Exploding Galaxies’ “The Three-Cornered Sun” by Linda Ty-Casper : A Contrapuntal Composition

“The chief glory of every people arises from its authors.” Debatable to some, for sure. But I am inclined to agree with Samuel Johnson, and with Susan Sontag. Especially after having read The Three-Cornered Sun. The Philippine War of Independence is usually summed up as a racial conflict that the Filipino Katipuneros waged against Spanish… Read More Exploding Galaxies’ “The Three-Cornered Sun” by Linda Ty-Casper : A Contrapuntal Composition

March 19, 2024September 19, 2024 ex.libris.philippines3 Comments

The Truth According to Marga Ortigas

Reading both Marga Ortigas’ books is a lesson on the myriad of ways truth can be told, whether thinly disguised as fiction, or in outright non-fiction. Marga Ortigas has two books out by Penguin Random House SEA, and this reader’s reactions couldn’t have been more different to them both. I had to force myself to… Read More The Truth According to Marga Ortigas

March 11, 2024March 11, 2024 ex.libris.philippines1 Comment

All’s Fair in Love and Work: A Romance Set in the Philippine Publishing World

I love romance books. There was a time I used to read nothing but romance. I read romance back when it was looked down upon, so my book club friends and I took to wrapping those bodice ripper covers in opaque wrapping paper. (Today, if you dare raise an eyebrow at romance readers, it’s YOU… Read More All’s Fair in Love and Work: A Romance Set in the Philippine Publishing World

March 7, 2024 ex.libris.philippines2 Comments

Reading Tinio on His Birthday

This was my first book from Everything’s Fine’s REQUIRED READINGS series, and I enjoyed the experience so much, I look forward to collecting the others! Short enough to be read over a prolonged coffee, but offering a lot to mull over… it’s perfect for that quick read-and-reflect break over a weekend. This particular slim volume… Read More Reading Tinio on His Birthday

March 5, 2024March 7, 2024 ex.libris.philippinesLeave a comment

Can this book replace Noli and Fili in our classrooms?

“The time of the great West has passed. Now it is the time for the East to rise from the shadows.” There has been a movement over the past few decades, a call to replace Jose Rizal’s NOLI ME TANGERE (nicknamed Noli) and EL FILIBUSTERISMO (Fili) in the school curriculum with this book. When I… Read More Can this book replace Noli and Fili in our classrooms?

February 22, 2024March 7, 2024 ex.libris.philippinesLeave a comment

Exploding Galaxies’ Pioneer Publication: But For The Lovers

“Lei the lovers. Petal all passion. Garlanded thus, the world was tolerable.” Exploding Galaxies‘ pioneer publication is an under-appreciated masterpiece, by any measure, that sets such a high expectation for their succeeding titles. Where do we sign up to pre-order Book 2? The multi-sensory pleasure begins when one picks up the book. Exploding Galaxies is… Read More Exploding Galaxies’ Pioneer Publication: But For The Lovers

February 22, 2024September 10, 2024 ex.libris.philippines2 Comments

The Brilliance of Gregorio C. Brillantes

“For certain things, like love, there was only so much time.” There are authors who are put in the canon for a reason, whose works are analyzed and studied by English majors for generations. Reading Gregorio Brillantes’ 500 page collection of 39 short stories is just like seeing the past 90 years of Philippine history… Read More The Brilliance of Gregorio C. Brillantes

February 22, 2024September 10, 2024 ex.libris.philippinesLeave a comment