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A review by mpjustreading
Lolas' House: Filipino Women Living with War by M. Evelina Galang
5.0
Lolas’ House is a book of protest and personal narratives by lolas (grandmothers) who vividly describe the abduction, torture and rape they experience during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines in World War 2.
When Evelina Galang started her research back in 1999, she mentions staying at a dorm in St. Scholastica’s College. This was the school I went to in ’99. I was in fourth grade. She mentions protesting with the lolas during the time when the streets were flooded with “ERAP, RESIGN” posters. A time when Filipinos fought against Joseph Estrada’s plunder and perjury. I attended one of these protests with MY lola. To read that Evelina and the lolas were right there, so close in proximity, protesting for comfort women… I wonder why I didn’t hear about them during that time? I wonder why I barely hear about their stories now.
The lolas are old. Some of them have died. They live with this trauma, suffer from it for years. The torture of comfort women didn’t just happen in the Philippines. There are known survivors speaking out from Malaysia, Korea, China, Indonesia… Women who go against the culture of shame that revolve around rape. The lolas deserve justice, a proper and sincere apology —not just compensation. How will they reclaim their bodies? If their stories disappear, how do we make sure history doesn’t repeat? Short answer: We can’t. We NEED to listen to the lolas.
When Evelina Galang started her research back in 1999, she mentions staying at a dorm in St. Scholastica’s College. This was the school I went to in ’99. I was in fourth grade. She mentions protesting with the lolas during the time when the streets were flooded with “ERAP, RESIGN” posters. A time when Filipinos fought against Joseph Estrada’s plunder and perjury. I attended one of these protests with MY lola. To read that Evelina and the lolas were right there, so close in proximity, protesting for comfort women… I wonder why I didn’t hear about them during that time? I wonder why I barely hear about their stories now.
The lolas are old. Some of them have died. They live with this trauma, suffer from it for years. The torture of comfort women didn’t just happen in the Philippines. There are known survivors speaking out from Malaysia, Korea, China, Indonesia… Women who go against the culture of shame that revolve around rape. The lolas deserve justice, a proper and sincere apology —not just compensation. How will they reclaim their bodies? If their stories disappear, how do we make sure history doesn’t repeat? Short answer: We can’t. We NEED to listen to the lolas.