I’ve been in a reading slump for almost half of the year, and now that we’ve entered the month of August; I decided to create a To Be Read list to motivate my ass, and read lots of books for the rest of 2020. It’s also the perfect month to read books written by Filipino authors as it coincides with the Buwan ng Wika celebration here in the Phillipines!
Buwan ng Wika or National Language Month is a month-long celebration of the rich culture, heritage, and languages in the Philippines. I remember when I was an elementary and high school student, the whole month of August would be filled with various activities: poster-making contest, slogan-making contest, theater performances, SayAwit (sing and dance competition), and Sabayang Pagbigkas (choral recitation). Sometimes, the students will wear traditional Barong Tagalog and Filipiniana for events held at school!
Now that I’m no longer a student, I kinda missed the activities I participated back then. That’s why when I stumbled upon a blog by @bookdragonism, I knew I had to join the wikathon as its mission coincided with my goal!
Wikathon is a readathon challenge to celebrate Buwan ng Wika. Hence the term. Its mission is to celebrate Filipino literature. It’s hosted by Filipino content creators; Kate of @yourtitakate, Alex of @alexontheblock, Gerald of @geraldthebookworm, Juliene of @lovejuliene, and Kath of @herbookishside. Wikathon prompts are listed below.
Here are the books I’m planning to read for Wikathon!
Filipino SFF
For this prompt, I only chose one book, and that is the Blood and Sand by C.V WYK. I usually don’t read science fiction books, but this one caught my attention! I’m so excited to read this one because it will be about a warrior princess and a handsome gladiator at Roma Victrix, the Republic of Rome. My gut tells me I will definitely enjoy reading this book because ya girl is a sucker for badass protagonists, and unique setting!
Filipino LGBTQIA+
I’ve heard a lot of good reviews about this book! It’s a novel by Danton Remoto entitled Riverrun. Riverrun is a creative-non-fiction memoir about a young gay man living during the 60’s era, where dictatorship ruled the Philippines, and LGBTQIA+ was not that accepted in the society. It’s my first time to read this type of book, so it will definitely open my eyes to new perspectives.
America is Not the Heart by Elaine Castillo is a story about three generations of women from one immigrant family trying to reconcile the home they left behind with the life they’re building in America.
From the little I know about the book, it seems I will be overwhelmed with the different narratives in the story. However, it made me more intrigued to dive in the story, and get to know the unconventional lives of the characters!
New to Me
Ilustrado by Miguel Syjuco is a mystery historical fiction that is quite new to me. The story begins with the death of Crispin Salvador, a controversial lion of Philippine literature. The manuscript of his last book was also gone, which was very important as it will expose the crimes of the Filipino ruling families. Miguel, his student and friend, will write an autobiography about him, and in doing so, will discover something about his death.
I’m actually a little scared to start this book because I read tons of mixed reviews from critics. They said you’d either love it or hate it, and it’s a challenge I would like to find out myself!
Smaller and Smaller Circles by F.H. Batacan is a classic detective novel in the Philippines. The protagonist is a Jesuit priest, who also happens to be a forensic anthropologist as the detective of a crime.
This is THE BOOK I’m looking forward to! As you may or may not know, I’m an avid fan of detective novels. Sherlock Holmes, Richard Langdon, and Hercule Poirot are few of the detectives I’m obsessed with. I’m excited to get to know another intelligent detective! And at the same time a priest?! Well, it really is a unique and exciting combo!
Modern Pinoy
Patron Saints of Nothing by Randy Ribay is a novel about the Filipino-American Jay Reguero who went to the Philippines to investigate the death of his cousin, Jun, who was murdered as part of President Duterte’s war on drugs. This is the type of book that has a powerful messsage, and will make you ponder over your beliefs, and stand on this issue. I haven’t read the book, but it already resurfaced my silent opinion over this matter. Nevertheless, I’m excited for this as it will expose us, readers, to another perspective of this campaign against war on drugs. It will unveil the victims and their families’ side, who was affected by the Duterte regime.
Filipino Diaspora
In the Country by Mia Alvar is a book that contains eight short stories and one novella concerning the Filipino diaspora. Here are exiles, emigrants, and wanderers uprooting their families from the Philippines to begin new lives in the Middle East, the United States, and elsewhere—and, sometimes, turning back again.
Mia Alvar is the voice of the diaspora Filipino people since she is also one herself, and that is why I chose this book for this prompt. It’s definitely an interesting read to get to know the triumphs and struggles of our kababayan as they live their lives away from their homeland.
Sariling Wika
I Love You Since 1892 by UndeniablyGorgeous is a wattpad turned published book under ABS-CBN. I already read the wattpad version of this book, and this is, by far, ONE OF THE BEST BOOK I’ve read in wattpad! It’s a historical fiction that follows a young woman named Carmela Isabella, who is a spoiled brat maldita from the year 2016. She is transported back in the year 1891 to change the ill-fated situation of her grandmother, who also happens to have the same face as her.
It’s already three years after I’ve read this book, and I still can’t move on from it! Whenever Una’t Huling Pag-ibig by Yeng Constantino plays on my music library, youtube, or on the radio, I still end up in a chaotic mess. I’m planning to reread this book for the wikathon as the language of the story is in Filipino. I don’t have any books in Bisaya or Cebuano, so I decided to choose a book of my second language instead.
S2pid Love
Once Upon a Sunset by Tif Marcelo is a book about Diana Gallagher-Cary, an OB/GYN doctor based in Washington, DC. She is going through a tough time with her grandmother’s death and her separation with her long-time boyfriend after her mother moves in with her. But when she makes a medical decision that disparages the hospital, she is forced to go on a short sabbatical. Never one to wallow, she then took the time to make her life in order, when her mother, Margo, stumbles upon a box of letters from her grandfather, Antonio Cruz, to her grandmother. The two always believed that Antonio died during the war, but now that they found the letters, they set on a journey to get to know their family in the Philippines.
Well, to start it, I was intrigued to know the reason why the grandmother lied to her family about her husband’s death, and if ever Antonio is still alive, what would be his reaction when he finds out the love of his life died? Sooo many questions, so little answers! I have to read this book to find out!
Host’s Choice
Some Days You Can’t Save Them All by Roni Baticulon is a book that contains his stories on medical school at the University of the Philippines and neurosurgical training at the Philippine General Hospital.
If you’re a fan of Adam Kay’s This Is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor, then this book is definitely for you! As an aspiring student who wants to study and work in the medicine field, it was such an eye-opener of the ups and downs I have to endure soon. Dr. Baticulon is also one of the people who inspired my confused brain to definitely pursue a course related in medicine! My fave quote from the book would probably this:
“Some days, you could not save them all, but my patients–with their promise of a good story–reminded me that I should never stop trying.”
And that, my friends, is a wrap for this blog! Thank you for everyone reading this post! I hope you would consider joining the wikathon to give some love to our own literature ✨ Comment down below your thoughts about the wikathon! And if you’re joining, what’s on your TBR list? What’s your favorite book/s written by Filipino writers?
Love,
𝓐𝓻𝓽𝓪𝓷𝔂𝓪 🌞
Artanya 