Isabela: A Novel

by Kaisa Aquino

A mother, daughter, wife, lover, friend, teacher, cadre, these are the voices that make up the rich, sensuous saga in Isabela, told against the backdrop of nearly three decades of our history. Here is the story of how a life is shaped, wounded, and made whole by the ongoing insurgency in the countryside. How a life takes on many forms, by force or fate. At both turns urgent and meditative, rare and banal, Isabela draws a memorable landscape of a place, time, and woman.

Genres: Historical Fiction

202 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2024

Reviews

[Billy Ibarra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pinakamagandang nobelang isinulat ng isang babae na nabasa ko ngayong taon so far. Bagama't marami na ring nagsulat tungkol sa nangyayaring armadong pakikibaka sa kanayunan, iba ang atake ni Kaisa. Makikita sa kuwento ang hirap, ang ligaya, ang lungkot, ang saya, ang malaking sakripisyo ng bawat tauhan bilang ina, kapatid, anak, kasintahan, asawa, kasama, rebolusyonarya. Mas nakatuon ang nobela sa mga kontradiksiyong kinahaharap ng mga babaeng tauhan. Ano nga ba ang pakiramdam ng mga iniwang pamilya ng isang aktibistang pinili ang pinakamataas na porma ng pakikibaka? Ano ang pakiramdam ng may asawa, kasintahan, o kapatid na rebolusyonaryo? Paano ang buhay ng isang batang lumalaki na madalas malayo ang organisador na magulang? Ano ang pakiramdam na mapagbintangan kang ahente ng kaaway noong panahon ng kampanyang anti-impiltrasyon ng Partido? Kung isinusulong ang pagkakapantay-pantay, bakit may gender role pa rin, sa kabila ng pagkakatatag noon ng Malayang Kilusan ng Bagong Kababaihan (MAKIBAKA) na nagsusulong ng pantay na pagtingin sa kasarian? Bakit makatarungan ang maghimagsik? Bakit may armadong pakikibaka? At saan ang lugar ng babae sa rebolusyon? Nasasagot ang lahat ng ito ng kasaysayang isinulat ni Kaisa Aquino sa Isabela.

Nagpapalit ng POV ang bawat kabanata at tumatalon ang kuwento mula sa hinaharap patungo sa nakaraan, o nakaraan patungo sa kasalukuyan, kaya kailangan mong taimtim na bantayan ang kuwento, lalo na ang mga tauhan. Napakaganda ng mga kabanata at napakahusay ng prosa; nariyang tumataas ang balahibo ko sa ganda ng mga pangungusap (sa mga nakakikilala sa 'kin, alam n'yong hindi ako OA). Hindi sumusunod sa nakasanayang porma ang nobela; hindi ito dere-deretso kundi non-linear, maituturing pa ngang eksperimental dahil puwede mong paghuhugutin ang kabanata pero mananatili pa rin ang kuwento. Siguradong babalikan ko itong basahin sa hinaharap (kasi siguradong tatalakayin namin ito next year, haha).

Naalala ko ang sinabi ni Clara Zetkin, isang German activist. Sabi niya, “When the men kill, it is up to us women to fight for the preservation of life.” At ito ang isa sa nakita ko sa nobela. Maaari silang maging kasamang handang umalalay, mapagmalasakit na kapatid, mapagkalingang ina. Ngunit hindi ikininukulong ni Zetkin ang kababaihan sa ganyang pahayag niya dahil naniniwala rin siya na mahalaga ang paglahok ng kababaihan sa rebolusyon para sa ipagtatagumpay nito. Basahin n'yo na lang, bili kayo kopya. Kilalanin n'yo sina Ka Julia, Ka Abel, Isang, Sabel, Sierra, Belay, Issey, Lou-Lou Isabelle, Karina, Patis, at Celine. Magsayaw sa kubling paraisong puno ng mga bulaklak, magtampisaw sa ilog, aralin ang lipunan, paglingkuran ang sambayanan, masdan ang ulap mula sa kabundukan, mulat na tanawin ang kinabukasan.

Pahabol:
Ang ganda ng pinagkunan ng pangalan ni Kaisa---pinaghalong Cagayan at Isabela. At dahil overreading ako minsan, kapag binasa mo sa Filipino ang pangalan niya, magigi itong "kaisa" (one with).

[aki · Rating 5 out of 5]

In awe of how the prose made sense of relevant issues while still having its heart intact to create stories that are both important and human.

[Maria Ella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dear Dok bb,

Nag-alala ako slight nang hiningi mo ulit yung phone number ko sa minsanang kwentuhan natin sa IG, sabay kumabig ka ng "Grabe ang barilan dito sa Mindanao, patayan basta pera." Sinagot kita ng "Umuwi ka na, giyera ang lugar na yan." Pero alam nating pareho na hindi ka basta uuwi, kasi maliban sa tawag ng pangangailangan pinansiyal, ay alam nating pareho na mas tinatawag ka diyan ng iyong propesyon, lalo na't ang onti ng doktor na nade-deploy sa Marawi.

Katulad kong sumasabak sa adhika ng pagbabasa at pagsusulat (habang ka-dribble ang pagiging Banker), sumusundalo ka rin bilang IM consultant at EM doctor on call. Pareho tayong alipin ng propesyon, pero palaging nasa bulsa ang panawagan ng aksyon. If the Lord is watching from afar, sana naman gawan ng paraan na magkalapit tayo. Kasi, mahirap ang pakikibaka sa araw-araw nang magkalayo ang mga puso.

Pero sa pagbabasa ko nitong unang nobela ni Kaisa Aquino, bigla kong na-realize na ang bawat kilos natin, may impact pala sa tao na hindi natin aakalain. Itong ambag nating social activism, maybe big or small, ay humuhubog sa ating pagkuwestiyon sa "ok na to!" ng kasalukuyan. Gusto nating pareho ng pagbabago, pero hindi natin kasingtapang ang mga namumundok. Gusto nating labanan ang mga demonyo, pero sa dami ng nasa paligid, tila bumabangon tayo sa bagong apokalipto. Kahit yung pinupush kong "shaping pinoy literary landscape, one story at a time" kineso hindi ko basta i-lezzggooo! Mahirap kapag ang sistema, nakakapit pa rin sa galaw ng salapi, sa mga "what's in it for me?" at sa iba pang mekanismo ng kaperahan at kapitalismo.

Binigyan ako ng hopecore malala ng mga kabanata ng Isabela. Dito kasi, binigyan nya ng boses ang mga babaeng umiikot sa mundo ng pag-aklas. May mga mas matapang sa akin na tinamaan na ng bala, may mga chill lang na propesora. May mga burgis din na gusto lang mag-rebelde noon, pero de-kalibre ang network ngayon. At may katulad kong nagta-trabaho, pero may kipkip na kagustuhan ng pagbabago sa bawat pagbangon. Grabe dok, my crying time and my hormonal rage biglang nagpi-peak nang hindi ko akalain! Sobrang naka-relate ako sa kwento ni Belay at Balong, kasi yung bonding ng magkapatid nakita ko yun sa amin ni Kuya. Sobrang nainggit ako sa kwento ni Celine at papa niya, kasi alam nating pareho na hindi ganun ang tatay ko. UP Graduate lang yun si Papa, pero isa siya sa mga naki-network sa mga heneral para pumaldo, bago ipang-casino. Lol biglang pumakla, sorry dok. Pero sa bawat kwento ng Isabela, tinutunton ako sa mga lugar na malayo sa galaw ng aking propesyon. Tila lumiliit ang lente sa pagtikatik ng keyboard at hum ng standing desk, at mas tinatanong ko ang sarili: Kaya ko pa bang sumigaw ng paghihimagsik kung ang mundo ngayon ang mismong sumisikil sa aking tinig?

Kasi, kung aklas rin lang naman, tbh, count me out. Hindi ko kaya malayo sa danas ng peti-burgisan. Hindi ko kaya magbitbit ng armas at pumunta sa kanayunan. Hindi pa bayad ang aking mortgage, at hindi ko pa nakukuha ang retirement. So kapag ako'y biglang ma-redtag, baka forever na akong maging pipi online at offline. Hindi ko rin masisisi ang mga Raphael / Apa sa nobela. Kasi hindi ko personally alam ang tindi ng dahas ng mga taong armado. Nakarating na ako ng abroad nito, ha! Paano pa kaya kapag binabasubas pa ang maliliit na tao?

Kaya katulad mo, minamahal natin ang bayan sa paraang alam natin pareho: tumutulong kapag may delubyo ng bagyo. Proud ako sa tapang ni Kaisa na ikwento ang iba't ibang anino ng hinagpis kapag hinahagupit ng bagwis (ng bagyong Harurot): ang pagkawala at bawat pagmulto ng ating mga mahal sa buhay. Even the aftermath of grief is being written poignantly through Celine's everyday.

Tapos dok, di ba napanood mo na yung Kimi No Nawa? Yung magic ng timeline jumps and long distance connections? May magic din yung libro! Hindi sya tuwiran, like speculative fiction ah, pero yung mga pangalan nila magkakarelate! Parang akong meme (yung manong na may mapa sa likod nya!) nang sinubukan ko ilista ang mga tauhan at paano sila nagko-connect. One example na yung mga Raphael at mga Caloy sa iba't-ibang kabanata, pati yung mga Isang / Issey / Sabel / Belay! Akala ko, iisang tao sila, hindi pala! Parang echo lang — iba't ibang pagkatao— but for some reason, pare-pareho ang nagiging life decision. Hindi ko mai-explain nang maayos, haha! Basahin mo na rin kasi! Puru ka kasi high fantasy eh. Kaya tayo hindi nagkakaroon ng buddy read kasi magkalayo ang genre na binabasa natin.

Saludo ako kay Kaisa rito, dok. Kapag natatanong ko sa sarili ko, anong ambag ng isang akda sa pambansang panitikan, eh medyo malaki ang ambag ni madam. To think na kapwa babae din sya huhu, #AbanteBabae! Lavarn pak ganern she is contributing another resistance piece for us to stop look listen and learn! Eme!

Dito na lang muna, ang OA na ng liham ko sa haba. Book review talaga ito dok, hehe. Pero kung mababasa mo man, pakituldukan. Bago tayo magbangayan. Tuldok mo lang masaya na ako, char. Pero gusto ko rin magpa-baby, abah! Hindi yung forever akong hyperindependent strong woman of the nation! Ako ay tao rin lamang at naghahanap ng labing-labing.

Hopefully soon, ang mame-message mo,
"Malapit na ako bb pauwi na ako"


See you when I see you,
Banker bb

[Kat Elle · Rating 4 out of 5]

"In that liminal threshold between life and death, Ka Julia sees 'as if at a threshold, like a scant inch of air between dream and waking, like you are in between passing ghosts, you feel memories flicker and flare and cave in on you and you know: you are these women. You are these women, at one point, in the past, somewhere in the future. In another life.'" - Marjorie Evasco, an introduction to Isabela by Kaisa Aquino

To be honest, this book wasn’t an easy read (which I’ll delve into more shortly), but upon reflection, I found myself experiencing chills all over. It felt as though my mind began to grasp the magic behind the stories, the women, and the place itself.

For context, Isabela is a sensuous saga spanning three decades, focusing on various women affected by ongoing revolutions against social injustices, land grabbing, and poor agricultural working conditions in Cagayan Valley. It provides a glimpse into how their lives have changed and continue to change with each chapter.

As mentioned earlier, I struggled with this book for two reasons: many characters shared the same name, and the timeline was non-linear. As a neurodivergent reader, my brain needs to organize a story before it can fully comprehend and appreciate it. Therefore, the structure of this novel made it challenging for me while I was reading.

BUT—and this is a *huge* but—after a few days (and with the help of fellow readers), everything started to make sense. The complexity of each story and character finally clicked in my brain. The women, the stories, and everything else were flashes of lives that Ka Julia envisioned—in its own magical, mystical way—from the start of the prologue when she was shot for the first time to the end of the story when she told Apa she's going back home.

This was brilliantly and lyrically written with intention, and it held a powerful movement within its pages. it depicted the different challenges women face in each role they play in the society—as a mother, daughter, wife, lover, friend, teacher, cadre—with an important revolution in tow. Yet, these women remained strong, resilient, and steadfast.

Overall, I'd highly recommend it to readers who love women literature that evokes thoughts, reflection, and emotions.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy from Ateneo Press in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed here are my own and have not been influenced by the author or publisher.

[jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I struggled to find a proper footing; when the lens finally finds its focus, the point of view shifts— leveling itself to a strange lilt. The closer I look, the more distance I see. I cannot delineate the anatomy of the book, the narrative recedes as quickly as it came. It was a peculiar experience that unconventionally develops the contours of Isabela. The transcience, the haphazard, the wounds left undressed, the unresolved history. But the disarray was conscious and skillful as it left the reader pining for truths.

The war takes so much away, and as masochistic as it sounds, Isabela maps an afflicting beauty akin to a stained glass; an assortment of hues that would later meet in the background of struggle yet place itself in uniformity. The lives with the jagged edges, installed against one another— each fractured in its own ways. Kaisa Aquino simultaneously draws fervent tenets to the ordinary and special, wielding striking contemplation to the banal. She reminds the reader that our lives did not come from a bang of singularity. No, we are not something remote and unobstructed. There were existences that had gone by, revolts that we were oblivious of, that are naturally tailored to the very fabrics of our being. It places our lives in a long stretch of timeline, in a persevering movement towards a liberation. Perhaps Isabela is not so far removed, it was unsung to me but now it echoes.

We are fleeting and corresponding. We are involved even if we are unarmed.

[Ces Jade · Rating 3 out of 5]

I keep going back and forth with this one (3 or 4 stars). It does deliver mostly what it promised: a story of resistance, told in varying viewpoints of people of different socioeconomic statuses and political positions. The connections between the storylines are a delight, with just enough ambiguity to make you wonder whether it is the same person that was in an earlier story, or just a namesake.

I'm not sure if this is a valid complaint or criticism to make, but at times it felt like many of the women's lives are depicted too much based on their connections with men. I am not saying that we remove men from the equation. But neither could I shake off the desire for the story to delve more on the women, I guess. In several of the stories, one could even argue that the men's lives end up being examined more richly than the women.

