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Gilda Cordero Fernando Sampler
"The whirlwind of creative energy that is Gilda Cordero-Fernando only seems to gather more force as she moves (incredibly!) toward her 80's. Creating her art fills all her waking hours-which these days have abandoned the circadian rhythm and simply go with the ceaseless flow of her inspirations. More and more it becomes clear to her that art is what will save our country, so it is where she must make a contribution... now comes this fine sheaf of offerings, featuring not only her writing but her extraliterary activities. The gaps in the circle that is the creative self gently close." from the foreword by Mariel N. Francisco
- GenresEssays
203 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
4 people are currently reading
45 people want to read
About the author
Gilda Cordero-Fernando
33 books42 followersGilda Cordero-Fernando was a multiawarded writer, publisher and cultural icon from the Philippines. She was born in Manila, has a B.A. from St. Theresa’s College-Manila, and an M.A. from the Ateneo de Manila University.
She started off as a writer and was awarded the Palanca Award for Literature several times. She also wrote and illustrated children’s books.Her short stories are collected in The Butcher, The Baker and The Candlestick Maker (1962) and A Wilderness of Sweets (1973).
She had a very rich life as a publisher. In 1978 she launched GCF Books, which published landmark books on Philippine cultural history: Streets of Manila (1977), Turn of the Century (1978), Philippine Ancestral Houses (1980), Being Filipino (1981), The History of the Burgis (1987), Folk Architecture (1989), and The Soul Book (1991).
Cordero-Fernando also wore numerous other hats as a visual artist, fashion designer, playwright, art curator, and producer. In February 2000, she produced Luna: An Aswang Romance. In 2001 she produced Pinoy Pop Culture, the book and the show, for Bench.
In 1994, she received a Cultural Center of the Philippines (Gawad CCP) for her lifetime achievements in literature and publishing.
(from wikipedia.org.)
She started off as a writer and was awarded the Palanca Award for Literature several times. She also wrote and illustrated children’s books.Her short stories are collected in The Butcher, The Baker and The Candlestick Maker (1962) and A Wilderness of Sweets (1973).
She had a very rich life as a publisher. In 1978 she launched GCF Books, which published landmark books on Philippine cultural history: Streets of Manila (1977), Turn of the Century (1978), Philippine Ancestral Houses (1980), Being Filipino (1981), The History of the Burgis (1987), Folk Architecture (1989), and The Soul Book (1991).
Cordero-Fernando also wore numerous other hats as a visual artist, fashion designer, playwright, art curator, and producer. In February 2000, she produced Luna: An Aswang Romance. In 2001 she produced Pinoy Pop Culture, the book and the show, for Bench.
In 1994, she received a Cultural Center of the Philippines (Gawad CCP) for her lifetime achievements in literature and publishing.
(from wikipedia.org.)
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 9, 2014
Brilliant essays. Better than those of Jessica Zafra. Almost at par with those of Kerima Polotan. Don't dare compare these essays with those written by Lourd de Veyra and Carljoe Javier. They just don't deserve to be compared to these by Gilda Cordero-Fernando.
Gilda Cordero-Fernando (born in 1932) is a Filipino who is multi-awarded writer, publisher and cultural icon. She was born in Manila, has a B.A. from St. Theresa's College-Manila, and an M.A. from the Ateneo de Manila University. Her most famous book, The Butcher, the Baker, the Candlestick Maker: A Collection of Short Stories was said to be the first masteral thesis that was published as a book. It was in 1962.
This book, Sampler is composed of her brilliant essays, short stories, lectures and even photos of her paintings. Since she has been around in the arts and culture fields, the time coverage of her works here in this book spans a period of more than 60 years. The essays are full of thought-provoking subjects and spot-on insights. She is definitely a writer with a brain and brawn. She has lived a very meaningful life and her contribution to the Philippine arts most especially to literature deserves all praise and accolades. In fact, if it will only be me, I would name her as a National Artist for Literature. We need to add another woman in that roster of great authors in our country's literary world.
The essays here are hip even if they were about Fernando's life several decades ago like when she was a young woman or a young mother. They don't feel dated because Fernando re-wrote them using the contemporary language sometimes even using Taglish to reach out to young readers. They are also not melodramatic. Definitely not pretentious as you would feel her sincerity but not to the point that she seeks to be patronized. Her writing reflects the fact that she enjoyed what she wrote. I mean she probably just wanted to tell her stories and her viewpoints and her enthusiasm was captured in her writings. The effect was just wonderful. She does not have that acerbic tone that made Jessica Zafra's essays popular. But who wants to be bitter and angry and feel that the world is no longer a nice place to live in after reading some essays? Definitely not if it is this book that you partake. Upon closing the book, you just feel in awe at how Fernando was able to pull off all those topics without going overboard. You will just feel some kind of regret how come you only came to know about her works. How you wasted your years reading Zafra, de Veyra or Javier.
Gilda Cordero-Fernando (born in 1932) is a Filipino who is multi-awarded writer, publisher and cultural icon. She was born in Manila, has a B.A. from St. Theresa's College-Manila, and an M.A. from the Ateneo de Manila University. Her most famous book, The Butcher, the Baker, the Candlestick Maker: A Collection of Short Stories was said to be the first masteral thesis that was published as a book. It was in 1962.
This book, Sampler is composed of her brilliant essays, short stories, lectures and even photos of her paintings. Since she has been around in the arts and culture fields, the time coverage of her works here in this book spans a period of more than 60 years. The essays are full of thought-provoking subjects and spot-on insights. She is definitely a writer with a brain and brawn. She has lived a very meaningful life and her contribution to the Philippine arts most especially to literature deserves all praise and accolades. In fact, if it will only be me, I would name her as a National Artist for Literature. We need to add another woman in that roster of great authors in our country's literary world.
The essays here are hip even if they were about Fernando's life several decades ago like when she was a young woman or a young mother. They don't feel dated because Fernando re-wrote them using the contemporary language sometimes even using Taglish to reach out to young readers. They are also not melodramatic. Definitely not pretentious as you would feel her sincerity but not to the point that she seeks to be patronized. Her writing reflects the fact that she enjoyed what she wrote. I mean she probably just wanted to tell her stories and her viewpoints and her enthusiasm was captured in her writings. The effect was just wonderful. She does not have that acerbic tone that made Jessica Zafra's essays popular. But who wants to be bitter and angry and feel that the world is no longer a nice place to live in after reading some essays? Definitely not if it is this book that you partake. Upon closing the book, you just feel in awe at how Fernando was able to pull off all those topics without going overboard. You will just feel some kind of regret how come you only came to know about her works. How you wasted your years reading Zafra, de Veyra or Javier.
July 27, 2014
I got this at Anvil's warehouse sale, reduced from its hefty price tag of 595 pesos. I've been meaning to buy this book ever since I saw it in National Bookstore, but man the price tag. So here it is, a "sampler". Why was it called a sampler? A sampler of what? Short Stories, Poems? The description at the back of the book was not descriptive in any way. Still I bought it. Finishing the book, I conclude that it is a sampler of what the author was all about as expressed in her body of work (dating back to the '70s - Telephone numbers were still 6 digits!): Short Stories, Essays, Paintings (yes paintings, the book includes an appendix of her artwork), Fashion Shows, and Stage Plays.
The book is full of wisdom, Spiritual Wisdom, wisdom about being a Filipino and why we are like this, wisdom about being an artist, wisdom about life. It asks all the hard questions about being a Filipino, the role Arts and Culture has in being a Filipino, being an Artist. It can be a very heavy or weird read, especially those who are averse to topics such as Esoterics, Spirituality and "Nationalism", though for me most of her insights struck a cord. It answered some questions floating in my head. It's just funny watching Livin La Vida Imelda last night and being asked by Carlos Celdran "What is the Filipino Identity?" and the author simply wraps it up as "Halo-Halo", composed of a lot of things, it not necessarily being bad. Not adhering to one thing is by nature a Filipino trait. And an answer to the question: "Can I make a living out of Art?"
I guess being almost 80 (and being one of the fortunate ones to live her life to the fullest) has endowed her with all the wisdom that you can palpably pickup from the book.
Favorite Line:
From a write up by Lorna Kalaw-Tirol included in her book. Gilda Cordero-Fernando is quoted saying:
"Alam mo, may isa pang na-realize ko, iba ang mission in life from your talent. Kasi akala mo magsusulat ka, siguradong ang mission in life mo, magsulat. Minsan hindi. Sa akin ang dami-dami ko nang ginawa sa buhay ko. Fiction writer ayoko na. Article Writing. Enjoy din naman ako, pero ayoko na. Then I went into publishing, ayoko na. Then theater. Then Old People. Iniisip ko, anu kaya ako dilletante? (Someone who has an amateur interest in the arts). Then it struck me, I put my heart and soul into something, I study, I cannot be a dilettante. Then I realized my job is to blaze trails. That's why I never make money - para akong portero, door opener. You just have to show that it's not dangerous, it's not fattening"
I'm glad she found her mission in life. And I hope I can do the same. Being a..sort of dilettante.
*Somebody liked this review and I saw a lot of typographical/grammatical errors. What a shame! haha Here's a Corrected version :)
The book is full of wisdom, Spiritual Wisdom, wisdom about being a Filipino and why we are like this, wisdom about being an artist, wisdom about life. It asks all the hard questions about being a Filipino, the role Arts and Culture has in being a Filipino, being an Artist. It can be a very heavy or weird read, especially those who are averse to topics such as Esoterics, Spirituality and "Nationalism", though for me most of her insights struck a cord. It answered some questions floating in my head. It's just funny watching Livin La Vida Imelda last night and being asked by Carlos Celdran "What is the Filipino Identity?" and the author simply wraps it up as "Halo-Halo", composed of a lot of things, it not necessarily being bad. Not adhering to one thing is by nature a Filipino trait. And an answer to the question: "Can I make a living out of Art?"
I guess being almost 80 (and being one of the fortunate ones to live her life to the fullest) has endowed her with all the wisdom that you can palpably pickup from the book.
Favorite Line:
From a write up by Lorna Kalaw-Tirol included in her book. Gilda Cordero-Fernando is quoted saying:
"Alam mo, may isa pang na-realize ko, iba ang mission in life from your talent. Kasi akala mo magsusulat ka, siguradong ang mission in life mo, magsulat. Minsan hindi. Sa akin ang dami-dami ko nang ginawa sa buhay ko. Fiction writer ayoko na. Article Writing. Enjoy din naman ako, pero ayoko na. Then I went into publishing, ayoko na. Then theater. Then Old People. Iniisip ko, anu kaya ako dilletante? (Someone who has an amateur interest in the arts). Then it struck me, I put my heart and soul into something, I study, I cannot be a dilettante. Then I realized my job is to blaze trails. That's why I never make money - para akong portero, door opener. You just have to show that it's not dangerous, it's not fattening"
I'm glad she found her mission in life. And I hope I can do the same. Being a..sort of dilettante.
*Somebody liked this review and I saw a lot of typographical/grammatical errors. What a shame! haha Here's a Corrected version :)
September 11, 2014
Gilda Cordero Fernando is awfully spectacular- ang galling-galing naman nya! I was impressed by her unique writing styles - very Filipino, original, far different from the other satirical essays I have read, full of fun, wacky ideas about our Filipino culture and customs. You could really laugh out loud because you could relate to them. SORRY na lang if you can’t. It might mean you are not FILIPINO after all. Besides, I wonder if she has a great influence on Bob Ong’s or Lord de Veyra’s writing styles.How about Jessica Zafra's ? Their writing styles have little resemblance. Probably, Gilda appears to be older than they are.But for me Gilda Cordero Fernando is exceptional.
Actually, the book is a compendium of her well-selected works she has written since 1960’s. It is composed of her essays, short stories, columns, speeches, and lectures. Gee, although some were written in between 1960’s and 1980’s , for I’m batang 90’s , I could be familiar with them, more so Gilda’s writing styles are very hilarious. She even made me chuckle on the bus to my work or during the office meeting. Yes, I did even read it during the office meeting out of sense of decorum. (laughs) The book is indeed absorbing.
The book is more interesting because each topic has its own photo which she must have chosen herself, including his paintings she is proud of , for she painted them auto didactically, without attending any formal schools.
Apparently, she must have first done a thorough research and had interviews with a close think-tank of hers before she formed her out-of-this –world ideas.
Envious of her writing styles, after reading it, I learned from Gilda Cordero Fernando that writers could be whatsoever they desire to be: They could be ORIG.
Actually, the book is a compendium of her well-selected works she has written since 1960’s. It is composed of her essays, short stories, columns, speeches, and lectures. Gee, although some were written in between 1960’s and 1980’s , for I’m batang 90’s , I could be familiar with them, more so Gilda’s writing styles are very hilarious. She even made me chuckle on the bus to my work or during the office meeting. Yes, I did even read it during the office meeting out of sense of decorum. (laughs) The book is indeed absorbing.
The book is more interesting because each topic has its own photo which she must have chosen herself, including his paintings she is proud of , for she painted them auto didactically, without attending any formal schools.
Apparently, she must have first done a thorough research and had interviews with a close think-tank of hers before she formed her out-of-this –world ideas.
Envious of her writing styles, after reading it, I learned from Gilda Cordero Fernando that writers could be whatsoever they desire to be: They could be ORIG.
October 25, 2017
Super cool!
November 8, 2016
Having read some of her previous works already, I thought I knew what I was going to expect when I started reading this book. When I reached the last page, I realize that this book is more than a sampler, this book is actually her memoir. I can now put into proper perspective some of her writings that I have previously read. It is a very intimate portrait of the soul of this writers.
December 31, 2014
Dancing, after all, expresses the joy of coming to terms with oneself. One dances because there is something to dance about, just as one swims when one is ready to explore. - Swimming
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews