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In Flight: Two Novels of the Philippines
An emotional exploration of the Philippines, these novels illustrate the connection between a people and their beloved native land. The first novel, Killing Time in a Warm Place , is based in part on the author's own experiences as a student protester and his subsequent capture, imprisonment, and torture during the Marcos dictatorship. His subsequent assimilation to a new society as a speechwriter for the government is depicted, followed by his self-imposed exile to the United States and his eventual return to the islands upon the death of his father, where he is forced to confront past betrayals. The second tale, Soledad’s Sister , delves into the dark side of immigrant and outsourced labor that is endemic worldwide. Following the mysterious death of a young Filipina woman working as an au pair in Saudi Arabia, the narrative chronicles a local policeman’s search to claim her body, locate her next of kin, and give her a proper burial in her native soil. With deep insight into contemporary Philippine culture, this collection captures a nation attempting to reinvent itself in the eyes of the world.
360 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2011
About the author
Jose Y. Dalisay, Jr.
48 books73 followersDr. José Y. Dalisay Jr. (Butch Dalisay to readers of his "Penman" column in the Philippine STAR) was born in Romblon, Philippines in 1954.
As of January 2006, he had published 15 books of his stories, plays, and essays, with five of those books receiving the National Book Award from the Manila Critics Circle. In 1998, he was named to the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Centennial Honors List for his work as a playwright and fictionist.
He graduated from the University of the Philippines in 1984 (AB English, cum laude ), the University of Michigan (MFA, 1988) and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (PhD English, 1991). He teaches English and Creative Writing as a full professor at the University of the Philippines, where he also serves as coordinator of the creative writing program and as an Associate of the UP Institute of Creative Writing. After serving as chairman of the English Department, he became Vice President for Public Affairs of the UP System from May 2003 to February 2005.
Among his distinctions, he has won 16 Palanca Awards in five genres (entering the Palanca Hall of Fame in 2000), five Cultural Center of the Philippines awards for playwriting, and Famas, Urian, Star and Catholic Film awards and citations for his screenplays. He was named one of The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) of 1993 for his creative writing. He has been a Fulbright, Hawthornden, David TK Wong, Rockefeller, and British Council fellow.
As of January 2006, he had published 15 books of his stories, plays, and essays, with five of those books receiving the National Book Award from the Manila Critics Circle. In 1998, he was named to the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Centennial Honors List for his work as a playwright and fictionist.
He graduated from the University of the Philippines in 1984 (AB English, cum laude ), the University of Michigan (MFA, 1988) and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (PhD English, 1991). He teaches English and Creative Writing as a full professor at the University of the Philippines, where he also serves as coordinator of the creative writing program and as an Associate of the UP Institute of Creative Writing. After serving as chairman of the English Department, he became Vice President for Public Affairs of the UP System from May 2003 to February 2005.
Among his distinctions, he has won 16 Palanca Awards in five genres (entering the Palanca Hall of Fame in 2000), five Cultural Center of the Philippines awards for playwriting, and Famas, Urian, Star and Catholic Film awards and citations for his screenplays. He was named one of The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) of 1993 for his creative writing. He has been a Fulbright, Hawthornden, David TK Wong, Rockefeller, and British Council fellow.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
April 30, 2012
There are two short novels in this book, which I read several months apart.
"Killing Time in a Warm Place" is a personalised history of the post-independence Philippines, with particular emphasis on the period of martial law declared by Ferdinand Marcos from 1972. It is based on Dalisay's own experiences as a boy and young man. (He became a student activist and was imprisoned, then later recruited by the authorities.)
It is informative and fairly objective, but does not come to life as well as some other books I have read which tell history through the lives of real or imagined families. It is not a dry history, as there are several warm family moments, but doesn't quite hit the emotional targets either. I think the sense of detachment could be because this must have been very difficult to write about: the emotions are too strong for the author to allow them to show fully.
It is worth reading, especially for anyone who wants to know more about this interesting country and its history.
"Soledad's Sister" focuses on a contemporary theme. One tenth of Filipinos live and work abroad, sending money home to support their families and the economy of the Philippines. Approximately six hundred a year of them come home in coffins (and this is working age people - remember).
From this sad statistic Jose Dalisay has woven a haunting and poignant tale of families torn apart by economic necessity, within a murder mystery. I can't tell you much about the plot without giving away too much information, but who killed the victim is less important than the low value placed on her life and death.
This half of the pair of novellas would get four stars easily.
"Killing Time in a Warm Place" is a personalised history of the post-independence Philippines, with particular emphasis on the period of martial law declared by Ferdinand Marcos from 1972. It is based on Dalisay's own experiences as a boy and young man. (He became a student activist and was imprisoned, then later recruited by the authorities.)
It is informative and fairly objective, but does not come to life as well as some other books I have read which tell history through the lives of real or imagined families. It is not a dry history, as there are several warm family moments, but doesn't quite hit the emotional targets either. I think the sense of detachment could be because this must have been very difficult to write about: the emotions are too strong for the author to allow them to show fully.
It is worth reading, especially for anyone who wants to know more about this interesting country and its history.
"Soledad's Sister" focuses on a contemporary theme. One tenth of Filipinos live and work abroad, sending money home to support their families and the economy of the Philippines. Approximately six hundred a year of them come home in coffins (and this is working age people - remember).
From this sad statistic Jose Dalisay has woven a haunting and poignant tale of families torn apart by economic necessity, within a murder mystery. I can't tell you much about the plot without giving away too much information, but who killed the victim is less important than the low value placed on her life and death.
This half of the pair of novellas would get four stars easily.
July 25, 2011
I read this book in preparation for an event at the Filipino American Book Festival in San Francisco in order to be prepared to help to introduce Butch Dalisay to festival attendees. I was blown away to learn that everyone already knew him - as he is quite the literary giant in the Philippines.
This book features two novels in one - both were my first introduction to Filipino culture. As a Caucasian from the NW, it was interesting to learn a little more about the history that likely affected the parents of some of my friends - this was covered in the first novel. The second novel is based on Butch's reaction to a story he read in the newspaper - about a Filipino who was murdered in Saudi Arabia and had their body shipped back home for burial. I connected more to the second one, even though I'm typically interested in war, conflict and the decisions that people make therein.
I give this book five stars because I think more Americans and Canadians should learn about Filipino culture - and I applaud their effort to bring their history - ie - OUR collective history into the mainstream of American conscience.
This book features two novels in one - both were my first introduction to Filipino culture. As a Caucasian from the NW, it was interesting to learn a little more about the history that likely affected the parents of some of my friends - this was covered in the first novel. The second novel is based on Butch's reaction to a story he read in the newspaper - about a Filipino who was murdered in Saudi Arabia and had their body shipped back home for burial. I connected more to the second one, even though I'm typically interested in war, conflict and the decisions that people make therein.
I give this book five stars because I think more Americans and Canadians should learn about Filipino culture - and I applaud their effort to bring their history - ie - OUR collective history into the mainstream of American conscience.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews