About the Author

Born and raised in Paete, Marie Cagahastian studied at Maryknoll College and the University of Santo Tomas in Manila and was a Fellow to the International Institute for Journalism in Berlin, West Germany. She worked for UPI, the pre-martial law Manila Times, and wrote a column for the Philippine Daily Express before immigrating to the U.S. She now works in the advertising department of the San Francisco Chronicle & Examiner. A Catholic and a grandmother, Marie is a member of the Secular Franciscan Order. She was married to the late artist Rene Castillo of Buhi, Camarines Sur, RP, with whom she has two children. She lives in San Francisco with her husband, Miles Pruden of Sussex, England.  

You can e-mail Marie at: mpruden@paete.org

Editor's Note: The first edition of ABOUT PAETE appeared in April 1999 and was then only half its present length. In May 1999, a second edition was released, incorporating the chapter, "Romancing the Bakya." This third edition, published in August 1999, completes the article with the addition of the latter chapters starting with "The Way We Were" and ending with "Till Death Do Us Part." Additional information about childbirth in the chapter "How We Were Born" was provided by Mr. Virgilio Madridejos of Chicago, Illinois.

© mcpruden 1999

except photographs of St. James Church, yo-yo, taka, and the map.