Plus/+, at Iba Plus, Maramihan: New Philippine Fiction on Sexual Orientations and Gender Identities

by Rolando B. Tolentino (Editor), Chuckberry J. Pascual (Editor)

Sa pagtitipon ng mga maikling kuwentong nagtatampok sa karanasan ng LGBTQIA+ na nagtatanghal  sa  iba’t ibang  identidad at relasyong personal at pangkapangyarihan, naglalarawan sa kasalukuyang lipunan sa iba’t ibang manipestasyon nito sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng bansa, at patuloy na humihiraya sa posibilidad ng mas maalwang kinabukasan para sa lahat ng kasarian, inaasahang mabigyan ang mambabasa—miyembro man ng komunidad ng LGBTQIA+ o hindi—ng bagong pagsipat sa kanyang paligid at sa mga taong kanyang nakakasalamuha.

Binubuklod ng antolohiyang ito ang tinig ng LGBTQIA+ na manunulat, ang ating mambabasa, ang ating publiko, ang iba pang mga pahina ng pambansang panitikan at kontraryong politika—ang asersyon na maging kaiba, may solidaridad ng hanay, may kaisahan at pakikiisa sa iba pang identidad at aspekto ng pagkamamamayan na inaapi, ang pangangailangang baguhin ang lipunan, kasaysayan, at modernidad ng pagdanas.

260 pages

Published January 1, 2022

About the author

Rolando B. Tolentino is an associate for fiction of the UP Institute for Creative Writing. He is a faculty member of the UP Film Institute. He is the founding chair of Katha, the fictionists group in Filipino, and is a member of the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino and the Congress of Teachers and Educators for Nationalism and Democracy (CONTEND-UP). His works include: Sakit ng Kalingkingan: 100 Dagli sa Edad ng Krisis (2005), Kuwentong Syudad (co-editor, 2002), Sapinsaping Pag-ibig at Pagtangis: Tatlong Novella ng Pagsinta’t Paghinagpis (1999); Fastfood, Megamall at iba pang kwento sa pagsasara ng ikalawang milenyum (1999); Relasyon: Mga Kwuwento ng Paglusong at Pag-ahon (co-editor, 1999); Ali*bang+Bang atpb. Kwento (1994); Habilin: Antolohiya ng Katha Para sa Pambansang Kasarinlan (co-editor, 1991); Engkwentro: Kalipunan ng mga Akda ng Kabataang Manunulat (co-editor, 1990).

He has received many awards here and abroad, namely: Distinguished Visitor, UC-Berkeley and UCLA Southeast Asian Studies Consortium (2006), Visiting Fellow, Sociology Department, National University of Singapore (Jul 2005-Dec 2006), Obermann Summer Research Fellowship (2004), Best Arts Book, Gintong Aklat, (2002), Writer’s Prize, National Commission for Culture and the Arts (2001), Manila Critics Circle Award for Best Film Criticism Book (2001); Gawad Chancellor for Best Literary Work (2001); Lily Monteverde Professorial Chair (2000-2001); UP International Publication Award (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003); Henry Sy Professorial Chair (1998-1999); Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature, 1998, 1994, 1991; Research Grant, U.P. Office of Research Coordination, 1998-1999, 1999-2000; Research Grant, U.P. Center for Integrative Development Studies, 1997-1998; Angara Fellowship, U.P. Women’s Studies Center, 1997-1998; Belmonte Creative Writing Grant, U.P. College of Arts and Letters, 1997-1998; Research Grant, Sumitomo Foundation, 1997-1998; CCP Gawad para sa Alternatibong Pelikula at Video, 1996; All University Predoctoral Merit Fellowship, USC, 1993-1996; Fulbright Grant to pursue Ph.D. in area of Critical Theory and Cultural Studies, 1992-1996; Writing Grant, Cultural Center of the Philippines; Thesis Grant, Philippine Social Science Council, 1991.

Reviews

[Meeko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Faves are Fare More, Tell It To My Heart, Mal.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

As expected, I liked this fiction arm of Plus/+, at Iba Plus, Maramihan twosome, edited by Rolando B. Tolentino and Chuckberry J. Pascual, more than its nonfiction companion. But this is mostly because I'll always be a fiction guy. There is merit in creative nonfiction, but the more limitless world of fiction writing brings more freedom to writers to expand, to stretch, and to challenge its readers' understanding and belief. Such is what happened in this book. In an array of 20 impressive short stories, the queer experience was told in ways I didn't know would work and would affect me as much—one instance was this work by Josh Paradeza titled Lubos, which is hard to summarize, about a guy in an abusive relationship who found life-changing and profound (not what you'd expect) musings during oral sex or the fiction by Pascual himself, Bigote, about a nighttime, socially distant tryst between two men, which factors in Filipino mythology and its manifestation in our current socio-political situation. While other stories in here are better than some, every work is a singular piece. However, Vincen Gregory Yu's Tell It To My Heart reigns as my favorite in the book. A coming-of-age tale (that is, in a queer perspective; I think coming of age amongst queer people doesn't necessarily and/or only happen during their puberty years) of a middle-aged man who hooked up with a younger guy. The prose and story flowed effortlessly making the (spoiler) ensuing heartbreak much more a punch in the gut. Another favorite is Far More by Ned Parfan, a brief story of polyamory written in stanzas as if a poem, bearing the same lyricism of poetry. And Mal by Amroding T. Baraiman & Adrienne Marie Grace B. Beronio, written both in an indigenous language and in English, making the poignant story more accessible. In these books tagged as New Philippine Non/Fiction on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identities, Pascual and Tolentino's efforts to include writers from different backgrounds, of different sexualities and identities, and from different places are commendable, sharing this avenue and opportunity to them to tell their own stories. For who else can tell it better than themselves?

[PATRICK · Rating 5 out of 5]

ABSOLUTE GORJ...TIS THE VOICE OF EVERYONE... I JUST LOVE READING EVERYONE'S STORIES

[Mon Brusas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Happy Pride 🏳️‍🌈

[Brent Ascaño · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the stories! Wish they’d make another volume; I need more of these!