Titas N' Tomes

What if you could spend your days on an idyllic, luxury compound and get paid for it? Would you choose this life? For the women at Golden Oaks they do just that–working as a paid surrogate for wealthy mothers-to-be. The Farm is a complex look at surrogacy, meritocracy and the multifaceted world of motherhood. Joanne Ramos sat down with the Titas for a lively discussion about The Farm, motherhood, privilege and the American Dream. Joanne was in town for Vancouver Writer's Fest last October. Special thanks to: Joanne Ramos (the author of the Farm), Rebecca Peng (ZG Communications), Vancouver Writers Fest, Maria Braeckel (Penguin Random House), Patricia Kells (Penguin Random House), the volunteers of VWF & Granville Island Hotel, Brad Dyck who edited each episode of the podcast

Welcome to the first episode of Titas and Tomes! We review Elaine Castillo's America is not the Heart–a book that the three of us, and the Filipino diaspora, can relate to: fitting in to a place where you have to carve space to belong. We discuss the book, share common Filipino and Filipino-American stereotypes, and trade stories as second-generation immigrants. "Pilipino ka ba?" We talk about the characters we see in real life and give an ode to Paz. The shades of Paz–the very hardworking woman who's trying to be glamorous–are reflected in our communities, our families and in moms. This family saga follows the de Vera women as they navigate their lives in Milpitas. Ronnie's mysterious cousin, Hero, shows up at her door in Milpitas from the Philippines. Hero's transition to her new life in Milpitas is not easy, but the characters around her–pushy strangers and distant relatives–become her fiercest family. Ronnie, Paz's dream girl, is just trying to survive her eighth birthday and learn how to navigate being American and being Filipino. Ronnie's mom, Paz, is all about sacrifice and hard work–working long shifts at the hospital to support her extended family and realize her immigrant dream.