Kalahating Bahaghari

by Ricky Lee

Mommy, may ipagtatapat ako, sabi ni Joshua sa ina. Ano, na gusto mong maging writer? Oho. Pero hindi 'yun. I think I'm gay.

O e ano naman ngayon? Gay ang Lolo Jim at Lolo Dale mo, trans ang Auntie Erich mo, queer ako, at ngayon ay gay ka, nagunaw ba ang mundo?

Genres: Queer, LGBT, Gay

361 pages, Paperback

Published September 14, 2024

About the author

Filipino screenwriter, journalist, novelist, and playwright.

He has written more than 150 film screenplays since 1973, earning him more than 50 trophies from various award-giving bodies, including a 2003 Natatanging Gawad Urian Lifetime Achievement Award from the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino (Filipino Film Critics). As a screenwriter, he has worked with many Filipino film directors, most notably with Lino Brocka and Ishmael Bernal. Many of his films have been screened in the international film festival circuit in Cannes, Toronto, Berlin, among others.

Reviews

[henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kung ang una niyang nobelang Para Kay B ay love letter ni Ricky Lee para sa mga manunulat, itong ika-lima niyang nobela ay walang pangingimi niyang iniaalay para sa mga bakla't mga tomboy, mga trans at mga bisexual, mga queer at non-binary at gender-fluid at lahat tayong nakasilong sa iisang malaking bahaghari.

May kasaysayan sa nobelang ito: mabigat at marahas na kasaysayan. Kasaysayan ng pakikibaka para sa karapatang pang-LGBTQIA+ na lagi't lagi ay kakabit ng pakikibaka para sa karapatang pantao, ng pag-aaklas laban sa mapang-abusong sistemang gumugupo sa lahat, bakla man o hindi.

May ligaya sa nobelang ito: ligayang binayaran ng dugo ng mga nauna sa atin.

May kalayaan sa nobelang ito.

[Spens (Sphynx Reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

By the paragraph before the last, I could hold my tears back no longer. It was as if I was surrounded by all who came before me—people who could not live their lives out in the open, people who have died not knowing love and acceptance, people who bore the brunt of every injustice imaginable—all of them looking back at me like a mirror. This is what it used to be like, they say. And they beckon, now this is what you have to do.

By the final paragraph, Ricky Lee's poetry engulfed my soul, every word of that final sentence searing themselves into my memory. We are here, we are queer, and we will die no longer. We will tolerate no more. We will be unapologetically whole.

You could not have asked for a better tribute and love letter to the Filipino LGBTQIA+ community. One that acknowledges our history, with all its pains and triumphs. One that sings with truth and heart and soul. One that says with fervent solemnity, I see you and I am so damn proud of you.

This is not a perfect book by any means, but it is a damn masterpiece. Read it, queer child, and know that there is hope. Read it, straight ally, and understand our truths. Read it, misinformed bigot, and learn the anatomy of an apology. Read it, dear friend, that your eyes may see the beauty of Pride flags anew.

[Emmzxiee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my second book on this author and I can say that there is something different in this novel.

Halos ilang araw na simula ng natapos ko ang akdang ito at ang naisusulat ko lang sa aking rebyu ay NAPAKANDA NYA at punong-puno ng kulay at buhay. Sa unang chapter pa lang ng nobelang ito ay gugulatin ka na ng author. Ipapadama nya agad sa'yo ang danas ng isang queer character. Napaka realistic ng mga eksena a sobrang nakarelate ako. Para akong nanunuod ng isang telenobela — kapana-panabik at hindi mo nanaising bitawan o pakawalan. Naroong nakikita ko nalang ang aking sarili na humihikbi at umiiyak sa mga pangyayari sa storya.

Marami akong self realization matapos kong mabasa ang librong ito. Isa na dito ang perspektibo ng mga tao sa mga kaanib ng LGBTQIA+ community. Na kahit umiinog ang ating mundo, hindi pa din maiaalis ang mga negatibong komento patungkol sa mga queer people.

Ipinaranas ng librong ito sa akin ang kahulugan ng pagmamaha, kung paano magmahal at kung paano mahalin. Ipinakita nito ang iba't ibang mukha ng pag-ibig. Nakakakilig, Nakakalungkot at Nagdadala ng dalamhati.

Totoo ang sinabi ng mga naunang nagrebyu ng akdang ito —this is an ode, a letter to the people in the LGBTQIA+ community as well as to every reader regardless of your gender identity and sexual orientation.

Marami pa akong gustong sabihin ngunit eto nalang muna —basta, basahin nyo ang ganda nito.

Kaya kung naghahanap ka ng librong magpapaiyak sayo ngayong 2025, I recommend you to read this book!

[C.L. Balagoza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Katatapos ko lang basahin ng bagong nobela ni Sir Ricky Lee na Kalahating Bahaghari. Ang masasabi ko lang, ang kuwento sa loob nito ay tila kayamanang ipinangangako sa dulo ng bahaghari. Hindi mo isasara ang aklat sa bawat kabanata na wala kang matutunan na bagong impormasyon. Maganda rin ang pagkakapinid ng buong nobela, malawak siya, ngunit hindi komplikadong intindihin. Mas magpapaliwanag pa ang aklat.

Gusto ko rin sa nobela ang pagtatala ng dalawang kasaysayang patuloy pa rin binubura ng mga nasa Kapangyarihan. Magkakabit na ito noon pa man. Ang pakikibaka para sa lipunan at pagiging bakla.

