spunky

showing courage

Min Min
Malaka's spunky half-sister with a mind of her own

matriarch

a female head of a family or tribe

Tita Pinky
Malaka's maternal aunt and the matriarch of the family

martial

of or relating to the armed forces

People wanted President Ferdinand Marcos—who had declared martial law in 1972—OUT.

toil

work hard

Why would I want to come to the United States? To toil away?

visa

an endorsement that allows the bearer to enter a country

Get visa!