Cebu

I was getting ready to visit The Philippines for the first time and a friend of mine suggested that I read CEBU, as I really did not know very much about the country and culture. I guess the only thing that I knew about the politics is that they once had a dictator "Marcos" who had a wife that owns 3000 pairs of shoes, CEBU is the only book that I know of that gives a clear picture of The Philippines in the mid 20th century as seen from a 1st generation Filipino American's view point. CEBU touches on WW2, Filipino gangs in Seattle, Martial Law, and the Catholic Church. I am very glad that I read CEBU before I went to Manila. Bacho's book deserves a shot on screen.

Loved it, I bought this class for a Filipino American Culture class I'm taking and I have got to say out of the three readings in that class we had I enjoyed this the most. I absolutely love the author's writing style, it's both intriguing and grasps the reader, but is also more of an easy (less literary) read than other culture books. It is definitely graphic in some passages, but overall I would definitely recommend for anyone wanting a interesting read.

This is a really good read. This book is written from the view of a priest, so I never knew where it was going. It has sad moments and more sad moments especially when it comes to romance.

This book captured my imagination and at the same time, reaffirmed my awe for older generations who have experienced and survived the bitterness of war. Having spent all of the first 18 years of my life in Cebu, I could say it captured its essence very well. Now, three years later after I left that Xanadu, I read "CEBU" and relive the memories of how most people attempted treading on that blurry line dividing blind faith and instinctive practicality without seeming to break a sweat, quite a feat for most people raised here in the U.S. This balance is especially captured by Aunt Clara, notably the most powerful character in the story, literally and figuratively. I would recommend it to almost anyone, the book gives you the freedom to relate to at least one character. Very intriguing.

Bacho's Cebu has the feel and sense of reality. As a native of Cebu myself, I find it very intriguing to read and see a different perspective of my culture and the mixture of old beliefs and religion. I just wished that it had a happy ending.

Enjoyed reading this book. It does capture aspects of the Cebu and the Philippines which are very true. Having grown up in Cebu; and lived in Los Angeles for quite some time now, this book showed the big contrasts that exists. The book has a section describing the Road to Toledo; having taken that road in the 1960's, it brought back memories of how dangerous the road is. Loved the book. I highly recommend it.

Peter Bacho beautifully articulates the emotional worlds of the deterritorialized Filipino American. With Fr. Ben Lucero's spiritual reconstruction, Bacho constantly explores and mediates between the warm comforts and cold mysteries of Philippine culture. In doing so, Bacho provides an intimate look into the distant, brash, and passionate demeanor of the Filipino psyche... If you believe 'home' stretches across the Pacific, then Cebu is a must-read.