Coming Full Circle: The Process of Decolonization Among Post-1965 Filipino Americans

by Leny Mendoza Strobel

_Coming Full Circle_ is about the healing of the Filipino colonized psyche through the recovery and re-imagination of Filipino identity and culture. It is about the emergence from the 'culture of silence' to critical consciousness that is able to develop new conceptualizations and frameworks about the Filipino American experience.

Decolonization is a psychological process that enables the colonized to understand and overcome the depths of alienation and marginalization caused by the psychic and epistemic violence of colonization. Decolonization transforms the consciousness of the colonized through the reclamation of the Filipino cultural self and makes space for the recovery and healing of traumatic memory, and healing leading to different forms of activism. It is an open-ended process. It is a new way of seeing. As a way of healing, it is also a promise and a hope.

The publication of this book has been a long-awaited event. It hopes to help many Filipinos still struggling to recover from colonizal mentality to finally 'come full circle.'

Genres: Nonfiction, History

204 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Paula Votendahl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great introduction to decolonization for Filipino Americans beginning to explore. I deeply related to many of the narratives and analyses, putting into words experiences that I did not know could be articulated. This book paved a path for me to understand my identity in a more holistic way, and I hope for those of you who are willing, you will reap the rewards by slowly recovering parts of you that you didn’t know were lost.

[Abby Pugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pt 2 of summer reading! A bit outdated but overall good reading

[Melanie Beltran · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a Filipino American feeling lost about your identity (or even a Filipino American dealing with issues of self-loathing, as was my case), I highly recommend this book. It wasn't until this book that I realized the depth of colonialism-related trauma that Filipinos have learned to suffer. Wow, it's not just my mom who has lied about not knowing how to speak Tagalog? Wow, it's not just my family who sneers at other Filipinos who have strong accents? It's not just me who has felt this severe desire to be something that I'm not? This book was so painful to read, but I also felt an empowerment to tell my story and to return to my roots. Thank you Ate Leny.

[Richmond Uy · Rating 5 out of 5]

pulling together so many different philosophical lenses with a focus on post-colonial theory, tita leny beautifully exemplifies the journey of discovery filipinos go through in the diaspora, and emphasizes the healing nature of decolonization as a step in the right direction. perfect balance of agitation, inspiration and relatability, while both being informative nd moving. looove this book. the stories at the end are also a beautiful touch.

tita leny is a true punk (using the word in a positive light lol)

[Daniela Sow · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a multiracial Filipino American who is interested in learning more about how to decolonize a mindset, this book was an important, rich read. I learned so much about healing and transformation of the self, seeking knowledge, naming/identifying things, and more. There are lots of narratives embedded within this book, too, which further humanizes the various Filipino American experiences people have had. I related to many of them, which was so reassuring that I wasn't alone in these thoughts, feelings, and situations. I was constantly highlighting and underlining key points and moments in these passages. This book provides a "compass"/guiding post to where I want to go next in my journey of self-actualization and community involvement.

[ez · Rating 5 out of 5]

this put a lot of my thoughts from the past two years into solid words, both in english and in rusty tagalog. thank you ate leny.

“I also returned to the lessons taught by the peasant revolutionaries - Apolinario Mabini, Andres Bonifacio, Makario Sakay, and others - that kalayaan (freedom) is possible only through the transformation of one's loob (inner being) and by believing that God will honor the sacrifices of her children and bring about a free mother country.”

[Michael Froilan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Empowering.