Always Hiding
Encyclopedia
Always Hiding is a novel written by Filipino-American novelist Sophia Romero
. Published by the William Morrow and Company
in March/April 1998, the 272-page English-language
novel's title was the translation of the Tagalog-language phrase "Tago nang tago". Abbreviated as "TNT", the phrase is a moniker for "an illegal alien
in the United States
" who always has to hide and be cautious in his/her movements so as not to be found and caught by immigration authorities
.
and her eventual move to the United States. Viola was conceived before the marriage of her parents who belong to Manila's socialite class. Viola grew up in Manila during the regime of former Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos
. Her life was complicated by her quarrelsome parents. One of the main reasons for the disagreements between Viola's parents was her father's reputation as a womanizer
and philanderer
. Viola's father left the family to live with a pregnant mistress. Viola's mother, Ludy, left for the United States to escape the indiscretions of her husband, leaving Viola behind. Upon arrival in America, Viola's mother became an undocumented immigrant working as a maid in New York City
. After the fall of the Marcoses, Viola's father was implicated in charges of corruption
committed by the Marcos government. Viola's father decided to send Viola, already a teenager, to the United States to live with her mother. Viola obeyed her father but with a "secret agenda": to return to the Philippines together with her mother.
the female character and narrator Viola felt inferior and “morally rudderless”, without direction because of her physical features, comparing herself from the Caucasian features of the Europeans
. She was a teenage protagonist that “never seems to grow up” or mature, self-centered, and a person who suffered from “shallow self-dramatizations”. Booklist
described Viola as a young woman focused on her own feelings of recklessness and abandonment, and "couched" or stuck in using "stolen" American phrases but with a firm grip of Filipino values
. Although “smoothly but predictably written” and “with blatant symbolism”, the author of Always Hiding was not able to “fully exploit her plot’s full potential resonance
”. One particular example was that Romero was able to present the evident parallels between the political and personal circumstances that ruined Viola’s family, as well as the situations that divided the Philippines, but Romero was not able to utilize such conditions in order to make the story line reverberate further. Thus, Romero (a Filipino American
) was not able to reveal enough of the Filipino-American experience or the contributions of the Filipino immigrant to the history of the United States
. Romero was also not able to provide Viola, the character, with the “dignity” of an “unsympathetic heroine”. Despite this literary criticism
, the Library Journal
described Always Hiding as a novel "about family, love, honor, and modern Filipino life” in the Philippines and in the United States. According to Booklist, there were abrupt changes in the direction of the plot and the dialogue between the characters reflects the "tumultuous feelings" of the young heroine, but the author was able to maintain her emotional closeness to the reader. The novel brings “sparkling humor and fresh perspective” and a portrayal of “dangerous situations
” that reveals the strength and potency of the characters, not their fear and apprehension.
Sophia Romero
Sophia G. Romero is a Filipino female writer based in Brooklyn, New York. She is the author of the novel, Always Hiding, written in English. The 224-paged book was published by William Morrow & Company on April 1, 1998.-See also:*Ninotchka Rosca...
. Published by the William Morrow and Company
William Morrow and Company
William Morrow and Company is an American publishing company founded by William Morrow in 1926. The company was acquired by Scott Foresman in 1967, and sold to Hearst Corporation in 1981. It was sold along to the News Corporation in 1999...
in March/April 1998, the 272-page English-language
Philippine English
Philippine English is the variety of English used in the Philippines by the media and the vast majority of educated Filipinos. English is taught in schools as one of the two official languages of the country, the other being Filipino, a standardized version of Tagalog.English is used in education,...
novel's title was the translation of the Tagalog-language phrase "Tago nang tago". Abbreviated as "TNT", the phrase is a moniker for "an illegal alien
Alien (law)
In law, an alien is a person in a country who is not a citizen of that country.-Categorization:Types of "alien" persons are:*An alien who is legally permitted to remain in a country which is foreign to him or her. On specified terms, this kind of alien may be called a legal alien of that country...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
" who always has to hide and be cautious in his/her movements so as not to be found and caught by immigration authorities
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services is a component of the United States Department of Homeland Security . It performs many administrative functions formerly carried out by the legacy United States Immigration and Naturalization Service , which was part of the Department of Justice...
.
Plot
The main protagonist in Romero's novel is Violetta Rosario "Viola" Dananay. Viola narrates her life in the PhilippinesPhilippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
and her eventual move to the United States. Viola was conceived before the marriage of her parents who belong to Manila's socialite class. Viola grew up in Manila during the regime of former Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos
Ferdinand Marcos
Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos, Sr. was a Filipino leader and an authoritarian President of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. He was a lawyer, member of the Philippine House of Representatives and a member of the Philippine Senate...
. Her life was complicated by her quarrelsome parents. One of the main reasons for the disagreements between Viola's parents was her father's reputation as a womanizer
Promiscuity
In humans, promiscuity refers to less discriminating casual sex with many sexual partners. The term carries a moral or religious judgement and is viewed in the context of the mainstream social ideal for sexual activity to take place within exclusive committed relationships...
and philanderer
Adultery
Adultery is sexual infidelity to one's spouse, and is a form of extramarital sex. It originally referred only to sex between a woman who was married and a person other than her spouse. Even in cases of separation from one's spouse, an extramarital affair is still considered adultery.Adultery is...
. Viola's father left the family to live with a pregnant mistress. Viola's mother, Ludy, left for the United States to escape the indiscretions of her husband, leaving Viola behind. Upon arrival in America, Viola's mother became an undocumented immigrant working as a maid in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. After the fall of the Marcoses, Viola's father was implicated in charges of corruption
Corruption in the Philippines
The Republic of the Philippines suffers from widespread corruption. Means of corruption include graft, bribery, embezzlement, backdoor deals, nepotism, patronage.- Corruption levels :...
committed by the Marcos government. Viola's father decided to send Viola, already a teenager, to the United States to live with her mother. Viola obeyed her father but with a "secret agenda": to return to the Philippines together with her mother.
Analysis
According to Publishers WeeklyPublishers Weekly
Publishers Weekly, aka PW, is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers and literary agents...
the female character and narrator Viola felt inferior and “morally rudderless”, without direction because of her physical features, comparing herself from the Caucasian features of the Europeans
European people
European people may refer to:*Ethnic groups in Europe*Demographics of Europe*people from Europe*people from the European Union*People outside of Europe of European descent** European African or White African**White American ***European American...
. She was a teenage protagonist that “never seems to grow up” or mature, self-centered, and a person who suffered from “shallow self-dramatizations”. Booklist
Booklist
Booklist is a publication of the American Library Association that provides critical reviews of books and audiovisual materials for all ages. It is geared toward libraries and booksellers and is available in print or online...
described Viola as a young woman focused on her own feelings of recklessness and abandonment, and "couched" or stuck in using "stolen" American phrases but with a firm grip of Filipino values
Filipino values
The Filipino value system or Filipino values refers to the set of values or the value system that a majority of Filipino people have historically held important in their lives. This Philippine value system includes their own unique assemblage of consistent ideologies, moral codes, ethical...
. Although “smoothly but predictably written” and “with blatant symbolism”, the author of Always Hiding was not able to “fully exploit her plot’s full potential resonance
Resonance
In physics, resonance is the tendency of a system to oscillate at a greater amplitude at some frequencies than at others. These are known as the system's resonant frequencies...
”. One particular example was that Romero was able to present the evident parallels between the political and personal circumstances that ruined Viola’s family, as well as the situations that divided the Philippines, but Romero was not able to utilize such conditions in order to make the story line reverberate further. Thus, Romero (a Filipino American
Filipino American
Filipino Americans are Americans of Filipino ancestry. Filipino Americans, often shortened to "Fil-Ams", or "Pinoy",Filipinos in what is now the United States were first documented in the 16th century, with small settlements beginning in the 18th century...
) was not able to reveal enough of the Filipino-American experience or the contributions of the Filipino immigrant to the history of the United States
History of the United States
The history of the United States traditionally starts with the Declaration of Independence in the year 1776, although its territory was inhabited by Native Americans since prehistoric times and then by European colonists who followed the voyages of Christopher Columbus starting in 1492. The...
. Romero was also not able to provide Viola, the character, with the “dignity” of an “unsympathetic heroine”. Despite this literary criticism
Literary criticism
Literary criticism is the study, evaluation, and interpretation of literature. Modern literary criticism is often informed by literary theory, which is the philosophical discussion of its methods and goals...
, the Library Journal
Library Journal
Library Journal is a trade publication for librarians. It was founded in 1876 by Melvil Dewey . It reports news about the library world, emphasizing public libraries, and offers feature articles about aspects of professional practice...
described Always Hiding as a novel "about family, love, honor, and modern Filipino life” in the Philippines and in the United States. According to Booklist, there were abrupt changes in the direction of the plot and the dialogue between the characters reflects the "tumultuous feelings" of the young heroine, but the author was able to maintain her emotional closeness to the reader. The novel brings “sparkling humor and fresh perspective” and a portrayal of “dangerous situations
A Dangerous Life
A Dangerous Life is a 1988 English-language Australian film about the final years of the Philippines under Ferdinand Marcos' rule, from the assassination of Benigno Aquino, Jr. in 1983 to the People Power EDSA Revolution in 1986 that ousted Marcos...
” that reveals the strength and potency of the characters, not their fear and apprehension.