Anina ng mga Alon

by Eugene Y. Evasco

Isang Badjao si Anina, lumaki sa piling ng mga alon. Kabisado niya ang mga awit at damdamin nito tulad ng isang kaibigan. Bilang kabataan, nasa edad siya ng paghahanap ng kaniyang sarili sa komplikadong mundong kaniyang ginagalawan. Ngunit paano nga ba ang maging katutubo at mahuli sa gitna ng kahirapan at karahasan?

Samahan si Anina sa kaniyang pangangarap, paglalakbay, at pagkamulat sa katotohanang kahabi ng kaniyang buhay bilang Badjao. Sa kuwento ni Anina, makikilala rin ang isang mayamang kultura ng mga katutubong namumuhay sa karagatan at hindi pa ganap na nauunawaan ng karamihan.

Genres: Young Adult, Middle Grade

114 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Eugene Y. Evasco is a writer, editor, translator, and collector of children’s books. He is currently a Full Professor at the UP College of Arts and Letters. Some of his new books at Lampara are Ang Nag-iisa at Natatanging si Onyok, Ang Singsing-Pari sa Pisara, Ang Beybi naming Mamaw, and the Filipino translation of Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White. In 2014, he won the UP Gawad sa Natatanging Publikasyon sa Filipino (Malikhaing Pagsulat category). He became a part of the Hall of Fame of the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature in 2009 and is currently a Fellow of the UP Institute of Creative Writing. He was accepted as a Research Fellow to the International Youth Library in Munich, Germany.

Reviews

[Neil Franz · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

Maikling nobela na nagpapakita ng danas ng mga Badjao. Naka-sentro ang nobela kay Anina at sa kanyang paglaki at realisasyon bilang isang Badjao sa isang mundong malupit sa mga kagaya niya.

Ipagpapatuloy...

[Dessa Mae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual rating: 4.25

This book is so beautiful. I love the lyrical writing, and the story that packs a punch but also warms the heart 💖

[Reign · Rating 5 out of 5]

MORE PEOPLE SHOULD READ THIS BOOK.
Again, more people should read this book.

Eugene Y. Evasco is a fantastic author. He did an amazing job in telling Anina's story. It was my first time reading a book with a Badjao as a main character and I think that is what interested me in the first place. Being born in the city, I always see these people in the streets, begging for coins or leftover food. This book gave me the chance to have glimpse of their life.

I have nothing to say to this except that everything in this book could have been a true story. These things happen in the real world, I cannot stress that enough. These people are being treated as inferior, as if their lives and struggles don't matter, when in fact they have been living in the country far longer than any influence of colonialism. Their small livelihoods are being threatened by emerging industries in the country and the government has so far done nothing to help them. They are helpless against powerful entities that are supposed to protect them. There are many issues reflected in this book that I would like to address but I just remembered that this is a book review.

I ranted. Sorry.

I also share Anina's love for the ocean. I love that she treats the waves as her friends and believes that nature is alive and has persona. The vibe of this book is so nostalgic that a lot of times, I found myself tearing up because Anina's words made me miss nature 😭

I love this book so much.
Everybody should read this.

[Emmzxiee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Isang magandang representasyon ng mayamang kultura ng katutubong Pilipino.

Inukit at nililok ni Sir Eugene Evasco ang mayabong na pamumuhay ng mga Badjao.

Well written, Evasko has his own way of putting the indigenous Culture into his novel. The selection of words is wonder and poetic.

Evasko Brings me to Mindanao and helps me discover the beauty of the Badjao Tribe, their struggles, and their colors of their daily living.

Sa kabuuan ipinaramdam sa akin ang yakap ng dagat, ang ganda at yumi nito at kung paano ito naging parte ng buhay ng mga karakter sa storya.

[Xi Zuq · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nakakamangha ang galing ng manunulat sa pagkakaroon ng matalinghaga at mahiwagang mga linya sa akda. Pinakagusto kong nararamdaman habang nagbabasa na nahihiwagaan ako sa mga linya at unti-unti kong naiintindihan ang mga nangyayari habang dumadaloy ang kuwento.

Sa galíng ng pagkasulat, mabubusog ka sa kuwento ng mga Badjao at mas mauunawaan mo ang kanilang mga naging suliranin at kalagayan. Nakakatuwa ring mas nakilala ko ang mga Badjao dahil sa “pailalim” akong tinuruan ng aklat ng kanilang kultura at lipunan sa pamamagitan ng paggamit ng “tagaloob” na mga tauhan. Kahit na lumaki ako sa Mindanao, mas naintindihan ko ang mga Badjao pagkatapos basahin ang kuwento. Iminulat ako ng aklat sa mga dating hindi ko binibigyang pansin. Humahanga naman ako sa lalim ng pananaliksik ng manunulat para buuin ang nobelang ito.

Pinakagusto kong bahagi ng aklat ang mga awit. May talinghaga ang mga ito na naglalarawan sa kanilang kalagayan at mahiwagang nangungusap sa mga mambabasa. Ito ang nag-ugnay sa akin kay Anina at sa mga Badjao. Dito ako napakapit nang matindi kaya nagusuhan ko ang nobela.

Natutuwa rin ako sa paglalaro ng talinghaga ng dagat at mga kaakibat na bagay (tulad ng alon) upang padaluyin ang kuwento. Iniuugnay ng dagat ang katutubo sa makabagong karanasan ni Anina at ng mga Badjao. Sa isang banda, inuugat ng kuwento ang kasaysayan at pamumuhay ng mga Badjao – ang kanilang mga bugtong, lipunan, hanapbuhay at iba pa. Sa kabilang banda, ito ang naging bagay na inikutan ng kuwento nang nasa Maynila na sila Anina – ang pagbabalik ni Anina at ng mga Badjao sa dagat.

Natitiyak kong isang makabuluhang babasahin para sa hayskul ang nobelang ito. Sana madagdagan pa ang mga nobelang pambata at pangkabataan na tulad nito.

(www.xizuqsnook.blog.com)

[Bomalabs · Rating 3 out of 5]

When a literary figurehead like Eugene Evasco writes something, it reflects in the work. Reading his Filipino was like having someone singing to you, very Lyrical and Poetic, even if it's actually Prose. If only it wasn't so damn depressing. But then it honestly describes the Badjao reality, and it just happens that that reality is depressing. Really appreciate though that through this book, you'll learn about the essentials of Badjao culture without it being told in an boring, Encyclopedic way.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. Sa simula hanggang sa huling pahina, talagang namangha na ako sa istorya ni Anina. Ramdam ko yung bawat emosyon sa lahat ng kanyang pinagdaanan. Pagtapos kong basahin ito may ilang minuto rin akong tigagal--napaisip ako kung naranasan din ito ng mga katutubong nakipagsapalaran sa siyudad. Ang daming aral na mapupulot sa librong ito. Sana marami pang ganitong kwento ang mamayani sa ating mga aklatan. Taas noo ako kay Ginoong Evasco sa obrang ito--karapat-dapat talagang sa inaning pagkilala! At dapat basahin ito ng bawat Pinoy!

[all the best, mart · Rating 5 out of 5]

ang librong ito ay napakanipis lamang. gayunpaman, binigyan ako nito ng kahit papaano ay kaunting silip sa mga kultura, tradisyon at paniniwala ng mga badjao. tunay ngang sila'y mga anak ng dagat. ngunit sa kabila ng kanilang makulay na pamumuhay, lingid sa karamihan ang araw-araw nilang pasan tulad ng diskriminasyon at makasariling lipunang sumisira sa kanilang mga yaman.

“hindi ko naman ginustong maging badjao...”

ito ang isa sa mga linyang binitawan ni anina na talaga namang tumatak at gumuhit ng husto sa aking puso at isipan. isa na ata sa pinakamalungkot na yugto sa buhay ng isang tao ang pagkuwestiyon at pagtanggi niya sa sarili niyang pagkakakilanlan dahil lang sa mapanghusgang dikta ng lipunan.

sa kahabaan ng mga lansangan dito sa 'min sa cavite, madalas ko silang napapansin at nakikita. sumasampa ang ilan sa kanila sa mga jeep, nag-aabot ng sobre o 'di naman kaya ay mga karton kung saan nakasulat ang paghingi nila ng barya. nakakalungkot isipin na sa ganitong paraan natin sila mas nakilala, na dapat sana ay mas nakilala natin sila bilang mahusay na tribo sa gitna ng malalawak na karagatan.

malaki ang pasasalamat ko sa librong ito hindi lamang dahil sa pagbibigay nito ng boses sa mayamang kultura at tradisyon ng mga kapatid nating badjao, kundi pati na rin sa pagbibigay nito ng linaw sa maraming dahilan kung bakit ang karamihan sa kanila ay nagkalat sa mga siyudad at mga karatig probinsiya.

hiling ko lang na sana ay mas matutukan pa ang ating mga kapatid na kabilang sa mga indigenous groups at ethnic minorities dito sa ating bansa. mas pagtibayin pa ang pagpapalaganap sa kanila ng kahalagahan ng edukasyon, nang sa gayon ay hindi sila naaabuso at nalalamangan.

this book is an eye-opener and highly recommended.

rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Norie Tan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paano mo ba talaga nalalaman ang dapat? Ang ganda ng pagkakasulat at pakiramdam ko ung pagasa na kahit kakaiba siya ay parang bukas na bukas ang mundo para sakanya. Bukas na bukas and dagat para sakanya.

[Azy · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was simple and short. I love how it clearly showed the issue and how it was settled at the end.

[Jaou Pacinio · Rating 5 out of 5]

gusto kung mabasa ng buo

[elsewhere · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ang paborito kong parte sa pagbabasa ng librong 'to ay ang pagkakataong mas maintindihan at makilala ang mga Badjao - ang kanilang mga buhay at karanasan. Maraming salamat, Anina.

[Jhecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

"𝑷𝒂𝒓𝒂 𝒔𝒂 𝒌𝒂𝒃𝒂𝒕𝒂𝒂𝒏𝒈 𝒏𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒚 𝒔𝒂 𝒌𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒈 𝒌𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒕𝒂𝒏."

𝐴𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑎 𝑛𝑔 𝑚𝑔𝑎 𝐴𝑙𝑜𝑛 ang unang akdang nabasa ko sa wikang Filipino ngayong taon. Nagkamit ito ng parangal sa 2002 National Book Award bilang Best Young Adult Literature.

Nobelang pambata ito ngunit may kalaliman ang mga salitang ginamit kaya tiyak na mahihirapang basahin ito ng mga bata maging ng mga matatanda na sanay magbasa ng akdang Ingles. Ako man ay ngayon lang nabasa ang ibang mga salita sa aklat, mabuti na lamang at may talasalitaan sa dulo.

Ngunit hindi iyon naging hadlang upang magustuhan ko ang lirikal at patulang estilo ng pagkakasulat nito. Maiksi lang ang akdang ito na higit sa isandaang pahina lamang, ngunit malaman ito at aantig sa emosyon. Ipinasilip nito ang buhay, kasaysayan at kultura ng mga Badjao mula sa mga mata ni Anina, ang dalagitang anak ng dagat.

Halu-halong emosyon ang aking naramdaman pagkatapos ko itong basahin, sapagkat alam kong malapit sa katotohanan ang akdang ito. Naalala ko ang mga batang Badjao na umaakyat sa mga pampasaherong dyipni dito sa kamaynilaan upang humingi ng kaunting barya kapalit ng kanilang pag-awit o ng pagpupunas nila ng sapin sa paa ng mga pasahero.

Nalulungkot ako para kay Anina, Jainal, Dalpaki at sa iba pang mga batang Badjao na sa murang gulang ay naranasan na ang karahasan ng buhay at hindi patas na pagturing. Nagagalit ako sapagkat kapwa mga Pilipino ang mababa ang pagtingin at nangdidiskrimina sa mga tulad nilang nabibilang sa minoryang grupo. Mga kapwa Pilipino ang nagtutulak sa kanila paalis sa lugar kung nasaan ang kanilang kabuhayan, palayo sa lugar na ugat ng kanilang kasaysayan.

Naipakita rin sa akda ang pagnanais ni Anina na basagin ang tradisyonal na gampanin ng mga kababaihan sa lipunan. Gusto niyang hanapin ang kanyang sarili at tuklasin ang kanyang kakayahan sa labas ng linyang iginuhit ng patriyarka, ngunit hindi siya nabigyan ng pagkakataon. Dahil siya'y isang babae lamang.

Maraming matututunan sa akdang ito. Gigisingin nito ang iyong damdamin at kaisipan. Ang akdang ito ay hindi lamang para sa mga bata. Ito ay para sa lahat.

[Glecyl · Rating 5 out of 5]

it is a true story, i can imagine what position she had now!!!@@@@##$$%% hehe
that's all thank you

[Jersey · Rating 5 out of 5]

it's a good story to read

[Ivy Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simpleng mga salita. Walang pasikot-sikot. Ngunit matindi ang kurot sa puso.

[Sha Hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread this year. Still giving it 5 stars :)

[Veron · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Sino ba talaga ang nagmamay-ari ng dagat? Pagkalawak-lawak ng dagat para ariin.”

Anina ng mga Alon is a short novel in Filipino about 12 year-old Anina as she encounters threats that endanger her family and Badjao community. The Badjao is an indigenous peoples group from the southernmost islands of the Philippines and some parts of Malaysia and Indonesia known for their sea-centric lifestyle, making them also known as sea gypsies or sea nomads.

I don't think I'm able to critique the accuracy of the representation of the Badjao but I can say that the novel does a great job in establishing the beauty of their culture and the Indigenous People’s deep, genuine connection with nature. Using lyrical prose and songs that children and adults can both enjoy, Evasco conveys how integrated the sea is to the lives of the Badjao throughout the novel. The Badjao depend on the sea for their shelter and livelihood. Their songs, dances, and craft designs are inspired by the movement of the waves. The winds and water feel like sentient beings. Their legends feature boats and stingrays. Anina’s own identity crisis involves being born at land instead of being born at sea, despite having what she considers a deep connection with the waves.

“Bulan matai. Patay na ang buwan sa aming dagat. Ngayong gabi, gumagala ang mga magnanakaw sa aming mga panaginip. Nabubuhay sila sa pagpatay sa aming mga pangarap.”

So when the threats to this culture are introduced, the reader recognizes how valuable the things at stake are. When our characters get uprooted from their original residence to a place less connected with nature, the lack is felt. And when characters cling on their cultural artefacts and practices, the readers understand their importance. Through Anina, the discrimination and displacement her people face is depicted.

The book shows how environmental degradation has lasting effects on a community. How some places can be accessed by the military but schools can't be built on. How pirates and bandits threaten their safety and how the “bakal na bangka” depletes the supply of fish they're supposed to catch. How their deities are angered, how their dreams are stolen from their sleep.

Even though this book is targeted to an audience in Grade School or High School, the writing doesn’t underestimate children’s ability to understand some heavy themes, which is essential in achieving the book’s goal. However, I also feel like the resolution, while wrapping the story up nicely with hope, was too easy in contrast with the status quo the book presented at first.

While Anina in the novel is mostly an observer of the bigger things happening around her and her family, it is with the introspective development of her perspective of herself in relation to being a Badjao, to being the eldest daughter, to being an ‘anak ng alon’ that the book shapes itself. Anina ng mga Alon is an important, well-written and accessible book that introduces people to the plight of the Badjao and our indigenous peoples that might just lead to an interest in learning about their culture and current situation and to more understanding, empathy, and action.

