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Si Amapola sa 65 na Kabanata
ASWANG KA BA?
NARINIG MO NA BA ANG ALAMAT NG BAKLA?
MAY PAG-ASA PA BA ANG PILIPINAS?
Eleksyon, 2010. Isang baklang impersonator, si Amapola, ang naging manananggal at nakatanggap ng propesiya na siya ang itinakdang magliligtas sa Pilipinas. Ang naghatid ng balita: si Emil, isang pulis na Noranian. Ang pasimuno ng balita: si Sepa, ang lola sa tuhod ni Amapola, na nanggaling pa sa panahon ng Kastila at may unrequited love noon kay Andres Bonifacio.
Ang ikalawang nobela ni Ricky Lee ay isang hati-hating tingin sa buhay at pag-ibig ni Amapola at ng kanyang mga mahal sa buhay, at sa buhay at pag-ibig na rin ng mga taong gusto nating pakialaman, dito sa bansang tinatawag nating Pilipinas, sa isang panahonng halos humihingi tayo ng mga kababalaghan. At donuts.
Napaka-imaginative ng Pilipino at di nauubusan ng mga bagong paraan ng pagdurusa.
NARINIG MO NA BA ANG ALAMAT NG BAKLA?
MAY PAG-ASA PA BA ANG PILIPINAS?
Eleksyon, 2010. Isang baklang impersonator, si Amapola, ang naging manananggal at nakatanggap ng propesiya na siya ang itinakdang magliligtas sa Pilipinas. Ang naghatid ng balita: si Emil, isang pulis na Noranian. Ang pasimuno ng balita: si Sepa, ang lola sa tuhod ni Amapola, na nanggaling pa sa panahon ng Kastila at may unrequited love noon kay Andres Bonifacio.
Ang ikalawang nobela ni Ricky Lee ay isang hati-hating tingin sa buhay at pag-ibig ni Amapola at ng kanyang mga mahal sa buhay, at sa buhay at pag-ibig na rin ng mga taong gusto nating pakialaman, dito sa bansang tinatawag nating Pilipinas, sa isang panahonng halos humihingi tayo ng mga kababalaghan. At donuts.
Napaka-imaginative ng Pilipino at di nauubusan ng mga bagong paraan ng pagdurusa.
364 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
184 people are currently reading
1537 people want to read
About the author
Ricky Lee
48 books625 followersFilipino 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.
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.
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December 16, 2011
To my foreigner friends:
The author of this book is Ricky Lee, a popular screenwriter of local Tagalog movies here in the Philippines. I read a couple of his previous works and found one to be great while the other to be just okay. What I mean is that I never disliked any of his previous works. His stories made for silver screen were all nice or quite unforgettable at least those that I can still recall even if I saw the movie when I was a younger man. I also read his scriptwriting manual Trip to Quiapo and his first novel Para Kay B. I liked the first but found the second one wanting but still okay. Although most of his stories for films had gay characters, those characters were in supporting or even bit roles. There were also references to gays in those two books but they were secondary and not their main selling point.
In this book, however, Amapola is the MAIN and the only selling point of the story. Everything revolves around her and her two other personas. She is a gay stage performer and she has other human personalities and both of them are straights. Aside from that anomaly, she is also a manananggal. A manananggal is a Filipino horror mythic folklore creature that is similar to a vampire but more gruesome, hideous and weird. It is normally a woman who has to split her body into two: upper and lower. When the creature wants to kill and eat the heart or sip the blood of a human being (preferably a pregnant woman), she has to fly only with her upper torso leaving her lower part (waist down) on the ground while hunting for her prey. During this exercise, she has to change from her normal human being look to as ugly and scary as possible.
While reading, I had that feeling that Lee made use of his brain to come up with an entertaining and believable, despite the story of mananggal being just a myth in the first place, storyline. He also made use of his heart as some of the back stories are poignant and sad like the story of Amapola and her sister when they were young orphans. He also made use of his artistic flair, honed by almost a lifelong career of writing for screen and TV drama series, in coming up with funny situations and colorful characters that celebrate the gay pride that is already acceptable in the Philippine society particularly in its local show business industry.
