Waywaya: Eleven Filipino Short Stories

by F. Sionil José

These eleven short stories, culled from F. Sionil José's prodigious production in the last decade, are a moving commentary on the Filipinos. "Waywaya" recreates pre-Hispanic Philippine society and should also be read as allegory. In Sionil José's own language, Ilokano, "Waywaya" means freedom. The last story in the collection, "Progress", has been anthologized abroad and regarded as contemporary social document as well.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Short Stories

242 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1980

About the author

Francisco Sionil José was born in 1924 in Pangasinan province and attended the public school in his hometown. He attended the University of Santo Tomas after World War II and in 1949, started his career in writing. Since then, his fiction has been published internationally and translated into several languages including his native Ilokano. He has been involved with the international cultural organizations, notably International P.E.N., the world association of poets, playwrights, essayists and novelists whose Philippine Center he founded in 1958.

F. Sionil José, the Philippines' most widely translated author, is known best for his epic work, the Rosales saga - five novels encompassing a hundred years of Philippine history - a vivid documentary of Filipino life.

In 1980, Sionil José received the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Journalism, Literature and Creative Communication Arts.

In 2001, Sionil José was named National Artist for Literature.

In 2004, Sionil José received the Pablo Neruda Centennial Award.

Reviews

[Gena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though I have encountered F. Sionil Jose in the classroom setting in my lit subjects, this is his first book that I have read (independently) and I must say he is not a National Artist For Literature for naught. I had the "almost-chance" to meet him in his very bookstore in Ermita, because my friend knows him personally and is very close to him. Sadly, Mr. Jose was in the United States then. I met his wife, Tess, though and she was lovely and nice and she gave us a ride home.

Though Jose writes in English, not exempting Waywaya, he did not lose the Filipino essence despite writing in a foreign language. Waywaya opens or triggers one to have second thoughts on what it really means to be a Filipino. The stories are set on different eras in the Philippines, from the pre-colonial until Martial Law, and the characters represent the Filipino in micro form. His stories are simple; no grandiose plot twists or pseudo-deep passages. But these stories are timeless.

[Rumaizah Bakar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jose successfully captures the essence of the Philippines and the plight of its people. These stories are authentic and vivid, and rich with emotions, flavours and voice which are unique to the Filippinos.

[Victoria]

Reading it again because I don't remember what the stories are about. :P

[Mew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a compilation of great Filipino Short Stories of F. Sionil Jose. Some stories would make you feel touched, while the others will make you think.

[Genory Vanz Alfasain]

i learned nothing, because i have not yet read it.ok?

[Lagrimas · Rating 5 out of 5]

i have an idea for the stories of waywaya

[Alan Mar · Rating 3 out of 5]

11 short stories, not all of them I liked.
Majority of the stories were depressing to read (i.e. pride, progress, voyage & floatsam to name a few)
I'll see if my next Sionil book is good

[Leilani · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not the best short story collection from the late National Artist. I preferred his latter works. If I’m not mistaken, this was his first collection of short stories published?

[Cece Lopez · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am a fan of F Sionil Jose for his craft and our many shared opinions, but I beg to differ with him on this matter.

Dayaw, opposite of Waywaya, is the absolute worst among all FSJ's main characters, male leads, and even antiheroes. He is absolutely the worst. I would be fine if FSJ and others did not romanticize Dayaw's sexual assault, slavery, misogyny, and kidnapping, but to my disappointment, some people do. I even came across an article titled "Logic of Love" by F Sionil Jose that seemed to suggest that what existed between Waywaya and Dayaw was a "love story." Ew! This is ironic because FSJ is known for his feminist social commentaries in his other, more acclaimed novels and the late author usually drew a creative line between love and lust. However, this article seems to be an exception. What if Dayaw showed some sympathy for Waywaya? What if slavery was legal during that time? What kind of core values does this guy Dayaw hold? And what happens next when the honeymoon phase is over?

To give the late author and his article the benefit of the doubt, perhaps FSJ simply failed to clarify the distinction between the two. It's sad that I have to give credit to how the story addresses the sexual objectification and violations of women's rights, not just by Dayaw, but by others as well, which still happen today.

This was written during Martial Law, and Waywaya ("freedom" in Ilocano) represents the freedom fighters in the story. I just hate it when others claim that Dayaw and Waywaya's story should be considered a love story. Seriously, for the sake of sanity and common sense! Gosh! Oh my gosh to those who believe otherwise! It's giving me Colleen Hoover vibes!

[Precious · Rating 5 out of 5]

cause i don't know what happening?

[Jashper]

Good and full of knowledge story..

[Juliagirl05 · Rating 4 out of 5]

thats it!

[Mark]

<3