I bought this book during the Manila International Book Fair years ago. I cannot even remember the exact year but I am sure it was before the pandemic. And I know, it’s a shame that I am only reading this book now despite enjoying Para Kay B. Well to be honest, I am quite intimidated by this book. I myself can’t pinpoint the reason why. Maybe because of how dense it is (and it’s my mistake that I read some reviews before I started reading this book and majority of the complaints is its length) or because I enjoyed Para Kay B so much that I am afraid I won’t enjoy this book. Gladly, I gave in and started reading it because I really did enjoy this book. I found myself not being able to put it down and I actually finished it in just 2 days. A feat for a slow reader like me. I felt like watching a telenovela with touches of some historical, political, psychological, and fantasy themes.
The book is a satirical novel that follows the story of Amapola, a gay stage performer in a club who is a manananggal and who was prophesied to become the “savoir” of the Philippines. We follow the adventures of Amapola as he tries to navigate his personal life after knowing what was prophesied of him, a budding love life, her past and family history that haunts her and also at the same time dealing with her two alter personalities (he was clinically diagnosed with having multiple personality disorder) and a political turmoil brewing in the background of the story. There are also a lot of side characters, a lot of backstories, and a lot of pop culture references. It’s easy to get lost because there’s a lot of going on in this book (which I thought I will be) but the flow and the short chapters of the book helped me get through it. And it also helped that the book is really hilarious in most parts.
More than the laughs that this book gave me, this book became a social and political commentary about the situation of the country. It did not shy away from giving a slap as to how we choose our leaders and how naive we are as citizens of the country. While reading this book, I came to realize that it became a coincidence to be reading this one just months after the last election. The results of the last election just fits the commentary in this book about how we vote for our leaders.
Despite that, the book is not any way preachy or the author pushing you his beliefs and ideals. It will make you think of your actions and your decisions. It indirectly offers solutions and it’s up to the readers to think of it their way.
Finally finishing it, I understand that this book is not for everyone. It definitely touches sensitive topics that we Filipinos tend to veer away. Topics like homosexuality, activism, and politics. It’s unforgiving in discussing these topics and I like it for being that. Well for me, reading this book, reiterated the answer to the question of why we Filipinos are stuck in this dire situation that we can’t seem to escape and what brought us here, why, despite the fact that we are hardworking people, there seems to be a problem with us progressing. The answer is, US. We are the reason. It’s because the choices and actions that we make. The choices and actions that we make defines our individual future and the future of our country. We tend to become insensitive of our actions and become selfish in a way. We focus on the short term gains that we can get rather than long term yields. This is a sad realization that really cannot be resolved overnight. Though I am still hopeful that that day will soon come. This book is also about that, hope.
The ending is open ended but it suits me well. I kind of relate it’s being open-ended with the future of our country, being our ending is not yet decided. We still have a chance of changing our course. We can still get out of this old system that is like a quicksand where we are stuck, a system that we know is not working but we still choose to be bound by that system.
Overall, this book is well-written. This book made me more confident to read more Ricky Lee books. Indeed a clever and out of this world imagination!
4 Stars out of 5.
“Kaloka! Ito ba ang Pilipinas na gustong iligtas nina Lola Sepa at Emil? Iligtas mula saan? Kung sarili nga ayaw nitong iligtas! Ang gusto lang ng mga ito’y kumain, tumae, mag-Glutathione, saka pumunta sa weekend markets, mag-malling para makalibre ng air-con, mag-text ng corny jokes, sumingit sa pila ng bigas, saka umasa ng suwerte sa lotto o sa TV! Kapag may bagyo o lindol o anumang problema’y laban pero susuko din agad at makakalimot, o kaya ay magma-migrate! Ilang taon na ba ang bansang ito pero bakit hanggang ngayo’y wala pa ring pinagkatandaan?”
― Ricky Lee, Si Amapola sa 65 na Kabanata
BOOK SPECIFICATIONS:
Author: Ricky Lee
Format: Paperback
Source: Bought
Release Year: January 2011
Publisher: Philippine Writers Studio Foundation, Inc.
No. of Pages: 364 pages
About the Author:
Filipino screenwriter, journalist, novelist, and playwright.He has written more than 150 film screenplays since 1973, earning him more than 50 trophies from various award-giving bodies, including a 2003 Natatanging Gawad Urian Lifetime Achievement Award from the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino (Filipino Film Critics). As a screenwriter, he has worked with many Filipino film directors, most notably with Lino Brocka and Ishmael Bernal. Many of his films have been screened in the international film festival circuit in Cannes, Toronto, Berlin, among others. (Goodreads)
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