#F. Sionil Jose

[shipcestuous-two]

THE PRETENDERS by F. Sionil Jose

(Hi! I’m back again with another tale of cousincest. I’m still mildly amazed that this author is a National Artist for Literature.)

The Pretenders (published 1962) is one of the five novels in the Rosales saga by F. Sionil Jose. I’ve already mentioned other books from this author here and here. Our main character this time is Antonio “Tony” Samson, who grew up poor in the town of Rosales. His father went to jail for killing a hacendero (plantation owner) and burning the municipal building, leaving Tony and his older sister Betty to be raised by their mother, a laundry woman. Unfortunately, she also dies. Betty works hard to send Tony to college. He succeeds and is able to travel abroad, even studying in America where he meets his eventual wife, a rich girl named Carmen Villa. But where’s the cousincest, you may ask? Well, Tony’s not the only one whose education is supported by Betty. The siblings also have a first cousin named Emy, who grew up with them in Rosales and lived with them in the slums on Antipolo Street while they were chasing their dream of college.

Tony and Emy shared a bedroom in the house on Antipolo. For privacy, they hung up a blanket between their sides of the room. Sometimes, they took it down so they could talk to each other. A month before Tony went to America, he got soaked in the rain and caught a cold. It was late at night and he didn’t want to disturb Emy, but she woke up after hearing him sneeze. She helped him get out of his wet clothes and rubbed Mentholatum (a kind of ointment, I think it’s like Vicks) on his back. Then they had sex.

It had happened without preludes as if the moment was something inevitable and expected.

Then Tony goes to America. He writes letters to her, but she replies only once. This leads him to assume that she no longer cares about him. Fast forward a few years, and Tony’s back in the Philippines. He’s excited about his new teaching post at the university and his upcoming wedding to Carmen Villa. Of course, he stops by to visit Betty and her family. They tell him that Emy had a child out of wedlock and refused to say who the father was. She also failed to achieve her dream of becoming a teacher. Tony is not happy about it. Need we say why?

Some time after visiting Betty, Tony goes to see old friends. Charlie and Godo now work for a newspaper. When Tony tells them he’s getting married, they ask if it’s to Emy, whom they remember from previous visits to the house in Antipolo. Tony says no. This is how they respond:

CHARLIE: That’s too bad. Did you fall out of love or something?TONY: It isn’t that, really. But you know how it is; we are cousins.GODO: Oh now, this isn’t the eighteenth century. Don’t tell me that you are still bothered by such taboos. Write a letter to the Pope and he will give you a quick dispensation.

In this house, we stan supportive friends.

Tony still marries Carmen, but not before meeting her parents. Don Manuel Villa, her father, has many businesses. He knows that Tony’s poor, but still finds him interesting. Don Manuel does not like the idea of cousins marrying at all:

Cousins marrying cousins. Incest!…they don’t want their wealth to be shared by strangers. And look what has happened to their children. Nitwits…

I know this is a common sentiment, but it’s just so funny given the story’s theme.

Tony starts teaching at the university, only to leave after a week because he had a falling-out with the dean. Don Manuel offers Tony a job doing public relations work for the Villa company. Tony accepts. He earns more money, lives a more comfortable life, and helps Betty’s family with expenses. But he’s not completely happy. Sometimes, he still thinks of Emy and how she’s doing in their province. He gets an answer when Bettina, Emy’s younger sister, visits him unexpectedly.

Yes, there’s a Betty and a Bettina in this family. We could ask F. Sionil Jose about his naming choices, but he’s dead, so he can’t answer.

BETTINA: She did not want you to know, but she couldn’t hide it from me any longer. Six years—she hid it from everyone. All your letters, all you wrote from America—she kept them all. She reads them and sometimes cries over them.TONY: And what am I expected to do? It’s all her fault. She never told me. I wrote and wrote to her and she never answered—only once and she didn’t tell me.BETTINA: You don’t understand. She was thinking of you. Can’t you see? If she had written, if she had told you—can you imagine what would have happened? You were studying—here was your chance to make something of yourself. Here was your chance to get out of Rosales and get something more than what Rosales could offer. It is that clear, Manong, and you haven’t even realized it.

Tony is shocked. The child is his. Our guy also feels guilty and takes a trip to Rosales. There, he meets Emy, who makes a living by sewing clothes. Tony offers help, but Emy says she doesn’t need it. He says he would’ve hurried home had she written to him, and she says they are cousins. Also:

…it was your studies that mattered most. Then I learned about you and Carmen Villa…I did not want to stand in your way.

Tony offers to bring their son to the city and give him a good education. Emy cuts him off and laments that he’s changed.

You did not talk like this before—you did not mention hunger and money before as if these were all that mattered.

Pepe, the six-year-old son of Tony and Emy, arrives home from school. Emy tells the boy to kiss Tony’s hand, but Tony hugs him and says, “Son—son.” But even as he wants to tell the truth, he can’t.

PEPE: Is he my father, Mama?EMY: No, Pepe. He is not your father. He is a dear, old friend, a relative, someone from this place who thinks he loves all of us…

Tony returns to the city and to Carmen. He admits what happened, but she seems disinterested.

CARMEN: You need not feel so guilty about it, honey. It’s done all the time. Have you meet Nora Lardizabal? Well, she’s married to her first cousin. Oye, you told me once about this being done by the hacenderos in your part of the country…well, it just happens that Nora’s parents are sugar planters. She isn’t a social outcast. She is very respectable.

This is funny, considering her father’s views on the topic. And while we’re talking about fathers—Tony and Betty’s dad dies in prison. Shortly after, Tony’s friend Charlie announces that he’s getting married, so they plan to have a bachelor party with Godo. Tony gets permission from his in-laws and gets it. He, Charlie, and Godo go to a bar. I think Godo speaks for all of us here when he says:

You should have married your cousin, Tony. That was your mistake. You should have carried her off, then lived—just the two of you.

The men have a quarrel (not really about Emy, per se, but other stuff that I couldn’t fully explain here or else I’d be here all day). Tony leaves and goes back to his in-laws, who are hosting a big party at their house. While outside, he sees Carmen with Ben de Jesus, the husband of her best friend Nena. Tony follows Carmen and Ben…only to catch them going to a motel. It turns out that Carmen’s been cheating on him. Enraged, Tony goes back home and packs his things. Carmen shows up again and they fight. At one point, she says:

I imagine you are sorry for yourself. If it were Emy you had married, it wouldn’t have turned out like this.

Would you look at that, guys? Godo hates everything Carmen and her ilk stand for, while Carmen wouldn’t even notice the likes of Godo. And yet they both agree that Tony should have married Emy. Great minds think alike, I guess. Anyway, whatever could’ve happened, this particular story ends badly. Tony leaves Carmen, goes back to Antipolo, and commits suicide by standing in front of a train.

Christ Almighty. These two are tragic. Maybe Tony would’ve stayed poor in Rosales if he’d gone home to be with Emy, but at least they could’ve raised Pepe together. He wouldn’t have needed to hide parts of himself to impress his rich in-laws. I’m also surprised at side characters saying that the incestuous* (your mileage might vary) ending was actually the better alternative. I think it’s more common to see the whole world trying to push the protagonists apart?

*First cousin marriage was actually legal in the Philippines at the time this was published. The current Family Code, enacted in 1987, does not recognize marriages between first cousins, stepparents and stepchildren, parents-in-law and children-in-law, adopted children and legitimate children of the adopter, and adopted children of the same adopter, among others.

--

I love how everyone thinks he should have married Emy. 

Wow, so much sadness and pain.

Thank you so much for writing this up and sharing it with us. It’s kind of interesting how it walks the line between cousin marriage being fine and cousin marriage being taboo. 

[enzopastrano]

THE MASTERFUL ARTIFACT THAT IS, ‘BALETE’

One Saturday, I was in a forest and ended up being transported into Chris Millado’s visionary direction for ‘BALETE’, and I have never seen anything like it. Once I entered this blackbox theatre in CCP, it was as if I was a stranger in sheer terror, with no idea where I would end up. Then there was light. The well-lit stage then transitioned, bringing forth these thespians exploring time and space. One time, one color usage of stage lighting by Roman Cruz was significant enough to illustrate one quote from National Artist for Literature F. Sionil Jose that, indeed, they wrote the land with their blood — a revelation that illuminated in an innovative round set design by Wika Nadera. 

And I was seated. In other words, not once did I yawn in this mystical place. You’ll see something beautifully disturbing, it confronts you right there and then. Especially Nonie Buencamino’s characters from a twelve-year old haciendero and his father, Don Espiridion - then comes his adult version, shifting vis-à-vis like the air blowing you’ll hear from the farthest seat in a huge theatre known for its great reverberation — in other words, his acting chops with superb nuances underscored a one-for-the-ages performance, as he narrates the parts of his early years. The same goes for these ensembles, unfolding the mysteries of their characters and shedding light on their encounters wherever they may be. The ensembles, likewise, were the props, the stage  crews, and even the set, all executed seamlessly.

To be fair, this is the first Tanghalang Pilipino that I watched this year. And, in summation, it’s one of the classics brought to life, which I call, from now on, the rarest of phenomena. This production of ‘BALETE’ greatly reflects at a time of futile and shameless greed. Happy closing, Balete! Mabuhay ang Teatrong Pilipino!

[shipcestuous]

Sin(s) by F. Sionil Jose (submission)

(Hello again! I’m glad that you–and hopefully some others–appreciated my post on the other blog about the Rosales saga. This time, I’ll talk about the other book I mentioned.)

Sin (first published in 1973, then reissued as Sins in 1996) is about the life of Don Carlos Cobello, a rich landowner and businessman of Spanish-Filipino (but more Spanish) descent. He’s already dying when the book starts; the events are his recollections. Before I proceed, let me warn you all that he’s a self-important jerk. He expresses regret several times in the narrative, but in the end he’s still -ist and -phobic. Anyway…

Growing up, Carlos was close to his sister Corito, who was four years older. When he felt afraid (ex. during thunderstorms) or alone, he’d jump into her bed and she’d hug him.

I felt so safe with her, reveling as I did in her warmth and that delicious fragrance she exuded.

It was during one such incident when Carlos was a teenager that they started having sex. I won’t mention how old he was (too young by American standards, but legal under Philippine law until recently) but based on the narrative, they were both into it. Carlos then discovers that he’s quite the massive horndog and spends World War II chasing skirt, from the new housemaid to some prostitutes at his father’s brothel.

After the war, Corito marries a man that Carlos believes (correctly) to be gay. While the husband’s passed out on their wedding night, the siblings have sex, which results in a baby girl named Angela. Unfortunately, she’s very frail, Corito almost dies giving birth to her, and even Carlos shows signs of disease a few years later. Remember the prostitutes I mentioned? One of them got syphilis from a customer and passed it to Carlos, who in turn passed it to Corito and Angela. So I guess the author gets partial credit for mentioning a real disease instead of letting the audience assume that incest=mutant babies 100% of the time…?

Fast forward to May 1963. Corito’s marriage to her husband has already been annulled, so she, her daughter, and Carlos basically act like a family now. Though he’s gotten annoyed at her jealousy and constant hunger for sex (not that he’s innocent in that department, lol), they try not to quarrel in front of Angela, whom they both dote on. While they’re having breakfast, they’re told that a young man, “about seventeen or eighteen years old,” wants to see Carlos. Remember the housemaid I mentioned in the last paragraph? She’s the mother of this young man, Delfin, who stays just long enough to confirm that yes, he is Carlos’ son. Then he leaves. Carlos, overwhelmed that he has a handsome, grown-up son, runs after him and demands to know about his life.

Delfin’s a bright kid (high school valedictorian, full scholarship at state university) who dreams of becoming a lawyer so he can defend the poor. Obviously, this puts him at odds with Carlos, but right now that isn’t the old guy’s concern. He offers to let Delfin stay with them. Angela pops up and asks,

“Why does he not want to stay with us? Then you don’t have to help me with my homework. I can ask him to do that.”

Delfin chooses not to stay with them, and also refuses much of his father’s efforts at charity (tailored suits, money, et cetera). He feels out of place with the family and their rich circles. But he does bond with Angela, helping her with homework as promised. Even Corito’s impressed by Delfin. She finds him attractive, much to Carlos’ dismay:

“Now, Corito, whatever is in your mind, just keep it there. He is my son, your nephew–don’t you forget that!”

“Your son, my nephew–and you, Carling–you are my brother!”

I mean…she’s not lying.

After graduating from university, Delfin goes to law school and starts working for an activist lawyer that Carlos passionately hates. He gets the latest news about Delfin from Angela, who brings food to his boardinghouse every week. She calls him “a very good teacher” and “fun to be with.” She clearly admires him and he’s friendly to her–she’s the only person he can confidently speak Spanish to, for one–but he doesn’t fully return her affections yet because she’s much younger and he has a girlfriend back home. Unfortunately for Delfin, his girl gives up waiting for him after eight years and marries the son of their provincial governor. Delfin wins a scholarship to Yale Law School but doesn’t take it, instead staying in the Philippines so he can defend ordinary people in court. One day, the law office he works for sues Carlos’ hacienda on behalf of 54 families (including some of Delfin’s relatives) that were going to be displaced by mechanization. The case goes all the way up to the Supreme Court. Thanks to Carlos’ efforts, the hacienda wins, much to Delfin’s sadness and disappointment. He distances himself much more from his father. Delfin even fails to show up at Angela’s graduation party, which reduces her to tears in the car on the way home.

“I love Delfin, Mama.”

“You are cousins, Angie dearest.”

“I couldn’t help myself, Mama. It just happened.”

“What does Delfin say?”

“He knows! He knows! He said I must stop my juvenile infatuation. I am too young–and like you said, he also repeated it, we are cousins. But I know he loves me, too. Once, he kissed me…but now I am not sure. He didn’t come and I wanted so much to introduce him to my friends. They know about my feelings.”

Carlos tries to comfort her (“It is me that Delfin did not want to see, not you”) but it doesn’t work. He and Corito plot to send her abroad so that she can study, find an eligible Spanish guy, and hopefully forget about Delfin. Again…it doesn’t work. While Carlos is recovering from a freak accident in his bathroom, he gets news that Angela’s disappeared. She shows up and tells him that she’s living with Delfin now:

“He loves me, Tito. The day before Mama and I left, I seduced him. I am pregnant and very happy.”

Of course, Carlos summons Delfin. They argue a little before the subject turns to Angela.

“Angela told you that she had seduced me. That is not true at all, sir. Since she was young, I had watched her, seen her grow, so sensitive, so frail. I thought I would protect her. With all that beauty, I did not want her to be like my mother–bearing an illegitimate child. But now…”

“Marry her. Neither Corito nor I will stand in the way. But in heaven’s name, don’t let her suffer. Let her live with some comfort, at least. I looked at her hands–they were bruised…”

“I told her not to wash my clothes…”

“But she did it just the same. Yes, a woman in love is capable of abnegation. But she is pregnant now and needs all the care in the world, sickly as she is.”

Alas, it is not to be. At the end of the book, Angela comes crying to Carlos, telling him that she’s caught Corito and Delfin “in a sexual embrace” and that Corito’s told her that she and Delfin are brother and sister, which means they can’t get married after all. We don’t know what happens to her and the baby after that.

I expected the sad ending. The novel’s supposed to illustrate that the country’s upper classes are horrible people who care only about wealth and power. As with most mainstream fiction, the incestuous tendencies are supposed to emphasize their evilness. And yet…wtf? That thing with Corito and Delfin shocked me. I agree with the other reviewer on Goodreads who was shocked because (s)he thought they genuinely adored Angela. The poor girl deserved a lot better.

So…to sum up! Carlos and Corito are not moral paragons at all, but at least it wasn’t familial abuse or neglect that drove them into each other’s arms. Angela and Delfin’s dynamic reminded me of Luis and Trining from My Brother, My Executioner, only Delfin didn’t succumb to the temptations of landlord life the way Luis did. It’s a general dynamic I find cute, age difference aside. But that ending. Jesus Christ. People elsewhere on the Internet have said that Sin is not the most popular of F. Sionil Jose’s novels, and I think I understand why.

Once again, thank you for anyone who’s made it this far!

(The quoted lines are from the book. All rights go to the author.)

——

Three for the price of one, wow. The author really embraced the incest with this one. 

Thank you so much for the detailed summary of these relationships. What a book! So much sadness but a lot of good stuff too. Poor Angela, though. 

[ellshyrralopez]

2 remarkable writers in different period and their contribution.

Period of Activism:

Lualhati Bautista - is a Filipino writer and feminist who wrote about the struggles of women and marginalized sectors during the Martial Law era. Her most famous work, Dekada '70, is a novel about a middle-class family's experiences during the Martial Law period.

Jose "Pete" Lacaba - is a Filipino writer, journalist, and activist who wrote about the social and political realities of the Philippines during the Martial Law period. His most famous work, Days of Disquiet, Nights of Rage, is a collection of poems and essays that document the protests and political repression of the era.

Period of New Society (1972-1986):

Jose Garcia Villa - He was a poet, short story writer, and literary critic who was known for his distinctive use of punctuation, which he called "comma poems". Villa's literary contributions during the period of the New Society include his collection of poems entitled "Selected Poems and New" and his book "Doveglion: Collected Poems".

Nick Joaquin - He was a prolific writer and journalist who wrote novels, plays, essays, and short stories. Joaquin's literary contributions during the period of the New Society include his novel "The Aquinos of Tarlac: An Essay on History as Three Generations", which explores the history of the Aquino family, and his collection of essays entitled "Culture and History".

Period of Third Republic (1965-1972):

N.V.M. Gonzalez - He was a writer and critic who wrote novels, short stories, and essays. Gonzalez's literary contributions during the period of the Third Republic include his novel "The Bamboo Dancers" and his collection of essays entitled "The Novel of Justice: Selected Essays 1968-1994".

Francisco Arcellana - He was a poet, essayist, and short story writer. Arcellana's literary contributions during the period of the Third Republic include his collection of short stories entitled "The Mats" and his novel "Selected Poems".

Post-EDSA 1 Revolution (1986-present):

F. Sionil Jose - He is a novelist and essayist who is best known for his series of novels collectively called "The Rosales Saga". Jose's literary contributions after the EDSA 1 Revolution include his novel "Po-on" and his collection of essays entitled "In Search of the Word: Selected Essays".

Jessica Hagedorn - She is a novelist, playwright, and poet who is known for her works that explore the experiences of Filipino immigrants in the United States. Hagedorn's literary contributions after the EDSA 1 Revolution include her novel "Dogeaters" and her play "The Gangster of Love".

[geraldbelena]

Remarkable Writers In Different Periods

Japanese Period

1. Julian Cruz Balmaceda

Julián Cruz Balmaceda, sometimes written Balmaseda, was a Filipino poet, essayist, playwright, novelist, journalist, and linguist who lived from January 28, 1885, to September 18, 1947. He produced a number of works in Spanish, English, and Filipino.

reference:

2. Jose Ma. Hernandez

Both a writer and a teacher, Jose Maria Hernandez. In America, he pursued acting and writing studies. His most well-known piece is the three-act historical drama Panday Pira.

the other plays Jose Ma wrote. Night Wind, Sunrise in the Farm, The Empty House, Prelude to Dapitan, and White Sunday are some of the plays by Hernandez that are based on the Bible.

The play White Sunday took home the literary Palanca Memorial Award.

reference: https://tl.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jose_Maria_Hernandez

Philippine Literature Period

1. Jose Carcia Villa

Jose Garca Villa was a Filipino poet, literary critic, short story writer, and painter who lived from August 5, 1908, to February 7, 1997. He was given the National Artist of the Philippines title for literature in 1973[2][3] and the Guggenheim Fellowship in creative writing by Conrad Aiken[4]. He is credited with introducing the "reversed consonance rhyme scheme" in poetry writing as well as the extensive use of punctuation, particularly commas, which earned him the moniker "Comma Poet"[5]. He wrote under the pen name Doveglion (derived from "Dove, Eagle, Lion") Another poet, E, also looked into these creatures. Villa is honored in the poem "Doveglion, Adventures in Value" by E. Cummings.[3]

reference: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Garc%C3%ADa_Villa

2. Rodolfo Dato

Bicolano poet and educator Rodolfo Guevarra Dato. He produced tunes with an English sound. He became the dean of the University of Nueva Caceres and is Luis Dato's elder brother. He also published essays on Bikolnon culture. He compiled and edited Filipino Poetry, one of the most well-known anthologies of English poets, in 1924.

reference: https://bcl.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodolfo_Dato

The New Society

1. Anciento Silvestre

Despite not having received any formal training in writing, he was still able to produce beautiful poems, short stories, novels, and essays that contributed to the literature of the Philippines.

Eight categories in which his poems are categorized are found in the Nature collection: Free, Moving, Image of Life, Pulse of Love, Strong of Faith, Sign of Hope, Open to the Path of Greatness, and Blood in the Light of Sun.

