Pinilakang Tabing

by Ricky Lee

Ano ang pelikula para sa 'yo? Ano ang pelikula para kina Jose, Luisa, Journey, Danny, Enzo, at iba pang mga tauhan ng nobelang ito? Mula 1971 hanggang 2016, ang mga buhay nila, sa iba't ibang paraan ay maaapektuhan ng pelikula.

265 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2025

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

[Spens · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was just very okay! The POV and timeline shifts took some getting used to at the start but eventually I enjoyed following these different characters and find out how their lives intertwine and how cinema ties them all together one way or another. I love how this explores how art is a reflection of life and how life imitates art and just how much cinema is a reflection of the time in which it exists. It also takes an intriguing look into the politics of censorship—both in what we are allowed to see and what we choose to consume. Ultimately however, I feel that the exploration of themes comes at the expense of fully fleshing out the characters that I finished this book without feeling any particular attachment to anyone of them. Still, it's not a bad book and I won't stop you from picking it up.

[Yana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Walang hanggang pakikibaka ang paglikha ng pelikula.

Mula sa kuwento ni Jose at Louisa na naging tulay ang pelikula sa pagpili ng rebolusyon at kalayaang magmahal sa kabila ng lahat, kay Journey na hinanap ang pelikula sa gitna ng pagkawala at pagsinta — hanggang kay Carla, Daning, na pinamukha na ang pelikula ay ang pagtanggap at pagtanggi sa kinalakhan na kultura. Kay Enzo na literal na naging pelikula, kay Danny, kay Jennifer — na pinili ang sining dahil sa pag-ibig.

Iba't ibang karakter ang hinulma ni Ricky Lee sa librong ito, ngunit alam kong hindi lamang ito ang pagkukuwento na kung paano sumabay sa saliw ng kasaysayan ang pelikula, kundi paano ito piniling lumaya sa kabila ng lahat.

Hinihintay lang talaga tayo ng sining, at buong puso ka nitong gagamitin para maging armas sa malayang bukas, mabuhay ang pelikulang Pilipino!

[drei · Rating 5 out of 5]

third ricky lee book and im still amazed sa way of writing ni sir ricky lee. atp, may nakikita na kong pattern. Mahilig si sir ricky sa flashbacks, characters who yearn and mahilig siya na ipag connect mga characters niya. ganda lagi ng book niya for me kasi andaming characters pero lahat sila ay may buhay, mas marami yung id consider as a main character kesa sa bg character lang. di rin sila nakakalito.

sa bawat libro ni sir ricky may mga character na tumatatak sakin, lalo na tuwing may nakikita ko irl na same ang physical attributes ng character na yon, naalala ko sila hahaha. Dati sa mga chinito, naalala ko sila sam. Ngayon sa mga kulot, maalala ko naman sina yugi:)

ang pelikula ay tayo, at tayo ang pelikula. one cannot exist without the other. made me appreciate movies more, tho i have this curiousity and respect naman na towards cinema in general even before, mas lumalim siya ngayon. Lalo na sa gawang pilipino. parang ang sarap sarap pag aralan ng film:”) if ngayon ako pilili ng kurso, id take film…..parang napaka fulfilling niya and i love how its so political and so full of art and life.

napakaraming lines din yung tumatak sakin sa librong toh pero ang favorite kong nararamdaman tuwing nagbabasa ko ng libro ni sir ricky ay yung pakiramdam na parang totoo sila….parang andito lang din sila, sa tabi ko. bukod sa some of the characters from sir ricky lee’s books are relatable, yung iba kasi ron ganong klase buhay yung pinangarap ko eh….its so fun getting to live different lives through different characters from his books:”)

ipagpapatuloy ko ang pagbabasa ng mga libro ni sir rickt, and dahil sa librong toh, nag spark din curiosity ko sa filipino films, lalo na yung mga luma:”)

[Billy Ibarra]

𝗔𝗡𝗚 𝗣𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗞𝗨𝗟𝗔 𝗔𝗧 𝗔𝗡𝗚 𝗠𝗚𝗔 𝗧𝗔𝗨𝗛𝗔𝗡 𝗦𝗔 𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗟𝗔𝗞𝗔𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗔𝗕𝗜𝗡𝗚

Hinabi ng mga pelikula ang buhay ng mga tauhan sa nobelang Pinilikang Tabing ni Ricky Lee, mga pag-ibig na pinagbigkis sa panahong sinisensura ito. Para itong frame by frame na tagpo, iba-iba ang panahon, iba't iba ang kaligiran, magkakarugtong ang mga karakter, may kani-kaniyang kuwento na bubuo sa isang mas malaking naratibo---parang sa pelikula.

