Book 2: Bata, Bata...Pa'no ka ginawa?
Book 3: Gapo
Book 4: Desaparesidos
Author: Lualhati Bautista
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Awards: Palanca Award for her novels "Gapo" (1980), "Dekada '70" (1983), and "Bata, Bata... Pa'no Ka Ginawa?" (1984).
Format: Paperback
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Lualhati Bautista (Born: 1945~ Died: 2023) was a Filipina writer, novelist, and activist. Her popular works include: Dekada ‘70; Bata, Bata, Pa’no Ka Ginawa?; ‘GAPÔ, and Desaparesidos. Her books frequently feature a strong female protagonist, with plots centered on social injustice, activism, and women's emancipation.
Dekada 70' is written in Amanda's POV, a mother of five kids and the wife of Julian, a traditional and patriarchal husband. They belong to a middle-class family that also experienced and witnessed the wrath of dictatorship under the Marcos regime. This book presents a perfect illustration of the situation in the Philippines during the 70's in terms of social, political, and economic aspects.
This book is really good, but at the same time, it is heartbreaking. One thing that is very prominent in this book is the issue of gender inequality which I think somehow still exists until today. Honestly, this should be a reading requirement for the students because this will help them know the importance of freedom and the fight for freedom.
Book 2: Bata, Bata...Pa'no ka ginawa?
This book is a very scandalous one. The title itself may extract snickers from the young, or eye-rolling from the old, the title's meaning actually goes deeper than that.
Lea's Story follows the lives of Lea, a women's rights activist who tries to raise her children as a single mother with two husbands (ex-husband and live-in partner) while working at a women's crisis center.
I honestly do not think this should be required reading for high school students, or even in school. Perhaps this could be recommended in college, but it is not a book that individuals who have not yet been exposed to such truths will appreciate or comprehend. To connect with and comprehend Lea's actions, I believe the reader must be very honest with themselves.
Book 3: Gapo
The book Gapo emphasizes socially important challenges between Filipino and American residents. It showed how the Americans took advantage of the Filipino people in the past. The book described how Filipinos were treated unfairly, misjudged, and abused by so-called "friendly nations".
We were swept up by a strange civilization. Whether we admit it or not, practically every Filipino is impressed by things from other countries. Sometimes we have to keep up with their modernism.
The author was also not scared to reveal the government's corrupt activities in the past. Discrimination was discovered! Is there really equal treatment for Whites, Browns, and Blacks? Questions that can be answered by thoroughly examining or sifting through the details of this book.
I read the book without understanding what the title meant. I looked it up on Google and discovered that it meant 'those inside a movement, young people who lived through the horrors of militarization during the martial law time'.
The story revolves around Anna, also known as Ka-Leila, whose husband died due to torture by soldiers during Martial Law. Their daughter Malaya had to be left with Karla, the wife of another NPA member, Jinky. They lived with the family of Roy, the leader of this organization. When they heard about the attack on the town where Karla, Malaya, and Roy's family lived, Anna and Jinky immediately made their way to find Malaya and Karla.
This book didn't disappoint me at all. First chapter palang ang bigat na ng mga nangyayari. It gives a fair perspective, yet after you finish it, the irony lingers in your mind.
Overall, these are great books, and you should definitely read them! Let me know what your thoughts are by commenting below. Also, if you have any book recommendations, I would really appreciate reading them and will add them to my TBR. Keep reading and stay safe!
- Bookophile31
