‘Home’ is more than one place
A FEW DAYS AGO, I met Stephen Dypiangco, coproducer of the Oscar-winning short film “God of Love.” A Filipino-American who grew up ignoring his cultural heritage, he’s now filming a documentary based on his desire to reconnect to his roots.
On this journey, where he is accompanied by his parents Oscar and Lucila, he finds more than just his roots: He discovers his parents and, ultimately, himself. For more on the documentary, visit https://homeunknown.com.
<strong>Lingering question</strong>
I was asked to film a few little blurbs as part of Stephen’s fund-raising drive for the documentary which, hopefully, will see release sooner rather than later. At the end, he asked me something that floated in my head days after we had parted ways: “Where is home?”
Perhaps the question lingered because I’ve found myself moving to quite a number of places on this good earth, and I still live a relatively nomadic lifestyle, traveling from city to city on tour for work.
Navigating through airports is like second nature to me, and I have great curiosity for the new technology used at airport security (I especially enjoy backscatter x-ray machines; there’s no hiding anything from that thing!). Preparing for that security checkpoint has now become choreography, and when I visit certain terminals enough times, I know where to find a Starbucks, a bookstore, the ladies room, an ATM and even a tech store kiosk.
So where exactly is home? I have quite a few answers to this.
Sentimentally, home is Manila. I was born and raised here, and this is where my husband and I reside for the most part. This is where we’re raising our daughter, and where my mother and brother are only a few minutes away from us.
<strong>Hometown girl</strong>
Many of my best friends are in Manila—high school and college buddies, colleagues in Philippine show business and theater, fellow musicians and old friends. Even when I first left Manila for my travels to the western world, there was always a part of me that remained in my hometown. (This is one reason I add Jose Mari Chan and Jimmy Santiago’s “Hahanapin Ko” to my set list when I perform overseas.)
That said, I feel like I grew up in New York City. When I first set foot on the Big Apple 20 years ago, I could feel the energy of the pavement rise through my feet. I just knew that this was going to be my city, and that there would be no other place for me quite like it.
It was in New York where I said goodbye to adolescence and hello to adulthood … fell in and out of love quite a few times … met some of the best friends I could ever hope to meet … lived alone for the first time … and discovered myself.
In New York, I found an appreciation for the ice blue hue that glowed from Fifth Avenue in the wintertime, and had my first sip of red wine, danced till the wee hours of the morning and staved off hangovers in Koreatown with kalbi and rice in the company of good friends.
It was also in New York where I learned how to drive. (As crazy as NY drivers can be, Manila still wins for the most stressful driving conditions.)
Not too long ago, I moved to Los Angeles for a show and ended up setting roots. In this metropolis, I met Rob who became my husband.
<strong>Family support</strong>
It is also in LA where I have an amazing family support system of aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews and nieces, all of whom generously share their time and presence with me, my mom and Gerard whenever any of us is in town. There is one cousin who’s always ready to drive my mother to an outlet store for shopping; and another who’s itching to hit the golf course with my brother; and yet another who’ll always offer to take me for a serving of ankimo (monkfish liver, aka the foie gras of the sea) at her neighborhood sushi bar.
As a teenager, I spent enough summers in LA suburbs to practically be a resident. One of my favorite singing teachers, Marta Woodhull, is in LA. Whenever I can, I try to pay her a visit or sneak in a session.
<strong>That old adage </strong>
Nowadays, as I traverse the world for work or for play, I find myself comfortable just about anywhere.
When I visit Hong Kong, I can find my way around with public transportation.
On a recent trip to Rome—although Rob and I had never been there before—we were able to navigate through the small streets to find some great restaurants.
In London, I found myself face to face with the familiar, having lived there for over a year some time ago.
In Singapore, getting around the city is so easy with its stellar trains and comfy cabs.
So, home is anywhere and everywhere that family exists.
I guess that old adage is true: Home is where your heart is.
<strong>Congratulations</strong>
To the cast and crew of Atlantis Productions’ “Next to Normal”—especially to director Bobby Garcia, musical stager Chari Arespacochaga and lead stars Menchu Lauchengo-Yulo and Jett Pangan—my warmest congratulations!
It runs at Carlos P. Romulo Theater at RCBC Building until March 27.