Aniceto F. Silvestre won four First Prizes for his poetry before the war, a Third Prize for his work while under the Commonwealth government, a First Prize in the tenth year of the Republic of the Philippines, and a First Prize at the 1969 Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature.

reference: https://tl.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aniceto_Silvestre

2. Pelagio Cruz

The first Chief-of-Staff from the Philippine Air Force to serve in the Armed Forces of the Philippines was Pelagio A. Cruz (June 16, 1912 – October 21, 1986).

reference: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelagio_Cruz

The Period of Third Republic Philippines Literature (1965-1972)

1. N.V.M. Gonzalez

Gonzalez was a novelist and short story writer who is considered one of the pioneers of modern Philippine literature. His works often dealt with rural life and the struggles of the working class, and he was known for his vivid descriptions and lyrical prose. Gonzalez's contribution to Philippine literature was in his portrayal of the everyday lives of ordinary Filipinos, and his use of vernacular language and local settings in his writing.

reference: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/N._V._M._Gonzalez

2. F. Sionil Jose

Jose was a novelist and journalist who is known for his epic historical novels that explore Philippine society and politics. His works often deal with issues of poverty, social injustice, and corruption, and he is considered one of the most important writers in Philippine literature. Jose's contribution to Philippine literature was in his critical examination of Philippine society and his efforts to expose the corruption and injustices that plague it.

reference: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/F._Sionil_Jos%C3%A9

Photo Credits:

1st Img:

https://www.google.com/search?client=ms-android-transsion&sxsrf=APwXEdeh3fEJ-aNLwLWVyG2H1Gu4KjrUOQ:1683042906425&q=julian+cruz+balmaceda&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjV09C0_9b-AhVDEnAKHWLvAV8Q0pQJegQIDBAB&biw=360&bih=728&dpr=3#imgrc=rp-VeXX39fK64M&lnspr=W251bGwsbnVsbCxudWxsLG51bGwsbnVsbCxudWxsLG51bGwsbnVsbCxudWxsLG51bGwsbnVsbCxudWxsLG51bGwsbnVsbCxudWxsLG51bGxd

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https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fupload.wikimedia.org%2Fwikipedia%2Fcommons%2F2%2F2d%2FJose_Maria_Hernandez_%2528cropped%2529.png&tbnid=lm88ETGpDRKXxM&vet=1&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fcommons.wikimedia.org%2Fwiki%2FFile%3AJose_Maria_Hernandez_(cropped).png&docid=m2shDy1ECOyezM&w=266&h=401&source=sh%2Fx%2Fim

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https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fluisgdato.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F05%2Frodolfo-guevara-dato-3.jpg&tbnid=6co6Mp93mhvXlM&vet=1&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fluisgdato.com%2Frodolfo-dato-biography%2F&docid=BZolhF-r1zKphM&w=925&h=1325&hl=en-US&source=sh%2Fx%2Fim

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https://www.google.com/search?client=ms-android-transsion&hl=en&sxsrf=APwXEdceZGInGd3oc8u6oiLdBIktPtTZGw:1683044736143&q=pelagio+sulit+cruz&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi7642dhtf-AhVRx2EKHcgcB6AQ0pQJegQIDRAB&biw=360&bih=728&dpr=3#imgrc=rjS6raSke0zKcM&lnspr=W251bGwsbnVsbCxudWxsLG51bGwsbnVsbCxudWxsLG51bGwsbnVsbCxudWxsLG51bGwsbnVsbCxudWxsLG51bGwsbnVsbCxudWxsLG51bGxd

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[whyusernamesissohardtomake]

Tribute Speech for Filipino Writers

I've been an ardent reader since elementary school and enjoy collecting and reading books, but I never read any Filipino literature until high school. Our teacher assigned us books to read, including Ibong Adarna, Florante at Laura, Noli Me Tangere, and El Filibusterismo. The works of literature are by great writers who taught us lessons in various ways.

I’m Ronelyn Mae Cariño and let me express my gratitude and appreciation to Filipino writers who made me realize how important reading a Filipino literature and how it changed my perspective in life.

Let me start off with Francisco Balagtas who wrote Florante at Laura teaches us that love overcomes all obstacles. In addition to that, it could give you the strength to continue fighting for the chance to visit your loved one. It educates us about the characters' strong belief in God and their moral beliefs.

Next is Dr. Jose Rizal who wrote the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo sends a social message that citizens should be the leaders of their government, not the other way around. The strength is found in the number of individuals who wish to change things or give voice to those who face injustice.

And of course, to F. Sionil Jose who wrote Po-on, a novel that conveys a statement about our Filipino identity. Consequently, Istak realizes that love for nation, which entails sacrifice, is critical to determining the purpose of his own existence.

These are only a few Filipino writers who have made significant contributions to Philippine literature. I hope that in our age and the next generation, as Dr. Jose Rizal said, “They youth is the hope of our future”. So, I’m hoping we should continue reading their works and we will not forget those significant people and will maintain their effort, which should not be taken for granted.

That will be all thank you and Mabuhay!

[osteofy]

🌼🌸 anon here to make your day a bit sweeter !! you're an amazing person and i hope you've had an amazing start of the week. now, onto some nosy questions: where do you get your inspiration for your character(s) from? are there specific types of medias that have influenced the way you write or maybe even specific writers (maybe even from the rpc)? anyways, i hope your week continues to be sweet and amazing because the best of the best is what you deserve, dear friend !!

