From the glum image of late-stage urbanism and the uncensored inquest of extrajudicial killings, to a life’s story being told in reverse and the birdsong that accompanies the passage of time, the separate lives of Filipinos come together to tell the story of the nation.
The four books below look at critical personal and national events through different lenses, exploring the themes of sonder, violence, love, and loss. Resonating with the Filipino individual and significant events in national history, each book presents a unique narrative that highlights the intricate connection between personal experiences and the broader national landscape.
Title: Sandali
Author: Mikey Jimenez
Genre: Graphic Novel
Written by Mikey Jimenez and illustrated by Mikey Marchan, “Sandali” is a drawn collection of stories from the different walks of urban Filipino life—a humbling group of tales that paint a melancholy picture of what it feels like to be in the Metro. It tugs at your heartstrings and acquaints you with the issues that trouble our society today.
In the blurb on the back of the cover, Jimenez and Marchan ask the readers if they ever thought of the different stories the passers-by around them—how their day went, what weighs their mind, and everything in between. Everybody has a story to tell, and we are all encouraged to have an open mind once we lend our ears.
“Sandali” reminds us that many moments may be fleeting, but time slows down for the thousand—even a hundred—words to be told. The graphic anthology does not shy away from being sentimental, honest, and vulnerable when chronicling the stories of the everyday Filipino.
“Sandali,” which has two versions, Creator’s Cut and Clean Version, can be purchased through Lazada, Shopee, and book conventions near you.
Title: Some People Need Killing: A Memoir of Murder in My Country
Author: Patricia Evangelista
Genre: Non-fictional Narrative, True Crime
Written by trauma journalist and documentary filmmaker Patricia Evangelista and published on Oct. 17, 2023, “Some People Need Killing” exposes the realities of her various investigations on the extrajudicial murders under Rodrigo Duterte’s time as president. Evangelista recounts the victims that were killed during the “War on Drugs” in excruciating detail, stemming from police reports, various footage from CCTVs and the locals, and from those who witnessed the killings, ranging from a mother and her son who suffer from disabilities.
“Some People Need Killing” is succinctly written and immediately gives the readers context on the injustices that hold the country by the throat. Evangelista unfolds her narrative in such an intimately brutal manner that shows the rage and emotional turmoil that any Filipino could relate to—from the reckless times that continue to plague the Philippines to the inherently violent society that it suffers from.
This memoir opens up the heart to be enraged and the mind to be painfully aware of the atrocities that occurred. It sits the reader down to show all the lives cut short by a bloody promise and an abusive turn of power under the guise of progress for the nation.
“Some People Need Killing” is physically available in any Fully Booked stores and can also be purchased online through Lazada, Shoppee, National Book Store (Special Orders), and Penguin Random House.
Title: Si
Author: Bob Ong
Genre: Historical fiction
Bob Ong, the anonymous writer known for his satirical writing and his witty command of the Filipino language, takes a new, distinct approach in his 2014 novel, “Si.” The book explores the beauty in the complexities of human emotion, particularly through family and romance, and brings into question whether life is a resolute destiny or something of a twist of fate.
The book begins where the story ends—”Si” is written in reverse, starting with a 72-year-old Trinidad surrounded by his loved ones and ending with him in his mother’s womb, with each chapter representing his age. It is a reminiscence of life, following Trinidad’s lifelong love for Victoria, the family they built, the family they lost, and the love that continues and is passed on after.
Ong’s profound prose, his masterful use of subtext within and between dialogue, delves into the intimate dynamics of family. The book portrays how love either naturally or purposefully persists and serves as the sustenance through events, including the chaos of the dictatorship era and the First People Power Revolution, as well as the havoc of Imperial Japan on the Philippines.
“Si” can be purchased in bookstores such as National Book Store and Fully Booked, as well as online shops like Shopee and Lazada.
Title: The Kindness of Birds
Author: Merlinda Bobis
Genre: Anthology, Short Story
“The Kindness of Birds” explores 14 linked short stories showing how compassion permeates time and culture. In a 2021 interview, Merlinda Bobis shared that she was initially inspired to write the book after two orioles comforted her dying father by singing to him. Since the book came out during the pandemic, Bobis highlighted that it was important to tell stories of kindness in times of despair.
True to the title, birds are the recurring motifs seen throughout the story. They are a constant in the characters’ lives, either as a carrier of wisdom or a symbol of quiet endurance. Like migratory birds, the stories travel from Australia to the Philippines—with stories set in the latter taking inspiration from Bobis’ childhood home, Bicol.
The stories range in plot as well. In one, the readers sift through the rocky relationship between two estranged sisters, with one of them being accused of joining the NPA. In another, two Filipino students in Australia bond over the family they have left behind and the birdsongs they have taken with them. Despite switching back and forth between different perspectives, the book offers the reader a gentle hand so that they would not get lost amidst all the narratives.
If you are looking for a calmer read, “The Kindness of Birds” may be purchased at Lazada or Shopee, and Anvil Publishing stalls during book fairs.
