Kagay-An: At Isang Pag-ibig sa Panahon ng All-Out War

by Stefani J. Alvarez

Idinikit ko pa ang aking katawan sa kanyang braso. Nagyayayang yakapin pa ako ng sundalo. Lumapat ang aking pisngi sa kanyang mabalahibong dibdib. Ang init ng kanyang mga bisig na sintigas ng M16. Kumapit ako nang mas mariin. Na tila may nais akong imapa sa kanyang katawan, nais ikubli at nais pakawalan. Kasinggaspang man ng talahib ang suot niyang fatigue, naibabalangkas ko pa rin doon ang tinatawag nilang pag-ibig

190 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2018

About the author

Stefani J. Alvarez (b. 1983, Cagayan de Oro) Creative non-Fiction writer, essayist, & immigrant Filipino artist based in Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia. At the annual Philippine National Book Awards, her collection of flash autofiction Ang Autobiografia ng Ibang Lady Gaga (Visprint, 2015) won Best Book of Nonfiction Prose in Filipino and her coming-of-age novel Kagay-an, At Isang Pag-Ibig sa Panahon ng All-Out War (Psicom-Literati, 2018) was finalist in the Best Book of Short Fiction in Filipino category. She also edited Saan Man: Mga Kuwento sa Biyahe, Bagahe, at Balikbayan Box (PageJump, 2017), an anthology of a hundred flash fiction written by overseas and local Filipino writers. Her other projects, Si Mimi at Si Miming (Vibal, 2020), an illustrated children’s book, Lama Sabactani: Isang Nobela, and Ibang Lady Gaga, Ang Muling Pag-ariba was launched this year. Her works have been translated to English, Cantonese, and Bahasa for Afterwork Readings of Para Site – Hong Kong. Some of her forthcoming collaborative projects have received grants from the International Studio & Curatorial Program in New York, the Goethe Institut in Dubai and LGBTQ+ Positive Voices in the United Kingdom. Alvarez is also a fellow of various national writing workshops at University of Santo Tomas (2008), Palihang Rogelio Sicat (2012), University of the Philippines (2015), Ateneo (2016) and Iligan National Writing Workshop (2016).

Reviews

[Alden Robell · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my resolutions this year is to start reading books that is my country's language (Filipino). This is my 10th Tagalog read, and Kagay-an just made me realize that I did the right plan, and I know where I am heading. I have read one of my favorite Pinoy books - a story that revolves around a gay teenager in his exploration of identity and finding himself in his own broken world; a broken world and a broken life he seeks to uncover and repair by compensating the big wound left by the ghost of his father whom he'll never see.
This book hints critique in labor abuse (where the MC works in Jollibee), political wars (Mindanao under 2000's; NPA/AFP/Vigilantes/Religious militants) - but the author did it in a way it is not hostile for all readers.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sa totoo lang hindi ko alam kung anong ire-rate ko rito. Naenjoy ko ang pagbabasa ng nobelang ito ngunit, ang dahilan non ay dahil sa paraan ng pagsulat ng awtor. Pero maganda rin talaga ang kwento, marami ring mga isyu ang natalakay rito, ayon nga lang, magulo ito. Dahil sinadya itong maging magulo. Dahil ganoon naman talaga ang buhay 'di ba?

Mabigat 'to sa dibdib, may parts na kinailangan ko isarado ang libro para lang maka hinga. Kung titignan mo ang nobelang ito bilang isang kwento lamang, maaring hindi mo ito ma-appreciate nang sobra. Ngunit, kapag titignan mo ito bilang isang art, doon mo makikita ang tunay na ganda nito.

[Razzel Ocampo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Itong libro na ito ay isa sa mga nabasa 'kong librong filipino na may malalim na kahulugan. Sa una iisipin mo na magulo ang librong ito at mahirap intindihin ngunit kaoag nabasa mo na ito ng mas malalim 'don mo lamang makikita na napakaganda ng aklat na ito. Maraming isyung panglipunan ang natalakay sa aklat na ito tulad ng child abuse, gyera, aborsyon, illegal logging at land conversion ng mga lupain sa Mindanao. I recommend this book if you want to dive more in Filipino literature.

[Faith Villasor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Du ko pa nabasa

[Jesadel Luces · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sino sino po ang tauhan?