This is where my hesitance comes in. I'm not seeking the thrill of battles or scenes of fighting, or long-winded melancholic musings. My favorite of the stories is one in which the women celebrate the coming of age of one of their peers, and they trek through the mountains to go to a place with the most beautiful flowers. Isabela excels in this regard: at the quiet, almost mundane moments, lifted by a fittingly elegiac prose.

It is a good novel-- it does deliver what it promised-- I just could not help but want more of the women at some of the stories.

[Pam Z (Pam's Shenanigans) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just read Isabela by Kaisa Aquino and I’m giving it 4 stars and I think you should read this too. It’s a story about Isabela, the province, and the women whose roles and names may differ but are all tangled up and connected by a common goal: fighting for the war for a social movement against dynasties, injustices, and exploitations that displace farmers in Isabela.

I love how interconnected the stories and the different characters are, albeit the names can get a bit confusing sometimes so it’s best to take notes, friends!

The writing was raw and lyrical and packs so much punch! At the heart of this book are women whose lives are upended or defined by this mass movement by ways of their family, a friend, a teacher, or a lover. And how the line between life or death gets drawn or erased. It’s not an action-packed book nor is the type to focus on the graphic depictions of the injustices, it’s the quiet kind of book that speaks so loud through the characters’ emotions.

It also shows that being part of the cause doesn’t always mean that you have to be up by the hills, armed, and bloodied. Since not all people have the heart and the stomach for it.

Isabela by Kaisa Aquino is available via Ateneo Press’s Lazada and Shopee stores for 450 pesos.

[Harini Marchadi]

stunning and gorgeous and so so human. i was really continually stunned by the empathy and humanity this novel shows to all its characters, no matter who they are or what choices they've made. but i can't be too surprised, because i was already well aware of how deft and skillful this author's characterization is and how REAL all the stories they tell feel, even if they're set halfway across the world. kit i will be cheering you on always!!!

[C.L. Balagoza · Rating 5 out of 5]

“It was fear that had kept them at bay; they knew it wasn’t an easy life they could just step into. It was a lifelong commitment. One that demanded the surrender of your life, your body, your future.”

Sabi nila ang isa sa magandang regalo ng pagiging mambabasa, ay paulit-ulit kang nabubuhay sa bawat karakter na nakilala mo sa bawat kuwentong nabasa. Ganito ang karanasan ko sa pagbasa ng ISABELA A NOVEL ni Kaisa Aquino na inilimbag ng Bughaw, imprint ng Ateneo De Manila University Press (@ateneopress ). Literal na iba’t ibang buhay ang sumasalubong sa akin sa bawat kabanata. 

Ang nobela ay binubuo ng iba’t ibang kabanata na ang pinaka nagbubuklod ay ang “Isabela” parehong lugar at karakter, ayon na rin sa blurb ni Sara Lumba-Tajonera. Sa usapin naman ng kuwento, masasabi kong, hindi lang imahinasyon mo ang huhulihin ng mga kabanata kundi ang iyong limang pandama. May mga pagkakataong ‘di mo aakalaing, pati sarili mong sugat, muli mong mararamdaman. Kaya nga nang matapos ko ang buong aklat, kailangan kong hawakan ang sarili, dahil naapektuhan ako. Mabigat, kung babasahin ang mga bahagi, ngunit binabalanse ito ng galing ng manunulat sa pagkukuwento. Kahit bumibigat ang aklat, ’di ko ito mabitawan, dahil may gusto akong matuklasan.

Hanggang sa matapos ko ito, kung nakita ko ba ang hinahanap ko, oo. 

Maaaring makita mo ito bilang ’di karaniwang anyo ng nobela, ngunit ang ganap na kagandahan at kabatiran ay nasa huling pahina—papasok sa sariling kamalayan. Bitbit ng nobela ang mga kuwentong hindi natin madalas mabasa/pag-usapan, lalo na ng pakikibaka ng mga kababaihan. May gustong ipaunawa ang nobela, na mambabasa lang ang makakakuha, hindi ito tiyak, iba’t iba ito sa bawat tao. Kaya kung makasalubong mo man ito, buklatin at basahin. 

Tulad ko, kung masimulan, baka mahirapan ka rin bitawan. 

[rex in peace · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

calling this a novel is a choice. yes, there are characters that weave in and out in some of the stories but this is very much a short story collection. i will sit on this. i would like to say tho that 2 of the stories here were so sincere i was crying during lunch break. lol

[sophie]

"But often, touch was enough for those with a heart so starved all it needed was the sure press of a hand to its pulse to get it to start beating again."

I've been putting off writing a review for this book because I wanted to sit with how I felt upon reading it and the impact that it has left on me as someone who has been exposed to Northern Luzon stories in my literary course. this was beautifully written, with stories that captured human emotions that could make one empathize with the characters effortlessly. it weaves narratives worthy to be read, putting forward voices that should be heard, especially in the grand scheme of the social and political climate in the country. I loved it. probably cried thrice in the second half of the book, very much so on the chapter between the two girl best friends (I was bawling; I still wish they ended up together but that's just my sapphic heart's wishful thinking).

I discovered this when our literature professor made us read Ka Abel's chapter, which I honestly think is the most beautiful piece in here, with all the descriptions of the mountain and nature and the memorable line that says: "They say rebels are not born, they are made, they are taught and trained. But I was born one, because I was born poor."

[Pauline · Rating 2 out of 5]

Always a male gaze when we talk about revolution, women’s marginalization, and their desperation to keep up with the disgusting status quo that continues to repress women. There’s always a male gaze. This book proved it. Embodied it. That romance will always revolve around men, and their ability to capture one’s heart. Romance lingering on armed struggle. But with men.

[dear-ryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

sorry but this is soo … general. tell better stories of revolutionaries! With depth! With characters! With pain! this felt like meh

[dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have nothing but praise and gratitude for Kaisa Aquino.

Praise for her captivating writing that gave justice to the Filipinos' human conditions of survival, grief, but also kindness and community. Which is to say she gave justice to those who deserve it, those who fought for it, those who were deprived of it. Kaisa's stories reveal the nuances of how much oppression takes away from people, and how much revolution gives back through activism, found family, and liberty. But of course, joining the movement takes away some things, too. Loss, after all, is the primary remnant of war and resistance.

And, of course, gratitude for the gift of Isabela. How beautiful she must have been to have given birth to these stories. I was born and raised in the city, so thank you, Kaisa, for introducing me to Isabela and her many names and faces, and her brave children who love unconditionally. One day I shall visit and remember this book and the stories of Isang, Belay, Issey, Lou-Lou Belle, Balong, Sabel, and so many others.

These are stories unearthed from the many lives hidden in, lost to, or dedicated to the hills. With so much tenderness and intricacy, Kaisa shares the voices of resistance through activists, children, mothers; all the women and people who fight for the right to speak, live, dream, achieve—to be free. Kas is the revolution, and she lives on because we remember.

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautifully written and portrays both the external and internal effects of war to a person. The book was surprisingly slow-paced given its topic (no action scenes and high-stakes chases), allowing the reader to immerse themselves in each of the characters’ thoughts.

I just wish this book wasn’t heavily marketed as focusing on the stories of women from Isabela. While each chapter is named after a female character, their lives are often centered and influenced by the men in their lives (or at least have a portion of their story dedicated to men and romance). I feel this book could’ve benefited with fleshing out its female characters more.

[Rye · Rating 2 out of 5]

hindi ko naramdaman sa bawat pahina yung tunay na hinagpis - yung bigat sa sikmura na kailangang talikuran ang lahat at magtungo sa kanayunan para sa pangarap na maayos na bayan. there is an inherent agony in that choice, a radical undoing of the self, but here, parang wala. instead of the raw immediacy of survival, this leans into a kind of empowered sympathy na tila ba hinalaw at naiwan sa teorya imbis na ilapat at ibaon sa buhay na karanasan.

parang masyadong pilit na gawing rebolusyonaryo ang pagkukuwento. at least to me, this lacked the soul-crushing weight of what it truly means to be a "wounded woman" in a country that never stops bleeding.

[Veron · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this line of work, being alive was a gift of its own.

I first read Isabela around July 2024, after its Baguio book launch at Mt. Cloud. By then, I was already certain the book warranted a reread. My second reading of it in February was enhanced by having a better grasp of the historical context of what the book portrayed. Also helpful was the author’s paper ‘Following the Wounded Woman in Isabela’ which is an overview of the creative process of writing, including the intention behind the web of all the Isabela and Carlos characters (which I once attempted to do a map of) and the categorization of the book as a novel, despite at first glance being a collection of short stories.

The stories that make up the novel, grounded from the author’s personal experience being raised by a community of activists, spans around 30 years post-EDSA, and are centered on women and how their lives and the lives of their families and loved ones are directly or indirectly affected by their participation in the national democratic movement, and the insurgency waged in the countryside. The characters across the stories, some with direct connections with each other, are primarily tied together by their association with the province of Isabela, and by their names that are anagrams of ‘Isabela’ (Issey, Isabel, etc.). The province becomes a point of convergence of all stories and characters.

The novel’s prologue, “The Wounded Woman”, opens with the narrator, Ka Julia, fatally wounded in a military encounter. The stories in the book diverge from this point, with not only one but parallel lives flashing before death, showing the multiplicity of women's lives in the revolution.

Next comes the story “Isang”, featuring a pair of university students, joining the movement with the guidance of STS Professor Isang before deciding that they can help the masses the most by directly participating in the armed struggle at the mountains. They quickly realize that not everyone is equally ready for that life. This weighty realization and its emotional aftermath shapes this emotional story.

How many lives can an activist have? “Issey” takes a turn in genre and style as it integrated some surrealist elements: different versions over time of Issey’s dead husband haunting his own wake. One of the most unique ways I’ve seen of telling a life story.

A favorite of mine, “Ka Abel”, solidifies the novel’s themes of estrangement and companionship through a peek into how a special occasion is celebrated by women revolutionaries. “Sabel” is a tension-filled reconnection of a daughter with her mother under the shadow of a disappeared father, with some striking scenes.

“Belay” is a fragmented narrative of a revolutionary Balong’s life, told through two perspectives: from the sister Belay who saw the Balong’s childhood to his lover who saw how the he engaged in activism and beyond. What does it mean to be “changed” when a person joins the movement? Is there anything that actually “changes”? A big fan of the writing of childhood memories in this.

Another favorite, “Celine and Lou-Lou Belle”, is a tale of reconnection and redemption of a father who became too busy with his job, costing their family a great loss. One little scene struck me: Celine looking into his father’s notebook containing his filled activist-organizer’s schedule of meetings and events but crossing them out for Celine’s school prom.

“Balong” was the story I resonated with the least, but I still appreciate how it depicts the systematic plunder by the politicians of Isabela, the second largest province in the country, and what life looked like in the more suburban areas.

In the fitting and final story, we return to the Wounded Woman and her story that shows an example of how unconventional families are formed in the movement. Set in the early 1990s, it also addresses the internal purge in the Communist Party, and zooms in on it's repercussions on a personal level.

Written with poignant and evocative prose, Isabela depicts a major contradiction for activists and insurgents: the revolution entails sacrifice of pretty much one’s entire life or as the book itself put, “The revolution is something that takes.”, told from the perspective of women with various origins, roles, and experiences in the movement. Many parts of Isabela center on reunions and reconciliations between family, friends, lovers, comrades, tracking how relationships and connections form, strengthen, break, and rebuild throughout the passing time and changing conditions.

While it may take some focus to fully appreciate the logic behind the form, the prose and the characters immediately capture the vulnerability and conviction in fighting for a cause that many have already given their lives for in the belief that a better world is possible. A web of tender narratives that may serve as an antidote to the dehumanization by the state’s terrorist-labeling and dismissal of the roots of the continuing and persisting armed struggle.

At a distance, there are cotton trees that sway together, like lovers who are shy and yet are hurrying toward each other. When a loud series of crackle sounds from afar, here, it becomes mere humming. When a bomb blows at the foot of the mountain, the branches merely sway here. The flowers only shudder softly, wisps of their petals floating in the air. How beautiful, this place.

[Ava (jeepneylit) · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Aquino’s novel, Isabela is both a place and the women in resistance. It's eight standalone yet interconnected chapters are told in fragments and shifting voices of mothers, daughters, lovers and fighters - whose lives echo through decades of struggles in their birthplaces and adopted homes. It's haunting, intimate, and quietly revolutionary.

[Eron Bituin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ang pagsusumamo ay isa ring pakikibaka. Tama nga si Joi Barrios, nasa pakikidigma ang papel ng mga kababaihan.

[Ravarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started reading Isabela a week ago. The novel is easy to read, but the way I resonate with the characters makes it difficult to finish in one sitting.

The characters reminded me of the people I met in the NDMO I was briefly part of—listening to their stories, why and how they chose to become full-time activists, what happened to their comrades who were falsely accused, and those who disappeared.

One of the things I loved most about Isabela is how it offers different perspectives—activists, families, lovers, professors, and ordinary people—woven together into a narrative that shows how personal and political struggles are inseparable. The novel doesn’t just tell one side; it lets you stand in many people’s shoes. It also powerfully portrays feminism, not in an abstract way, but through lived experiences of women navigating love, loss, commitment, and resistance.


Here are some of the quotes I highlighted from the novel:


“Walang pinipiling lugar ang digma, Ka Julia.”
- Prologue, Wounded Woman

“You are these women. You are these women, at one point, in the past, somewhere in the future. In another life.”
- Page 6, Wounded Woman

“Is science democratized?”
- Page 11, Isang

“sun in the knifed horizon bleeds the sky.”
- Page 15, Isang

“There are faces that suffer changes beyond all recognition, no matter how short of a time. Then there are those that possess something, a defining feature maybe, that cannot be altered or aged by time or displacement or any variety of pain.”
- Page 25, Isang

“They knew it wasn’t an easy life they could just step into. It was a lifelong commitment. One that demanded the surrender of your life, your body, your future.”
- Page 52, Issey

“She’s familiar with the resentment and guilt difficult families handed down to their children, as if they put them on this earth only to live the lives they had failed to lice, only to be at their beck and call.”
- Page 55, Issey

“It gets better. Always. With time.”
- Page 57, Issey (not the exact quote sorry)

