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Banyaga: A Song of War
”The truth is you must learn to be a man. You must know that the food I will feed you is food I deny my own child. You must know how fortunate you are to have a home in this strange land!”
Forced to leave a turbulent and poverty-stricken China, four boys find themselves aboard a ship headed for a new country, hoping to forge their own paths with the help of the lannangs who have gone before them. Bonded by a shared sense of duty to their families, they form an unexpected brotherhood along the way.
Upon arrival in Manila, they find themselves thrust into the unwilling hands of old and new family members who, resentful of having extra mouths to feed, begin to test their loyalties. Ah Beng meets his father for the first time, only to realize his father didn't want him there; Ah Sun begs his uncle Ernesto to take in both him and his cousin Ah Tin, but Ernesto shortly sends Ah Tin off to work for the rich De Lolariagas; meanwhile, Ah Puy is sold to a new family, given a new name, and forced to forget his ties with the brother he swore to protect.
As the boys work doggedly, ruthlessly, to gain a footing in this strange and hostile place, they weather a series of misfortunes, survive the tragedies of the war, grapple with familial entanglements, and live through nearly a century of shifting political landscape.
Moving and unsettling, Banyaga is an ambitious retelling of Philippine history from the lenses of the Tsinoys--a community still seen as strangers in a country they've long called home.
Forced to leave a turbulent and poverty-stricken China, four boys find themselves aboard a ship headed for a new country, hoping to forge their own paths with the help of the lannangs who have gone before them. Bonded by a shared sense of duty to their families, they form an unexpected brotherhood along the way.
Upon arrival in Manila, they find themselves thrust into the unwilling hands of old and new family members who, resentful of having extra mouths to feed, begin to test their loyalties. Ah Beng meets his father for the first time, only to realize his father didn't want him there; Ah Sun begs his uncle Ernesto to take in both him and his cousin Ah Tin, but Ernesto shortly sends Ah Tin off to work for the rich De Lolariagas; meanwhile, Ah Puy is sold to a new family, given a new name, and forced to forget his ties with the brother he swore to protect.
As the boys work doggedly, ruthlessly, to gain a footing in this strange and hostile place, they weather a series of misfortunes, survive the tragedies of the war, grapple with familial entanglements, and live through nearly a century of shifting political landscape.
Moving and unsettling, Banyaga is an ambitious retelling of Philippine history from the lenses of the Tsinoys--a community still seen as strangers in a country they've long called home.
374 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
52 people are currently reading
867 people want to read
About the author
Charlson Ong
20 books43 followers Charlson L. Ong , resident fellow of the Institute of Creative Writing and fictionist/scriptwriter/singer extraordinaire, was born on July 6, 1960. He obtained an A.B. in Psychology from the University of the Philippines in 1977, and currently teaches literature and creative writing under UP's Department of English and Comparative Literature. He has joined several writers' workshops here and abroad, and has acquired numerous grants and awards for his fiction, including the Palanca, Free Press, Graphic, Asiaweek, National Book Award, and the Dr. Jose P. Rizal Award for Excellence. His novel, Embarrassment of Riches published by UP Press in 2002, won the Centennial Literary Prize. In addition to this, Ong has served as co-editor of the Likhaan Book of Poetry and Fiction
His short stories range from parodies of well-loved Filipino texts to insightful treatments of Chinese-Filipino culture. These have been collected into Men of the East and Other Stories (1990 and 1999), Woman of Am-Kaw and Other Stories (1993) and Conversion and Other Fictions (1996). His second novel is due for publication this year.
His short stories range from parodies of well-loved Filipino texts to insightful treatments of Chinese-Filipino culture. These have been collected into Men of the East and Other Stories (1990 and 1999), Woman of Am-Kaw and Other Stories (1993) and Conversion and Other Fictions (1996). His second novel is due for publication this year.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
April 19, 2022
probably one of my favorite books by a local filipino author i’ve ever read so far. it reminded me a lot of pachinko but instead of 1 family it follows 4 boys and is in a filipino-chinese setting. a grand inter generational story that reminds me of how important and integral chinese immigrants are in the way the filipino nation was built. it very vididly displayed the roots of inter generational trauma - a reminder that our grandparents went through so much tragedy during wartime that is unspeakable, so such distance is understandable because we’ve been lucky enough to live in such a different, safer time. makes me want to speak to my grandparents more about that time, but i also understand how difficult it is for them to talk about it - and the least we can do is show compassion.
July 4, 2023
“It’s not easy to be a father if you have never really been a son.”
- ah puy (ong tian puy/so hio tiam/hilario ong)
karaktärerna är allt i den här boken, och charlson ong är expert på dem. hands invandrarepos följer fyra pojkar under fyra generationer där familjen, krigen, kapitalismen och religionen är centrala utan att han alls skiner igenom i sina karaktärers öden och åsikter, beteenden och val, åtminstone för mig som är helt obekant med hans verk. ah puy, ah beng, ah tin och ah sun är hyperrealistiska på det sätt som skildringen kräver för att skapa någon sorts diffus mening med det hela. vid tredje akten tappade jag helt greppet om tidsaspekten och familjeträden (många karaktärer har typ fyra olika namn, vars system såklart skiljer sig från det svenska, geografisk, politisk och kulturell förkunskap avkrävs läsaren, som även måste översätta många ord och fraser själv), vilka jag nästan från början höll i lillfingret, så jag kan inte säga att jag har tagit till mig allt som boken har att ge, men fastän jag själv inte har kinesiskt påbrå, bara filippinskt och spanskt, fanns även dessa kulturer representerade på ett sätt som kände jag igen mig i så väl, och jag kommer nog att bära med mig scener och människor ur boken ett bra tag. ett generationsdrama är alltid förjävligt att lägga ifrån sig och ta farväl av — så jag får återkomma
- ah puy (ong tian puy/so hio tiam/hilario ong)
karaktärerna är allt i den här boken, och charlson ong är expert på dem. hands invandrarepos följer fyra pojkar under fyra generationer där familjen, krigen, kapitalismen och religionen är centrala utan att han alls skiner igenom i sina karaktärers öden och åsikter, beteenden och val, åtminstone för mig som är helt obekant med hans verk. ah puy, ah beng, ah tin och ah sun är hyperrealistiska på det sätt som skildringen kräver för att skapa någon sorts diffus mening med det hela. vid tredje akten tappade jag helt greppet om tidsaspekten och familjeträden (många karaktärer har typ fyra olika namn, vars system såklart skiljer sig från det svenska, geografisk, politisk och kulturell förkunskap avkrävs läsaren, som även måste översätta många ord och fraser själv), vilka jag nästan från början höll i lillfingret, så jag kan inte säga att jag har tagit till mig allt som boken har att ge, men fastän jag själv inte har kinesiskt påbrå, bara filippinskt och spanskt, fanns även dessa kulturer representerade på ett sätt som kände jag igen mig i så väl, och jag kommer nog att bära med mig scener och människor ur boken ett bra tag. ett generationsdrama är alltid förjävligt att lägga ifrån sig och ta farväl av — så jag får återkomma
October 4, 2016
Charlson Ong's Banyaga simply put is an epic.
This is a fictional account of the entire history of the Filipino- Chinese, from their first immigration to the Philippines up to their contemporary struggle. Literally the title "song of war" is an allusion to the epic-like quality of the book, a song of struggles and triumphs of this people in their attempt to settle in the Philippines.
Reading this feels like reading Amy Tan (author of Joy Luck Club). The writing styles are of course different. But the purpose of writing finds great semblance. Just like Tan, one of the leading voices of the American-Chinese, Ong demands for recognition as the leading Filipino- Chinese writer of our time.
The book explores the Filipino-Chinese psyche: mainly a people of endurance and resilience, a people firmly planting its feet on the soil of our homeland, at the same time looking forward, and refusing to bow down to derision and the changing times.
Definitely recommended to the Filipino-Chinese community and all Filipinos interested in the "Tsinoy" experience. If not so interested, a word of warning: the book is a bit lengthy and complex for the average reader.
This is a fictional account of the entire history of the Filipino- Chinese, from their first immigration to the Philippines up to their contemporary struggle. Literally the title "song of war" is an allusion to the epic-like quality of the book, a song of struggles and triumphs of this people in their attempt to settle in the Philippines.
Reading this feels like reading Amy Tan (author of Joy Luck Club). The writing styles are of course different. But the purpose of writing finds great semblance. Just like Tan, one of the leading voices of the American-Chinese, Ong demands for recognition as the leading Filipino- Chinese writer of our time.
