With August being celebrated as Buwan ng Wika, it is customary for many people to look at what Philippine literature has to offer. And for bookworms, this means a bunch of new local novels to read during their leisure time. Let’s take a look at the latest Pinoy novels that will surely catch your fancy with their stories.
Are Pinoy novels still in?
When you ask people about Pinoy novels, they will most often mention the classics like Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere. Some will likely mention modern mainstays like Lualhati Bautista’s Dekada 70. But only a few will be able to include the name of new writers. This might lead you to the impression that Pinoys don’t read new novels anymore.
But as a 2017 survey by the National Book Development revealed, 80% of Filipinos do still read books as a form of pastime. This is always an encouraging sign for the local novel scene. However, book reading still faces stiff competition against newer forms of storytelling media like movies, TV, video games, and the Internet.
Another challenge for many novel writers is the issue of book prices. According to the survey, 72% of respondents are only willing to purchase physical books if they cost no more than 199 pesos. This can considerably limit the audience that novel writers can reach.
Modern formats
To keep up with the changing times and reach out to more audiences, veteran and new Pinoy novelists have taken advantage of emerging media. Online writing platforms like Wattpad have become popular venues, as it lets writers publish their works for free. Wattpad, in particular, helped writers get their stories turned into movies and TV shows, drawing even more attention.
Digital releases are another new platform that Pinoy novel writers are taking advantage of. Many publishing houses like Precious Pages now provide this alongside physical releases. These digital novels are less pricey and provide additional convenience for readers, making them welcomed by fans.
All of these outlets keep Pinoy novels as an important part of our literature. They also provide avenues for new writers and stories to get discovered. And without further ado, here are three great titles to add to your reading lists. .
Pinoy Novel no. 1: Si Janus Silang At Ang Tikbalang Ng Tabon (Edgar Calabia Samar)
While this first book in Edgar Calabia Samar’s Janus Silang series was published in 2014, it has slowly gained attention in the young adult novel market. The novel follows the main character Janus as he tries to uncover the truth behind the sudden deaths of players of the online game that he is also playing. He soon finds himself embroiled in a supernatural adventure that will reveal even greater mysteries about the game and himself.
With its premise centering on online games, the book is sure to attract younger readers who are into such games. On the other hand, older audiences will also find Samar’s story and characters engaging. Janus himself is a very relatable character and will be able to draw you into his story.
The book has been well regarded by critics, winning citations during the 2015 National Book Awards and the 2016 National Children’s Book Awards. It has also been adapted for the theater by Tanghalang Ateneo. Aside from this first book, three other sequels follow Janus’ expanding adventures.
New Pinoy novel no. 2: The Farm: A Novel (Joanne Ramos)
Joanne Ramos’ debut novel follows the life of Jane Reyes, a domestic helper and single mother living in New York. When she loses her job as a house help, Jane is convinced by her cousin to join a company called Golden Oaks. As it turns out, Golden Oaks is a commercial surrogate pregnancy facility, where women carry the babies of wealthy clients in their wombs in exchange for healthy sums.
While many writers have already tackled the topic of surrogacy (women carrying other people’s babies in their wombs), this Pinoy novel takes it to the logical extreme. As book reviewer Dina Nayeri notes, Ramos presents her premise not as a dystopian future but a very possible situation. It also raises a lot of thought-provoking questions surrounding the surrogacy debate.
While it deals with a serious topic, Ramos’ prose is a fairly breezy read. Her characters are able to articulate the arguments for both sides of the debate convincingly. She also draws a lot from the Pinoy immigrant culture to create an immersive context around her characters and story.
Pinoy novel no. 3: Insurrecto (Gina Apostol)
With the celebration of Buwan ng Wika also comes the struggle to define the Filipino story as we ask ourselves what our identity really is. This struggle is at the core of Gina Apostol’s Insurrecto. The novel follows two women, an American filmmaker, and a Filipina translator, as they travel to Samar. Chiara, the American, is shooting a film based on the Balangiga Massacre. When her translator Magsalin reads the script, she points out the inaccuracies. Due to their conflict, Magsalin pens her own script for the film.
Through the two competing scripts, Apostol raises the question of who should be the one to tell the Filipino story. However, rather than providing an easy resolution, the writer explores the complex relationship behind history, power, and individual beliefs that influences the answer. She also explores how the Philippines has been forever traumatized by its experience under colonizers.
Beyond the historical study, Apostol also provides a generous helping of meta-commentary on the country’s present. In one scene, Magsalin quips “I wonder if we’re stuck in bad movie plots we made ourselves,” a sentiment shared by many Pinoys facing the current pandemic. These make the book an even more relevant reading for any Filipino.
Entertain yourself with these great Pinoy novels
While these Pinoy novels cover a wide variety of genres, they offer narratives that will readily connect with any Filipino reader. And they are just some of the great stories our local writers are releasing every year. Don’t make this just a Buwan ng Wika habit. Check these and other local titles out for your year-round Pinoy story fix.