Batangas: My Sky and Earth

An Intimate Recollection and Reflection of My Childhood in the Philippines

When Bong Serrano learned that his older brother, Boying, had cancer, the notes he had jotted down about his childhood took on new meaning. Memories of his time with his family in the Philippines came rushing back. At the center of those memories were the precious moments he’d spent with his Kuya.

Faced with his brother’s impending death, Bong asked himself: “What if one day I lose my memories? Who will remember us?” Thus began Bong’s yearslong journey of immortalizing not only his childhood but also his country’s history and traditions.

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Bong grew up in the southern province of Batangas, on Luzon Island. Batangas: My Sky and Earth is a celebration of that childhood. This memoir takes you into a world made rich by the intricate descriptions of life in the Philippines in the 1970s and ’80s, where the family unit is close, and many households are multigenerational. From family dynamics to church duties to delicious food and the inevitable annual typhoons, Bong invites you to experience his culture from the inside.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “A vivid portrayal of life in a Filipino household… A true treasure and an enriching, educational read.”

“I particularly loved how the author’s rich storytelling brings the customs and values of the Philippines to life, making it easy to connect with the characters and their experiences. The author’s childhood and fraternal bond with his brother is alive on each page. The inclusion of personal photos adds a touching authenticity to the narrative, allowing readers to step into the author’s world. It’s a true treasure and a delightful, educational read!”

—Readers’ Favorite, September 22, 2024

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Throughout this memoir, Bong honours his childhood home and country and the memory of his beloved brother. The choice to interweave Tagalog throughout this book’s pages helps to steep the story in Filipino culture further. A whole village raised this boy, and as Bong looks back on his childhood, the lessons he learned come to the foreground: clarity, forgiveness, tradition, and love.

A Spectacular Endorsement

“In remembering granular details of growing up, the author evokes a time and place in the tradition of the best memoirs. This book is important not just to a close-knit family but to anyone interested in Batangas in the 1960s and 70s. History writ large this is not, with little commentary about politics, leaders, and the institutional forces that usually populate history books. Portraying culture through the prism of family memories is what makes this genre a unique approach to history.”

—Howie Severino, Filipino documentarist

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Author’s Note

This book is a work of love and memory, and I have done my best to be faithful to both. I have researched and included references to some historical events as well. Any errors, in fact, or of omission, are entirely my own.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to the Ateneo de Manila Scholarship Fund.

This book was skillfully edited by Lisa Fukushima and published by FriesenPress in Canada, with worldwide distribution by Ingram Content Group.

To learn more about me and my journey as an author, please visit About the Author.