Hello!
Top 5 Tuesday is a Weekly Meme hosted by the one and only Shanah @ Bionic Bookworm Blog! Check her Top 5 Tuesday here!
Today’s topic is quite difficult for me because I mostly read books that are English or in Western settings. I read a lot of Filipino books when I was younger but I can’t remember most of it. I only remember the books we read in high school as part of our subjects.
I’m ashamed of this but on the brighter side, it made me realize a lot of things! This ignited my interest in reading classic novels from our country and it made me want to challenge myself in the future by reading Filipino classics. Thank you Shanah for a great topic this week! 🙂
Top 5 Books Set in the Philippines
1. Noli Me Tángere (Touch Me Not) by José Rizal
A passionate love story set against the ugly political backdrop of repression, torture, and murder, “The Noli,” as it is called in the Philippines, was the first major artistic manifestation of Asian resistance to European colonialism, and Rizal became a guiding conscience—and martyr—for the revolution that would subsequently rise up in the Spanish province.
(Read more on Goodreads)
Noli Me Tángere was first published in 1887 and was originally written in Spanish language. This book is set during the Spaniard colonization of our country.
Noli Me Tángere is widely known in our country because the author, José Rizal, is our national hero. We studied this during our 3rd year in high school as part of our curriculum.
2. El Filibusterismo (The Reign of Greed) by José Rizal
Spanish exiled Philippine reformer and writer José Rizal from 1892 to 1896 for his political novels, later arrested him, and executed him for sedition; his death helped to fuel an insurrection against rule from 1896 to 1898.
José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda, a polymath nationalist, most prominently advocated during the colonial era. Poeple consider him the national hero and commemorate the anniversary of his death as a holiday, called Rizal day. His military trial made him a martyr of the revolution.
(Read more on Goodreads)
This book is a sequel of Noli Me Tangere. Just like the Noli Me Tangere, we also studied this during our 4th year in high school as part of our curriculum.
3. ABNKKBSNPLAKo?! (Aba, Nakakabasa Na Pala Ko?! / Wow, I can actually read now?!) by Bob Ong
No calculators.
No dictionaries.
No erasures.
No cheating.
Oops, time’s up!
Pass your papers.
(Read more on Goodreads)
This book is a humorous autobiography of Bob Ong which contain his experiences at school from primary to college. This also gives the nostalgic feeling because we can relate to his experiences!
4. Dekada ’70 (Decade ’70) by Lualhati Bautista
“Definitely a political novel. More than the individual story of a mother watching her sons grow and plunge into real life, Dekada ’70 is an indictment of martial law, and here, Lualhati minces no worlds.” – Female Forum, November 21, 1983
(Read more on Goodreads)
Same with the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, this book is also a part of our subject during high school. It depicts the story of a woman during the Martial Law in the Philippines.
5. The Last Time I Saw Mother by Arlene J. Chai
Caridad’s mother never writes. So when a letter arrives for her in Sydney from Manila, Caridad doesn’t even recognize her mother’s handwriting. There is more distance than just miles between the two women. And that is why Caridad is called home. Her mother needs to talk. And to reveal a secret that has been weighing heavily on her for years.
(Read more on Goodreads)
I haven’t read this book but right now, I am certain that I will buy this in the future.
That’s it for today’s interesting topic!
How about you? What do you think about the topic this week?
What are the books that are set in your country? Share it in the comments! 🙂
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