“Carlos put the ring on her again for the second time, after death, when there’s nothing to part with anymore.”
- Page 60, Issey

“They were mothers, and they knew what it was like to lose a child to the hills.”
- Page 68, Ka Abel

“They say rebels are not born, they are made, they are taught and trained. But I was born one, because I was born poor.”
- Page 68, Ka Abel

“A lot of people think that being up in the hills is all gunfire and fight; sometimes, there’s sweetness too.”
- Page 74, Ka Abel

“When the conversation on marriage fell upon their shoulders, they born agreed to it like they were simply agreeing that the answer was indeed yes, instead of no.”
- Page 87, Sabel

“When you love someone, you can stand it.”
- Page 92, Sabel

“The crisis of the nation then was personal. It was in everybody’s bones, it coursed through everybody’s lives, even in the most intimate parts of it.”
- Page 112, Belay


“My father and I, we don’t say sorry. In this house that was just the two of us, we don’t say I love you. Instead of saying it’s not your fault, he made my favorite bulalo. And instead of the usual red rice that I often complained about, there was a fluffy white rice that had never tasted better to me than that evening. I could have said something, I suppose, but just before I could open my mouth to say not to worry, to say it’s okay, everything is fine, he delicately asked me if the meat was soft enough. I nodded fiercely. Because it really was, almost like Mama had cooked it herself.”
- Page 142, Celine and Lou-Lou Belle

“Perhaps she knew she needed to pass down the knowledge before it was too late. She must’ve known.”
- Page 182, Wounded Woman

“We don’t have wineglasses unpacked, so we’ll have to make do.”
- Page 194, Wounded Woman

“Here in the backlands of Isabela, it meant finding an alternative: route, napkin, sooled bandage over an amputated leg. There was always another way. It meant going on and on and on, despite, despite, despite. I learned first hand that this was activism. This was what it meant to be committed.”
- Page 194, Wounded Woman

[Merie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful novel. Ang ganda-ganda ng pagkakasulat nito. It’s a huge factor that reading Isabela is reading familiarity and nostalgia — I mean reading Nelbusco, Jones, centro, and tinolang native na manok with all the “lattas”.

“A mother, daughter, wife, lover, friend, teacher, cadre, rebolusyonarya: these are the voices that make up the rich, sensuous saga in Isabela, told against the backdrop of nearly three decades of our history. Here is the story of how life is shaped, wounded, and made whole by the ongoing insurgency in the countryside — how a life takes on many forms, by force or fate. At both turns urgent and meditative, rare and banal, Isabela draw memorable landscape of a place, time, and woman.”

Even as a child I already was made aware of “NPA” or the likes. And I’ve heard about it first not in the textbooks at school, but in Isabela. This also composes the nostalgia and familiarity felt going through the pages of this novel. It captures both the feeling and the place. Each chapter brings out a unique voice of another form of life dealings, harsh realities mostly, but not without the tenderness. My favorite chapter, “Belay”, is like a warm blanket in a cool December in Isabela. It is intimate and heart-warming despite the sad plot and setting. “Celine and Lou-Lou Bella” felt youthful but also a pinch to my heart with that sad familiarity of grief of losing a parent.

Every chapter evokes a different emotion out of a setting far from my reality, but a reality that is someone’s truth out there. I highly recommend this local read, such a good storytelling of scenes rarely talked about, oftentimes pictured as villains in the everydayness of the “normalcy” of a city life.

[han · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my all time favorite books now. I cried at least 4 times... I can't stress enough how much this book means to me...

When we talk about the revolution and what comes with it, we often think of the male activists, the male gaze, the male experience. But what of the women that partake in it? Their families? And the people that are affected? These stories take a look at their perspectives, the perspective of those who are either a member of the kilusan, or closely related to it.

All of the stories are wonderful, but my top 3 favorites would have to be the stories of Isang, Belay, and Celine and Belle. Celine and Belle's hurt me the most, as the story talks about the relationship of a daughter between her father, and the relationship between a friend that you consider more so your sister (who you secretly have a homo crush on). I relate to it the most, as someone who has a complicated relationship with her father.

I think all of these stories should be read by everyone, as they help us understand more about the kilusan and the revolution. Though not discussed in depth, it gives us a glimpse into what people actually go through when they choose to serve the masses this way. Though fictional, we all know that fiction is closely linked with reality. And so, these stories speak volumes.

I recommend this to literally anyone, especially those just starting off with learning about the reality of the kilusan here in the Philippines. It definitely gives you glimpse of their perspectives, though I still believe one should read biographies to learn about the real thing.

As they say, we are fleeting and corresponding. We are involved even if unarmed.

