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Buwan, Buwan, Hulugan Mo Ako ng Sundang: Dalawang Dekada ng Maiikling Kuwento
Collection of the author's short stories published in various periodicals covering period 1963-1983.
197 pages, Unknown Binding
First published January 1, 1991
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About the author
Lualhati Bautista
33 books637 followersLualhati Bautista was a Filipina writer, novelist, liberal activist and political critic. She was one of the foremost Filipino female novelists in the history of Contemporary Philippine Literature. Her most famous novels include Dekada '70; Bata, Bata, Pa'no Ka Ginawa?; and ‘GAPÔ.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 28, 2013
Surprisingly beautiful. This book is composed of 15 Tagalog short stories by one of the most prolific local authors in the Philippines, Lualhati Bautista. Born in 1945, the oldest story in the collection, Katugon ng Damdamin was published in 1963 when she was just 18 years old. The story is passe already since adopting children is now governed by laws and you cannot pick any urchin off the street and bring her home just like bringing a wayward kitten.
But still that story as well all the rest of the fourteen stories in this book are all astonishingly well-crafted. Bautista knows that she was gifted as she made sure that every story in the collection was worth-reading. The themes and messages are all known to us already. We have read those somehow but what made this book worth all the efforts, money and time, is how Bautista engages you while leafing the pages of the book. She uses several techniques such as shifting POV's but without confusing the reader, interview-style of short story telling, three or four interconnected sub-stories within a frame story, story told in reverse, etc. It is as if Bautista would like to have this book as a testament of her brilliance as a storyteller or a living proof of what she knows in terms of pleasing her readers.
The title of the book Buwan, Buwan, Hulugan Mo Ako ng Sundang (Moon, moon, please fall a bolo on me) comes from the last and the best story in the colllection and is followed by this phrase: "na pambukas ng aking tiyan." The story is about a mother who just comes out from a mental institution and is now looking for her child who she left in an orphanage. It is a sad story and yet there is a redeeming factor in the end that makes it hopeful and still positively-themed.
My favorite, however, is Mang Senyong who is seeking justice for the death of his epileptic child. The setting is in the back laid town in the province where most houses are erected above the water or seashore. One day he child is found dead and the doctor says that he had an epileptic attack and so he drowned. However, Mang Senyong thinks that it is because of the electric chord that is submerged in the water because his child was found at the bottom of his neighbor's house. As a father, I was able to identify myself with Mang Senyong. Father can only grieve if the reason for his child's death is clear and justice has been served.
I wish that Bautista has more short stories and a second collection is in the offing. She is a goddess in Philippine Literature.
But still that story as well all the rest of the fourteen stories in this book are all astonishingly well-crafted. Bautista knows that she was gifted as she made sure that every story in the collection was worth-reading. The themes and messages are all known to us already. We have read those somehow but what made this book worth all the efforts, money and time, is how Bautista engages you while leafing the pages of the book. She uses several techniques such as shifting POV's but without confusing the reader, interview-style of short story telling, three or four interconnected sub-stories within a frame story, story told in reverse, etc. It is as if Bautista would like to have this book as a testament of her brilliance as a storyteller or a living proof of what she knows in terms of pleasing her readers.
The title of the book Buwan, Buwan, Hulugan Mo Ako ng Sundang (Moon, moon, please fall a bolo on me) comes from the last and the best story in the colllection and is followed by this phrase: "na pambukas ng aking tiyan." The story is about a mother who just comes out from a mental institution and is now looking for her child who she left in an orphanage. It is a sad story and yet there is a redeeming factor in the end that makes it hopeful and still positively-themed.
My favorite, however, is Mang Senyong who is seeking justice for the death of his epileptic child. The setting is in the back laid town in the province where most houses are erected above the water or seashore. One day he child is found dead and the doctor says that he had an epileptic attack and so he drowned. However, Mang Senyong thinks that it is because of the electric chord that is submerged in the water because his child was found at the bottom of his neighbor's house. As a father, I was able to identify myself with Mang Senyong. Father can only grieve if the reason for his child's death is clear and justice has been served.
I wish that Bautista has more short stories and a second collection is in the offing. She is a goddess in Philippine Literature.
April 20, 2013
how come that it is so hard to find a copy of this book online?? i am so disappointed that i cannot even try to view it..huhuhu
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January 6, 2011Where could I buy this? I look everywhere.
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September 10, 2019TANGINA MO SCAM
April 26, 2021
May isang linggo din siguro bago ko natapos itong libro ni Lualhati Bautista Palagay ko dahil kada kuwento, nag iiwan ng pakiramdam na gusto kong sulitin. Parang kumain ka ng iba't ibang putahe, iba't ibang lasa. Lahat nag iiwan ng iba't ibang klase ng linamnam. May paraan talaga si LB ng paglalahad ng storya na para kang naron mismo kung hindi parang isa ka sa mga tauhan. Paborito ko yung Paraiso ng mga Anak ni Lolo Ipe dahil na rin siguro sa hilig ko sa mga kwentong may tragic ending.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 20, 2019
it's an excellent story!
March 2, 2023
perfect
June 23, 2022
Kahahanap ko lang ng kopya last month. Bata pa ang panulat niya sa mga maikling kuwento rito kaya makikita 'yong mula sa pagiging simple ay tutungo sa malalim na pagbibigay-mensahe. Sana masundan pa ang ganitong koleksiyon ng maikling kuwento ni Lualhati Bautista.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews