Querida: An Anthology

by Caroline S. Hau (Editor), Katrina Tuvera (Editor), Isabelita Orlina Reyes (Editor)

This anthology spans one hundred and twenty-five years of literary portrayals of “the mistress” and its variants, from Jose Rizal’s Doña Consolacion in Noli me Tangere to Angela Manalang Gloria’s nameless “other woman,” and Ricardo Lee, Raquel Villavicencio and Ishmael Bernal’s Marilou in Relasyon. Querida offers not only a feast of prose, poetry and drama from the Philippines’ most accomplished and distinguished authors as well as talented emerging writers, but also insights into what Lina Espina-Moore calls the beloved’s “illicit, illegal lives.”

With works by Dean Francis Alfar, Estrella Alfon, Jose Dalisay Jr., Ricardo M. de Ungria, Aida Rivera Ford, Nick Joaquin, Kerima Polotan, Lakambini Sitoy and others.

Genres: Anthologies, Poetry, Historical Fiction, Contemporary, Short Stories

356 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Caroline S. Hau is a Professor with the Center for Southeast Asian Studies (CSEAS), Kyoto University.

Reviews

[K.D. Absolutely · Rating 5 out of 5]

Faultless. I cannot find anything bad about this book. The best anthology that I've read this year. Definitely one that I'd like to read again someday. Let's say when I get an itch to have an extra-marital affair and I decide to plunge into it. You see, before my late father died of brain cancer in 1997, he had a one-on-one talk with me and one of his life lessons was: when you fall in love with another woman and you cannot avoid having an affair, just don't abandon your family. Now, after 16 years and I am still waiting for that woman. When she comes, I'll be ready. I've read this book and it made me understand what normally makes young women (and even men) to fall in love with married men (or married women).

This anthology is composed of many stories, poetry and a movie script about forbidden love affairs. Forbidden because one of the parties is married. Some of the stories are non-fiction (Josephine Bracken, the mysterious woman in Jose Rizal's life) or chapters from local classic novels like Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not) (5 stars) by Jose Rizal or State of War (tbr) by Ninotchska Rosca. There is also a portion with beautiful beautiful poetry and a movie script of Relasyon about Emil, a married man played by Christopher de Leon and Marilou a single woman wonderfully played by Vilma Santos that made her the first grand-slam Best Actress and this was in the 80's.

I enjoyed ALL the stories but the one that I did read twice was "Three Generations" by Nick Joaquin. It tells the story of three men and their concepts about extra marital affairs. I also read slowly, sometimes repeating some parts, "Biga-on" by Vicente Garcia Groyon. It is written like a biography and told in first person by the other woman. It gave me clues, by her life story, how other women are maybe made.

I can make a very long review but I'd rather not spoil your fun. Go for this book. This has been released since many months now but I am still the first to read and review this here on Goodreads. I am sorry to think how much you (my fellow Filipino readers) are missing by ignoring this book.

I rarely give 5 stars. This one I have no doubt deserves each one of those and I am ready to argue why. I can defend why I liked this book in any forum you want. But please read it!

[bebe go · Rating 4 out of 5]

tbh binili ko lang 'to para mabasa yung short story ni estrella alfon na "fairy tale for the city", a story that almost landed her in jail because the catholic women's league charged her in court with obscenity. she was found guilty but was given a presidential pardon in 1957. kung mabasa nyo yung story, well first of all, ang ganda nung pagkakasulat tapos ang mindblowing nga na a story like this was written in the 1950s?? ang tapang nya. maganda rin yung isang short story nya na Magnificence. binasa ko lang online. meron din siguro yung fairy tale for the city online pero for me, worth it bilhin 'tong anthology kasi ang ganda ng selection ng stories and writers. meron pa yung relasyon ni ricky lee, raquel villavicencio and bernal na naenjoy kong basahin.

[Bianca Nagac · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a conversative country like the Philippines, this topic may raise eyebrows of the many. I think the society's prejudices take away our interest to explore the world of queridas. This is not to encourage anyone to become one; or, to condemn those who are one. This anthology brings an understanding why there are people who chose to become queridas, why some settle as number 2, and how some have illicit affairs.

There's a diversity in the selection of stories; from emotions to themes. While a lot holds anger towards queridas, there are lessons to be learned from this book.

For example, in Jhoanna Cruz's Cielo, it tells that there's a price for loving what is not yours. It does not only apply in relationships but life in general.

In another story, a chapter fron Ninotchka Rosca's A State of War offers a sound advice when doing business. Eliza's character is a good negotiator because she keeps her cool until she gets what she wants.

Some stories, like Biga-on, differentiates love from lust. Some tells how a lustful desire can turn into love. Perhaps the most striking story for myself is Cameo, mainly because it somehow reflects to my past experience. Although a lot may find Talunang Manok as the most astounding piece from this anthology.

[claire]

late 2025

[Deanne Dumo · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my new year's resolutions is to read more books written by Filipino writers, and this anthology is my second this 2015. I was browsing the bookstore during the holidays last year, this book's cover and title caught my eye, and I immediately got curious on what Filipino writers, classic and contemporary alike, would have to say and write about the querida, or mistress, the other woman.

What I like about this anthology is the variety of the short stories, poems and plays--how each renders the nuances of the querida system in different contexts, from Rizal's Spanish era to this day.

My favorite story is Nick Joaquin's Three Generations, it is about how a man's hatred for his father has warped his sense of morality, conscience and self-righteousness. I instantly liked Nick Joaquin's writing style; it is the story in this anthology that I had to re-read to understand and appreciate. Another story I like is Lakambini Sitoy's Josephine Bracken: Hero or whore? For me, its charm is in the speculative tone of narrating Josephine Bracken's undocumented life. I also like Vicente Garcia Groyon's Biga-on; it is interesting how a male writer easily portrayed a young girl's sexuality in this story. I also like the stories of Jose Dalisay and Aida Rivera Ford.

This is a good post-Valentine's read, for a change. :)