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SCREEN CAPTURE / YOUTUBE
Randy Ribay, author of 'Patron Saints of Nothing' |
Filipino American author Randy Ribay published a new book titled Patron Saints of Nothing, yesterday. Ribay tells a coming-of-age story inspired by the tragedies of the Duterte drug war in the Philippines.
The premise of Ribay’s young-adult novel surrounds the teenager named Jay Regeuro. About to enter his freshman year in college, Jay learns that his cousin has died due to Duterte’s drug war. Unsettled by this fact, Jay decides to travel to the Philippines in an attempt to piece together the truth surrounding his cousin’s death. Amidst the chaos and adventures, Jay discovers the complicated reality within the country he once thought he knew well.
The Phillippine drug war was started by the Philippine’s own president, Rodrigo Duterte, in 2016. Known as Asia’s Donald Trump, Duterte’s presidential campaign is said to be just as radical as Trump’s 2016 campaign, according to CNBC News. One of his controversial campaign promises is to start a “blood war” against criminals and drug addicts. As a result of this promise, thousands of citizens have died in the country.
In his interview with NBC News, Ribay said he was surprised to find out that his relatives in the Philippines support Duterte’s drastic promise. “I just started wondering about what it would be like to be a teen right now struggling with that question,” he said in the interview.
Ribay’s compelling story also emphasizes a universal Asian American struggle: how does a teenager straddle the differences between the two cultures? Patron Saints of Nothing is Ribay’s tribute to this shared Asian American experience.
According to Inquire Lifestyle Magazine, Ribay says that as a Filipino American, he felt like this “in-between state of identity, feeling like I have a foot in both worlds while not completely belonging to either.”
In an interview with the Inquirer magazine, Ribay recounts his research while writing this story. Born to a Filipino father and Caucasian mother, Ribay visited the Philippines periodically. To do research for his novel, Ribay paid two visits to the Philippines. He says that this project is his most personal work yet, in an interview with NBC News.
He added that he hardly read stories with Filipino Americans as the protagonist and he wanted to dedicate this novel to reflect his own personal Asian American narrative.
Patron Saints of Nothing is published by Kolika, and has already received starred reviews with a 4.48 rating on Goodreads.
In his interview with NBC News, Ribay said he was surprised to find out that his relatives in the Philippines support Duterte’s drastic promise. “I just started wondering about what it would be like to be a teen right now struggling with that question,” he said in the interview.
Ribay’s compelling story also emphasizes a universal Asian American struggle: how does a teenager straddle the differences between the two cultures? Patron Saints of Nothing is Ribay’s tribute to this shared Asian American experience.
According to Inquire Lifestyle Magazine, Ribay says that as a Filipino American, he felt like this “in-between state of identity, feeling like I have a foot in both worlds while not completely belonging to either.”
In an interview with the Inquirer magazine, Ribay recounts his research while writing this story. Born to a Filipino father and Caucasian mother, Ribay visited the Philippines periodically. To do research for his novel, Ribay paid two visits to the Philippines. He says that this project is his most personal work yet, in an interview with NBC News.
He added that he hardly read stories with Filipino Americans as the protagonist and he wanted to dedicate this novel to reflect his own personal Asian American narrative.
Patron Saints of Nothing is published by Kolika, and has already received starred reviews with a 4.48 rating on Goodreads.
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