‘American Aswang’ uncovers the reality of Filipino-American immigration

Photos from Amazon, Manette Trogani Snow/Facebook

While the Philippines boasts a rich tapestry of vibrant traditions and folklore including aswang, the memoir “American Aswang” depicts the nuances of Filipino-American immigration, racism, and World War II.

Filipino artists have left imprints wherever they are in the world. With the recent inclusion of another Filipino memoir in TIME Magazine’s 2023 100 must-reads, expect ‘American Aswang’ to create more waves locally and internationally.

Author Manette Trogani Snow recently announced its release promising readers the truth about Filipino-American families’ repatriation from the Philippines.

A prominent figure in the Filipino Repatriation Act, Snow has been lecturing about repatriation at universities and events by the Filipino American National Historical Society. She is currently residing in Colorado with her husband, two daughters, and one granddaughter.

Snow spent 25 years combing through archives, books, and articles, and interviewing people to finally give life to this memoir. Published by Archway Publishing, “American Aswang” also delves into the realities of racism, World War II, and the almost forgotten US history.

Aswang is a scary creature in the realms of Filipino folklore. Given the author’s childhood backed by fear, brutality, secrets, and lies, the title speaks of the many monsters in her closet.

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Surviving war, Filipino immigration, and repatriation

Snow unveils her family’s story of wartime horrors during World War II as her family faced starvation and torture in the hands of the Japanese conquerors, which resulted in their family’s eviction from the US under the Filipino Repatriation Act of 1935.

She believes “American Aswang” is a “book that will resonate with readers interested in stories of racism, Asian American history, and World War II as well as those grappling with mixed race identity or the feeling of being ‘other,’” Snow said in a press release.

Furthermore, her experiences of family struggles and the current mistreatment of immigrants were also tackled in the book. Clearly, this is also a wakeup call to learn about Filipino-American roots and stand against historical injustices.

“American Aswang” is available at Barnes & Noble and Amazon.