Fibers of Being.

The article presents a memoir of the author's experience of returning to his hometown of Manila, Philipppines after living in the U.S. for several years. He recounts his encounter with a lampshade at T. J. Maxx which was made in the Philippines, the images of finely woven handkerchiefs and intricately patterned abaca cloth which was primarily cultivated in the Philippines, and his discovery that manufacturers called abaca rope "Manila."