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Marivi Soliven Blanco, a San Diego-based award-winning author, often draws inspiration for her writings from her 20-year job as a Tagalog-English telephonic interpreter.
Most calls pre-pandemic were regarding car loans, bankruptcy, immigration hearings and domestic violence. However, during the pandemic the calls focused more on unemployment, divorce court and hospital requested end of life interpretation for Filipino patients who had little, if any, chance of recovery.
“They cling to the voice on the phone,” Soliven Blanco said. “I infuse words like
Ate to bring them a feeling of familiarity during the difficult time. They put so much trust in the voice on the other side of the phone at the moment of duress.”