Hindi rin biro ang reading experience. Halos kalahating araw ako nagpahinga para sa unang bahagi. Nang simulan ko naman ang pangalawa, hindi ko na nakilala ang antok. Kung babasahin mo ito, gusto kong sabihin, ihanda mo ang puso mo, pati tissue para sa uhog at luha mo. Matatawa ka rin, wag mag-alala.

Subukan niyo rin, if ever, na pakinggan ang mga pamagat ng kanta na mababanggit. Once na mapakinggan ninyo at mabasa ang mga eksena, doble ang dating ng eksena.

Eksayted na akong ikuwento sa mga kaibigan ko ang nabasa ko. At sa marami pang tao na makakasalamuha.

(P.S. Sinadya ko talagang huwag maging detailed sa mga nabasa ko sa nobela. Gusto ko, kayo at kayo lang ang makararanas sa unang pagbasa. Pagkatapos ko basahin ang huling pahina, hangang-hanga ako. Sabi nga sa aklat, parang may sumabog sa loob at labas ko.)

#RickyLee #KalahatingBahaghari

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

ito ang librong magpapatunay na hindi lahat ng makulay ay habang-buhay makulay

[Pam Z (Pam's Shenanigans) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ricky Lee could’ve st*bbed me instead, and it would’ve hurt less than reading this book 😭 It’s so good, I would’ve thanked Ricky Lee for hurting me either way.

[Gab of Green Gables · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Di mo kailangang maging perpekto nang ipanganak. Di ka kailangang buo na agad. Tayo ang bubuo sa sarili natin”

Sir Ricky Lee, maraming salamat po sa inyong akda.

Ang tagal na rin ng huling beses na naluha ako sa isang libro. Para sa akin, ito na ang pinakamaganda mo pong librong nabasa ko.

Grabe yung istorya ng pamilyang ipinakilala dito sa libro at ang mga emosyon na naramdaman ko kalakip sa bawat istorya ng mga karakter. Ramdam ko yung effort ni Ricky Lee na pagisipang mabuti yung backstories ng kanyang mga karakter at kung paano sila magiging interconnected.

Unang chapter pa lang grabe na yung emosyon na naramdaman ko. Ang ganda ng storytelling format kung saan naglakbay ako kasama ng mga karakter mula 1970 hanggang sa kasalukuyang panahon.

Hindi lang kapupulutan ng aral itong libro, educational rin siya tungkol sa LGBTQIA+ community.

Dahil kilalang screenwriter rin ng mga pelikula si Ricky Lee, parang mala-pelikula yung takbo ng mga eksena sa libro.

Ang husay, talagang kakapitan mo bawat eksena. Sana gawing pelikula itong libro kasi deserving talaga.

Ito yung librong ipaglalaban ko hanggang dulo.

[Kat Elle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kalahating Bahaghari by Ricky Lee is a must-read in Philippine literature.

This sweeping literary novel, which spans fifty years, explores queerness, gender and human rights, the complexities of the Filipino family, and the beautiful—though often painful—journey of self-discovery. It was heart-wrenching at times, but characters like Jim, Dale, Sam, and Sally made every page worth it.

[Daniel Efa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hirap magmahal pag bading!! Hindi naman kalaban ang pag-ibig, mas kalaban ang mundo, ibang tao, takot, hiya, pulitika, kahit ang mga sarili.


Paalaala ang librong itong desisyon ang umibig, kahit mahirap, kahit maraming kalaban, upang manatiling umiibig

[Billy Ibarra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Higit limang dekadang kuwento ng isang pamilya at ng usaping pangkasarian sa Pilipinas sa iba't ibang yugto ng kasaysayan. Punumpuno ang Kalahating Bahaghari ng madilim (at marahas) na naratibo, ngunit palaging nagtatapos sa mga kulay ng bahaghari---bagama't kalahati lang at hindi buo. Madilim, sapagka't isinasalaysay nito ang danas ng sangkabaklaan kung saan palagi silang nililibak, itinuturing na iba, malayo sa normalidad na idinidikta ng lipunan. Ngunit makulay dahil palaging lumalaban, walang-takot, nakikibaka para sa pagkakapantay-pantay. Hindi buo ang bahaghari sapagkat palaging nasa yugto ng pagbabago ang daigdig, pinapanday ng mga danas ng mamamayan, binabaka para sa isang malayang lipunan. Sabi nga ni Sir Ricky sa aklat, "Patuloy pa ang mga pagbabago. Hindi lahat ay naitakda na. Bukás pa ang kahon. May mga hindi pa nakikita sa gitna ng mga espasyo, mga misteryong di magagap, mga kaakuhang wala pang pangalan, mga lugar na hindi kung ano ang isang bagay o tao ay iyon na. Nasa isang mundo tayo ng walang hanggang hiwaga at posibilidad."

Para ka na ring kumuha ng ED (educational discussion) tungkol sa SOGIE sa nobela ni Sir Ricky Lee: May pagsasakonteksto ng mga usaping pangkasarian, may pagsasakasaysayan, at may tunguhin. Punumpuno ng impormasyon ngunit hindi mo magagawang bitiwan. Hindi ito basta-basta lang pagkukuwento kundi may nais ding makamit para sa komunidad ng LGBTQIA+ na hindi hiwalay na sektor ng lipunan. Bagama't mas bukas na sa usaping pangkasariaan ang lipunan ngayon kumpara noon, laganap pa rin ang homophobia, hate crime, diskriminasyon, misgendering, etc., na mauugat sa umiiral na pyudal na kultura na kailangan nating patuloy na baguhin. 'Ika nga, malayo na pero malayo pa.

Marami pang puwedeng pagkuwentuhan tungkol sa nobela---katulad ng kultura ng mga Tsino, kung ano-anong kanta at pelikula ang nasa loob ng nobela, ang mga tauhan at lugar sa kuwento, pati ang usapin tungkol sa pagsusulat---na iiwan ko na lang sa iba pang mambabasa. Basta ihanda mo na lang ang sarili mo kung babasahin mo ang Kalahating Bahaghari dahil tiyak na bubuhos ang emosyon mo. Puwede kang matawa, bumaha ang iyong luha, magalit, malungkot, sumaya. Tandaan lang na katulad sa kuwento, hindi palaging maliwanag ang langit, naghahatid din ito ng dilim at ng ulan, ngunit sa dulo ay mayroon itong ipinapangakong bahaghari para sa 'yo.

[Veron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kalahating Bahaghari by National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Ricky Lee is an ode to the lived experiences of the LGBTQIA+ community in the country. To portray their storied history, we follow a fictional family composed of queer members across three generations.

The novel is divided into two main parts. The first part, a historical fiction, opens in 1972 with teenager Jim awakening from a car accident that made him deaf and completely orphaned. This part tells his triumphs and tragedies with his identity, family, and romance all with the backdrop of the heightened political spirit of Marcos Sr. Martial Law. We then follow his nieces Sally and Erich as they go through a similarly (very) tumultuous coming of age of queers and transgenders.

The second part takes the form of a contemporary fiction set in 2024 as we are introduced to Sally’s son Joshua and his friend group with varied SOGIESCs (think The Marahuyo Project or Heartstopper but set along Katipunan Ave.). Josh goes through a different set of conflicts for a gay person in a more modern time growing up in an accepting family and relatively having more privilege. He also faces frustrations in being a writer finding his voice and in pursuit of the truth of his family, which he later realizes could be connected to each other.

“Ang umibig ay isang desisyon upang manatiling umiibig.”

Pieces of a classic Ricky Lee story are present, familiar to those who have watched or read at least one of his works: There is the testing and bending of his characters’ morality and his readers’ judgement. There’s the meta-advice on writing and a touch on the ‘cannibalization’ of creating art based on the lives of other people, reminiscent of Orly in Himala. His thesis on romance in Para Kay B can be recalled, where most people don't really get a successful and satisfying love story. There are cleverly hidden twists that do not affect the plot until revealed to reshape everything that was written before. The telenovela-like drama and tragedy of his characters.

“Sa bansang ito, sabi ng isang militanteng estudyante ni Jim, ay napakadali ang iwala ka at kalimutan.”

And it is not a Ricky Lee work without politics. In his fifth novel, gender politics isn’t hidden in allegories, rather depicted through the everyday lives of the characters and the lessons on the militancy of pride. Lee honors real-life events and people such as Stonewall Manila 1994, the existence of LGBTQ+ people before the arrival of the cross, the killing of transwoman Jennifer Laude, its unjust aftermath, and even the rainy 2024 Pride March.

“Madalas ay napag-uusapan nila na ang mga pagsupil noong ‘70s sa mga mamamayan, bakla man o hindi, ay kagaya pa rin ng pasgsupil ngayon.”

Lee becomes direct in connecting the struggle of the LGBT with the wider political situation of the times. He includes narratives that are less acknowledged in the mainstream such as the lives of queer people in the underground revolution. The way the police disperse protest actions, mobilizations during Martial Law was the same way they broke apart gay gatherings. Characters become direct victims of religious conversion camps and verbal abuse – the militaristic English standing out in the novel fully written in Filipino. Parallels between the oppression of activists and queer people are often pointed out. The 50-year span of the novel shows what changed and what hasn’t. Although more physical and digital spaces have recently offered safety for the community, discrimination and injustice is rampant still. Curiously, the book also offers perspectives from homophobes themselves and how they responded to the changes of the society’s treatment of the community.

Ricky Lee’s expertise as a scriptwriter becomes apparent. Some parts even become pure, full-on dialogue. There are moments that the writing felt too cinematic and this felt like a series/movie pitch instead of a novel. The fast pacing and flowy paragraphs bereft of quotation marks made this an engaging read.

However, I also think that the plot could’ve used inserting breathing spaces in between the heavy moments – especially in Sally and Erich’s storyline. I think it deserved a whole part equal to Jim’s and Joshua’s instead of 2-3 chapters for how heavy and loaded it was. There’s also a major revelation near the end: Joshua's father being his mother's biological uncle that was too heavy not only to the character but also to the reader and it was resolved abruptly through killing off Luis . Some side characters I think deserve more presence in the story. Some had fates I thought were unnecessarily brutal ,in a book filled with deaths, Talia's and even Sam's felt ??? . Some characters’ decisions make for *interesting* discussions which includes Joshua's obsessive stalker-ish behavior which was out of place . Minor critique but why is there so many reminders of Sam's Chinese eyes. I swear everytime Sam appears, his eyes would be described as disappearing when he smiles

“May naipong galit sa kanilang mga dibdib sa pagdaan ng mga taon, galit na unti-unting naging pagkamuhi, at di nagtagal ay naging karahasan.”

Freedom and resistance becomes a recurring theme in the novel. Characters find freedom in dressing up, in sex, in occupying and reclaiming spaces, in fighting for multi-sectoral campaigns, in standing up, in leaving when they need to, in loving who they want to. With the violent truths contrasted with the things that bind the community - found families, strength, solidarity, and acceptance - the novel becomes a mirror to a struggle for victories long overdue.

