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Ang Eleksyon
Ancient gods, hidden histories, and a world on the brink of judgment. When Maria Makiling wakes up human in 21st-century Manila, she must walk among mortals to cast her vote on humanity's destruction—or its salvation.
First published October 21, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
Damang-dama ang mga sakit ng lipunan sa Ang Eleksyon ni Ran Manansala.
Buhay na buhay ang mga mito—literal namumuhay kasama ng mga tao. Isa rito si Mariang Makiling. Sa taong 2021, nagising si Maria na ngayo’y dalaga. Kakaiba ang premise ng nobela: anim na nilalang ay pinili maging tao para sa isang eleksyon. Ang botohan? Kung ipurga o isalba ang sangkatauhan.
Umiikot ang nobela sa dalawang tanong: Paano natin naaalala ang kasaysayan, at likas ba sa tao ang sakim?
Madaling maliitin ang papel ng mito sa kasaysayan. Pero reflective ang mga mito sa kultura, paniniwala, danas, at pag-asa ng mga tao. Paulit-ulit ang nobela sa maraming pagbasa sa mga mito. Maraming adaptasyon. May dagdag-bawas. Ang mahalaga ay hindi mawala sa nakaraan ang mga mito.
Sentral sa nobela ang mga kwentong nawawala sa kasaysayan. Minamaliit ang papel ng kababaihan sa rebolusyon. Binabaluktot ng online propaganda ang mga atrocities ng gobyerno. Winawala ang kasaysayan ng mga sinaunang mito.
Tinalakay sa nobela ang mga sakit ng lipunan. Gentrification. Land grabbing. Karahasan. Misogyny. Elitismo sa academe. Patronage politics. Online trolls. Economic disparities. Mabagal man ang wika at daloy ng kwento, lumiliyab naman ito sa paninindigan. May moments na didactic—o overly instructive—and tono pero give ko kay Manansala ang need to be straightforward. Hindi subtle si Manansala sa mga pinaglalaban niya. Nasa mambabasa ang sagot kung likas ba ang sakim sa mga taong biktima at promodor ng mga social ills.
Aaminin ko: nahirapan ako magbasa. Nabagalan ako, bilang mahilig sa lyrical prose at sa paglaro ng wika. Medyo paulit-ulit ang sentence structures to the point na nagtunog monotonous. Mas reactionary at reflective rin ang tono. Siguro ganito tono kasi kinakapa ni Maria ang mundo? Malaki rin ang time jumps. May mga punto na, in my opinion, nilaktawan.
Kakaiba ang premise. Matapang ang paninindigan. Marami rin ako napulot tungkol sa mga mito at kasaysayan. Hindi lang para sakin ang estilo ng pagkasulat. However, I still believe worth the read ang Ang Eleksyon ni Ran Manansala. Napapanahon ang mga tinalakay. Kaya basahin ito with patience at liliyab rin ang tapang mo.
Salamat kay Ran sa pagbigay ng kopya for review!
Buhay na buhay ang mga mito—literal namumuhay kasama ng mga tao. Isa rito si Mariang Makiling. Sa taong 2021, nagising si Maria na ngayo’y dalaga. Kakaiba ang premise ng nobela: anim na nilalang ay pinili maging tao para sa isang eleksyon. Ang botohan? Kung ipurga o isalba ang sangkatauhan.
Umiikot ang nobela sa dalawang tanong: Paano natin naaalala ang kasaysayan, at likas ba sa tao ang sakim?
Madaling maliitin ang papel ng mito sa kasaysayan. Pero reflective ang mga mito sa kultura, paniniwala, danas, at pag-asa ng mga tao. Paulit-ulit ang nobela sa maraming pagbasa sa mga mito. Maraming adaptasyon. May dagdag-bawas. Ang mahalaga ay hindi mawala sa nakaraan ang mga mito.
Sentral sa nobela ang mga kwentong nawawala sa kasaysayan. Minamaliit ang papel ng kababaihan sa rebolusyon. Binabaluktot ng online propaganda ang mga atrocities ng gobyerno. Winawala ang kasaysayan ng mga sinaunang mito.
Tinalakay sa nobela ang mga sakit ng lipunan. Gentrification. Land grabbing. Karahasan. Misogyny. Elitismo sa academe. Patronage politics. Online trolls. Economic disparities. Mabagal man ang wika at daloy ng kwento, lumiliyab naman ito sa paninindigan. May moments na didactic—o overly instructive—and tono pero give ko kay Manansala ang need to be straightforward. Hindi subtle si Manansala sa mga pinaglalaban niya. Nasa mambabasa ang sagot kung likas ba ang sakim sa mga taong biktima at promodor ng mga social ills.
Aaminin ko: nahirapan ako magbasa. Nabagalan ako, bilang mahilig sa lyrical prose at sa paglaro ng wika. Medyo paulit-ulit ang sentence structures to the point na nagtunog monotonous. Mas reactionary at reflective rin ang tono. Siguro ganito tono kasi kinakapa ni Maria ang mundo? Malaki rin ang time jumps. May mga punto na, in my opinion, nilaktawan.
Kakaiba ang premise. Matapang ang paninindigan. Marami rin ako napulot tungkol sa mga mito at kasaysayan. Hindi lang para sakin ang estilo ng pagkasulat. However, I still believe worth the read ang Ang Eleksyon ni Ran Manansala. Napapanahon ang mga tinalakay. Kaya basahin ito with patience at liliyab rin ang tapang mo.
Salamat kay Ran sa pagbigay ng kopya for review!
October 28, 2026
4⭐️
Kung ikaw ang tatanungin, bibigyan mo pa ba ng isa pang pagkakataon ang sangkatauhan, o panahon na para tuluyan na itong lipulin?
That’s the question at the heart of Ang Eleksyon by Ran Manansala. Six Filipino mythological beings must observe humanity before deciding its fate. Set during the 2022 elections, the story tackles issues that remain relevant to us as Filipinos, including political dynasties, disinformation, and historical revisionism. Some of the events referenced are things we’ve actually witnessed, making the book’s political commentary hit close to home.
Beyond politics, the story also explores how women are treated and how difficult it can be to challenge a system that has long worked against them. One of the lines that really stayed with me was:
“𝘛𝘢𝘭𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘦 𝘴𝘢 𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘺𝘰𝘯, 𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪 𝘢𝘬𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘱𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘰 𝘴𝘢 𝘮𝘨𝘢 𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘴𝘢𝘴𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪 𝘯𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘨𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘺𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘢𝘺𝘰.”
I love how this captures the refusal to accept injustice as something that will never change. It’s a reminder that acknowledging how broken things are doesn’t mean we should stop fighting for something better.
This idea becomes even more compelling through Diane’s experiences as a human. As she encounters both the cruelty people are capable of and the realities they have to live through, her perspective on humanity becomes more complicated. Her experiences make the decision she has to face feel less like a judgment of humanity from the outside and more like a question she must confront as someone who has experienced being human herself.
And that’s what makes the book so thought-provoking. How do you weigh humanity’s capacity for cruelty against its capacity for change? At what point does the harm people cause outweigh the hope that things could get better?
𝙆𝙪𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙠𝙖𝙬 𝙖𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙤𝙗𝙤𝙩𝙤, 𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙩𝙖𝙨 𝙢𝙤 𝙗𝙖 𝙖𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙠𝙖𝙩𝙖𝙪𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙤 𝙥𝙞𝙥𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙡𝙞𝙥𝙪𝙡𝙞𝙣 𝙞𝙩𝙤?
Honestly, hindi ko rin alam kung ano ang isasagot ko. This book makes you confront the worst parts of humanity without completely dismissing the possibility of change. And maybe that’s what makes the decision so difficult: believing that things can get better is one thing, but deciding whether humanity deserves that chance is another.
Kung ikaw ang tatanungin, bibigyan mo pa ba ng isa pang pagkakataon ang sangkatauhan, o panahon na para tuluyan na itong lipulin?
That’s the question at the heart of Ang Eleksyon by Ran Manansala. Six Filipino mythological beings must observe humanity before deciding its fate. Set during the 2022 elections, the story tackles issues that remain relevant to us as Filipinos, including political dynasties, disinformation, and historical revisionism. Some of the events referenced are things we’ve actually witnessed, making the book’s political commentary hit close to home.
Beyond politics, the story also explores how women are treated and how difficult it can be to challenge a system that has long worked against them. One of the lines that really stayed with me was:
“𝘛𝘢𝘭𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘦 𝘴𝘢 𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘺𝘰𝘯, 𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪 𝘢𝘬𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘱𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘰 𝘴𝘢 𝘮𝘨𝘢 𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘴𝘢𝘴𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪 𝘯𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘨𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘺𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘢𝘺𝘰.”
I love how this captures the refusal to accept injustice as something that will never change. It’s a reminder that acknowledging how broken things are doesn’t mean we should stop fighting for something better.
This idea becomes even more compelling through Diane’s experiences as a human. As she encounters both the cruelty people are capable of and the realities they have to live through, her perspective on humanity becomes more complicated. Her experiences make the decision she has to face feel less like a judgment of humanity from the outside and more like a question she must confront as someone who has experienced being human herself.
And that’s what makes the book so thought-provoking. How do you weigh humanity’s capacity for cruelty against its capacity for change? At what point does the harm people cause outweigh the hope that things could get better?
𝙆𝙪𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙠𝙖𝙬 𝙖𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙤𝙗𝙤𝙩𝙤, 𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙩𝙖𝙨 𝙢𝙤 𝙗𝙖 𝙖𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙠𝙖𝙩𝙖𝙪𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙤 𝙥𝙞𝙥𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙡𝙞𝙥𝙪𝙡𝙞𝙣 𝙞𝙩𝙤?
Honestly, hindi ko rin alam kung ano ang isasagot ko. This book makes you confront the worst parts of humanity without completely dismissing the possibility of change. And maybe that’s what makes the decision so difficult: believing that things can get better is one thing, but deciding whether humanity deserves that chance is another.
October 31, 2026
Paglipas ng ilang siglong pagkakatulog, nagising si Maria Makiling. Ngunit sa pagkakataong ito, hindi na siya isang diwata kundi isang ordinaryong tao. Ang kanyang paggising ay may kaakibat na mahalagang misyon: ang magpasya kung maliligtas o magugunaw ang mundo. Sa misyong ito, kasama niya ang iba pang mga mito at alamat na lalahok sa isang eleksyong magtatakda ng kapalaran ng sangkatauhan.
Sa kanyang pamumuhay bilang tao, naranasan ni Maria Makiling ang mga bagay na dati’y hindi niya lubos na nauunawaan: ang magtrabaho, magkaroon ng mga kaibigan, magtiwala, magmahal, at masaktan. Dahil dito, mas nakita niya ang iba’t ibang mukha ng pagkatao at kung paano namumuhay ang mga tao sa mundo.
Habang binabasa ko ang librong ito, napaisip ako tungkol sa kabutihan, pagkakamali, at mga desisyong ginagawa ng tao. Naitanong ko rin sa sarili ko kung ano ang magiging pasya ko kung ako ang nasa kanilang sitwasyon. Sa totoo lang, mapapaisip ka kung karapat-dapat pa bang iligtas ang mundo dahil sa dami ng problemang dulot ng mismong mga taong naninirahan dito.
Para sa akin, madaling sundan at basahin ang pagkakasulat ng kuwento. Gayunpaman, may ilang bahagi na para bang kulang sa detalye o may mga tanong na hindi lubusang nasagot, kaya hanggang ngayon ay naiisip ko pa rin ang ilang aspeto ng istorya. Sa kabila nito, nag-enjoy ako sa pagbabasa ng libro. Nakakaaliw ito, may mga nakakatawang eksena, at higit sa lahat, thought-provoking talaga.
Sa kabuuan, ang Ang Eleksyon ay isang aklat na irerekomenda ko sa mga mahilig sa fantasy at Filipino mythology. Isa itong kuwentong hindi lamang nakakaaliw kundi nagpapaisip din tungkol sa pagiging tao, sa ating mga pagpili, at sa mundong ating ginagalawan.
Maraming salamat sa @thefilipinoshelf at kay @ranch_fest at @alontalapublishing sa pagkakataong maging bahagi ng book tour na ito. Hindi ako madalas magbasa ng ganitong genre, pero talagang naging isang masaya at makabuluhang reading experience ito.
Sa kanyang pamumuhay bilang tao, naranasan ni Maria Makiling ang mga bagay na dati’y hindi niya lubos na nauunawaan: ang magtrabaho, magkaroon ng mga kaibigan, magtiwala, magmahal, at masaktan. Dahil dito, mas nakita niya ang iba’t ibang mukha ng pagkatao at kung paano namumuhay ang mga tao sa mundo.
Habang binabasa ko ang librong ito, napaisip ako tungkol sa kabutihan, pagkakamali, at mga desisyong ginagawa ng tao. Naitanong ko rin sa sarili ko kung ano ang magiging pasya ko kung ako ang nasa kanilang sitwasyon. Sa totoo lang, mapapaisip ka kung karapat-dapat pa bang iligtas ang mundo dahil sa dami ng problemang dulot ng mismong mga taong naninirahan dito.
Para sa akin, madaling sundan at basahin ang pagkakasulat ng kuwento. Gayunpaman, may ilang bahagi na para bang kulang sa detalye o may mga tanong na hindi lubusang nasagot, kaya hanggang ngayon ay naiisip ko pa rin ang ilang aspeto ng istorya. Sa kabila nito, nag-enjoy ako sa pagbabasa ng libro. Nakakaaliw ito, may mga nakakatawang eksena, at higit sa lahat, thought-provoking talaga.
Sa kabuuan, ang Ang Eleksyon ay isang aklat na irerekomenda ko sa mga mahilig sa fantasy at Filipino mythology. Isa itong kuwentong hindi lamang nakakaaliw kundi nagpapaisip din tungkol sa pagiging tao, sa ating mga pagpili, at sa mundong ating ginagalawan.
Maraming salamat sa @thefilipinoshelf at kay @ranch_fest at @alontalapublishing sa pagkakataong maging bahagi ng book tour na ito. Hindi ako madalas magbasa ng ganitong genre, pero talagang naging isang masaya at makabuluhang reading experience ito.
October 27, 2026
Ang Eleksyon by Ran Manansala is more than a story about mythology and the fate of humanity. Beneath its unusual premise lies a reflection of the Philippines we know today. A country shaped by its history, haunted by its injustices, and still struggling with the same problems generation after generation.
What I found interesting about this novel was how the story brought figures from Filipino mythology into a world that feels familiar to us. Through Diane’s experiences as she navigates life as a Filipino woman, the novel explores issues that continue to affect our society, from corruption and political manipulation to misogyny, elitism, and historical distortion. Yet, amidst these heavier themes, there are also moments of friendship, humor, and ordinary campus life that make the story feel grounded and distinctly Filipino. This novel implies that mythology is more than a collection of old tales; it carries pieces of our culture, beliefs, and identity that deserve to be remembered.
The story may take its time unfolding, but I really appreciate how Diane’s experiences gradually shape our understanding of the world she inhabits and the difficult decision she must eventually make. It also made me think about how easily history can be distorted, whose stories are allowed to survive, and whether greed is truly an inherent part of human nature or something nurtured by the society we have built.
Ang Eleksyon is a courageous novel that confronts uncomfortable truths which makes it a worthwhile read. It may not offer easy answers, but perhaps that's precisely the point. Sometimes, a story doesn't need to tell us what to think; it only needs to leave us asking the right questions.
What I found interesting about this novel was how the story brought figures from Filipino mythology into a world that feels familiar to us. Through Diane’s experiences as she navigates life as a Filipino woman, the novel explores issues that continue to affect our society, from corruption and political manipulation to misogyny, elitism, and historical distortion. Yet, amidst these heavier themes, there are also moments of friendship, humor, and ordinary campus life that make the story feel grounded and distinctly Filipino. This novel implies that mythology is more than a collection of old tales; it carries pieces of our culture, beliefs, and identity that deserve to be remembered.
The story may take its time unfolding, but I really appreciate how Diane’s experiences gradually shape our understanding of the world she inhabits and the difficult decision she must eventually make. It also made me think about how easily history can be distorted, whose stories are allowed to survive, and whether greed is truly an inherent part of human nature or something nurtured by the society we have built.
Ang Eleksyon is a courageous novel that confronts uncomfortable truths which makes it a worthwhile read. It may not offer easy answers, but perhaps that's precisely the point. Sometimes, a story doesn't need to tell us what to think; it only needs to leave us asking the right questions.
October 19, 2026
diane’s story captivated me from start to end, from being a goddess to being a human facing the reality of living as a filipino woman in today’s day and age.
the range of the story is written so well with relatable aspects (such as college barkada hangouts, bickering jokes in the friend group, and the closeness of filipino friendship that makes it so comforting to read) while also showing the heartbreaking struggles of filipinos with corruption, politics, misogyny, and elitism.
at first i was confused where the story was going because it felt like i was just reading about the moments in diane’s life and the story was not really progressing. but by the end of the book, i realized that the story was written that way for me to actually know diane, connect with her, and totally understand her decision on the fate of the world.
it’s been 20 minutes since i finished the book and i still feel so unsettled, and this is why i know it was such a worthy read because a good book will always make you feel a certain way after reading it. being a filipino woman, i definitely understand how diane feels, how unfair it could be for us women, and the hurt she felt leading her to make her decision in the end.
the range of the story is written so well with relatable aspects (such as college barkada hangouts, bickering jokes in the friend group, and the closeness of filipino friendship that makes it so comforting to read) while also showing the heartbreaking struggles of filipinos with corruption, politics, misogyny, and elitism.
at first i was confused where the story was going because it felt like i was just reading about the moments in diane’s life and the story was not really progressing. but by the end of the book, i realized that the story was written that way for me to actually know diane, connect with her, and totally understand her decision on the fate of the world.
it’s been 20 minutes since i finished the book and i still feel so unsettled, and this is why i know it was such a worthy read because a good book will always make you feel a certain way after reading it. being a filipino woman, i definitely understand how diane feels, how unfair it could be for us women, and the hurt she felt leading her to make her decision in the end.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Nagising pagkalipas ng matagal na panahon ang diwatang si Mariang Makiling na kilala para sa kanyang ganda at hiwaga: marungis, gusot-gusot, mabaho, at wala nang kapangyarihan. Ngayon, naka-blue jeans at may bitbit na cellphone, ini-obserbahan ang Pilipinas sa kontemporaryong panahon simula sa kampus sa Makiling, bago ipurga ang mundo ng Hukom ng Sansinukob para sa kasakiman ng populasyon nito. Marami ring ibang mga tauhan mula sa mitolohiyang makikilala sa kapihan at kampus sa Metro Manila. Nakatutuwa man ang konsepto, mapapaisip ka sa mga sitwasyong naipresenta. May mga elemento ng kasaysayan kasama ng mitolohiya at mga napapanahon na isyu. Ang pagbasa nito ay mahalagang preparasyon para sa paparating na eleksyon.
Enjoyable characters, many of them gods and goddesses passing as college students and other common men and women, but situations reveal with depth political issues and the problems faced by women today. While I wish sometimes Maria (now Diane) brought more of her traits as an ancient goddess with her and that certain storylines had more definite conclusions, Diane’s experiences and views are definitely engrossing.
Enjoyable characters, many of them gods and goddesses passing as college students and other common men and women, but situations reveal with depth political issues and the problems faced by women today. While I wish sometimes Maria (now Diane) brought more of her traits as an ancient goddess with her and that certain storylines had more definite conclusions, Diane’s experiences and views are definitely engrossing.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews