Author Archives: filinthegap

About filinthegap

Lani T. Montreal is an educator, writer, performer, and community activist. Her writings have been published and produced in Canada, the U.S., the Philippines and in cyberspace. Among her plays are: Nanay, Panther in the Sky, Gift of Tongue, Looking for Darna, Alien Citizen, Grandmother and I, and her most-toured comedy drama about gender and immigration, titled Sister OutLaw. She is the recipient of the 2016 3Arts Djerassi Residency Fellowship for Playwriting, 2009 3Arts Ragdale Residency Fellowship, the 2001 Samuel Ostrowsky Award for her memoir “Summer Rain,” and was finalist for the 1995 JVO Philippine Award for Excellence in Journalism for her environmental expose “Poison in the River.” Lani holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Roosevelt University. She teaches writing at Malcolm X College, one of the City Colleges of Chicago and writes a blog called “Fil-in-the-gap”. (filinthegap.com.) She lives (and loves) in Albany Park, Chicago with her multi-species, multi-cultural family.

Martial Law Baby

Martial law baby. This is the monicker given to those who grew up under the Marcos Regime. I was 9 when martial law was declared on September 23, 1972. I remember waking up the next day, Sunday, and looking for … Continue reading

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Essential

I encountered this word for the first time after reading the book Little Prince. It was the fox who said “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” I … Continue reading

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30-Day writing challenge

I’ve been writing everyday since May 1 to take the 30-day, 30-minute writing challenge I signed up to raise money for American Cancer Society. However, I said I’ll only publicly share writing that I think may be worth sharing. And … Continue reading

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God-Talk over Margaritas

Last night I hung out with people I feel safe drinking and talking with. What I learned having lived as long as I have is that drinking and talking can be a dangerous combo. There IS such a thing as … Continue reading

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A Death Moratorium

In the last two years I’ve lost people I know, some more intimately than others. It had been difficult moving from grieving to feeling grateful to be alive and able to enjoy a birthday cake with my daughter or bond … Continue reading

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Writing Femme

I wrote this piece for the 2008 Femme Conference that happened in Chicago, where I was invited to make a presentation. I recently found it on Dropbox while looking for old plays that I hope to revisit. It’s really interesting … Continue reading

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Noemi

Why do we love knowing the pain that comes?I pondered this as I listened and felt the ache of a broken-hearted friend. I remember pondering this in middle school. Twelve and besotted. A girl with curls and a mean spike. … Continue reading

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Reading tonight!! August 8, 7pm CST

Please click on the link below! Please be mindful of your time zone 😜❤️ https://youtube.com/channel/UCjPamgCSAffKyPVUIPxUVhg

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Bus Ride

Bus ride When I was little, members of my family would take me on these endless bus rides. Mostly my grandpa, or apo, as strangers and family alike called him. I remember how comforting, as if I am being cradled … Continue reading

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Midnight Rumination

The promise of rain makes my body ache. Barometric drop. Barometric rise. Humidity that seeps into my skin and wraps my joints in a pin-studded elastic. It’s like a punishment each time. Trapped in a storybook nightmare with no one … Continue reading

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