“Hindi lang tayong mga miyembro ng LGBTQIA+ community ang nagtataas ng ating mga boses. Kasama din nating lahat ang mga manggagawa at estudyante at magsasaka at urban poor at indigenous groups, lahat ng inaapi, lahat ng tinatanggalan ng boses. Lahat tayo ay lumalaban! Ang pride ay protesta!”

[Alyka · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Hindi kami fetish na fulfillment lang ng fantasy ng ibang tao. Hindi kami freak o aksidente o pagkakamali o may depektong kailangang i-repair. Hindi kami entertainers lang, o comic relief, o libangan, na kapag hindi kailangan ay intinatago sa closet, o kaya ay binibura. Hindi kami nagising na lang ay nag-decide na trans na kami. Mga tao kaming kagaya niyo."

Hindi ko alam paano ipapaliwanag pero may kung anong force ang naempowered sa loob ko after basahin nito. Wala akong ibang masabi sa mga mabubuting karakter kundi proud ako sa kanila. Mas lumawak ang pag-intindi at simpatiya ko sa mga lgbtq+.

Napakadaling basahin ng akda na 'to at kuhang-kuha niya yung imahinasyon ko. Ang daming linya na sapul na uulit-ulitin ko sa utak ko.

Unang Filipino book ko to after 3-4 years (?) at masaya ako sa napili ko galing PBF. Excited na ulit ako magbasa pa ulit ng sariling wika 🇵🇭 (perstaym ko lang din ulit magbigay ng review ng Tagalog hehe)

Para kay Ricky Lee, da best ka talagaaa! Sobrang Latalinooo! 🫡

[Ron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magkakadugtong na buhay ng mga bakla, lesbian, queer, trans at iba pa, mahusay na naisulat ni Ricky Lee mula 1970 hanggang 2019 (or 2024).

Tatlong henerasyon ng isang pamilya, lahat LGBTQIA+, mula sa malupit na mga karanasan at mapagmalayang pagmamahal. Winawasak at binubuo ang kanilang pagkatao. Namumuhay sa mundo ng karaniwan. Pero lahat humihiling ng kaligayahan.

Napaka Filipino ng kwento. Madaling naisulat ni Ricky Lee ang mga bida sa libro, ang kanilang saluobin, mga pangarap. Buo ang mga kwento.It is grilled with heart and heritage. Ilambeses akong umiiyak sa malulungkot na mga kwento kasi totoo lahat. Tumatagos, an honest depiction.

Hanggang ngayon, ang pinaglalaban natin na pantay na karapatan ng mga Filipino, importanteng ipagpatuloy. Buong mundo ay humihingi ng karapatan na ito. SOGIE Bill na hindi pa maipasa sa Pilipinas. Hustisya sa mga sinasaktan at pinapatay na kasapi natin.

Si Joshua ang nasa ikatatlong henerasyon, sya ang may hawak ng lahat ng pinagdaanan ng kanyang mga ninuno, at magpapatuloy mabuhay kahit na may madilim na lihim, kasi ang choices nya na harapin ang ngayon ay bunga ng pagmamahal at katapangan ng mga nagmahal at nagmamahal sa kanya.

[Clare · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sa librong ito, naitawid yung pagiging myembro ng LGBTQIA+ simula nung dati pa hanggang sa kasalukuyan. Pwedeng itanggi ng karamihan sa nakakatanda sa atin na “wala namang bakla at tomboy noon, ngayon lang yan nauso sa panahon na’to” pero well, buhay na patunay ang iilan sa mga nakakasalamuha natin lalo na twing pride march.

Ewan ko kung nagkaroon na ba ng instance na ganito pero parang unang beses pa lang akong nakabasa ng nobela na feeling ko kasama ako sa kwento kasi andun ako mismo sa setting kung saan ang mga character. Nakakatuwa! Salamat kay Ricky Lee, na-encapsulate yung moment na yun. I think eternal na yun.

[Sean David · Rating 5 out of 5]

- story starts in the 70s—showed how macho-fascism k*lled & t*rtured people just for being activists AND/OR queer during the martial law era. always great to see the connection between class and gender being discussed/tackled
- also showed the progression of how queerness is perceived in the Philippines
- so many things happened in the novel, some might hate this kind of storytelling but for me, it still felt whole, everything connects and makes sense. some plot points may feel exaggerwted, but no, these gruesome things really happen in real life up to this day
- chapters about desaparecidos hit too hard. people might think that abduction of activists is a thing of the past, but in the novel it happens at present–just like what happened to Bazoo (an activist friend & orgmate) and Manong Dexter (and many more). almost teared up bc i remember seeing Bazoo in QC a few days before their disappearance. novels like this ensure that our call will never be silenced and forgotten
- not just a rollercoaster ride, Kalahating Bahaghari is a whole park full of love, misery, and horror
- loving someone whose heart is still occupied by the past
- classic generational trauma
- daddy & mommy issues? check! falling for a straight man? check! (ps these are not canon for me 😌)
- discrimination and violence against trans people
- + (just like in lgbtqia+, there are more)
- the thing i love the most is this novel shows that no matter how bad they want us gone, queer people survive, fight, and continue
- i have many many more thoughts tbh i just dont have the words for now haha (i dont even knownif ill ever have the proper words) but all in all i think that this is really the perfect read this pride season—especially that we, queer people ourselves, often forget that pride is first and foremost a protest
- definitely a 5/5 read for me esp after getting chained to healing japanese and korean novels 😭

[Julio Gabriel · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first Ricky Lee's book. Grabe, #gets ko na. Sobrang raw and casual ng writing style. Gusto ko 'yung hindi ka literal na sinasampal ng kung ano mang nais sabihin ng kwento, pero may sinasabi at kapag narinig mo, mapapa-isip ka kung gaano katapang at kaganda ang nangyayari. I'll miss Jim. For a while, naisip ko na totoong tao sila, and true enough, totoong tao sila. Nakakasalubong natin. Kaibigan natin. Kakilala natin. Nakasabay natin. O baka maging tayo ay bahaghari din ng bahaghari.

[siomai · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is one of a kind and definitely isa sa mga books na i'll recommend to everyone. aside sa pag-tackle sa iba't ibang isyu na nararanasan ng mga part ng lgbtqia+ sa pinas, it also showed ang interconnectedness natin sa bawat isa. love ko yung dynamics ng bawat character and yung flow ng story. mahal na mahal ko yung story ni jim and sam, as well as kay sally & joshua, and mikee 🥹 (parang nilahat ko na). and despite some heavy topics, able pa rin na ipagpatuloy na basahin siya kasi talagang maaattach ka sa characters. minsan, parang kasama ka na rin sa kuwento. makikita mo yung sarili mo sa mga tauhan. ricky lee is unparalleled, hindi talaga nagpapabigo ang pagsulat niya. i'll hold this book close to my heart as someone who's a proud bading kahit na minsa'y mabigat sa loob ang pagiging isa sa mundong pinaparamdam ka na hindi ka kabilang

[bryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

if I could go into this book and meet the characters that made me FEEL, I would give each of them the warmest hug ever

[Josue Mapagdalita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kinilig
Umiyak
Tumawa
Kinilig
Nagalit
Umiyak
Umiyak
Umiyak
Umiyak
Umiyak
Kinilig
Kinilig
Umiyak
Umiyak

Lumaya.

Muntik ko na ma-DNF dahil hindi handa ang puso ko sa mga nangyayari. Pero natalo iyon ng ganda ng pagkakahabi ng mga kuwento ng LGBTQIA+ community at ng allies, na mula noon pa man ay nakikibaka na upang mabuo ang kalahating bahaghari. At bilang isang bading, masaya akong natagpuan ko ang sarili ko sa mga tauhan ng nobelang ito.

This is a masterpiece. Maraming salamat, Sir Ricky!

[Sijan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Andaming bading 🤩 five stars ka saken 😎🫵

[paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

oh to live a life written by ricky lee…

[Highnyzbibliofiles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my second time reading this book. Special thanks to Emman and Talk Bookish to Me for including me in their Book of the Month discussion.

Revisiting this story felt like reopening old wounds. You think you've moved on, but it still wrecks you to the core. That was me—I thought I had already processed the pain, but the emotions remained just as raw as they were the first time I read it.

As I mentioned in my Book Threads post before, the book powerfully captures the different struggles faced by the LGBTQIA+ community over the years

• Each era—Martial Law, the 90s, and the 2000s—had its own way of portraying discrimination and pain. As the world moves forward, the struggles of the LGBTQIA+ community continue, evolving but never truly disappearing.

• Stigma – In the 90s, HIV and AIDS were labeled as dreadful diseases. With less societal awareness, the blame was often unfairly directed toward the LGBTQIA+ community. Today, despite increased access to information, ignorance persists. HIV cases continue to rise, and instead of compassion, some people respond by suggesting mandatory HIV testing for job applications—out of fear of being “infected.” I even saw posts from QC’s Pride Run flooded with hateful comments like, “Kaya tumataas ang HIV dahil sa inyo!” These reflect how deeply rooted the stigma still is.

• Family should be a source of love, acceptance, and strength—but for many, it becomes the root of trauma and pain. The love they deserved from their families is instead found in the kindness of strangers and chosen friends.

• We often claim that Filipino culture doesn't struggle with pronouns due to our supposed gender-neutral language. However, colonial influence—especially Spanish—has embedded gender-specific roles in our vocabulary (like work titles ending in “-o” or “-a”). Many professions remain dominated by a single gender, and when an LGBTQIA+ individual enters these spaces, they are still met with judgment and raised eyebrows.

• Religious conversions – Some still interpret being LGBTQIA+ as a sin. They say “hate the sin, love the sinner,” yet fail to separate the person from their identity. This leads to forced conversions. It's an irony when religious leaders, like the pastor in Marina’s church, describe gays and lesbians as if they were a disease.

• Pride Walk is often misunderstood as flaunting or showing off. But people forget—or choose not to see—that it's a protest. A fight for basic human rights, safety, and dignity. They are not just marching for themselves, but for all of us—against brutality, inequality, poverty, injustice, and economic instability. They walk so others may live free. . Ipinaglalaban din nila tayo.

Nasa isang mundo tayo ng walang hanggang hiwaga at posibilidad (we are in a world of neverending mystery and posibilities). Probably that's what sums up this book: Kalahating Bahaghari (Half Rainbow). The book was called Kalahating Bahaghari because throughout the history of pains there is another universe where they can complete the whole curve of that rain

My hope for the Filipinos is to be humane, understanding, and more educated. They yearn for respect, I do hope they can find it in their families. Family is home, it is where everyone of us belong. Sana matagpuan din nila ang tahanan sa kanilang pamilya – pamilya na may pag-unawa at walang bahid ng panghuhusga, pamilya nagbibigay lakas at hindi takot, pamilya kayang ipaglaban at hindi kinatatakutan. Maging karugtong ng kalahating bahaghari sana ang kanilang mga pamilya.

This was another masterpiece of Ricky Lee that foretold the history of the LGBTQA+ struggle as a Filipino. It captures the unusual story from history that is worth a read.