The book explores the Filipino-Chinese psyche: mainly a people of endurance and resilience, a people firmly planting its feet on the soil of our homeland, at the same time looking forward, and refusing to bow down to derision and the changing times.
Definitely recommended to the Filipino-Chinese community and all Filipinos interested in the "Tsinoy" experience. If not so interested, a word of warning: the book is a bit lengthy and complex for the average reader.
April 23, 2012
Unexpectedly pleasing.
May 27, 2021
An excerpt, which is written on my daughter's Grade 11 textbook took me to reading the entire book, and eventually tracing my Chinese ancestry. And finally, four years after my mother's death, I have come to terms with her obssession with cleanliness, how easy it was for her to hit us with a rod in the slightest mistake. I thought. it was OCD or something psychological, but no, it has something to do with her upbringing, the rough and tough facade of the culture she has grown up with, one that she was striving so hard to get away from. Thanks for this book, it's truly a gift!
August 1, 2022
As a Filipino-Chinese American reading this as a tourist in the Philippines, this book gave me great insight into a history that is too tired to be said from those that hold it and be able to see how the built environment reflects that written in this book. A fascinating and confusing style to get viewpoints from almost every character throughout multiple generations, with many changing names one, two times. Readers should be prepared to translate for both Hokkien and Tagalog.
September 3, 2017
i want to read this story
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 18, 2019
Good
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 6, 2020
I badly wanna read this book rn
Read
October 22, 2020Veeeeeery confusing. I enjoyed the historical background and atmospheric descriptions, but I could not follow the characters' journeys for the life of me.
Read
November 24, 2020wdew
November 12, 2022
seriously heartwrenching and insane. it is kinda confusing to understand at times but maybe thats just me not being a very poetic guy. brah the pigeon
March 1, 2023
**Not yet a settled review**
I'm not comfortable rating and reviewing this one. Banyaga: A Song of War is a Filipino-Chinese historical fiction (that is also some kind of a memoir? I'm not sure) set on the early 1900s up to the near end of said century (or I think it was. It's been a while.) The book followed 4 migrant boys who pledge brotherhood with each other.
This has to be the hardest/most challenging book I've ever touched upon. No kidding. It took me almost 3 months to finish it entirely. It's not even the length or the foreign vocabulary that made it arduous. It was the whole time skipping between major sections of the book, each with different events and characters introduced/removed. It felt reading 4 different books from a single novel, interconnected mostly by the 4 brothers. It was impossible to invest upon despite the novel's gritty and rich content.
It was a conflicting decision to place its rating at 6/10. Need fresh rereading for updates and justifications.
I'm not comfortable rating and reviewing this one. Banyaga: A Song of War is a Filipino-Chinese historical fiction (that is also some kind of a memoir? I'm not sure) set on the early 1900s up to the near end of said century (or I think it was. It's been a while.) The book followed 4 migrant boys who pledge brotherhood with each other.
This has to be the hardest/most challenging book I've ever touched upon. No kidding. It took me almost 3 months to finish it entirely. It's not even the length or the foreign vocabulary that made it arduous. It was the whole time skipping between major sections of the book, each with different events and characters introduced/removed. It felt reading 4 different books from a single novel, interconnected mostly by the 4 brothers. It was impossible to invest upon despite the novel's gritty and rich content.
It was a conflicting decision to place its rating at 6/10. Need fresh rereading for updates and justifications.
March 18, 2014
Don't be dissuaded by all the changes in the characters' names. This novel is an excellent work of Filipino historical fiction. It's the first novel I've ever read about the Chinese-Filipino identity.
There's also a lot of Hokien words here that never get translated in the text, so it pays to have some background in Chinese language and culture.
There's also a lot of Hokien words here that never get translated in the text, so it pays to have some background in Chinese language and culture.
August 2, 2012
The name shifts of the characters make it confusing to read, but the story itself is amazing. It depicts another version of Philippine society (and history) that I wasn't exposed to before reading this novel.
March 25, 2016
I rarely finish required readings in school but this one got me hooked. My favorite required reading in my entire school life (and it's local!).
October 25, 2020
so hard to understand
Want to read
January 31, 2018i want to read it
Want to read
August 29, 2018in my 21st century
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews