Caybigan

"Caybigan" by James Hopper explores the difficult lives of American teachers in the Philippines during the early 1900s. The story follows educators stationed far away from home in a land suffering from a cholera outbreak. Through stories told by characters like Miller, who had questionable morals, the book shows their struggles with loneliness, their own flawed judgments of others, and the difficult decisions they face to survive in a completely different culture. The book opens with a group of teachers in Ilo-Ilo during the Christmas holidays, talking about the recent death of their colleague, Miller, and the teachers' conversations reveal their judgments about him and their own vulnerabilities. Carter, one of the teachers, passionately defends Miller, highlighting their shared experiences, revealing the inner turmoil contrasted with the outward appearance of strength and moral superiority.