I’d like to read Felice Sta. Maria’s The Foods of Jose Rizal (Anvil, 2012), an intriguing tour of the 19th century by way of Rizal’s food adventures culled from his autobiography and correspondence, biographies written on him, interviews with people who knew him, and accounts about the Philippines, Europe, and Hong Kong during his lifetime. Alas, it’s out of print, so I guess I’ll settle for In Excelsis, also by Felice, also on Rizal, whose publisher (Studio 5) makes sure such a gem of a book does not run out of print. I’d also like to reread F. Sionil Jose’s novella Puppy Love, which I heard might be turned into a movie. It’s nice to see how books make their way to films. Manong Frankie (F. Sionil Jose) scolds me for not reading enough books by Philippine authors, but I think it’s not so much a matter of preference as it is a matter of availability. Growing up, I had way more access to American and European books not only in the bookstores but also in our libraries and our classrooms, so we can’t blame Filipinos if they know Shakespeare more than, say, Balagtas. Sometimes, I complain to bookstore-keepers why the bookstore windows are a window to foreign stories, American bestsellers, chick lit, celebrity tell-alls? I don’t know how this will change now that local is all the rage and the pandemic has made it clear to us that in the end all we really have is home, the physical space in which we are now assured of safety as well as the metaphorical home, meaning our country, our culture. Here I asked a few of our friends in the world of books and literature for their book recommendations for National Reading Month or for any day you feel like reading.
I must preface this list by stating that because I am a Filipino writer in English, my knowledge of our indigenous writing is very limited. I would recommend, though, the novels of Jose Rizal and Luis Taruc’s Born of the People. As for essays, on my list are the works of Fr. Horacio dela Costa, Salvador P. Lopez, Teodoro M. Locsin, Renato Constantino, and Carmen Guerrero Nakpil. Also, I would recommend A Question of Heroes and Short Stories by Nick Joaquin and selected stories by Manuel Arguilla, Gilda Cordero Fernando, KerimaPolotan, and Ben Santos. On my list are the novels Without Seeing the Dawn by StevanJavellana and America is in the Heart by Carlos Bulosan. Read the poetry of Cirilo Bautista and RicaredoDemetillo. —F. SIONIL JOSE, National Artist for Literature
I recommend National Artist for Literature, F. Sionil Jose’s The Rosales Saga series. I loved the stories because Rosales, Pangasinan was my hometown.—MARGIE MORAN-FLOIRENDO, chair, Cultural Center of the Philippines
With the on-going world-wide quincentennial of the first circumnavigation to be commemorated in the Philippines in April 2021, books like More Hispanic Than We Admit 3, edited by Jorge Mojaro, offer 21st-century interpretations of Philippine and Spanish interactions from 1521 to 1820. As Maria Dolores Elizalde writes in the foreword, Magellan “arrived” in the Philippines. She restates the alternative given by historian Ambeth Ocampo in 2005 at a history conference to the earlier term “discovered.” Essays about a range of interests from Christianity and the babaylan to indigenous peoples, architecture, and literature are based on solid research. Vibal also has the complementary series, More Pinay Than We Admit and More Tsinoy Than We Admit exploring how Filipinos have shaped and re-shaped their identity over centuries. More Hispanic Than We Admit 3 is published by Vibal Foundation (2020). —FELICE STA. MARIA, food historian
I would recommend a reading, or a rereading, if you are lucky enough to have enjoyed it before, of Gilda Cordero Fernando’s Story Collection (Anvil, 1994). It’s as beautiful as literature can get. —SARGE LACUESTA, novelist, short story writer
I’m only aware of a few of the recent releases by UP Press, which I believe are available via Shopee. Among these are books by friends: the reissue of Cristina Pantoja Hidalgo’s Palanca-winning epistolary novel Recuerdo, and the essay collection I, Journalist of Joel Pablo Salud, former EIC of Graphic magazine. Then there are Penguin Southeast Asia’s releases of novels by two Filipino authors: Danton Remoto’sRiverrun and Singapore-based Mignon Bravo Dutt’sThe Rosales House. —KRIP YUSON, novelist, poet
I have a few books in mind: America is in the Heart by Carlos Bulosanis a classic must-read exploration of the Filipino migrant experience.Then follow it up with America Is Not the Heart by Elaine Castillo for a more contemporary family saga re-exploring the themes of Bulosan's novel.For foodies, Amboy: Recipes from the Filipino-American Dream is a great cookbook that also feels like a memoir, tracing Chef Alvin Cailan's relationship with food, shaped by his Filipino parents and his experience pursuing his dream to become a chef.Bone Talk by Candy Gourlay is a unique look into our history—through the eyes of Samkad, a 10-year-old boy from the mountains, who just wanted to grow up to be a warrior like his dad. It takes us to 1899, when Americans stepped foot on Philippine soil, and Samkad's world is changed.For other reads for young readers, check out My Fate According to the Butterfly by Gail Villanueva, wonderful middle grade novel that delicately tackles difficult topics relevant to Filipinos of all ages, and the Newberry Medal-winning Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly. —CHRIS YAM-DAEZ, proprietor, Fully Booked