[kylle cinco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just like the book cover, the emotions I’ve felt while reading this is like a rainbow journey; different colors, different emotions. The way Ricky Lee writes his characters is so humanly, they are not perfect, they all have their flaws, and yet they are all just trying to survive this unfair and cruel world. He knows how to use the words and how to make it sharp. Sharp enough to stab your heart and hurt you — make you feel the character’s pain and frustrations. This book completed and destroyed me. It completed me in a way I can see some of the characters experiences that I could relate to and make me feel visible and comfortable. Somehow, it also destroys me, it broke my heart by the experiences these characters encountered; especially to Sally, Jim, and Sam, actually to most of them. Parang dinurog nila yung puso ko sa bawat istorya nila, tapos kinuha nila yung bawat bubog ng puso ko at sinaksak sa akin pabalik. Ganun s’ya kasakit.

I think it is entitled as “Kalahating Bahaghari” is because of the experiences that these characters had. A rainbow symbolizes hope, love, and happiness. However, with each character’s experience and story they are not always hopeful, loved, and happy. There are times that they are doubtful, full of hatred, unloved, filled with uncertainties l, and frustrated with the unjust system they experienced. That is why it’s always a half rainbow. To think that most characters felt incomplete yet they find each other that completed who they truly are.

It can also symbolizes as unfinished story, journey, and ongoing fight for the rights of LGBTQIA+. Imagine, this story takes places for 50 years, five generations, with different individuals who tried to be free from societal expectations, discrimination, and oppression. Hindi matatapos ang laban hangga’t hindi nakikita ng iba ang buong bahaghari, ang buong kuwento, ang buong emosyon ng mga taong nakaranas ng ganitong isyu. Hindi matatapos ito hangga’t hindi naiintindihan, natatanggap, at nalalaman na may nangyayaring ganito. Dapat ngayon, nakikisangkot tayo sa mga ganitong isyu para ang susunod na henerasyon ay makakapagmahal nang buong buo, walang takot, at kayang ipagmalaki kung sino man sila. Sana ang susunod na henerasyon ang bubuo ng bahaghari.

Thank you for reading my yapping session.

[Diane RB (booksandthensome) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am here to make another required reading recommendation. Much has already been said about this book, and I wholeheartedly agree with the raves from fellow bookish friends. I would like to add to the discussion by sharing how it impacted me.

Kalahating Bahaghari, penned by none other than National Artist Ricky Lee, is more than just a love letter to the LGBTQIA+ community. Written in Filipino, reading it feels like traveling back in time as if experiencing, through his complex characters, what it was like to live as queer during the Martial Law era, more than 50 years ago. The story is told from the perspective of a family (if we can even call it that, depending on how we define it), tracing their journey down the line to the present day.

Fifty years may sound like a long time ago but it hits close to home. It was the time of my parents, and perhaps your grandparents. For me, born in the early ’80s, it stirred nostalgia, memories, and beliefs. There are things I thought I understood but were challenged, enriched, and definitely moved by this book. I knew bits and pieces of these realities, but seeing them laid out as a whole brought so much insight. Moving forward, I know I have been changed.

I’ve always considered myself an ally and many people dear to me are LGBTQIA+. But, reading Kalahating Bahaghari ignited in me a greater sense of responsibility. I know I have to do more and to contribute in whatever way I can, to change the prejudices and injustices that still exist today.

I said this is more than a love letter- this book is a tribute, an honor for those who lived through those decades. This is about recognizing that while we have come a long way, it hasn’t always been like this. We have moved far from that dark period of grave prejudice when they weren’t free, not just as citizens, but even to be themselves. They denied who they were, hid, and bore the brunt of societal discrimination. Times when even your own family could be an unsafe space. But they soldiered on, and here we are today. Malayo na, pero malayo pa.

I feel this should be required reading because the lessons it imparts feel like learning from an LGBTQIA+ manual- only that it is not. These are well-told stories, drawn from people who lived that reality. I cried. How I cried. I also got angry. And now, I hope.

Today marks the end of Pride Month, but may PRIDE shine all year round.

[Kyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ang Kalahating Bahaghari ay hindi lang isang nobela. Regalo ito sa lahat ng baklang Pilipino.

Sa pagsentro ni Ricky Lee sa halos limang dekadang kuwento ng pamilya Marcelino, ipinakita niya na ang pamilya— bilang pinakamaliit at batayang unit ng lipunan— ay salamin mismo ng kasaysayan ng Pilipinas, partikular sa kung paano nito itinuring ang kabaklaan.

Sa panahon ng Batas Militar, ang kabaklaan ay isang bagay na dapat itago. Hindi ito normal katulad ng maraming bagay — ang maging komunista, militante, palaban. Hindi ito tanggap dahil taliwas ito sa karaniwang ayos ng lipunan at sistemang binuo ng mga nasa kapangyarihan.

Sa madaling salita, ipinakita ni Ricky Lee na ang kabaklaan ay pakikibaka at hindi ito hiwalay sa iba pang marhinalisadong sektor ng lipunan.

Sa paglipas ng panahon, kapansin-pansin sa nobela ang until-unting pagbago sa danas ng mga bakla. Oo, apektado ng panahon kung paano tayo kikilos at iiral. Pero idiniin din ng nobela na tayo ang bumabago sa panahon at tayo ang nagdidikta sa direksyon ng kasaysayan.

Kung ano man ang mga napagtagumpayang laban ng sangkabaklaan sa kasalukuyan ay dahil ‘yan sa deka-dekadang pagkilos, pagsulong ng mga batas, pagtutol sa sistema, at mga nasawing buhay ng mga bahagi komunidad.

Hindi paglipas ng oras ang nagdadala ng pagbabago. Tayo ang gagawa nito.

Maraming sensitibong paksa ang binigyang-pansin ng nobela tulad ng torture, sexual harassment, enforced disappearances, at iba’t ibang porma ng gender-based violence. Hindi lumihis ang nobela sa mga paksang ito bilang pagkilala na kailangan itong pag-usapan at kailangan itong ikuwento.

Tulad sa pamilya, ang mga problema at kontradiksyon ay masosolusyunan lamang kung magkakaroon tayo ng lakas at tapang na konprontahin ang ating mga pakiramdam at ilabas ang mga gusto nating ihayag.

Sa huli, hindi nakalimutan ng nobela na bagaman ang kabaklaan ay hindi hiwalay sa walang-humpay na paglaban, ito rin sa dulo ay isang selebrasyon.

Ang kabaklaan ay pagdiriwang ng ating identitad at totoong sarili.

[kj · Rating 5 out of 5]

MAY BARDAGOLYO.

Hindi ko na mabilang kung ilang beses ko nang namura si Sir Ricky Lee dahil sa mala-roller coaster na emotion na naramdaman ko habang binabasa ito. I’m a fast reader lalo na kung maganda ang pagkakahabi ng kuwento, pero natagalan akong tapusin ito dahil hindi ko kinakaya. May mga pagkakataon na bigla na lang akong hihikbi kasabay ng pagpatak ng luha, matutulala at hihintayin munang kumalma ang sarili bago muling damputin ang librong ‘di ko namalayang nabitawan ko na pala. Kung tutuusin, napakagaan lang ng mga salitang ginamit—hindi siya wordy kumbaga. Ngunit kung gaano kagaan ang mga salita, siya namang bigat ng mga emosyon na nakapaloob dito.

Katulad ng sinabi ko sa bestfriend ko nang mag-rant ako patungkol sa libro: “Napaka-natural ng pagkukuwento ni Sir Ricky sa bawat buhay ng mga karakter.”
Habang binabasa ko ito, pakiramdam ko ay kasama ako sa kasaysayan sa unang bahagi, at patuloy na nakikibaka para sa karapatan ng bawat letra at kulay ng LGBTQA+ sa ikalawang bahagi. Pakiramdam ko naroroon ako kasama ang bawat karakter, inoobserbahan ang bawat kilos, nararamdaman ang bugso ng kanilang damdamin, at nakikiisa sa paglaban para sa karapatan ng bawat tao sa kabila ng mabagsik na pang-aabuso. Para akong nag-time travel at nakisama sa mga aktibista at ralyista.

Sa unang bahagi palang ay kuntento na ako—tila buo na ako. Ngunit nang mabasa ko ang ikalawang bahagi, doon ko napagtanto na may kulang pa, at naghangad na mahanap ito sa kung paano haharapin ni Joshua ang buhay. At hindi nga ako nagkamali, kahit na sa tingin natin na okay na ang unang bahagi, nariyan parin ang ikalawang bahagi na bubuo rito. Katulad ng kung paano patuloy na binubuo ni Dale ang buhay ni Jim, kung paanong kahit sandali ay nabuo ni Jim ang buhay ni Sam, kung paanong ang tila wasak na buhay ni Sally ay nabuo nang dumating si Joshua, at kung paanong sa tinagal-tagal ng panahon ay nabuo rin si Luis. Kasama pa ang mga karakter na patuloy na bumubuo at binubuo ang bawat parte ng kanilang buhay, hanggang sa hindi na ito kalahati kundi ganap na buo.

[Sai theengineerisreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Napakaraming pwedeng sabihin tungkol diro at maaring nasabi na ng iba ang karamihan kaya ang focus ng revyu ko ay ang mga bagay na nagustuhan ko.

Ang Kalahating Bahaghari ay aklat ng mga queer, at para sa mga queer.

Intergenerational saga ang naging atake ng KB - umiikot ang kwento sa mga pangyayari at eksena sa bansa tampok ang tatlong henerasyon na pinagdugtong ng kanilang karanasan bilanh miyembro ng bahaghari.

Pinakatumatak sakin ang paglalahad ng kwento ng buhay nina Jim, Sam, Dale, Erich, Joshua na nakasuson sa mga kaganapang pamilyar sa mga Pilipino. Nariyan ang lantarang paggamit ng dahas sa ilalim ng kamay ng mga militar noong Martial Law, ang di-matawarang panghuhusga ng madla sa mga bakla at tomboy, at ang social stigma at stereotyping sa mga queer folks na patuloy pa ring nararanasan hanggang sa ngayon.

Detalyado ang pagkasulat sa bawat karakter. Pinakapaborito ko si Jim dahil sa kanya ko nakita ang depinisyon ng tapang at paniniwala sa sarili. Habang binagbagtas ko ang bawat pahina sa unang bahagi, di maiwasang pumatak ang mga luha dahil sa kapalarang natamo ng mga karakter. Tumawid ako sa ikalawang bahagi bitbit ang bigat ng damdamin.

Sa kwento ni Joshua at ng kanyang imperpektong pamilya nasubok ang aking experience. May pansariling bias na paghambingin ang kwento ni Joshua at ng kanyang mga nakatatanda, ngunit nanaig ang pang-unawa na di ba sa pag-usad ng panahon ay baon lagi nito ang pagbabago. At alam ko na ang ngayon ay hindi pa ang ideal na panahon kung saan nakukuha na ng mga miyembro ng bahaghari ang respeto at pagtanggap na deserve nila, kung ikukumpara sa pinagdaanan at karanasan ng mga bakla at tomboy 30-50 years ago pwedeng sabihin na may pag-usad. Malayo na pero malayo pa.

