Nine days shy of turning sixteen, Gill, as a multi-ethnic youth in the late 50’s, was suddenly thrust into an environment drastically different from any she had previously known. Political turmoil in the Philippines also created issues for Gill as she was forbidden by her father to visit the country until Martial Law was rescinded and the dictator Ferdinand Marcos was no longer in power. Nevertheless, her connection to her home country was never severed. She continued to exchange letters with friends, and after Marcos had been deposed Gill made more frequent trips back to the Philippines.