Ayon kay Martin Scorsese, "Movies touch our hearts and awaken our vision, and change the way we see things. They take us to other places, they open doors and minds.” Ganitong-ganito rin ang epekto ng pelikula sa nobela ni Lee---malaki ang naging bahagi ng pelikula sa pamumuhay at paniniwala ng mga tauhan. Para sa tauhang si Jose, ito ay "... mabisang tagapagdala ng ating mga alaala bilang mga Pilipino" dahil, "Ang pelikula, kailanman, ay hindi nakakalimot." Kaya hangga't may pelikulang nagbibigkis sa mga tauhan sa nobela, kailanman ay hindi sila nakalimot sa kanilang mga nakaraan at kung paano sila nito hinubog sa kasalukuyan. Puwede sila nitong isalba, imulat sa kalagayang panlipunan, o hindi kaya'y tuluyang lagutan ng hininga. Lagi't lagi, may pelikula sa Pinilakang Tabing ni Ricky Lee na nagdurugtong sa pusod ng mga tauhan.

𝗔𝗡𝗚 𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗔𝗣𝗢 𝗕𝗜𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗔𝗚𝗣𝗨𝗔𝗡 𝗡𝗚 𝗠𝗚𝗔 𝗔𝗟𝗔𝗔𝗟𝗔

Sa Trip to Quiapo (1998), ipinakilala sa atin ni Ricky Lee ang tatlong manunulat na lahat gustong pumunta sa Quiapo. Pinag-aralan ng unang manunulat ang daan na ginamit papuntang Quiapo ng mga nauna sa kaniya; ang pangalawa ay umikot muna kung saan-saan kahit alam naman niya ang tamang daan, hanggang sa makarating siya rito; umikot-ikot din ang pangatlo, nagkaligaw-ligaw, pero gumawa ng sariling Quiapo.

Malaki rin ang naging papel ng Quiapo sa Pinilakang Tabing bilang tagpuan ng mga alaala. Palagi itong binabalik-balikan ng tauhang sina Jose at Luisa upang maupo sa kainan na huli nilang pinagkitaan, tumingala sa mga billboard ng pelikula, panoorin ang mga taong abala sa kani-kaniyang buhay, maghintay, umasa, at maghanap ng nawawala. Laberinto ang pinagdaanan nila upang makabalik sa Quiapo sa iba't ibang yugto ng kanilang buhay. Katulad ng tatlong manunulat na ginamit na simbolismo sa Trip to Quiapo, alam nila ang daan patungo rito ngunit may mga pagkakataon na naliligaw pa rin sila, iikot nang malayo, may makikilala sa kanilang paglalakbay, ngunit patuloy makababalik dito. Dahil ang Quiapo ay ang Quiapo ng kanilang mga alaala.

𝗔𝗡𝗚 𝗠𝗚𝗔 𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗨𝗧𝗢𝗟

Sa mga lumang pelikula, kahit gaano kagalit ang tauhan, hindi mo sila maririnig magmura. Hindi nagiging kapani-paniwala ang eksena. Kapag marahas ang eksena, pinuputol din ito upang hindi makita ng manonood. Bigla mo na lang makikita na may nakahandusay, di mo na nakita kung ano talaga ang nangyari. Para kang saksi sa isang krimen na di mo alam kung paano ipapaliwanag. Kapag nagpapakita ng tunay na kalagayan ng lipunan, tatawaging subersibo ang pelikula, haharangin para huwag maipalabas. Palaging takot ang sensura sa katotohanang ipinapakita ng pelikula.

Isinalaysay sa nobela ang panganib na dulot ng sensura at kung paano ito nakaaapekto hindi lang sa pelikula, kundi pati na rin sa araw-araw na pamumuhay ng mga Pilipino. Magmula nang magkaroon ng sensura, palaging may pinuputol na eksena, palaging may ipinagbabawal, palaging may tinatakpan, palaging may kinikitil sa karapatang magpahayag. Kaya't kinailangang buoin muli ang mga pinutol, binuhay para maging isa, nagmumura, naghuhubad, nilalabanan ang bulok na hegemoniya.

Para ka na ring kumuha ng subject na Film and Society sa pagbabasa ng Pinilakang Tabing. Medyo malawak din ang naging pagtalakay rito ni Lee sa kasaysayan ng pelikula at kung paano ito hindi hiwalay na usapin sa lipunan. Marami ding halimbawa rito ng mga pinutol na eksena sa pelikula tulad ng pagmumura at paghuhubad, o pinalitan ng title, katulad ng Manila by Night (1980) ni Yshmael Bernal na ginawang City After Dark dahil ayaw ng rehimeng Marcos na mailantad ang tunay na kalagayan ng Maynila. Nilalaman din ng Pinilakang Tabing ang paglaban sa censorship hindi lang dahil sa mga pinutol na eksena, kundi pati na rin para ipaglaban ang malayang pagpapahayag gamit ang pelikula.

𝗛𝗨𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗔𝗟𝗔

Malinaw na nasa loob ng nobela ang ipinaglalaban at pinapangarap ni Ricky Lee para sa industriya ng pelikula at para sa bayan. Maging sa nobela ay binigyang-ningning ang "maliliit na tao" na siyang tunay na bumubuhay sa paggawa ng pelikula, na kung wala sila ay hindi aandar ang mga camera, walang gagalaw sa set, walang magse-set up ng mga ilaw---walang magagawang pelikula. (Basahin din ang 'Now Shooting (Noon): Maliliit na Tao sa Pelikula'. Nasa "Agaw-Tingin, koleksiyon ng mga nonfiction" ni Ricky Lee. The University of the Philippines Press, 2025.) Katulad din ito ng pagtingin na kung walang magsasaka, walang pagkain sa mesa; kung walang manggagawa, walang maitatayong gusali, walang aandar na makinarya; kung walang mangingisda, walang isda sa mesa; dahil 'ika nga ng kanta, "Ang masa, ang masa lamang / Ang siyang tagapaglikha".

Sa loob ng 265 na pahina, naisiksik ni Ricky Lee sa Pinilakang Tabing ang kasaysayan ng pelikula, ang mga makasaysayang pelikula, ang paglaban sa sensura, ang Batas Militar na isa sa pinakamadilim na yugto ng kasaysayan, ang Diliman Commune, ang danas ng mga bilanggong politikal, ang burukrata-kapitalismo, ang lagay ng mga mangingisda, ang kawalan ng tunay na pagbabago sa bawat pagpapalit ng administrasyon, hanggang sa EJK ni Duterte. Paulit-ulit na siklo ng paglaban sa paggulong ng panahon.

Sa dulo't dulo, wala tayo sa loob ng pelikula o nobela---nandito tayo sa ginagalawan nating lipunan, at nasa ating mga kamay ang kapangyarihan upang baguhin ito. Katulad sa sinehan, matatapos ang palabas, gugulong ang end credits sa screen, magliliwanag ang madilim na paligid, titindig tayong lahat at lalabas, muling haharapin ang buhay sa labas at lalaban.

[Veron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dahil ang pelikula, gaya ng lahat ng kuwento, ay nagsisimula sa kagustuhan nating baguhin ang mundo, kaya lahat ng kuwento ay kahilingan para sa isang mas mabuting mundo.

Pinilakang Tabing is a chronicle of interconnected characters throughout contemporary history whose lives are in one way or another defined by film – Philippine cinema in particular. Central to the book’s many stories is the couple Jose and Luisa who started out as student-activists during the 1970 Diliman Commune before they get separated from each other and from their infant child due to Martial Law military repression. Jose is imprisoned then disappears while Luisa becomes a film professor.

Pinilakang Tabing is Ricky Lee’s 6th novel, released last year at MIBF 2025, and I’d say that it’s most similar to his 5th, Kalahating Bahaghari when it comes to structure and setting, it’s likely that they were written around the same time as well. Fans of Bahaghari have a high chance of loving Pinilakang Tabing, too.

Similar to my problem with KB, I don’t think the large cast of characters here get sufficient development as the narrative shifts in a non-linear manner from one story to another, with fast pacing. Some character backgrounds I felt were repetitive. The more minor stories that stood out for me were those of Sharon Cuneta devotee Adela and film star Carla.

On a brighter note, this wide breadth of perspectives (director, actor, film student, fan, super-fan, etc.) allowed Lee to highlight the societal conditions of different time periods (70’s through Luisa and Jose, 90’s through Journey and Danny, 2010’s through Jennifer) and how these conditions reflected the filmmaking of the respective eras. (Although I think the 2000s romcom should’ve been given focus also.) Subjects included the media and press censorship during Martial Law, the rise of bomba films, the influence of the masculine action films, and the struggle of dreaming to work on film.

Dedicated cinephiles would love how often classic Filipino films are referenced, centering on the works of Brocka, Bernal, de Leon, and Diaz-Abaya. Lino Brocka himself is actually a supporting character in the book. Interestingly, while Ricky Lee includes his own work (Himala, Moral, etc.) as a part of the Filipino film canon, his own name is never mentioned.

Speaking of his work, PT also carries Lee’s often telenovela-like melodramatic sensibilities. There are tropes such as missing-child and amnesia that might come off as too cliché and predictable. There are also things that I didn’t think quite landed well such as the Enzo plotline (a kid who believes that he is a personification of film itself). However I am aware of how apt it is to put common Filipino film and TV tropes in a book that is meant to celebrate it. I also appreciate how the non-linear storytelling added some intrigue and a jumbled-memory feel to the narration.

Pinilakang Tabing depicts how film/pelikula serves its many purposes depending on the needs of a person with the conditions of the time. Ang pelikula, o sining, ay maaaring maging armas, panangga at kaligtasan. Ang pelikula ay pag-asa at pangarap. At higit sa lahat, ang pelikula na “hindi nakakalimot” ay nagsisilbing alaala ng kasaysayan.

P.S. I love Karl Castro’s cover design and how it represents the subject.
P.P.S. I don’t know whether intentional or not but Chapter 3 is the sole chapter told in 1st person and I can't surmise why.

[Redg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ipinapakita ng Pinilakang Tabing paano nakahanap ng tahanan sa pelikula ang ang isang burgis, aktibista, bakla, ampon, hitman at iba pa. Az an emotional reader, kuhang-kuha talaga ni Ricky Lee kung anong klaseng mga kwento ang magpapaiyak sa akin.

In true Ricky Lee fashion, Pinilakang Tabing is a novel that has multiple parallel storylines told from multiple characters’ POV. The book hooks you in right out the gate from the first chapter and you will root for each character’s peace and happy ending.

Filled with references to classic (and lost) Philippine movies as well as movies from foreign directors, Ricky Lee sort of curated his personal watchlist with this book. Recommended to all baby and experienced cinephiles.

The book even dipped its toes to being experimental with Enzo’s story and, though that storyline was not to my taste, it was definitely an interesting choice that would make you think deeply on how it fits in the bigger picture that is the novel.

By the last few chapters, I was yelling out loud and praying for a happy ending. Very satisfying and emotional read. And yes, I cried at the end. Very, very close to 5 stars.

[jodi · Rating 5 out of 5]

"At noon niya unang naramdaman ang paulit-ulit na mararamdaman niya mula noon tuwing nanonood ng pelikula—kinukuha ng pelikula ang mga pira-piraso niyang sarili at saka ibinabalik sa kanya nang buo."

i've never read a more beautiful book about films and the filipino people. the coexistence of these two is what makes the persistence to be seen, continuous and ever-present. even in the most stereotypical or censored movies, the essence of the people will always make its way despite of what's being conveyed. it has a funny way of bringing everything to a closed circle.

the writing reminded me of uketsu, the author of the strange series, because of how much connection he made in between these characters with their own different arcs in the story, with films being their secret helper throughout. and though one may find these connections a bit predictable, ricky lee had a way of making these connections feel satisfying because of the in-betweens.

and i don't know if it's intentional or not, but there were so many tropes used that are normally seen in ph teleserye like the amnesia and the lost child trope. but seeing it being weaved into the story so seamlessly is what made it worked. everything had a purpose, and not merely as a tool to drag the story for much longer. it became a device for yearning for something, either not knowing what it is or trying to forget it. then eventually coming to terms with sitting still with the hurt, turn time from fiend to friend, and walk forward—grounded by the weight of love and grief for those lost to history, and lighten the heaviness just a little by persevering their existence through the simplest act of remembering. and in this story, through film.

