Dear Librarians,
When I was a child, I was captivated by the stories my mother, aunts, and godmother told about their time growing up in the Philippines, as well as the stories they parceled out about WWII. Though careful not to burden me with the harsh realities of war, their talk of family, a loving Italian father, the beauty of their country, faith, and the enormous role music played in their lives in bringing joy and hope shaped my understanding of how we can walk through difficulty and, with resilience, not just survive but thrive. I was also greatly moved by the stories told me by my aunt, who, after leaving the Philippines to voice train in Italy before the war, found herself facing a terrifying wartime separated from her family.
It was my mother’s dream to, like my aunt, voice train in Italy to become a professional soprano following in the footsteps of their nonna, a former soprano with the Grande Compagnia d’Opera Italiana. Unfortunately, the war changed everything.
Some of my favorite memories are of listening to the rich tones of my mom’s beautiful voice as she rehearsed arias in our home and sang at church. A woman of strength, courage, and strong faith, her example has had, perhaps, the most profound effect of anyone upon me.
I learned early on that the events that transpired in the Philippines during the war are not widely known. Sadly, I watched throughout my life how my mother often felt misunderstood as a result.
It was and is my desire to bring to light the war in this country of many islands, along with what it cost the Filipino people and, in particular, young Filipinas. I wrote IN THE LIGHT OF THE SUN to honor my mother and her sisters, as they were strong women who, by example, taught me that though you may face significant difficulties in life, it is possible to live life fully and with joy. There is hope. I hope readers walk away as inspired by Caramina and Rosa’s story as I have been by my mother and aunts.
It is librarians like you who work tirelessly to share books with a world that needs hope. Thank you for your efforts! And thank you for reading IN THE LIGHT OF THE SUN.
Angela Shupe