THANK U SOOO MUCH!! my week could be a little better; i have some jaw and ear pains o)-( but nothing i can't handle. i hope you've had a great start to the week as well!

my main inspiration for minato are mainly death poems by buddhist monks; an amazing source would be japanese death poems: written by zen monks and haiku poets on the verge of death, compiled by scholar yoel hoffman; and the woodblock triptych, takiyasha the witch and the skeleton spectre by utagawa kuniyoshi. other than that, i honestly just read a ton of textbooks and research papers during what little free time i have.

ignoring how deranged he got in old age (lol), i draw a lot of inspiration from f. sionil jose's prose, as well as madeline miller, anne carson's translations of sappho's poetry, three versions of judas by jorge luis borges, and allen mandelbaum's translation of dante's inferno.

i don't read novels or prose as much as i used to, but i do enjoy poetry and reading historical texts. sometimes being a history major has its perks lol, and scholarly texts occasionally have some banger passages if you look hard enough. in particular, i really enjoy rev. john n. schumacher and teodoro agoncillo's books on philippine revolution. compilations of poems and records are also huge sources of inspiration, such as david hinton's translations of chinese classical poetry, yoel hoffman's death poems as mentioned earlier, samuel hazo's translation of adonis' poems, and cyril birch's translation of the peony pavilion.

i hope this encourages you to look to other sources for inspiration from writing; you never know where you can find your next big influence! and have a good day :)

[courtesansjewelbox]

What I can remember:

Grade School/High School - Florante at Laura, Noli me Tangere, Romeo and Juliet ballet, excerpts from Mass by F. Sionil Jose, Hamlet, Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo and Juliet (by high school classes). I also got involved in putting on excerpts of Othello and El Filibusterismo. There was one play that I don’t remember the title of. Possibly a Tagalog version of The Misanthrope. And Miss Saigon.

College/Grad School - The Price of Redemption (made me cry), Winter’s Night, The Butterfly’s Evil Spell, Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah ze Muzikal, I Love You You’re Perfect Now Change, don_q (first I took my siblings to watch) and one Tagalog play Ang Paglilitis ni Mang Serapio (The Trial of Mr. Serapio). Also wrote a play for school and we had people come in to do a reading…

After migrating - some high school theatre (with my siblings and sometimes featuring my sibling), lots of Bard on the Beach (Taming of the Shrew, Macbeth, Hamlet, Cymbeline, Romeo and Juliet, King Lear, The Tempest, Othello, Twelfth Night, a steampunk Comedy of Errors, Merchant of Venice, and a musical As You Like It), Wicked, Something Rotten (in NY), a small play about wizards during Fringe Festival, Ain’t the Musical (and one other?), Arsenic and Old Lace (my mom fell asleep lol), Buto/buto (Filipino-Canadian play) and Addams Family the Musical.

*by live theatre i mean plays, musicals, operas, ballets, concert versions of musicals, staged readings, & things of that nature.

if you want, list the names of the shows you've seen in the tags!

[777wave]

The three pillars of morality are:

"FPJ"

F • Francisco Sionil Jose

P • Professor Randy David

J • Joker Arroyo

—

#Morals

#GuidedByValues

#FPJ

[lorraineofcominantes]

*crying in the draft document* my emotional support F. Sionil Jose novel, save me. My emotional support F. Sionil Jose novel, save me.

[shipcestuous-two]

My Cousin, My Lover: The Rosales Saga by F. Sionil Jose

(Hi! Former lurker/anon here. Behold my humble contribution to this blog. I’ve been sitting on this for a while now and I wish I could talk to more people about it. Too shy to do it IRL).

Francisco Sionil Jose (1924–2022) was a Filipino writer. Declared a National Artist for Literature in 2001, he’s best known for The Rosales Saga, which is composed of five historical novels centered on the town of Rosales. Other people have commented on the saga’s main themes: Philippine history, colonialism, class struggle, etc. I’m only here to talk about the cousincest.

In My Brother, My Executioner (published 1973), the main character Luis Asperri marries his paternal first cousin, Trining. Before we proceed, here’s some background. Luis is the illegitimate son of Don Vicente Asperri (rich landowner) and Nena (used to work for the Asperris as a domestic helper). Trining is the daughter of Don Vicente’s brother, who along with his wife died when their house was burned by angry peasants. A servant saved Trining, who was then raised by Don Vicente. Luis didn’t join them until he was 13. Prior to that, he grew up in a village with his mom, grandpa, and half-brother. But then Don Vicente, who had no legitimate sons, called for him. His mom was angry for obvious reasons but let Luis go.

Fast forward a few years to the main point of the story. Luis, now living in Manila and the editor-in-chief of a magazine, is summoned back to Rosales. Reluctantly, he goes back home with Trining, now a student at a convent school (not sure if high school or college). She’s very proud of her cousin and brags about him to her friends, who tease that she’s in love with him. But he doesn’t pay attention to them, much to her disappointment. Now that they’re going home, she’s looking forward to spending more time with him, but he just wants to hear what his dad has to say before going back to his job.

So they go home. Don Vicente’s now getting older and sicker, so of course he wants Luis to be his heir and continue the family line. At some point, he asks Luis about women and says, “I want you to have a look again at your cousin.” Don Vicente talks about how Trining is pretty and rich, and tells his son not to worry if his current feelings for her are only like a cousin’s or even a brother’s. He also tells him not to worry about the church - “We’ll get a dispensation from the bishop later.” Granted, since the book’s set in the ‘50s and these are rich propertied people, there’s the “keep the money in the family” angle, but I found it hilarious that the old guy shipped his son and niece. Anyway, dad and son have a disagreement about their lives as landlords vis-a-vis the poverty of the peasants, so Luis cuts his stay in Rosales short.