[Highnyzbibliofiles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a story of multiple characters who are unknowingly interrelated.

This is my nth book by Sir Ricky Lee. I believe the storytelling of multiple people is Sir Ricky’s brand. As a reader, it made me immerse myself in his characters’ lives, as if I were a spectator of their experiences. What made it a good read is the underlying truth that people’s lives are interconnected.

This book tells the stories of moviegoers. It simply navigates the relationship between reels and real life. Reels are inspired by real people, and real people are inspired by the reels. The notion that people usually think “this movie reflects my life” is what this book wants to relay to the readers. Madrama ang pelikula, at kasing drama ng pelikula ang tunay na buhay.

Moreover, the book gives us a glimpse of the progress of the movie industry and its relevance to Philippine history. Given Sir Ricky’s talent in scriptwriting, the book tells readers about the survival of films from the past, censorship, the Martial Law era, and the changes in how movies are produced. It also gives readers a view of filmmakers and actors as creators of cinema.

Imagine the best movies from the 1970s until the present—Sir Ricky Lee made this book like a digest of a “Best Movies to Watch” list. Every chapter mentions a good film. It is like inviting readers to watch and add the movie to their watchlist.

Like in movies, it will make you laugh, feel kilig, and cry. This book gives us that. Kasing kulay ng isang pelikula ang nobelang ito.

[Martin DC · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.8/5

May hiwaga kung paano binubuhay ni Ricky Lee ang mga tauhan sa Pinilakang Tabing. May pagkalinga sa kwento ng mga karakter, at malinaw ito sa paraan ng paghahabi niya ng kani-kanilang buhay, hindi lang bilang mga indibidwal kundi bilang mga salamin ng mas malawak na lipunan.

Makikita rin kung gaano ka-masterful ang sining ng paglalahad niya ng isang period story, mula sa panahon ng Martial Law hanggang sa administrasyon ni Duterte. Natural na pumapasok ang mga problema ng bansa sa kanyang sulatin, pulitika, pang-aabuso sa kapangyarihan, pag-asa, at pakikibaka. Napakaraming layers ng libro pero hindi kailanman nagmumukhang pilit.

Higit sa lahat, dama ang malasakit ng awtor sa sining ng pagkukuwento at sa mga taong kanyang isinasalaysay. Hindi lamang ito isang nobela; isa itong karanasang panlipunan at emosyonal.

Gusto ko ring purihin na isa ito sa mga librong nagustuhan ko hindi lamang sa nilalaman, kundi pati sa book cover at lay-out, simple ngunit makahulugan, at bagay sa lalim ng kwento.

Makapangyarihang akda na karapat-dapat basahin at balik-balikan.

[Pauline · Rating 3 out of 5]

You truly are a screenplay writer, Sir Ricky Lee.

Hindi lang siguro nagtutugma ang timpla mo sa hinahanap ko, pagdating sa paglapat ng kwento. Maraming mga pangungusap ang nabibitin, litanyang hindi natatapos, at mga puntong, sa sobrang dami, hindi na masapol.

Ang pagiging politikal naman ng isang akda ay hindi lumulutang at nagpapakita sa pamamagitan ng mga salita, kung hindi sa masinsin na pag-ikot at pagbuhos ng mga eksena.

Kasi yung istilo at pormula mo, talagang pang pelikula. Na dapat tuloy-tuloy na may ipinapakita, ikinukwento sa mga mambabasa. Pumapaling. Humahaging. Kumbaga, bawal ang dead air. Tama ba?

[AJ Aguilar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maraming eksenang masasabi kong pelikulang pelikula ang datingan. Iyon bang tipong tipikal na sa drama-rama ng mga panghapon o panggabing teleserye. Masarap basahin dahil pakiramdam ko'y unpredictable ngunit biglang napupunta sa mga "predictable" nang mga kaganapan kaya nagiging undpredictable pa rin XD.

Marketable ang karamihan sa elemento ng akda dahil nga sa pagiging "predictable" nito. Humina lang sa suliranin ng mag-ama tungkol sa paggawa ng pelikula. Sa pagbasa ko'y naliligaw ang pagka-"pelikula" ng akdang ito dahil hindi ganoon ka-"makamasa" at "maka-teleserye" ang bahaging iyon.

