Tag Archives: Filipino Book

Book Review: Best Man – Aris Santos

Posted on July 30, 2015 | Leave a comment

Best ManI had a hard time composing myself. “Alam ko na kahit noong tayo pa, mas nangingibabaw ang pagiging lalaki mo. Pero hindi ka 100% straight!” “Nakapagdesisyon na ako. Pakakasalan ko si Romina,” ang sagot niya. Parang saglit na tumigil ang mundo ko. “May hihilingin sana ako sa’yo,” ang sabi niya. “Ano yun?” ang tanong ko. Inapuhap niya muna ang mga mata ko bago nagsalita. “Will you be my best man?”

Napaka-usual ng kwentong ito at napakawabe rin ng narrative. Makatotohanan din. Bakit nga ba may mga tao sa buhay natin tinatawag natin na “The One That Got Away?” – tapos naisip ko, eh anong tawag natin sa mga nakatuluyan natin in the end? Second choice?

Malungkot ang kwento and I’m sure maraming makakarelate sa mga kaganapan dito. Maganda ang estilo ng pagsusulat ni Aris Santos dahil tumatagos talaga sa puso, malinaw at makatotohanan ang pagkukwento niya.

Isa itong maikling kwento na sumasalamin sa mga karanasan ng hindi lamang ng mga taong nabibilang sa ikatlong kasarian kung hindi narin sa kahit sinong taong umiibig ngunit dala ng mapanghusgang lipunan o dala marahil ng pressure, napipilitan tayo/silang piliin ang desisyon na sumasalamin sa kagustuhan ng nakararami.

Bravo Aris! Keep on writing good stories!!!

Maari niyong i-download ang maikling kwento na ito sa link sa ibaba.
Free download at: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/..

Connect with ARIS SANTOS online:
http://www.akosiaris.blogspot.com
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/akosiaris
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6150416.Aris_Santos

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Review: Hangganan (A Short Story) by Aris Santos

Posted on July 3, 2015 | Leave a comment

HanggananMarubdob at makahulugan. Napakaganda ng pagsasalaysay ng kwento. Kahit na hindi inabot ng dalawampung pahina ang kwento, naisalaysay ng manunulat ang kagalingan niya sa pagkukwento. Ang ganda ng tema, ang ganda ng pamagat. Tama si Aris, maari kang magmahal ng sabay subalit hindi ka maaaring magmahal ng pantay. Tumbok na tumbok niya dun yun.

– at sa aking pakiwari, nangangati lamang itong si Calvin at kagaya nga ng nabanggit ni Aris – tulad ng ikalawang piga sa gata, malabnaw na ang pag-ibig na iniaalay ni Calvin. At ang pinakamaganda sa lahat ng sinabi niya, kung walang katapatan sa pag-ibig, hindi magiging ganap ang kaligayahan. Sa bandang huli, itong si Calvin magiging mesirable sa kanyang buhay pag-ibig. Napakagaling!!!! Bravo!!!

“Masasaktan siya kung mamahalin mo ako.”
“Hindi siya masasaktan dahil mamahalin ko rin siya.”
“Ayokong makihati sa kanya.”
“Buo pa rin ang pagmamahal ko sa’yo.”
“Bawas na dahil mahal mo rin siya.”
“Maaari akong magmahal nang sabay.”
“Hindi ka maaaring magmahal nang pantay.”

You can have your free copy of this short story by downloading it here: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/166613

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Book Review: Orosa-Nakpil, Malate by Louie Mar Gangcuangco

Posted on April 16, 2014 | Leave a comment
Orosa Nakpil Malate

[This review may contain spoilers]

Orosa-Nakpil, Malate, is a book of many things. It is funny, informative, heartbreaking, and thought-provoking.

Perhaps the most moving part aside from the “rape chapter” was the last time Dave and Ross saw each other. I thought I was about to have a cardiac arrest reading that scene because it was just heartbreaking. When I was just 20 pages away from the end, I told my big sister, who has read the first five chapters and the last one (IKR? She’s super weird that way), that I knew what would happen next, and that it was very predictable! I got it all wrong, though. Goodness, what a twist!

Dave and Ross’s love for each other reminds me so much of Brokeback Mountain, the infamous love story of Ennis Del Mar and Jack Twist. There’s always an underlying melancholy about their love affair.

And who doesn’t hate Michael Pundasyon in this book? I would’ve killed him myself.

One of my favorite scenes was when Ross collected the flyers, telling everyone in Malate that Dave has HIV. That says a lot about Ross. And when I found out that he sold his phone to buy a gift for Dave, ugh. Waterworks alert!

I enjoyed reading this book immensely. Louie Mar has showcased his ability to transform experiences through writing and make it possible for readers to feel his characters.

“May mga bagay sa buhay natin na hindi natin kontrolado.May mga pagkakamaling hindi na natin maitatama pa gaano man nating gustuhin. Kaya minsan kailangang gamitin and utak kahit iba ang isinisigaw ng puso. Kahit pa maskit, kailangan nating magtiis.”

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Published 2006 by Louie Mar’s Publications

About The Author
Louie Mar Gangcuangco is the author of a Filipino novel Orosa-Nakpil, Malate. In 2008, Louie Mar Gangcuangco published his second book, Gee, My Grades Are Terrific: A Student’s Guide to Academic Excellence, a self-help book for students.

Louie Mar has served as a guest speaker in UP Manila, UP Diliman, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, San Beda, Philippine Normal University, and the American Chamber Foundation Philippines on various topics including homosexuality, HIV-AIDS, and gay literature in the Philippines.

Louie Mar passed the Straight Internal Medicine Internship in the Philippine General Hospital. He will be graduating from the UP College of Medicine in 2010.

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