Prior to that, he did view Trining in a platonic light. He felt comfortable enough to change his clothes in front of her, for example. But over time, he starts appreciating her less platonically and they go all the way when they’re back in Manila. A bit of a love triangle develops between Luis, Trining, and Trining’s friend, but the cousincest wins out. Trining says that even making love feels natural with them, while Luis comments (maybe with some sarcasm?), “What a nice, compact little family we are." 

They get married in Rosales at Don Vicente’s behest. Trining wants to meet Luis’ mom and is sad that the rest of his family couldn’t go to the wedding. Again, context: during the story’s time frame, the Philippine government was trying to suppress the Hukbalahap insurgency. Remember Luis’ village? People there were accused of harboring "Huk” rebels, so the army attacked it. When he finds out after the wedding, he goes searching for his family, but he only finds burned-out remains where the village used to be. Trining insists on joining him in his search, but it proves fruitless. 

As you may expect, the story ends on a sad note. Trining gives birth to a baby boy, but it’s premature and implied to have birth defects. She herself is fine, but sad because the doctors also removed her uterus (“Oh, Luis, I wanted to give you a dozen children!”). Then Luis (who becomes the new landlord when Don Vicente dies) gets a note telling him and Trining to leave before the day is over. Alarmed, she wants them to sell everything and move to Manila, but he tells her not to worry. Bad move. That night, the “Huks” attack the estate and Trining is shot. Before she dies, she tells Luis to give their son a happy childhood. This…doesn’t happen. It’s implied that Luis is killed, too. We don’t know what happens to the baby.

The relationship had cute parts and potential. Imagine: prim and proper Catholic girl x the brooding intellectual guy who fought with a priest and wants to fight for the poor. We could’ve seen how they first met, the little moments when they were growing on each other without them realizing it. The way it was, Trining seemed way more into Luis than the other way around. But the novel’s main point was always the class struggle, not the romance. Oh well. Maybe some fanfiction writer could fix that…?

The other novel featuring cousincest is The Pretenders (published 1962). I haven’t read this, but according to TV Tropes, the main character Antonio Samson (who, like Luis, starts out poor in a village and gets a job involving writing) has a son with his cousin Emy. However, these two don’t end up together.

There is another F. Sionil Jose-written story (not one of the Rosales books) that features incest, but I think it belongs on the other blog.

If you made it to the end of this long post, thank you :)

--

This is a wonderful contribution to the blog! Thank you so much or writing up all of these details about Trinning and Luis. It’s a pity the relationship isn’t explored more, but the development sounds wonderful. I particularly love that Luis’ father wants him to marry Trinning and that Luis isn’t enthusiastic at first but comes around later. 

The ending makes me sad. But particularly that the child has birth defects irks. As we all know, unless the family was already inbred the risk of such things is not much higher than a non-cousin union. Anyway... 

Thank you to all the family sagas with incest, and thank you to all of my followers who have read them!

[wendellcapili]

Bon Voyage, Thelma Enage Arambulo 🌻 Toronto-based Thelma was a Professor of English and former Department Chair at UP Diliman, as well as Acting Dean at both the Joint Faculty of Social Sciences & Humanities and the Faculty of Science & Technology during the early years of the UP Open University (UPOU). Thelma is a graduate of St. Theresa’s College in Cebu and the University of Pittsburgh and has also taught at the University of San Carlos.

She received the UP Diliman Gawad Chancellor and UP Gawad Leopoldo Yabes for Outstanding Teaching. Her publications include Nation and Culture (with F. Sionil Jose and Edgardo J. Angara, 2012) and Prism: An Introduction to Literature (with Yolanda V. Tomeldan et al., 1986).

Before returning to Canada, over brunch, Thelma shared photos of Filipino writers from her collection when she attended the 6th Silliman University National Writers Workshop (1967) as a fellow for fiction.

Thelma's dedication to language, literature, and education for over 50 years has impacted those she has taught and worked with. For me, her retirement and relocation to Canada over a decade ago signified the end of an era in UP’s English Department. Her legacy as a committed teacher and university administrator resonates with those she has touched ❤️

[ammcgee-author]

“Poetry is emotion, passion, love, grief - everything that is human. It is not for zombies by zombies.”

— F. Sionil Jose

[ellshyrralopez]

2 remarkable writers in different period and their contribution.

- period of Enlightenment

-period of American Regime

-Japanese period

-Philippines literature In english

Enlightenment:

José Rizal - was a Filipino polymath, nationalist and the most prominent advocate for reform in the Philippines during the Spanish colonial era. He is best known for his novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, which exposed the injustices and corruption of the Spanish colonial government.

Marcelo H. del Pilar - was a Filipino writer, journalist and lawyer who used his writing to expose the injustices and abuses of the Spanish colonial government. He founded the newspaper La Solidaridad, which became the voice of the Propaganda Movement, a group of Filipino intellectuals who sought reforms and advocated for Philippine independence.

American Regime:

Nick Joaquin - was a Filipino writer, historian and journalist who wrote about Philippine history and culture during the American colonial period. He is best known for his works such as The Woman Who Had Two Navels and May Day Eve.

Paz Marquez Benitez - was a Filipino writer who is considered the first Filipino woman to publish a short story in English. Her short story, "Dead Stars", is considered a landmark in Philippine literature in English and is widely anthologized.

Japanese:

Carlos Bulosan - was a Filipino writer and labor activist who wrote about the struggles of Filipino migrant workers in the United States during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines. His most famous work, America Is in the Heart, is a semi-autobiographical novel about his experiences as a migrant worker in the United States.

Jose Garcia Villa - was a Filipino poet, writer, and painter who wrote during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines. His works are known for their formal experimentation and use of modernist techniques.

Philippine Literature in English:

N.V.M. Gonzalez - was a Filipino writer and one of the pioneers of Philippine literature in English. He is best known for his short stories and novels that depict the lives of ordinary Filipinos in rural and urban settings.

F. Sionil Jose - is a Filipino writer and journalist who is known for his novels that explore the themes of social injustice, poverty, and colonialism. His most famous work, the Rosales Saga, is a five-novel series that traces the history of the Philippines from Spanish colonialism to the present day.

[shawlinpalangdao]

Five Literary Theories from Philippine Authors

Literature is the mirror through which we can see the world and ourselves." - F. Sionil Jose Literary theories play a crucial role in our understanding and interpretation of literature. They provide us with tools and frameworks to analyze and appreciate the complexities of literary works. In the Philippines, there are several literary theories developed by Filipino authors that shed light on the unique perspectives and experiences of the Filipino people. In this blog post, we will explore five literary theories from Philippine authors that offer valuable insights into the rich literary landscape of the country. 1. Cultural Studies: Cultural studies, as proposed by Filipino theorist Nicanor Tiongson, emphasizes the importance of understanding literature within its socio-cultural context. It recognizes that literature is not created in a vacuum but is shaped by the historical, social, and cultural forces of a particular community. By examining the cultural elements embedded in literary texts, we gain a deeper understanding of the Filipino identity and the issues that resonate within the society. 2. Postcolonial Theory: Postcolonial theory, influenced by the works of Filipino scholars such as Renato Constantino and Epifanio San Juan Jr., examines the effects of colonialism on literature and culture. It challenges the dominant Western narratives and seeks to uncover the voices and experiences of the colonized. Through postcolonial theory, we can analyze how Philippine literature reflects the struggles, resistance, and resilience of the Filipino people in the face of colonization. 3. Feminist Criticism: Feminist criticism, championed by Filipino writers like Soledad Reyes and Judy Taguiwalo, focuses on the representation of women in literature and challenges patriarchal norms and stereotypes. It explores the power dynamics, gender roles, and social constructs that shape female characters and their experiences. By applying feminist criticism, we can uncover the hidden narratives of women in Philippine literature and promote gender equality and empowerment. 4. Queer Theory: Queer theory, influenced by the works of Jose Neil Garcia and J. Neil C. Garcia, examines the representation of non-normative sexualities and gender identities in literature. It challenges heteronormative assumptions and explores the complexities of queer experiences. Through queer theory, we can analyze how Philippine literature portrays LGBTQ+ individuals and their struggles for acceptance and self-expression. 5. Indigenous Literary Theory: Indigenous literary theory, developed by Filipino scholars like Rosario Cruz-Lucero and Maria Josephine Barrios, focuses on the narratives and oral traditions of indigenous communities in the Philippines. It recognizes the importance of indigenous knowledge, cultural practices, and storytelling in shaping literary works. By engaging with indigenous literary theory, we can appreciate the diverse cultural heritage of the Philippines and amplify the voices of marginalized indigenous communities. These five literary theories from Philippine authors provide us with valuable tools to analyze and appreciate Philippine literature. They offer unique perspectives and insights into the Filipino experience, challenging dominant narratives and promoting inclusivity and diversity. By engaging with these theories, we can deepen our understanding of Philippine literature and contribute to the ongoing dialogue about the power and significance of literature in our society.

[saludmariafatima]

5ive literary theories from Philippine authors

Colonial discourse analysis: This theory examines how colonialism and its legacy shape the representation and identity of colonized peoples and cultures. One of the Filipino authors who used this theory is Jessica Hagedorn, who explored the effects of American colonialism and neocolonialism on Philippine society and culture in her novel Dogeaters1.

Postcolonial feminism: This theory challenges the universalism and ethnocentrism of Western feminism and highlights the diversity and complexity of women’s experiences in postcolonial contexts. One of the Filipino authors who used this theory is Merlinda Bobis, who portrayed the struggles and agency of Filipino women in various settings and genres, such as her novel Fish-Hair Woman2.

Historical materialism: This theory analyzes the relationship between historical events and the material conditions of society, especially the modes of production and class struggle. One of the Filipino authors who used this theory is F. Sionil Jose, who depicted the history and politics of the Philippines from a Marxist perspective in his Rosales Saga, a series of five novels that span from the Spanish colonial era to the Marcos dictatorship3.

Formalism: This theory focuses on the intrinsic features and structures of literary texts, such as language, style, genre, and narrative techniques, rather than the external factors, such as the author’s biography, the historical context, or the reader’s response. One of the Filipino authors who used this theory is Nick Joaquin, who experimented with various forms and modes of expression, such as the novel, the short story, the essay, the play, and the poem, and who blended elements of realism, modernism, and folklore in his works, such as The Woman With Two Navels4.

Indigenism: This theory emphasizes the importance and value of indigenous cultures, traditions, and knowledge systems, and seeks to recover and revitalize them in the face of colonial and neocolonial domination. One of the Filipino authors who used this theory is Luis Francia, who celebrated and affirmed the diversity and richness of Philippine culture and history in his poetry, essays, and memoirs, such as Eye of the Fish: A Personal Archipelago.