Two Filipino Women

by F. Sionil José

Quezon City 1981 New Day. 8vo., 104pp., stiff wraps. Jose in his continuing commentary on Filippino society. Here is ambition, passion, treachery and deathless virtue as well. VG.

104 pages, Paperback

First published December 28, 1981

About the author

Francisco Sionil José was born in 1924 in Pangasinan province and attended the public school in his hometown. He attended the University of Santo Tomas after World War II and in 1949, started his career in writing. Since then, his fiction has been published internationally and translated into several languages including his native Ilokano. He has been involved with the international cultural organizations, notably International P.E.N., the world association of poets, playwrights, essayists and novelists whose Philippine Center he founded in 1958.

F. Sionil José, the Philippines' most widely translated author, is known best for his epic work, the Rosales saga - five novels encompassing a hundred years of Philippine history - a vivid documentary of Filipino life.

In 1980, Sionil José received the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Journalism, Literature and Creative Communication Arts.

In 2001, Sionil José was named National Artist for Literature.

In 2004, Sionil José received the Pablo Neruda Centennial Award.

Reviews

[Fiamma Aletta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ilang taon na ba ang akdang to? Mas matanda lang sa akin ng isang taon pero bakit siya ay relevant pa din? Haha.. Di na nabago ang mga isyung politikal at social sa ating bansa - ang oligarchs, kahirapan, hidwaan sa Mindanao at Americanization. Nag-iba lang ng anyo, pero same-same ika nga ang mga kontekstong di maresolba.

Dalawang Filipina, Ermi at Narita, parehas na ginamit ang alindog at wiles para umangat ang estado sa lipunan. Nilahad ang kanilang istorya mula sa mga punto de vista ng mga sumubok umibig at umintindi sa kanilang malalim na personalidad. Mga tragic love story.

Si Ermi at Narita, sumisimbolo din sila sa ating bansa -- may mga mapangahas na pag-aambisyon. Minsan di ko din bet ang paglala-lump ni F. Sionil Jose sa mga kababaihan either birhen o isang puta. Black and white lang. Maiintindihan mo man ang kanilang mga pinaghuhugutan, pinagmumulan, medyo nakakadismaya din ang masyadong pag sexualize sa aming mga babae.

Pero, naman, talagang swak n swak pa din sa aking panlasa si F. Sionil Jose, isang Filipino National Artist. Isa pa din sa aking paboritong manunulat. Pakitingnan na lang ang aking bukshelf na napuno ng kanyang akda simula ng aking makilala si Pepe Samson ng Mass noong ako'y isang kolehiyala. Required reading na nauwi sa isang life-long love affair.

[Mojojojoje · Rating 5 out of 5]

nice