The writer, Gel Galang, listed the following must-reads, all by Filipino authors, in an enticing feature I'm sharing below with anyone out there- non-Yahoo readers or busy-bee young pros who don't get to read much lately.
1. GAGAMBA by F. Sionil Jose
Almost 10 years after its release, the stories of poverty, prostitution, and injustice still resound in our society today. Aside from the critical observations of societal affairs and the upper class, there’s also the jab at God, religion, and the ultimate question, “Why?”
The Bida
Journalists, landlords, politicians—basically the “beautiful people” killed in the earthquake. Their stories take centerstage in the eyes of Gagamba, the storyteller.
The Badass
Tranquilino Penoy a.k.a. Gagamba, a cripple who sells sweepstakes at the entrance of Camarin and a survivor of the earthquake.
2. THE TWISTED SERIES by Jessica Zafra
If you’re a ‘90s baby, an Eraserheads fan, a tennis fan, a cat lover, or a true cynic with a sharp taste for zing and snap, Jessica Zafra’s Twisted series will surely make you take off your rose-colored glasses and opt for her thick-rimmed ones.
The Bida
Everything. Everyone. Anything, especially world domination.
The Badass
The author, who else?
3. ILUSTRADO by Miguel Syjuco
An ambitious novel that prods into the Philippine history, lifestyle, and society. Its being awarded the 2008 Man Asian Literary Prize grand winner is practically just icing on the cake, but justly given.
The Bida
Miguel—namesake of the author, but a name that he insists is purely fictional. As the student of Crispin Salvador, Miguel takes it upon himself to uncover the mystery of his mentor’s death.
The Badass
Crispin Salvador, literary lion, womanizer turned recluse, who stays in New York to finish his final masterpiece.
4. MY SAD REPUBLIC by Eric Gamalinda
Passion and the Filipino-American war didn’t seem to make an interesting read—until this novel came along.
The Bida
A love triangle between a rich girl, a poor boy, and a tisoy gold digger, minus the cliché of your typical telenovela.
The Badass
Asuncion Madrigal, rich, sugarcane hacienda heiress with an attitude. Even when she’s caught in a fierce love triangle with farm boy Isio Magbuela and the rich Tomas Agustin, she’s hardly the damsel-in-distress who’d get swept off her feet. If anything, she swept them off theirs.
5. SOLEDAD'S SISTER by Butch Dalisay
Dalisay’s prose. Succinct, powerful, muted, restrained, vulnerable, simple, classic.
The Bida
Aurora Cabahug. While the casket labeled with her name arrives from Jeddah and opens the story, Aurora is, in fact, very much alive as a singer in a nightclub.
The Badass
SPO2 Walter Zamora, the cop tasked to reunite the deceased sister with her only living family. Instead of the pot-bellied, ticket-waving, megalomaniac officers that we immediately think of, Walter comes as a mild but pleasant surprise.
6. MONDOMANILA by Norman Wilwayco
If you’re a fan of transgressive fiction, but want to see how Chuck Palahniuk’s Fight Club or Irvine Welsh’s Trainspotting would read in the context of Philippine society, this novel reveals the least expected, but most probable, place to find a cesspool of violence and obscenity—in one’s self.
The Bida
Tony de Guzman, the antihero in search of enlightenment.
The Badass
Tony’s thoughts and ramblings—the things he easily admits about himself—are those that most people would only say out loud on their deathbeds, if they ever would at all.
7. IN THE COMPANY OF STRANGERS by Michelle Cruz Skinner
A follow-up to Balikbayan and Mango Seasons, this collection captures the essence of Filipino speech and chatter—even though it’s written in English.
The Bida
Choose from the characters of the 16 stories of migrant workers, families in the suburbs, teenage life, and more.
The Badass
Of all, Virgie in “Beautiful” stands out. Despite her fondness and affections for older foreigners that have a price, she does not think of herself as a prostitute.
8. NEWS OF THE SHAMAN by Karl de Mesa
If you think you’ve seen the dirtiest, most fetid and putrid parts of our beloved city, these four novelas will take you for a ride with fading rock stars, druggie photographers, puppeteer politicians, and otherworldly creatures to a different Manila.
The Bida
Lucas the tripped-up photographer in “Faith in Poison” and “Angelorio.”
The Badass
Joaquin, the vocalist of Shadowland who committed suicide in “Bright Midnight.” Before you say “Kurt Cobain,” make sure to take in the unusual trips, the talking cars, and personal demons that come his way.
9. THE SKY OVER DIMAS by Vince Groyon
It’s a story about a family straight out of a Jerry Springer episode—crazy dad, klepto mom, one dead brother, and another estranged one—but with the distinct flavor of Filipino craftsmanship.
The Bida
Rafael Torrecarion, the son who goes back to his hometown of Bacolod to bring his father out from his self-confinement in Dimas.
The Badass
George Torrecarion is the labeled local nutcase now rumored to be living with another girl in their hacienda. But he’s also the bearer of stinging truth about his family’s past.
10. THE WOMAN WHO HAD TWO NAVELS by Nick Joaquin
A tragic story of a family where the mother and the daughter are constantly at muted war with each other, with only their men as their point of agreement and, ironically, disagreement.
The Bida
Connie Escobar, the woman who claims that she has two navels.
The Badass
Concha Vidal, if only for the fact that she got to her daughter’s husband first, and then gave her the spoils later on.
There's a lot of truth in what the writer said about "our local books seem-ing to have started collecting dust even in our own bookstores". I don't really get to buy as much books as I want to but reading doesn't have to equate with buying. Through friends and other connections, I find ways to read the books I fancy. Sadly though, they're mostly by foreign authors. I also have a list in mind of books I'd like to get for myself in time, but it has no Filipino authors included in it.
I've had the privilege of reading collections of Filipino stories back in college which was a gift from my sister. They were actually gifts- 2 books, both collections of stories by Filipino authors, one in Filipino and one in English. I read and enjoyed the Filipino book, but the one written in English seemed too hardcore for me, I think I was only able to read one story. It was more than a challenge to my vocabulary. I usually have the habit of looking up words I don't understand in the articles I read but with that book, either I was overwhelmed or I just wasn't interested at all. So aside from Noli and Fili, and the materials I had to read for my Philippine Literature subject back in college, my reading list is pretty much unpatriotic.
Of the 10 books listed above, I've only had the chance to read some of Zafra's Twisted series. I've heard about the others in a trivial way, like something I've reviewed for a quiz bee..haha...but after reading the article above, I now have my eyes set on a few that roused my interest. I am not easily convinced by reviews, but they can charm me into trying to see for myself, to prove them either right or wrong based on my personal standards. When I was younger, I used to read anything I could lay my hands on, but the maturity that came with my age taught me to be vigilant with my choices, discriminating those that may not be good for me, overtly or discreetly. In the recent years, I found myself drawn to light, feel-good, yet wisdom-ful books. While I try to stay away from romance novels, they remain close to my heart. But what I've really been investing my time and my sight on these days are the Bible and other Christian books. I thank God for the faith, and for this longing in my heart to know Him more. May my eyes and thoughts give glory to your Name at all times. Let your Holy Spirit guide me in choosing my reads well, that, while I remain open, I may not invest my time and the knowledge and wisdom that comes from you, in understanding anything that could separate me from you.
So I'm keeping the list here, and hopefully I could cross them out one by one in the years to come. I'd probably won't get to read all of them in my lifetime (some of the subjects I particularly avoid or don't like), but this is my way of reminding myself to read more of books not just by Filipino authors, but especially those written in our native language as well.
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