[Mina · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s one of the most beautiful stories written ever by a woman about the experiences of her own gender who chose to lead a different life, far from what is considered “normal.” Hindi ka nito binibigyan ng ideya of what it’s like being in “the hills” but it perfectly sums up the choices that lead to it and the factors that glues a woman back to the revolution. Tunay ngang ang lugar ng babae ay sa pakikibaka, anuman ang porma nito (front or to the hills). Pinapakita nito ang pagiging tao ng mga kinokonsiderang “terorista” ng estado, na hindi lamang sila mga gerilyang may hawak ng M16, kundi isa rin silang anak, asawa, kaibigan, kasintahan, kaklase, guro. The author used magical words to describe the emotions of the characters, giving you an idea of what it’s like being in their shoes, I think the movement, no matter how eager you run away from it, will always pull you back, hindi man direkta papunta sa’yo but because of the people around you who has an undefined connection to the cause.

I personally relate to this though from a different context kaya naman iba rin ang impact sa akin ng librong ito as it touches some layers of my life that’ve never been touched because of the surrounding circumstances. I love love love how this books speaks to all of us who have a place in the revolution. Ang ganda-ganda ng libro na ito and I wish I could read this again for the first time. Maybe I will

[Queen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wound. Long walks. Blood. Guns. Flood. Corruption.


This book is a compilation of different women who share similar struggles. The voice of pain, despair, heartache, eagerness, hopeful, and the depression of countless farewells. Some lives were nearly broken, while others were completely destroyed, leaving deep wounds.


💫 Balong and Belay. I understand how close they were, and how Belay couldn’t accept the fact that Balong needed to study. I mean—she’s too young. How do you explain to a child that her brother, best friend, and superhero has to go away? She’s just a kid. I guess that’s when she started to distance herself.

Each character shares the same goal: to show how a revolution works, to remind people that we must fight for our rights, and to stand against corrupt officials. They aim to awaken others—to spark courage, to encourage unity, and to prove that change begins.


It was hard to read due to character confusion but it’s worth reading. Beautifully Written.

“TAXES FOR PEOPLE, NOT FOR POLITICIANS”

“ANG PERA NG BAYAN AY PARA SA BAYAN!”


; Raise your voice and refuse to be silenced

[Vinnie Tan Gana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to read this slowly. One I could have finished in a day but one that took me on a journey for two months. A journey bright and dreary into the world of what it means to fight for something bigger than oneself.

Isabela is a story about women whom have only ever known struggle. Their hopes and dreams, their pains and loves. This is a tremendous work of juxtaposing a harrowing reality with the gilded nobility of an interior life.

When I think of this book, I think of time. It’s essence and its singular capitulation in lending to us readers, if only for a moment the true face of the struggle in the knowledge that in many ways ours is a homeland that has never ceased in its revolution, but remains our home still.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The question on the revolutionary has always baffled Filipinos. In the era of terror-tagging, revolutionaries are seen as “them”; fighting old age ideologies that would render them enemies of the state. This book explores the life of “them.” This book humanizes the life of revolutionaries specifically female revolutionaries who amidst the convoluted view of people they fight for continues to navigate a treacherous life fighting a better and equal place for all. This book not just tackles the pain and struggles of a revolutionary but also joy and hope. I hope that we further the appreciation of this book for us to shift the discourse for armed struggles from terror-tagging to asking the question on why they exist in the first place.

[henry · Rating 4 out of 5]

"And in this place, where I come from, where joy is most joy, bitter is also most bitter."

The myriad lives in this poignant and masterfully orchestrated novel perfectly illustrates a simple truth: personal history can never not be intertwined with the history of a place, of a mountain village, of a city, of a nation. The story of the Filipino is always going to be one of resistance—regardless of whether or not we are aware of it.

A novel of rebels and lovers, of children and mothers and fathers, Isabela is ultimately a quiet but sometimes bloody portrait of the country's decades-long struggle towards true liberation.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. This was one hell of a read. Pero, that full circle moment—a wounded woman who took sometime off but eventually went back, or went home, as she would call it. Wow. Forgive me for lacking words on how I would describe the book, literally still at a loss for words right now.

Tunay na ang lugar ng kababaihan ay sa pakikibaka. Bawat kwento sa librong ‘to ay hinubog at pinalago ng kani-kanilang katangian at presensya. Salamat sa munting paalala, Kaisa!

[wrensiiii · Rating 5 out of 5]

best book i have read so far this year and perhaps one of the most special as someone still expanding her filipiniana reads. i loved the way it was written—isabela as a place and character so vivid and just so full of life. while i was aware of the armed struggle, this book gave me so many perspectives of the unreported and unseen lives of people. beyond the fight, there exists love in different forms, but still, it is love. or perhaps, it co-exists with everything and it is freeing.

[Gsus · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.85/5 stars

Devoured this in half a day! I was reading this in the taxi, in bed while falling in & out of consciousness, while walking— moving prose. It was a good sunday read!

sorry not a 4 star rating just because I expected more, expected something else so it mired my experience of the book (which is on me) Kaisa Aquino is a good storyteller