[Nana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bought at MIBF25.

May na-realize siya sa paglipas ng panahon - na hindi lang lang siya, lahat tayo, ay may sugat sa dibdib... isang komunidad ng may mga sugat sa dibdib.

My 2nd Tagalog book after Janus Silang. A wonderful, emotional read that brings you into the life of the characters against the backdrop of Philippine politics. You will feel every pain, every tear, every dagger to the heart. Although I felt that it lagged a bit in the middle.

[Kirstene Bolo Villanos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Randomly picked this up in FullyBooked during my lunch break at work. When I go to a bookstore in between work, it means I am destressing; so I'm happy that this won over Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar.

This has been my en route/waiting-in-line book and it was engaging enough to keep me from picking up my phone and doomscrolling. As with most Filipino novels, this was heavy on family drama but I liked the fact that it also touched on history and politics.

[Nico · Rating 4 out of 5]

Binibigyang diin ng mga kuwento na sa tinagal-tagal man ng panahon ng pagkawalay at pag-iisa o pag-iibang buhay, may mga bagay na magbibigay kahulugan sa mga buhay natin. Hindi man ngayon o bukas pero may oras din para rito.

Hindi mawawala ang mga pelikula kung may buhay na umiiral sa mundo. Sa totoong buhay, mahirap mangyari itong ganito pero isa itong pag-asa para sa mga nawalan at patuloy na naghahanap.

[laikah · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Kinukuha ng pelikula ang mga pira-piraso niyang sarili, at saka ibinabalik sa kaniya nang buo”

Noong sinabi ni ricky lee na this book was a love letter to cinema, he really meant it. Bilang isang tao, isang pilipino, isang babae, isang queer, at isang nagmamahal sa pelikula, kuhang kuha ako ng librong ito. Parang isinalamin yung pagtingin at pagmamahal ko sa pelikula mula sa lente ng iba’t ibang karakter.

[Iska · Rating 5 out of 5]

ART. LITERALLY. IN ITS PUREST AND HIGHEST FORM. ART.

i just loved everything about this book. it made me feel and see film in a deeper perspective. every words has its own impact. it's just one of a kind HUHUHUHUHU OMG I LOVE. the ability of Mr. Ricky Lee na mag kwento is unmatched and cannot be topped. he gained the top spot in my fave authors list because of this book.

[Chen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Took me a while to finish this pero ang sakit nito sa puso.

This is Ricky Lee’s love letter to the film industry. I liked his other novels more but this was also very well written. Ang ganda ng tahi sa dulo. Ang ganda ng metaphors used about love — for the country, love for stories, love for the people who make life worth living. 🥹

[decisiontolove · Rating 5 out of 5]

Film really hold a space for all the messy and complicated parts of being human. Just like the lives of the characters and their relatioship with films, I keep discovering parts of myself through films, too.

[iamfictitious · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

[Shiandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emotional page turner that packs a punch! A deep pain you will feel in your gut! Every twist and turn had me hooked. It was the type of book you can never let go. It was that good!

[Ridge Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this book much more about how the author make plot twist on different characters (although i know it who’s who)

[Miko Biong · Rating 4 out of 5]

im going to make films again. im going to make films again. im going to make films. 😭😭😭

[Jahnabels · Rating 5 out of 5]

"...puta ka, Direk, ikaw ang walang timing!"

[blondddead · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ricky Lee, you have done it again

[wonton · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took some time to get used with the shifting POV’s and even with the use of Taglish. But I found myself captivated by these characters, with how philippine cinema connects them altogether.

[dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

it’s as if sir ricky lee wrote this book for me

[Gio · Rating 3 out of 5]

Medyo nakakalito ang paglipat-lipat ng taon, sapagkat ito’y hindi kronolohikal. Sa kabila nito, nakakaintriga ang pagkakatulad ng pelikula at totoong buhay.

[Angela Del Gallego · Rating 4 out of 5]

ang ganda ng pagkakasulat ng bawat karakter sa librong ito. hindi rin magulo ang flow ng story kahit na maraming karakter sa libro. husay ni sir ricky lee!

[Aiza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ito yung pagkakasulat na madalas sinasabi ng coach ko na maganda ang pagkakatahi

I love you Ricky Lee

[jam · Rating 5 out of 5]

a bittersweet love :(