1999. Interview by author, 21 August, Los Angeles. Tape recording.
- Jocelyn. 1999. Interview by author, 9 June, Cebu City. Tape recording.
- Maria. 1998. Interview by author, 29 July, Los Angeles. Tape and video recording.
- Rhonda. 1999. Interview by author, 7 June, Cebu City. Tape recording.