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a bit hard for me to put my thoughts into words... I feel conflicted about this book.

On one hand, I feel like this is an important story, because it shows the hardships of the Badjao people. I really liked learning more about their way of life at sea. I appreciated how the author showed the difficulties that Badjao people have adjusting to city life, or how vulnerable they are both at sea and when they decide to live on land. I also enjoyed the sense of history that Badjao people have. As a Tagalog, I feel like our sense of our history is so short, spanning only 500 years, constrained mostly to the dawn of colonialism and onwards. But Anina's stories and folktales come from way farther down in history, spanning thousands of years. I think it really shows that although Badjao people don't have "papers" or "documents" they have an established presence and inheritance in their sea and their isles.

On the other hand, I just couldn't really get into the flow of the narrative style. I felt like this wasn't really a novel with a plot, it was more like bits and pieces of someone's life that and their thoughts surrounding those events. There was so much telling, and little showing. Anina had very little agency, and was mostly reacting to things happening around her. I don't know if it's because I lack practice reading in Tagalog, but I just couldn't get a good sense of timing in this novel. It's hard to explain. For example, the first two chapters were just Anina musing about what she wanted to be: a fisherman, or if all else fails, a student. The next chapter, we see her father taking her to her aunt to study. What happened? The readers are left to assume that her parents didn't want her to be a fisherman, and would rather have her study, but this crucial decision surrounding her life was totally left out. The same thing happened when her father died. At the end of one chapter, we see him come back from a successful fishing trip. The next chapter started with paragraphs of Anina's musings -- almost like an omniscient overview of the situation at sea -- and then shouts of an explosion, and it turns out her father had died. The readers aren't shown that her father is on a new fishing-trip. Anina's musings don't flow well into the narrative of what's happening now. So just, little things like that make the book really frustrating for me to read. The author also uses a lot of repetition... entire paragraphs would be filled with five, six, seven sentences that have the exact same beginning. I understand this is a stylistic choice, but it just doesn't work for me. Three sentences that start the same way, sure, but close to ten feels like I'm being clubbed over the head with stylistic devices.

Anyway, I just don't know how to feel about this book. It has won several awards, and it is obviously a story worth telling. Badjao people are so disenfranchised in Philippine society, and books are a great way to raise awareness on their challenging life. But like I said, the writing style just wasn't for me.

[Steno · Rating 4 out of 5]

Malungkot ngunit malaman ang nobelang pambata na ito ni Sir Eugene Evasco, na tungkol sa isang batang Badjao na inanod sa kung saang-saang dako ng ating kapuluan dahil sa mga perwisyong dulot ng mga dayo sa kanilang dagat sa Tawi-Tawi.

Napakahusay ng pagkakasulat. Lyrical at poetic. May kalaliman nga lang ang mga salita kaya tiyak na mahihirapang basahin ito ng mga bata (at matanda) na sanay magbasa sa Ingles o mas exposed sa Peppa Pig, Cocomelon at Dave and Ava sa YouTube.

Gayunman, tiniyak ni Evasco na maiikli ang mga pangungusap at hindi mahahaba ang mga kabanata para maging angkop sa kakayahan sa pagbabasa ng mga bata. Mabilis din ang mga pangyayari kaya hindi ka mababagot sa bawat kabanata.

Pinakatumatak sa akin sa nobelang ito ang makulay, mayaman ngunit nanganganib na maburang kultura ng mga Badjao sa Tawi-Tawi. Minsan na rin akong nakadalaw sa komunidad ng mga kapatid nating Badjao sa dulong timog ng Pilipinas at masasabi kong saktong-sakto ang paglalarawan ni Evasco sa kanilang kapaligiran at uri ng pamumuhay.

Nakakalungkot ang dinatnan kong komunidad sa Tawi-Tawi, tulad din ng sinapit ng bida sa kuwentong ito matapos silang salakayin ng mga pirata at ng mga sundalo ng pamahalaan. Ilan lamang ito sa maraming dahilan kung bakit napilitang tumakas ang mga Badjao at magpalisaw-lisaw sa iba-ibang panig ng bansa.

