Readings for Filipino Literature (Realist Fiction)

For those wanting to dive into writing Filipino literature, here are some books and references that you might find useful:

UPDATE: I’ve added Kindle links to the copy

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References

1.  The Origins and Rise of the Filipino Novel – Those wanting to begin the arduous task of writing a Filipino novel can look to Resil Mojares’ history from

the inception of the Filipino novel to the 1940s.  It is by no means updated to recent times, but it is comprehensive enough that those wanting some background and

research on related literature that could help them can look to this reference.

–You can find the copy of the book on Amazon through this link: Here

Novels

 1.  Smaller and Smaller Circles – Speaking of which, F. H. Batacan’s work is a brilliant detective thriller in the same vein as the Hercule Poirot series, although I identify Augusto Saenz

as more of Chesterton’s Father Brown.  Those looking to make good thrillers can find inspiration in this work.

–You can find the copy of the book on Amazon through this link: Here

 2. Gun Dealer’s Daughter – And finally, for both a period piece and an action thriller, Gina Apostol’s work has that historical realism that fits seamlessly as a thriller.   Set in the Martial Law years, this is a book I recommend for those wanting to write novels that are period works in character but focusing on the action rather than relying on its historical character.

–You can find the copy of the book on Amazon through this link: Here

Kindle: Link

 3. State of War – Intrigue, politics, and the crossing of lives in this gripping thriller.

— You can find the copy of the book on Amazon through this link: Here

Kindle: Link

 4. Ilustrado – This is considered a masterpiece in writing, with its convoluted plot that leaves readers wondering even after the end

–You can find the copy of the book on Amazon through this link: Here

Short Stories

   1. Manila Noir – Those wanting to write a Filipino literature would soon realize that most of the stories written are realist in nature.   That, of course, doesn’t mean that thrillers like crime serials or detective stories don’t exist.   A good example is Jessica Hagedorn’s anthology of short stories within the setting of Manila, but exploring the criminal aspect of it.  One could find, for example, a continuation of the story of Fr. Saenz, the hero of Smaller and Smaller Circles.

–You can find the copy of the book on Amazon through this link: Here

Kindle: Link

  2. Scent of Apples – Anyone interested in Filipino short stories can find a breadth of sources in Bienvenido’s Santos collection spanning decades of work.

–You can find the copy of the book on Amazon through this link:  Here

Kindle: Link

  3. Philippine Short Stories: 1925-1940 – This is an important collection of classic Filipino literature at its earliest inception.   Those researching about the literature of the Philippines during Pre-war times can find this a valuable resource

–You can find the copy of the paperback on Amazon through this link: Here

And there you have it.   For those wanting to explore writing a more fantastical work, I have another post prepared.   I chose to write about realist works because Filipino literature is

more focused on the here and now.   So those wanting to have some experience in writing should first explore these works, but that does not mean they should give up on non-realist fiction.

On the contrary, there have been many good non-realist fiction that have emerged in contemporary times.