Takipsilim
In the intimate spaces of their homes and bedrooms, the Malaya Lolas are shown in their twilight years, with aching bones and fading memories. In the captions recorded, they share their hopes, regrets, fulfillments, and preoccupations through various stories and passing remarks.
This photo essay was made in 2018.
Maria Quilantang
82 years old
“Marami namang nangangako na tutulungan kami, pero hanggang ngayon walang nangyayari”
(Many have promised to help us, but until now nothing has happened.)
Lola Maria says that a lot of NGOs have not returned to help them, and that Malaya Lola are decreasing in number every year.
Isabelita 'Lita' Vinuya
84 years old
“Lumalaban kami dahil ayaw na namin maulit ang nangyari sa amin sa mga kababaihan ngayon. Kung magka- giyera ulit baka hindi kayanin ng mga bata ngayon ang dinanas namin”
(We continue fighting for justice because we do not want what happened to us to be repeated to the younger generations. If war would arise the young women might not be able to take what we have suffered)
Lola Lita is the President of the Malaya Lolas and has led their rallies and movements both locally and globally, fighting for justice for decades.
Emilia 'Mileng' Mangilit
unknown age
Lola Mileng is the older sister of Lola Lita. On the wall behind her are photos of her children and grandchildren through the years. Their home is filled with many photos, something which she says makes her very happy and proud of their achievements.
Pilar 'Pilaring' Galang
unknown age
"Maraming historiya ang bahay na Pula, mayaman ito sa kasaysayan na kami lang ang may alam”
(The Red House is filled with history. It witnessed events only we truly know about.)
Lola Pilar says it is tragic how the Bahay na Pula was not preserved, even if it served as a place of their horrors and trauma, they still wish to preserve its history so that people would remember, and that the horrors they faced would never happen again.
Pilar 'Pilaring' Galang
82 years old
"Maraming historiya ang bahay na Pula, mayaman ito sa kasaysayan na kami lang ang may alam”
Lola Pilar says it is tragic how the Bahay na Pula was not preserved, even if it served as a place of their horrors and trauma, they still wish to preserve its history so that people would remember, and that the horrors they faced would never happen again.
Pilar 'Pilaring' Galang
82 years old
"Maraming historiya ang bahay na Pula, mayaman ito sa kasaysayan na kami lang ang may alam”
Lola Pilar says it is tragic how the Bahay na Pula was not preserved, even if it served as a place of their horrors and trauma, they still wish to preserve its history so that people would remember, and that the horrors they faced would never happen again.
Lola Francia Buco
81 years old
Lola Francia says she was born in 1938, this means that she was just 6 years old when Mapaniqui was raided and they were brought to the Bahay na Pula. She tells me she is proud of all her grandchildren’s achievements.
Lola Lydia Sanchez
unknown age
Behind me, Lola Lydia's children and grandchildren are shouting "lola bumalik ka na!"(Lola, come back home!), as a storm is approaching.
Lola Lydia tells me that even if her daughters don’t allow her, she loves to walk barefoot in her small farm in order to stay active.
Lola Ceferina 'Sepeng' Turla
unknown age
Lola Sepeng tours me around her small farm, where she loves to feed her pigs. She points to me where she, her sister and grandmother took cover from the explosives in their farm. The bombings killed her sister and grandmother instantly, and they died in front of her eyes. She does not like to talk about it but suddenly remembered it as we were walking back home.
Lola Martha Gulapa
unknown age
Lola Martha is one of three sisters who were raped during the war. Upon seeing a portrait of herself that I printed for her, she smiles saying that she already looks like her older sisters when they were her age.
She is the only one alive from the three sisters. She does many chores at home to stay healthy and active.
Lola Belen Culala
82 years old
"Hindi na ako masiyadong binibisita ng mga apo ko, kaya mag-isa lang ako madalas dito sa bahay”
(My grandchildren rarely visit me, so I'm usually alone here in the house.)
Lola Belen stays at home and watches TV in her chair, rarely ever leaving the house after suffering from a broken arm.
She passed away quietly in her sleep on February 28, 2021.
Lola Erlinda 'Linda' Manalastas
unknown age
Lola Linda lives with her husband, they laugh and pray together. She prays everyday and her house is filled with prayer books, holy statues, and rosaries.
She tells me that prayers got her through the years and that she is now happy with her life.
Lola Januaria 'Naring' Garcia
unknown age
Lola Januaria has dementia, and was very quiet and aloof the whole time we met.
Lola Maria tells me that it would not be best to interview Lola Januaria since her memory is faulty.
She passed away on September 3 2021.
Lola Natalia 'Nate' Alonzo
90 years old
“Kaming Malaya Lola mag babarkada kami simula noong bata pa kami. Kung di man makamit ang hustisya, ang pangarap ko ay magkakasama pa rin kami hanggang sa dulo ng buhay.”
(The Malaya Lolas have been best friends since we were kids. If we do not get justice, my only wish is that we are together until the end of our lives)
Lola Nate on her 90th birthday celebration, organized by her children.
Some of her family members did not like students asking her about her experiences as they want Lola Nate to live a peaceful life and forget about the past.
Lola Perla Balingit
88 years old
"Eto na lang libangan kong lipstick dahil pangit na 'pag matanda e!”
(Putting on lipstick is my hobby now because when you are old you turn ugly!)
Lola Perla recently suffered from a fractured nose after fainting while preparing a meal, so she colours her hair and puts on lipstick to make herself feel young and beautiful.
Lola Candelaria 'Andeng' Soliman
unknown age
“Tumaya ka muna ng lotto para sa ‘kin”
Lola Andeng tells me that I must bet on the lottery with her before taking photos of her and the Malaya Lola. I placed Php50 on my bet and she fed me merienda.
Lola Lourdes Navarro
unknown age
Lola Lourdes says that her life is beautiful because of her many children and apos. She poses with the youngest of her grandchildren
Lola Felicidad 'Feling' Turla
89 years old
Lola Felicidad and her sister never married after the war, they lived in fear of men because of the traumatic experiences they had.
She became bed-ridden after suddenly feeling ill. She is taken care of a family relative, eats and drinks through a syringe. She can only speak in the faintest voice, and her caretaker is the one translating what she says.
Lola Feling passed shortly a few months after I took this photo in 2018.
Lola Virginia 'Benyang' Bangit
94 years old
Lola Benyang pleaded for justice and testified on behalf of the Malaya Lolas in the Women's International War Crimes Tribunal on Japan's Military Sexual Slavery December 4 2001.
She now has dementia, and her daughter says that she just stares into the distance most of the day. They have to lock the gate and keep a close eye on her as she likes to go out and walk, they fear she might get lost or hurt if she goes out alone. She is the oldest surviving lola.
Lola Jubita 'Jubing' David
unknown age | Read as 'hoo-bing'
Lola Jubing watches TV with her grandson. She just came from the hospital the time that I photographed her and has been sick for a while.
