This complexity is reflected in HagedornÆs short story, ôThe Blossoming of Bongbong,ö first published in 1975. Antonio Gargazulio-Duarte, ôalso fondly known as Bongbong to family and friendsö (Hagedorn, 100), is a gay Filipino who denies his sexuality but seems to get little gratification from his physical encounters with women. His attempt to integrate into his new homeland contributes to his mental illness and finally leaves him isolated even from himself. He tells his artist friend Frisquito that he had to leave the Philippines because ôthis country is full of contradiction. I have to leave before I go crazyö (Hagedorn, 100). Ironically, AmericaÆs contradictions are even more profound, and he loses his sanity despite his best efforts.
Kim calls this a satirical story of an immigrant who ôis confused and bewildered by American societyö (273). Despite his social connections, with a friend back home, with relatives in the United States, with new friends he acquires in America, and with the cookbook author who introduces him to Afri
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