Barcelona

by Criselda Yabes, Jerico Marte (Illustrator)

Set in 2050, this dystopian graphic novella follows Barcelona, a woman who leads a gang of orphans from the Drug War in vanishing Manila, a city that is slowly sinking underwater. A young officer from the south, which has separated itself from the rest of the old country, tries to rescue her from doom. A complex history of fates comes in between, as Barcelona must decide whether to join a new world of harmony led by oracle women and sustained by a stable ecosystem with nature. Or is the violence of the past so ingrained in her veins that leaving seems impossible?



* Barcelona is a recipient of the National Book Development Board's Publication Grant

114 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2023

About the author

Criselda Yabes is an acclaimed Filipino writer and journalist known for her insightful reportage and literature focused on Philippine politics, military affairs, and the conflict in Southern Mindanao. Drawing from years of experience as a correspondent, she blends investigative journalism with fiction to create powerful narratives. Yabes is also a recipient of the University of the Philippines Centennial Literary Prize. She is currently based in France.

Reviews

[Maria Ella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ang ganda ng reading journey ko!

Nakatulong ang konteksto ng Some People Need Killing as RRL for processing trauma from EJK and the psyche of people who fight against the harsh reality of Drug War.

Kung ako ay may anak, ipapabasa ko ba ito? Sa isang dose anyos, oo. Kasi, 12 years old ako nang mabasa ko ang Dekada 70. At nakakagising siya ng diwa ng pagkakapantay-pantay at umuugong sa puso ang kabuuan ng boses ng tao sa aktibismo. Pero, mas maganda ito kung guided reading ng mga nakakatanda, kasi mag mai-explain ng mga guro o ng mga magulang kung bakit ganun ang karanasan ni Barcelona. Ipapaliwanag ang kawalan ng pribilehiyo, ang mismong kalakaran ng droga, at yung panggagago ng mga pulis sa mga taong tingin nila ay hayop, o basura.

Naka-relate ako sa persona ni Barcelona. Na, "Ang anak ay bunga rin ng Ama". Anak nga ako, pero mas kilala ko ang mga ugali at gawi na hinding-hindi ko ipapamana sa mga nasa paligid. Isa pa, mas nanaisin kong basagin ang sumpa ng generational trauma sa pamamagitan ng pagtila ng pagpaparami ng lahi niya (100% ayoko ng anak, kahit multuhin nya ako in the near future, haha!).

Sorry, mapakla ulit.

Medyo nagulat ako sa open ending ng akda. Bakit sa lighthouse? Bakit hindi ideretso sa paraiso? Baka yun talaga ang plano ng author: ipaliwanag na ang laban ay isang mahabang marathon at hindi isang pasadang takbo.

[Alessa Lee Ébon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this is an interesting take on Maynila — speculative dystopia. It was not romanticized ie. the grit is there like the old 80s (or 70s?) action movies you see playing in the buses here.

I didn’t know that the Drug War is a main point in this story. Hmmm. And the former president is in the ICC custody now in relation to his war on drugs campaign. Canon divergence, but this lends realism to the story. And the flooding! There are indeed studies that predicts the imminent sinking of the city. It is happening now, excacerbated by the newer land reclamation along Manila Bay. Konting ulan lang, baha na sa Roxas Boulevard, tapos may storm surge pa. Whereas Sampaloc area being a catchbasin din, so the Maynila broken up into islands is not far from reality. I wished the ‘South’ and the Visayas were further detailed—it would be interesting to see how their societies are when the ‘North’ are in social collapse.

[Elle Factes · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Year 2050: most of The Philippines has sunk and whatever islands left in the South are now connected by bridges. Rahel, a young officer from the South is sent on a mission to convince Barcelona and her “Ulilas” (fellow orphans like her) to leave their sinking city and relocate to the progressive South.

The premise of this story is great and Barcelona, being a daughter of a jeepney driver killed during Tatay Digong’s drug war, is a compelling character. She is more than a leader, she is a reflection of the Filipino people’s resilience, of how much we fight to survive. Her dilemmas mirror that of our country’s as well. To cling to tradition, trying to preserve what remains or to risk moving forward towards renewal.

Some of Officer Rahel’s opinions did not sit right with me. In this setting, the South has totally separated from the rest of the country, which only strengthens the idea of “us vs. them”. I feel like some of the narrator’s bias has sipped into Rahel’s character. Although having lived in Mindanao for most of my life, I also see how she is inserting a version of Mindanao we hope for, peaceful, serene, in touch with nature.

This has been an engaging and thought provoking read that tackles Philippines’ social issues like the Drug War, Philippines during the pandemic, the marginalized and even makes a timely reference to POGOs in Southern Manila.

[Emilio · Rating 3 out of 5]

Look I am a crtiic of the drug war as much as the next guy but... cmon. Yabes is a journalist. She's written brilliant books like Boys from the Barracks. She's great at what she does. She is an expert fact finder and fact teller. She should know that the post office has low elevation, so if that structure still stands, then the Metro is unlikely to be submerged or abandoned! Worldbuilding-wise it can do much better. On the good side, tis good how it doesnt go into boring expositions and the flood is like a McDuffin...or something. Overall tho, the story lacks flavor and punch. It lacks point. It's a rant that seems to think it's opening readers' consciousness to something that, surprise-surprise, they already know for a long effin time. The problem with intellectuals is how they love tbeir blandness.

Premise 4
Plot 2
Style 3

[C.L. Balagoza · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ang Barcelona ni Criselda Yabes ay tungkol nga sa isang middle aged woman na ang pangalan ay Barcelona, hango sa pangalan ng Jeep na dina-drive ng kaniyang tatay at paborito rin nitong grupo sa football. Siya rin ang namumuno sa mga Ulila, tawag sa mga taong nakatira sa nasasakupan ni Barcelona. Madaling maintindihan ang panulat ng manunulat, baka sa bilis lang ng pangyayari o there's more to this na hindi na-explore. Actually andaming nangyari, kahit maikli lang ang novella, kaya siguro medyo hindi naging maganda ang dating sa akin hanggang dulo, pakiramdam ko, kung magkakaro'n ng extended edition ito, babasahin ko pa rin. At kung magkaroon man, what if alternate POV ni Aris at Barcelona. Pakiramdam ko sa buong nobela, isang idea lang si Barcelona kay Aris, kaya nagulat ako nang pasukan ito ng hint ng romance.

[charissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

what does escape really look like? not freedom, not relief—just distance that doesn’t change anything. the writing was beautiful, almost too beautiful, the kind that makes you pause and reread a line just to feel it again. but beneath that, the story felt hollow, like it wanted to say something about leaving, about identity, about the weight you carry, but never fully committed to it. everything stayed distant—the emotions, the characters, even the meaning. and maybe that’s what frustrated me most: it had all the pieces to be something heavy, something honest, but it never landed. just movement without depth, reflection without impact. in the end, it felt like going somewhere and feeling nothing at all.

[Ronabear · Rating 3 out of 5]

Barcelona had a really interesting premise. Imagine Manila in a dystopian era, slowly being submerged in water, honestly, it felt believable given the failed flood control projects. I liked how it also touched on real issues like the war on drugs and the pandemic, so may sense of realism siya.

Pero despite that, nakulangan ako. I get yung hesitation ng main character to step out of her comfort zone, pero when people’s lives are already at stake, kulang yung weight ng decisions niya.

Medyo off din for me yung ending. It suddenly leaned into romance, then biglang tapos na yung story. Also, medyo predictable kung sino yung villain, so nawalan ng impact yung reveal.

Overall, maganda yung concept and may potential talaga, pero I wish it had more depth and a stronger sense of closure.

[Dawn Beltran · Rating 3 out of 5]

the book had so much to say in terms of the themes it wanted to talk about, but despite the really interesting world building, it lacks on expounding further the characters within the plot + the guy (forgot his name) pisses me off and all of a sudden he’s sounding like a white savior to barcelona GET OUT OF HEREE

[Dycee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an absolutely captivating read; I devoured it in a single sitting, finding it impossible to put down. The prose is elegantly crafted, and the author's ability to paint vivid pictures with words is truly commendable.