Nestled between Indonesia, Vietnam, China, and Japan, the Philippines is comprised of over 7,000 islands. The capital, Manila, is the most densely populated city on the planet, while the archipelago is third on the list of countries with the most annual emigrants to the US. Its culture has been shaped by distant nations as much as by immediate neighbors, and in turn the Filipino diaspora has made a tremendous impression on the world.
Westerners regularly come into contact with Filipino culture, but the Philippines remains a hazy spot on our mental maps. We give harsh descriptions of “balut” and hold Manny “Pac Man” Pacquiao in awe, but lack a deeper understanding of a complex country and culture.
Frank Chapter 45 will focus on the unique, seemingly disparate pieces that make up the modern-day Philippines, as well as the larger Filipino community, from New York to Los Angeles to the UAE. Features include contributions from DJ Neil Armstrong, skater Willy Santos, martial artist Dan Inosanto, and comic-book artist Leinil Francis Yu, as well as an illustrated collection of Filipino myths, a photoessay on the ubiquitous jeepney, and (of course) a closer look at boxer Manny Pacquiao’s impact on his country and beyond.