Mahusay na naipakita ni Evasco ang pinanggagalingang dusa, hirap at kamalasan ng mga Badjao na madalas nating pinagtatawanan o pinandidirihan. Napakahalagang ambag ng nobelang ito upang maitama ang mga mali nating pananaw hinggil sa mga katutubong ito.

Tulad ng maraming lumad at katutubo sa Pilipinas, biktima lamang sila ng mga ganid na korporasyon, mapang-abusong gobyerno, ng sistemang kapitalista, atbp.

Sana ay maraming makabasa ng nobelang ito. Hindi lang s'ya para sa mga bata. Marami ring matututuhan ang matatanda sa kuwentong ito.

Ako nga mismo, ang dami kong natutuhan. Maliban sa mga dati ko nang alam tungkol sa mga Badjao, tulad ng saitan at pangalay, lalo pang nadagdagan ang mga salitang nalaman ko, salamat sa talasalitaan sa dulo ng aklat. Ilan sa mga bagong salitang ito ay ang mga ss:

Salingguro - bahaghari
Lepa - bahay na bangka ng mga Badjao
Trepang - sea cucumber
Tinggayad - alon
Bulan Matai - patay na buwan o new moon

Well researched talaga ang aklat na ito, tulad ng iba pang akda ni Evasco. Hindi maikakailang iskolar siya ng pambatang panitikan.

[Dagdag] Natutuwa ako lalo sa nobelang ito dahil bibihira ang mga kuwento sa Pilipinas na may kinalaman sa dagat o anyong-tubig. Mas marami tayong kuwento sa lupa, sa mga magsasaka, mga dukha, atbp., pero kakaunti pagdating sa tubig, samantalang napaliligiran ng tubig ang Sangkapuluan ng Pilipinas! Sana mas dumami pa ang akdang may kinalaman sa mayayaman nating katubigan.

[Raissa Rivera Falgui · Rating 4 out of 5]

It starts out a little slow, but the writing is truly beautiful and it gives rich details of the lives of the Sama of the Philippines and, later, realistic, gritty details of the lives of the urban poor. There is a lot of description, but though well-written, more action and dialog would have made it more engaging, especially for young readers.

Now and then, the logical flow is off. Her mother recovers gradually from a major shock in a realistic enough fashion, but with no indication what rouses her from the slump, it's startling to have her go from letting her children take the lead to coming up with just the thing that will ensure their survival. Th3y say they cannot understand Tagalog yet seem to react appropriately when spoken to in the language. And the change in the narrative about Anina's birth on land, uncharacteristic of the Sama, is a bit odd, though maybe it changed along with their view of Anina after she came out strong and capable after their experiences, instead of still being the weak person she was presumed to be because she was born on land. That's what I would tell the teens reading the story.

Apart from the beautiful language, it is of value because of the sensitive portrayal of a minority group and its realistic depiction of the urban poor, what motivates their actions and the challenges they face. As lovely as the descriptions of the Sea were, it was the city scenes that felt most real to me. There is a balance between showing the beauty of Sama culture and its issues and the problems they face due to their way of life. And in the end, it offers through Anina's mother's action a hint of a solution, and through Anina's adaptability and resilience, a strong sense of hope.

[Wienna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hindi ako sigurado kung totoo ang mga impormasyon dito pero nakakalungkot isipin na hindi nga maganda ang trato ng karamihan sa mga Badjao.

Mayroon silang pinagmulan na kailangan nilang lisanin dahil wala silang papel o titulo. Ang pinanghahawakan nila ay oral tradition, na sinasabing ang lugar na tinitirahan nila o pinag-anakan sa kanila ay sa kanila mismo, maging ang mga ninuno nila ay doon din tumira. Subalit paaalisin sila sapagkat walang pisikal na patunay sa claims nilang kanila yun.

Pagdating nila sa foreign na lugar, mangangapa pa sila at hindi nila alam kung saan magsesettle kaya madalas sila ay nasa ilalim ng mga tulay o nasa skwater areas. Minsan pa ay nakukuha sila ng sindikato para magtrabaho na hindi rin naman sa kanila mapupunta ang pera. Nakakagawa rin sila ng krimen para lang mabuhay.

Maaawain akong tao. Kapag may nakikita akong namamalimos, nagbibigay ako. May nagsasabi sa akin na huwag ko raw yung gawin kasi tinuturuan ko raw silang maging dependent na lang sa pamamalimos. Pero hindi ganito ang nasa isip ko. Ang nasa isip ko parati ay tumulong sa paraang kaya ko. Naiisip ko rin na hindi ko naman parating makakasalamuha ang mga taong nakikita ko, kaya kung may kaya akong gawing mabuti sa unang encounter namin sa isa't isa, gagawin ko. Hindi lang ito applicable sa mga Badjao, maging sa iba pang uri ng mga tao, lalo na sa mga empleyado. At kung lokohin man ako? Wala na sa akin yun. Pure ang intensyon kong makatulong.

Sana magkaroon ng epektibong programa para sa kanila *naiiyak*.

[Simplymegy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nais kong bigyang hustisya ang maliit na aklat na ito sa pamamagitan ng pagsulat ng isang pagsusuring hango sa ating wika.

Lubos ang aking paghanga sa munting kwentong ito. Nabighani ako sa kuwento ni Anina at sa mga kaugalian ng mga Badjao.

Ang Bongao, Tawi-tawi ay isang lugar na natuklasan ko lamang ngayon, kahit na ako ay isang Pilipino. Nabuksan ang aking mata at isipan sa isang kultura ng mga taong madalas ay inaapi. Natuklasan ko ang talento nila sa pangingisda at paghahabi, at ang kanilang mga kundiman at awitin.

Ang kanilang mga pagsubok na batay sa katotohanan ay sadyang nakalulumbay. Hiling ko na ang librong ito ay isama sa kurikulum ng mga kabataang Pilipino. Tunay na mahalagang matutunan ang iba't ibang kultura sa Pilipinas.

[Queen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The writing of this book is so lyrical and I loved it. It did not sound forced at all. They sound like the true words and thoughts of our young Anina. Laced with cultural references told through her voice, it makes you wonder just how rich and diverse our culture really is.

This book is sad. I am sad for the ocean, for Anina, for Jainal, for Dalpaki, for Unggoh and Ummah, and just about every Badjao who were driven out of the only life they knew. But this book is also so beautifuuuuul. More people should read this gem.

I feel like I should write more words to convince people to read this. But I find it harder to review a book when I really liked it and this is one example of that.

[June · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was confused if this was really a book for children but then I realize that children's books shouldn't be always about adventures and wonders, they should also teach socio-political issues. I have read numerous books made for children, and as a 19-year-old, this has entertained and taught me much more than typical young adult books. It talked about the displacement of our indigenous people (is this the right term) in their own land. I love this book, how it explained dreams and waves and seas, and how these were removed from people. I hope that the readers of today will have a chance to read this.

[Cezca · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Anina" is a poetic, enchanting story that follows Anina, a young girl drawn to the sea. Evasco’s writing is lyrical and immersive, with a sense of nostalgia and wonder that pulls readers into Anina’s world. This novel is as much about self-discovery as it is about the beauty of nature, capturing the delicate balance between curiosity and caution. Evasco’s storytelling is gentle yet powerful, a testament to the magic of the everyday. At the very least, it reminds us of what the word "Badjao" really means and the mighty pride it carries that deserves our respect. But then again those who read this kind of book are educated enough not to use the name as a blanket term for beggars.

[Abi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The narration is very lyrical and poetic. I love the images that I imagined through the story. Eugene Evasco’s words tend so float off the pages; the waves of the sea and the cool of the wind taking me to the magical place of Tungbangkao.

Anina ng mga Alon is definitely more than a fictional children’s story. It is the story and history of the Badjao. Their origin, their culture, their beliefs, their struggles, and how we land dwellers don’t understand them. I’m happy to have read this story and to have learned about the Badjaos, for it is a story rarely ever told.

[Sai theengineerisreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Napakahusay ng pagkakahabi ng bawat salita at pangungusap, kasingganda ng mga tepo ni Unggoh.

Napansin ko rin na naging uniporme at napanatili ni Sir Eugene ang paggamit ng dagat (at mga salitang kaakibat nito) bilang metapora sa kabuuan ng kwento.

Mahusay rin ang gawa ng niredisenyong pabalat ng aklat na ito. Moderno at angkop.

Mamumulat ka sa realidad ng mga kapatid nating IPs, partikular na sa mga Badjao na binansagang mga anak ng dagat, at sa araw-araw nilang kinakaharap na problema (pangtustos, diskriminasyon, displacement, at pangmamaltrato.)

Mahahalina ka sa kwento ni Anina.

[Nickole Codico · Rating 5 out of 5]

ORIGINAL REVIEW FOUND HERE

EXACT RATING: 4.75 ✨

I will give you an everyday scenario as I commute daily to and from work and an actual same scenario from when I was studying in Manila for college.

For a 10-30 minute ride in a jeepney along the major roads of Manila and Cavite:

One kid will give you ang pao with letter asking for a few coins from your pocket, for he is hungry.
One father complete with papers and all will ask you to give alms, for his son is sick in the hospital
One mother with a baby would give out her hand asking you for money or food, for the baby is hungry.

One of them is a Badjao whom we rarely, if not at all, interact with. Maybe you gave her a few of your coins or maybe you didn't, but at some point in your life, here is what you've heard about them: THEY CAME HERE IN THE CITY TO SEEK A BETTER LIFE THAN THE LIFE THEY HAD BACK HOME.

Partly true, but after reading Anina ng mga Alon, I am ANGRY.
Manila may be the place of opportunities and dreams, but not everyone who dreams, dreams of a life in the city. Mostly, people were driven out of their homes and were forced to settle in the place of smoke and dirty streets — far from the rich soil they were uprooted from or rather, from the rich ocean they were fished out of.



As many of you already know, I don't read much Filipino books but am always on the look out for gems to read, and this book just hit the nail on the head with the story laced with the gods the Badjao prays to, the rituals they engage in, the songs of the sea, and not only with the story itself, this is the writing style I am most looking forward to reading in Filipino-written works. It is poetic and lyrical without overdoing it so the message just came across loudly and clearly. The imagery is so rich and vibrant that I can feel the cool breeze of salty air on my skin and the song of the waves lulling me and taking me to a place I've never been.

This is a very emotional book, one that would rip your heart bit by bit but thankfully, it ended with an open but hopeful note. I am also hoping that more people would read this short story so that more of us city-dwellers would understand the plight of the indigenous and celebrate the rich culture of the minority.

Anina is a story of finding oneself amidst the noise of the world.
Anina is a story of finding out what you want, going for it........ hoping for a change, but life doesn't work that way, does it?
Anina is a story of being a woman wanting something that society tells her she cannot be....and she never did.
Anina is a story of family and tradition and culture.

The book is the the closest thing to reality as it is. Some dreams are never really achieved, but you gotta point forward because going in that direction is the only way to move.

Anina ng mga Alon is a story worth telling.
It is a story worth reading.

[Aki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ang ganda nang pagkakasulat. Nakita ko ang mundo sa mga mata ng Badjao. Nakita ko kung gaano kaganda ang mundo na simple ang pamumuhay. Kung maaari lamang sabihin sa lahat ng tao na ang Maynila ay hindi laging lugar ng mga pangarap. Mainam pa manirahan sa probinsya kung minsan. Kung pwede lang sana mangyari ang nangyari sa aklat na ito.