Patunay ang Kalahating Bahaghari ng husay at galing ni Ricky Lee!

[readiculously_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Hindi kami fetish na fulfillment lang ng fantasy ng ibang tao. Hindi kami freak o aksidente o pagkakamali o may depektong kailangang i-repair. Hindi kami entertainers lang, o comic relief, o libangan, na kapag hindi kailangan ay intinatago sa closet, o kaya ay binibura. Hindi kami nagising na lang ay nag-decide na trans na kami. Mga tao kaming kagaya niyo."
May kakaibang estilo ng pagsusulat si Sir Ricky Lee — tila bawat salita ay may sariling buhay. Habang binubuklat ang mga pahina, para bang ang mga karakter ay unti-unting nabubuhay, may mga tinig na tumatagos sa puso’t kaluluwa. Ang bawat kwento ay parang isang lihim na ibinubulong sa iyo — mga damdaming hindi basta-basta maipapahayag ng ibang salita o tao. Sa kanyang mga kwento, mararamdaman ang kalinga ng pamilya, ang tibay ng pagkakaibigan, at ang init ng pag-ibig — mga damdaming muling nagpapaalala sa atin kung gaano kahalaga ang mga ugnayan sa ating buhay. Ito ang mga damdaming pilit nating itinatago, pero unti-unting lumilitaw sa mga kwento ng pag-asa, sakripisyo, at pagnanais na magmahal at mahalin.Tulad nila Jim, Erich, Mikee, Sally, Tonyo, Kring, Joshua, Pol, Dale, Sam, Hannah, Divine, at  Andre, ang bawat kwento ng mga queer at ng ating komunidad ay isang patunay na tayo ay may natatanging pagkatao, may halaga, at may karapatan sa bawat aspeto ng ating buhay."Ang pag-ibig ay hindi isang bagay na simpleng desisyon lamang. Hindi ito isang hakbang na ating pinili. Ang pag-ibig ay isang puwersang dumadaloy nang kusa, isang damdaming lumilitaw sa ating buhay nang hindi natin inaasahan. Hindi ito nag-iisip, hindi nagpapaliwanag; ito ay isang puwersang hindi natin kayang pigilan, isang damdaming kusang umaangkin sa ating kaluluwa."

[Mark Fermill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kalahating Bahaghari is a powerful addition to our queer literature. It fearlessly captures the lived struggles of queer individuals in the Philippines, spanning from the Martial Law era to the present day. It sheds light on the brutal realities faced by many: from the ruthless punishment of boys who exhibit femininity, to the painful "corrections" enforced by family or society, which range from berating and forced training to violence and even death. It’s raw, heartwrenching, and filled with moments that made me want to reach into the pages and give the characters a warm and much-needed hug.

If the book had ended with the “Unang Bahagi,” I would’ve given it a solid five stars. That part alone was intense, well-paced, and emotionally gripping. Unfortunately, the “Ikalawang Bahagi” didn’t quite match that same level of impact. It felt slower and less emotionally charged, so I rated it a three. Averaging both parts, I ended up with an overall rating of four stars.

I’ll admit, a part of me was influenced by the reactions I saw online. So many readers shared how much they cried, and I went in with the same expectation. I kept waiting for the moment it would break me. While I came close—especially after learning the fate of a certain character in the “Unang Bahagi”—something about the execution held me back. Some of the sentences felt too plain or monotonous, and the large cast of characters sometimes made it hard to stay emotionally connected.

That said, Kalahating Bahaghari still deserves all the praise it’s getting. It’s a brave and necessary read, not just for queer readers, but for everyone. I truly hope this finds its way into classrooms one day. It’s the kind of story that needs to be heard, studied, and remembered.

[drei · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is my first ever physical book of mine.

this book exceeded all my expectations :) sobrang ganda…natutulala pa rin ako hanggang ngayon, at natapos ko siya sa loob lang ng isang araw, ganon siya ka ganda.

sobrang ganda ng pagkakasulat, very straight to the point, di na kailangan pa ng masyadong mabubulaklak na salita, its very raw and real.

nalulungkot pa rin ako para kay sam at jim:”) pero nagpapasalamat ako kay dale. Hsjhshs sobrang Ganda talaga, nakikita ko sarili ko kahit papaano sa bawat character at bawat storya nila….sobrang ganda kasi nag ttie up yung whole story and di siya naging magulo kahit na multi generational story siya of a family. i also love how political it is and how close everyone’s experiences to mine….

tsoa ang fav book ko before, pero eto na ngayon….siguro dahil mas nakuha ng librong toh ang danas ko bilang isang bading na pilipino….mabilis ko rin siyang na aabsorb compared to western books ive read kasi everything relatable at alam ko ang context ng lahat kasi dito lahat nangyari sa pinas. No need for google every once in a while….

Im really glad i risked and bought this….ponag iisipan ko pa kung bibilhin ko siya or iipunin ko nalang yung 400 eh hahahaha

sana someday mabalikan ko tong libro na toh pag naka attend na ko mg first pride march ko:)

Sobrang saya maging bading. ngayon ko lang fully naappreciate kung ano ako:”) na di ko na kailangan pang patunayan ang sarili ko sa kahit kanino man…na di ko rin kailangan pang bigyan ng label ang sarili ko….mamahalin ko ang sino mang gusto ko…..

maraming salamat talaga kay sir ricky lee ( napa research pa ko abt him😭) i hope i convince my friends to read this, gusto ko ring maranasan nila lahat ng feelings ko while reading this masterpiece:”)