Meläg II: Balikbayan

Meläg #2

by Bong Redila

Meläg II: Balikbayan further opens the curtain of imagination to unfold stories of wonder, hope, ambition, longing, and even despair. Each page is a story on its own—a diorama that awakens sweet and sometimes poignant memories that make the town of Meläg a foreign yet familiar place to everyone.

Genres: Comics

164 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2023

About the author

A self-taught artist, Bong Redila grew up in a small town in the Philippines where, as a kid, he daydreamed about making paper planes as a full-time job. Now a full-time husband and a father living in Miami, Florida, he daydreams about flying on a paper plane.

Reviews

[Jahnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love the illustrations. The lines and dark ink inspire a gloomy tone, perfect for the stories that I thought were quite deep and somber. Some stories dealt with grief and loss. My favorite story is Sundo. I was also touched with the krisantemo and what it represented.

[Khonie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the pen and ink art! My only struggle was the Tagalog text (I am Cebuano and not very good in Tagalog)—there were so many words that I had to consult my dictionary for and reread the sentences (and sometimes the story) two to three times. I wish it was a bilingual (Tagalog and English) book.

[Cecille · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been seeing Bong Redila’s “Meläg” in book fairs past, but his art truly captured my interest when I saw them in an exhibit at the Philippine Book Festival last year. “Meläg II: Balikbayan” is a return to the fictional town, its residents, and its neighbors, though I think one need not read the first volume to become immersed in their world (I’m still on the hunt for volume 1).

Redila’s creation reminds me of Tim Burton and Studio Ghibli, of Edward Gorey and Gahan Wilson, which is not to say that it is derivative. His stories are a blend of the whimsical and the morbid, the fantastical and the horrific. Each line draws the reader’s eye to the page, making one not want to miss a single detail. He tells us tales about the loneliness of uniqueness, and the universality of love.

[Mark Anthony Salvador · Rating 4 out of 5]

Taóng 2018 marahil nang una kong mabasa ang Melag. At dahil nagandahan ako sa koleksyon ng short graphics ni Bong Redilla, binasa ko ang kasunod nitong aklat, ang Melag: Balikbayan (2023).

Nalulugod ako na muli akong nakabalik at nakapaglakbay sa Melag, ang kinathang bayan ni Redilla. May hatid na hiwaga ang mga akda ni Redilla dahil sa natatanging mga imahen—ilang halimbawa, may lumilipad na bisikleta, may lalaking kahoy ang isang paa, may batang may lahing kuwago, may batang may mga tenga ng daga—na tugma sa estilo ng pagguhit ni Redilla. At hinggil naman sa estilo, may sariling estilo ng pagguhit ang may akda. Inangkin niya at bahagi ng identidad niya bilang manlilikha hindi lang ang kinatha niyang daigdig kundi maging ang paraan niya ng pagguhit.

Kahanga-hanga maging ang mga talâ sa apendise aklat sapagkat hindi lang nito itinatala ang kuwento kung papaano nabuo ang mga akda, ang bawat talâ ay maituturing na ring kuwento. Kahanga-hanga rin ang maliliit na detalye sa akda na hindi ng labis na diin ni Redilla, manipestasyon na naniniwala siyang makukuha ng mambabasa ang kanyang nais sabihin.

Ang Melag ay representasyon ng ating mundo—nagsasalikop dito ang ating pighati at pag-asa. Representasyon ito ng búhay natin na sa kabilang ng pangungulila, hirap at pighati ay ipinagpapatuloy natin, sapagkat naniniwala tayo, may pag-asa sa ating loob.

Naging palaisipan sa akin ang kuwentong “Ang Maikli at Mapait na Buhay ni Marisol Dolores.” Masyadong malungkot ang akda, hindi tumutugma sa sinasabing “iisa pa rin ang kahahantungan—ngiti at pag-asa” sa likod na pabalat ng aklat. Pero, natanong ko ang sarili ko. Hindi kaya ang sinapit ni Marisol Dolores ay anyo ng pag-asa para sa may akda? Sapagkat sa pamamagitan ng gayong wakas, natuldukan ang kanyang paghihirap.

Salamat sa nilikha mong mundo, Bong Redilla.

[Alden Robell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The magic within the pages will transport you out of this world. This is just flawless, magical and astounding visual storytelling by all means. Most of the pages are pure drawings, but I took and absorbed each page like they were countless words waiting to be read. That's just how good it is; I had to absorb the visual images, not just "see" them.

Bong Redila is just one of the many talented and skilled storytellers in our country. Homegrown stories should ascend today's pop culture by now.

[Fourcyjackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hindi po ako palabasa ng Tagalog na sulat, pero this one takes the cake. Parang nabuhayan ulit ung pagiging writer at heart ko. Parang natransport ako sa mundo ng bawat short story. Malalim, magaling ang pagkakakwento. Sobrang ganda po ng illustrations

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ang ganda. Book review at

https://tinyurl.com/yuv389xb

[Gelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice illustrations 💓

[Emmzxiee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Walang kupas. Napakaganda ng mga ilustrasyon at ng mga istorya. Lubos na nangusap sa akin ang "Dambuhala" at "Sundo". Kiniliti ako nito ng mga imahenasyon at pangingilid ng mga luha sa aking mata.

[EJ Ley · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[elsewhere · Rating 5 out of 5]

Patuloy na babalik sa bayan ng Melag kung pahihintulutan. Dito, tayo ay malayang magluksa't matuwa.