March 1, 2925 – What does it mean to belong?
The answer remains elusive for many immigrants—a delicate balance between preserving the past and embracing the present. In her debut novel, Celestina’s House, Clarissa Trinidad Gonzalez captures this tension with haunting beauty. She explores themes of identity, displacement, and the impact of generational sin. Drawing from her immigrant experience and the rich cultural landscape of the Philippines, Gonzalez weaves a personal and universally resonant narrative.
Clarissa Trinidad Gonzalez’s Celestina’s House: A Journey of Identity and Belonging
Gonzalez traces the roots of her novel to two core emotions: loneliness and dislocation. As an immigrant in Canada, she experienced a sense of not belonging. “The more I tried to become whoever I thought a Canadian should be, the more despair I felt,” she shares. Writing became a way for her to navigate these emotions and reconcile her practical, secular life in Canada with the mystical, passionate Philippines that dwells within her.
“All fiction is largely autobiographical,” observes Gonzalez, and the novel's protagonist, Celestina, is no exception. Although their life experiences differ, elements of the author are intricately woven into Celestina’s character. Friends and acquaintances also shape her personality, creating a composite of lived experiences. The novel follows Celestina’s evolution—from a vulnerable girl to a cautious teenager and, eventually, an independent young woman.
The titular house in Celestina’s House symbolizes more than just a physical structure; it serves as a metaphor for identity, lineage, and the inescapable past. Gonzalez skillfully uncovers various interpretations of “house” as a symbol of belonging, history, and memory. The haunting legacy of the Sytanco-Errantes family looms large, reflecting the weight of ancestry and spirituality passed down through generations.
Gonzalez allows the novel’s themes to unfold organically rather than conveying a specific message. The result is a rich narrative that explores betrayal, exile, and the universal quest for home and belonging. These themes resonate particularly with diaspora communities, where individuals must balance preservingtheir heritage with adapting to a new cultural environment. Many readers have expressed how deeply Celestina’s story reflects their struggles with identity and connection.
The novel’s setting, Malate—Manila’s bohemian district—was a deliberate choice. Gonzalez, an alumna of Saint Paul College of Manila, vividly portrays Malate as a locale where the contradictions of Philippine culture converge: a strict Catholic high school juxtaposed with a lively girlie bar district. The house in the novel draws inspiration from the Syquia Apartments, a pre-war Art Deco building renowned for its artistic tenants and ghostly lore. Architecturally, it also channels Gaudí’s Casa Batlló in Barcelona—an embodiment of feminine energy, womb-like, cocoon-like, and hauntingly vibrant.
The journey to completing Celestina’s House was far from linear. “It took me a long time because I wasn’t quite sure what I was doing,” Gonzalez admits with a laugh. Although she had developed characters in her creative writing classes at the University of Toronto, she struggled to create a compelling narrative structure. A breakthrough occurred during the COVID-19 lockdowns when she immersed herself in screenwriting and the principles of Shakespearean drama. Frustrated by the prolonged restrictions, she directed her energy into refining the manuscript into its final form.
For Gonzalez, the most rewarding part of publishing Celestina’s House has been introducing readers to the depth and nuance of Filipino culture. “I’m happy to connect with any reader, but it’s especially gratifying to share Philippine culture—its history, traditions, cuisine, monsters, and unique flavour of Catholic spirituality—with readers from different backgrounds,” she says. She recalls a reader who resonated with her depiction of a world where the veil between the material and spiritual is thin—a concept deeply embedded in Filipino consciousness yet unfamiliar to many Western audiences.
Gonzalez’s work has received significant acclaim. She was invited to present her book at the International Festival of Authors in Toronto last autumn, and the novel has received glowing endorsements. Film critic, broadcaster, and author Thom Ernst calls Celestina’s House “a remarkable achievement in storytelling” and describes it as “relentlessly life-affirming—a story that reminds us that there’s strength in adversity, glory in breaking the rules, and comfort in the company of the haunted.”
Through Celestina’s House, Gonzalez invites readers to delve into a culture where faith and folklore intertwine. The novel resonates with anyone who has ever felt caught between worlds, searching for a place to call home. In the end, Celestina’s journey is one we all embark on—the quest for a home, not merely in a physical space but within ourselves.
The book is available on Amazon and Indigo.
Sandie Oreta Gillis graduated with a degree in Broadcast Communication from the University of the Philippines in 1981. She co-hosted a radio morning talk show at Radio Veritas in Manila before immigrating to Canada in 1983. Gillis collaborated with Alfredo Roces to write a biography about the legendary artist Sofronio Y. Mendoza titled SYM: The Power of Struggle. She also authored Weaving Our Dreams: The Tboli People of the Philippines.
As a freelance writer, she actively supports and promotes Philippine arts and culture, often writing about the country's rich heritage, history, and traditions. Gillis serves as a volunteer Board Director for the Dimasalang III International Artists Group and is one of the founding members of the Narragila Culture and Arts Foundation.
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