His Native Coast

by Edith L. Tiempo

HIS NATIVE COAST is a story of a search for identity. The rather inarticulate attempt of Michael Linder to shape for himself a personal identification with the world that would give ultimate meaning to his life is paralleled by Marina's own for Marina is partly tribal, and although her life and training are steeped in Western (American) culture, she is haunted by the influence of her Ifuago mother, who had lived and died in her native hills without once coming down to the lowlands. HIS NATIVE COAST gives the reader a provocative and moving story of two "pilgrimages," one ending outside of the seeker's geographical context, and the other in a return to one resulting in a glimpse of self-recognition, the other in what turns out to be a refusal of it. The novel attempts a definition of personal and national identity that transcends geographical origins, and suggests that whether one is in his home country or not, the belief in his own human usefulness in his context has much to do with forging a healthy sense of belonging. In these days of heightened self-searching among the western-influenced developing nations, this Philippine experience offers its own unique insight.

235 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

Edith L. Tiempo, poet, fiction writer, teacher and literary critic is one of the finest Filipino Writers in English whose works are characterized by a remarkable fusion of style and substance, of craftsmanship and insight. Her poems are intricate verbal transfigurations of significant experiences as revealed, in two of her much anthologized pieces, "Lament for the Littlest Fellow" and "Bonsai." As fictionist, Tiempo is as morally profound. Her language has been marked as "descriptive but unburdened by scrupulous detailing." She is an influential tradition in Philippine literature in English.

Together with her late husband, writer and critic Edilberto K. Tiempo, they founded (in 1962) and directed the Silliman National Writers Workshop in Dumaguete City, which has produced some of the Philippines' best writers.

She was conferred the National Artist Award for Literature in 1999.

(from wikipedia.org.)

Reviews

[K.D. Absolutely · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite difficult to read. I think it has something to do with Tiempo's prose that is almost like poetry. Some words are also unfamiliar like "sabaritic", "schoolmarm", "fussbudger" or "thingamagigs." These are my first encounter with these words. Then the extended beautiful description of the setting. Words that would make you feel that you are in the setting like the Nagrebcan river that I thought Tiempo wrote a poem ("Morning at Nagrebcan) entirely about it.

The plot is about Marina who is a Filipino in search of her identity She could be representing Tiempo because she is also educated in America. But at the same time she is from the Mountain Province, an ifugao so unlike Tiempo, who hailed from the Visayas, the main protagonist, Marina is from Northern Philippines. I think the main theme of the story is that wherever your corner of the sky or your place on earth is, your upbringing, or to be specific, the place to grew up with, will have a big impact on who you are. I also think that it is the meaning of the title: Marina, as well as the supporting character, Michael Linder a soldier who fell in love with Marina, may end up in a different coast (country) but their heart will always be in their native coast.

Quite difficult to read but worth your time if you decide to read it. Very described as an intellectual read recommended to those who are curious about the lone female National Artist of Literature in the Philippines - Edith L. Tiempo.

[Gwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Satisfying endings or resolutions that provide closure always mean a lot to me as a reader and I wanted a somewhat sound one for this novel of Tiempo that I just finished. However, I didn't get one. And perhaps, that was for the best for both of the main characters where the story revolved, although "strangely sad," to quote Michael's thoughts on the last page.

But it was a long journey because we travelled along to a number of geographical locations where Michael (and I'm assuming it was him being referred to in the title "His" Native Coast) have gone to to find his own identity in the process of reaching out to the love of his life.

Tiempo was truly keen to detail and I appreciate that because I was able to see the beauty of the surroundings she described and I can almost paint all the sceneries she wanted the readers to see through Marina's eyes. I have a bit more to say but this novel was overall an interesting read and a refreshing take on finding one's roots and keeping their feet grounded :)