The only thing that failed me to like this is that I, a straight man, don’t find humor in being gay. I understand that female readers can find this book extremely funny because here, gay man Amapola makes a fool of himself. Amapola is beautiful and Lee even describes him at the start of the novel as someone more beautiful than Britney Spears. You see, I just formed this theory: because some gays are more beautiful (in and out) compared to real women, when they make fool of themselves, the real women celebrate. Reason: they lose some of their competitors. No wonder, more and more women like this book. And most readers are women or feel like women.
To my Filipino friends
Ipagpaumanhin na. Hindi ko na naman nagustuhan ito. Pinilit kong magustuhan dahil talaga namang fan ako ni Ricky Lee mula sa kanyang mga obra like Himala, Kapit sa Patalim, Salome, Moral, Relasyon, Brutal, City After Dark, Alias Baby China, Fuschia, Nasaan Ka Man, Aishite Imasu, Tatarin, Minsan Minahal Kita, Jose Rizal, Curacha, Calvento Files, Ipaglaban Mo, Lahar, Madrasta, The Flor Contemplacion Story, Separada, atbp. hanggang sa Sa ‘Yo Lamang. I mean having written 140 stories that were used for movies and TV drama or drama series, sino pa sa atin ang di nakakapanood ng likha ni Ricky Lee? Unless talaga na nasa vacuum ka at di ka sumisilip ng TV drama kahit mga lumang mga pelikula sa Cinema One, at some point in your life, siguradong nakapanood ka na ng likha ni Ricky Lee. O di mo lang alam na ang pinapanood mo ay either sinulat ni Ricky Lee o si Ricky Lee ay isang creative consultant ng pelikula, istorya or teleseryeng nagustuhan mo.
Alam ko na na ang hangarin ng librong ito ay magpatawa. Loosen up, ika nga nila. Kaso, siguro kababasa ko lang ng Lumayo Ka Nga sa Akin ni Bob Ong noong basahin ko ito. Actually, back-to-back sila. Kaya di ko maiwasan na mag-kumpara. Kung tawa ako ng tawa kay Bob Ong, inip na inip ako rito kay Ricky Lee. Natapos ko ng isang araw ang Bob Ong. Ito, inabot ng isang linggo. Eh ano kung may tatlong persona si Amapola? Eh ano kung nakakapag-split sya ng triple? Eh ano kung may Lola Sepa sya na nag-train sa kanya kung paano maging mabuting manananggal? Una-una di naman ako naniniwala sa manananggal at pangalawa ang mga bakla ay di pinagtatawanan dahil sila ay kagaya rin ng kahit sino sa atin na normal. Mahal lang nga nila ang kapwa nila lalaki pero bukod doon ay wala nang ibang dapat pang i-highlight na kaibahan nila.
Bilang ladlad na bakla, hinahanggaan ko naman si Ricky Lee. Masaya nga para sa akin ang tao na nakukuhang magpatawa at his own expense. Di na kailangan pang gumamit ng iba upang makapagtawa ng mga kaibigan nya. Di rin kailangang magkunwari. In fact, sa paglalahad ng buhay ng isang bakla, lalo na sa paraan ng pagpapatawa, mukhang ipinararating ni Lee na ang mga bakla ay mga interesanteng tao rin na masarap makasalamuha o maging kaibigan. Ang di ko lang makuha ay kung bakit pa kailangang gawing manananggal si Amapola ganoong ang bakla na mismo ay isa ng makabuluhang paksa. Dahil ba uso ang Twilight? Kung makikiuso rin lang, bakit di na lang isang magandang bakla na nambibiktima ng mga guwapong bagets na mai-inlab sa kanya? Sa paglalagay ng supernatural or mythological gruesome creature sa istorya, para tuloy nagiging paurong ang imahen na kailangang kailangan ng mga bakla upang sila ay seryosohin ng lipunan.
Overall, maganda naman ang pagkakakuwento. Pero di ko lang talaga nagustuhan ang mismong kuwento.
The author of this book is Ricky Lee, a popular screenwriter of local Tagalog movies here in the Philippines. I read a couple of his previous works and found one to be great while the other to be just okay. What I mean is that I never disliked any of his previous works. His stories made for silver screen were all nice or quite unforgettable at least those that I can still recall even if I saw the movie when I was a younger man. I also read his scriptwriting manual Trip to Quiapo and his first novel Para Kay B. I liked the first but found the second one wanting but still okay. Although most of his stories for films had gay characters, those characters were in supporting or even bit roles. There were also references to gays in those two books but they were secondary and not their main selling point.
In this book, however, Amapola is the MAIN and the only selling point of the story. Everything revolves around her and her two other personas. She is a gay stage performer and she has other human personalities and both of them are straights. Aside from that anomaly, she is also a manananggal. A manananggal is a Filipino horror mythic folklore creature that is similar to a vampire but more gruesome, hideous and weird. It is normally a woman who has to split her body into two: upper and lower. When the creature wants to kill and eat the heart or sip the blood of a human being (preferably a pregnant woman), she has to fly only with her upper torso leaving her lower part (waist down) on the ground while hunting for her prey. During this exercise, she has to change from her normal human being look to as ugly and scary as possible.
While reading, I had that feeling that Lee made use of his brain to come up with an entertaining and believable, despite the story of mananggal being just a myth in the first place, storyline. He also made use of his heart as some of the back stories are poignant and sad like the story of Amapola and her sister when they were young orphans. He also made use of his artistic flair, honed by almost a lifelong career of writing for screen and TV drama series, in coming up with funny situations and colorful characters that celebrate the gay pride that is already acceptable in the Philippine society particularly in its local show business industry.
The only thing that failed me to like this is that I, a straight man, don’t find humor in being gay. I understand that female readers can find this book extremely funny because here, gay man Amapola makes a fool of himself. Amapola is beautiful and Lee even describes him at the start of the novel as someone more beautiful than Britney Spears. You see, I just formed this theory: because some gays are more beautiful (in and out) compared to real women, when they make fool of themselves, the real women celebrate. Reason: they lose some of their competitors. No wonder, more and more women like this book. And most readers are women or feel like women.
To my Filipino friends
Ipagpaumanhin na. Hindi ko na naman nagustuhan ito. Pinilit kong magustuhan dahil talaga namang fan ako ni Ricky Lee mula sa kanyang mga obra like Himala, Kapit sa Patalim, Salome, Moral, Relasyon, Brutal, City After Dark, Alias Baby China, Fuschia, Nasaan Ka Man, Aishite Imasu, Tatarin, Minsan Minahal Kita, Jose Rizal, Curacha, Calvento Files, Ipaglaban Mo, Lahar, Madrasta, The Flor Contemplacion Story, Separada, atbp. hanggang sa Sa ‘Yo Lamang. I mean having written 140 stories that were used for movies and TV drama or drama series, sino pa sa atin ang di nakakapanood ng likha ni Ricky Lee? Unless talaga na nasa vacuum ka at di ka sumisilip ng TV drama kahit mga lumang mga pelikula sa Cinema One, at some point in your life, siguradong nakapanood ka na ng likha ni Ricky Lee. O di mo lang alam na ang pinapanood mo ay either sinulat ni Ricky Lee o si Ricky Lee ay isang creative consultant ng pelikula, istorya or teleseryeng nagustuhan mo.
Alam ko na na ang hangarin ng librong ito ay magpatawa. Loosen up, ika nga nila. Kaso, siguro kababasa ko lang ng Lumayo Ka Nga sa Akin ni Bob Ong noong basahin ko ito. Actually, back-to-back sila. Kaya di ko maiwasan na mag-kumpara. Kung tawa ako ng tawa kay Bob Ong, inip na inip ako rito kay Ricky Lee. Natapos ko ng isang araw ang Bob Ong. Ito, inabot ng isang linggo. Eh ano kung may tatlong persona si Amapola? Eh ano kung nakakapag-split sya ng triple? Eh ano kung may Lola Sepa sya na nag-train sa kanya kung paano maging mabuting manananggal? Una-una di naman ako naniniwala sa manananggal at pangalawa ang mga bakla ay di pinagtatawanan dahil sila ay kagaya rin ng kahit sino sa atin na normal. Mahal lang nga nila ang kapwa nila lalaki pero bukod doon ay wala nang ibang dapat pang i-highlight na kaibahan nila.
Bilang ladlad na bakla, hinahanggaan ko naman si Ricky Lee. Masaya nga para sa akin ang tao na nakukuhang magpatawa at his own expense. Di na kailangan pang gumamit ng iba upang makapagtawa ng mga kaibigan nya. Di rin kailangang magkunwari. In fact, sa paglalahad ng buhay ng isang bakla, lalo na sa paraan ng pagpapatawa, mukhang ipinararating ni Lee na ang mga bakla ay mga interesanteng tao rin na masarap makasalamuha o maging kaibigan. Ang di ko lang makuha ay kung bakit pa kailangang gawing manananggal si Amapola ganoong ang bakla na mismo ay isa ng makabuluhang paksa. Dahil ba uso ang Twilight? Kung makikiuso rin lang, bakit di na lang isang magandang bakla na nambibiktima ng mga guwapong bagets na mai-inlab sa kanya? Sa paglalagay ng supernatural or mythological gruesome creature sa istorya, para tuloy nagiging paurong ang imahen na kailangang kailangan ng mga bakla upang sila ay seryosohin ng lipunan.
Overall, maganda naman ang pagkakakuwento. Pero di ko lang talaga nagustuhan ang mismong kuwento.
November 30, 2012
This is my 1st time writing a review. Haha! Forgive me! :))
I don't really like reading Tagalog novels kasi wala lang. Ayoko lang talaga.
Pero nagbago lahat yun ever since nabasa ko ang unang novel ni Ricky Lee na 'Para Kay B'
You see, whenever you're going to read Ricky's work kailangan malawak ang pag-unawa mo dahil behind all those stories ay laging may pinapahayag na mas malalim na bagay si Ricky Lee. Hah! Feeling ko ang tanda and ang mature ko na mag-isip whenever I'm reading his works where in fact 17 y/o pa lang ako at sabi ng iba ay wala pa masyadong alam sa mundo.
I asked my 21y/o classmate to read this and her reaction? Well, di niya lang naman naintindihan Kung about saan ang kuwento. Hahaha! :))
For me, this novel tackles about the system of Government here in the Philippines. Si Amapola, iba pang MANANANGGAL at mga Noranians ay nagsisimbolo bilang ibang mga Tao na patuloy na lumalaban para sa ATING bansa hanggang ngayon. Yung bagong prediction ni Lola Sepa tungkol sa bagong magliligtas sa Pilipinas na anak nila Homer at ng iba pa?? Yun ay walang iba kundi ang mga kabataan sa ating panahon!! Yung pagkamatay ng napakaraming tagapagligtas?? Hindi nga ba yun naman talaga ang nangyayari sa panahon natin ngayon? Kung sino ang may magandang hangarin ay sila tong napagkakamalan na masama dahil marami sa atin ang nabubulag pagdating sa konsepto ng kapangyarihan na yan! At huli sa lahat, yung pananatiling buhay ng ibang Noranians at MANANANGGAL, ibig sabihin nun ay may mga Tao pa ding nabubuhay na handang ipaglaban ang bansa ang kailangan lang gawin ng mga kabataan ay lapitan sila at magtulungan.
Feeling ko ang tanda ko na. Ano ba yaaaan! Hahaha :)))) yun lang. Nagustuhan ko talaga tong nobela na to. Sana ay mas marami pang kabataan kagaya ko ang makabasa nito at lubusang maintindihan Kung ano nga ba ang tunay na kuwento sa kuwento na Ito. :)))))
I don't really like reading Tagalog novels kasi wala lang. Ayoko lang talaga.
Pero nagbago lahat yun ever since nabasa ko ang unang novel ni Ricky Lee na 'Para Kay B'
You see, whenever you're going to read Ricky's work kailangan malawak ang pag-unawa mo dahil behind all those stories ay laging may pinapahayag na mas malalim na bagay si Ricky Lee. Hah! Feeling ko ang tanda and ang mature ko na mag-isip whenever I'm reading his works where in fact 17 y/o pa lang ako at sabi ng iba ay wala pa masyadong alam sa mundo.
I asked my 21y/o classmate to read this and her reaction? Well, di niya lang naman naintindihan Kung about saan ang kuwento. Hahaha! :))
For me, this novel tackles about the system of Government here in the Philippines. Si Amapola, iba pang MANANANGGAL at mga Noranians ay nagsisimbolo bilang ibang mga Tao na patuloy na lumalaban para sa ATING bansa hanggang ngayon. Yung bagong prediction ni Lola Sepa tungkol sa bagong magliligtas sa Pilipinas na anak nila Homer at ng iba pa?? Yun ay walang iba kundi ang mga kabataan sa ating panahon!! Yung pagkamatay ng napakaraming tagapagligtas?? Hindi nga ba yun naman talaga ang nangyayari sa panahon natin ngayon? Kung sino ang may magandang hangarin ay sila tong napagkakamalan na masama dahil marami sa atin ang nabubulag pagdating sa konsepto ng kapangyarihan na yan! At huli sa lahat, yung pananatiling buhay ng ibang Noranians at MANANANGGAL, ibig sabihin nun ay may mga Tao pa ding nabubuhay na handang ipaglaban ang bansa ang kailangan lang gawin ng mga kabataan ay lapitan sila at magtulungan.
Feeling ko ang tanda ko na. Ano ba yaaaan! Hahaha :)))) yun lang. Nagustuhan ko talaga tong nobela na to. Sana ay mas marami pang kabataan kagaya ko ang makabasa nito at lubusang maintindihan Kung ano nga ba ang tunay na kuwento sa kuwento na Ito. :)))))
December 2, 2011
Sabihin na lang nating 3.5 ang tunay na rating.
(May kaunting spoilers)
Sa totoo lang, wala pa akong napapanood na pelikula sa panulat ni Maestro Ricky Lee. (Whaaaatttt????) Dahil siguro dito ay mas obhetibo ang aking pagbasa at paghusga sa kaniyang mga pampanitikang akda. (Naks!)
Una kong nabasa ang Para Kay B (O kung paano dinevastate ng love ang 4 out of 5 sa atin). Marami akong nagustuhan sa nobelang iyon bagamat mas nagbabasa ako ng mga akdang nakasulat sa Ingles. Mabigat, malaman, kumplikado, madamdamin, pulitikal. Iyan ay ilan lamang sa mga salitang maaaring gamitin para ilarawan ang Para Kay B. Hindi ko na nga naaalala ang bawat tagpo, ang bawat kwento, ngunit naaalala ko ang aking nararamdaman sa bawat pahina.
Ang Si Amapola sa 65 na Kabanata ay naiibang nobela dahil sa masasabing mas "normal" ang porma ng nobela (hindi ko alam ang terms sa Filipino ng mga kritikal na rebyu ng panitikan). May tuwirang paglalahad, pagbabalik-tanaw, pagpapalit ng punto-de-bista. Mas madaling basahin kumbaga, at dahil diyan, mas madaling i-enjoy.
Natatangi ang pangunahing tauhan na si Amapola bilang siya ay isang baklang impersonator na may multiple personality disorder o iba-ibang katauhan. Sa detalyeng ito pa lang ay marami nang pwedeng gawing pagpapakahulugan. Kung ikaw ba ay nag-iimpersonate, hindi mo ba maituturing na isa sa mga katauhan mo ang mga iniimpersonate mo? Ano ang implikasyon ng pagiging hati sa kasarian?
Speaking of hati, si Amapola din ay isang aswang. Hati siya literally. Bakit aswang na baklang impersonator na may multiple personalities? Grabe ang pagkakahati-hati ni Amapola! At yan ang kabuuan ng hati-hating bida na sa maraming lebel ay nangangailangan ng pagtanggap sa lipunan.
Iba-iba ang mararamdaman habang binabasa ang nobela. Suspense para sa mga adbentyur ni Amapola. Pagkainis sa mga pangyayari. Pagkabigla sa mala-telenobelang pasabog. Pagkalungkot para sa mga ibang tauhan, sa kanilang kanya-kanyang kwento. Katatawanan sa mga makukulit at LOL na mga pangyayari. Marami.
Isa sa mga pangunahing Aaaww moments ay ang pagkukwento sa Alamat ng Bakla. Hindi ko na idedetalye dito. Basta sa dulo ay mapapa-Aawww ka. Kung hindi ka homophobic.
May mga pasintabi rin sa mga pulitikal na personalidad, na bagamat di pinangalanan ay makikilala pa rin ng mambabasa. Kakatuwa rin ang timing ng pag-launch ng nobela sa pagdiriwang ng kapanganakan ni Andres Bonifacio dahil masasariwa ng mambabasa ang kwento ng ating kasaysayan, lalo ng kay Bonifacio... sa naiibang punto de bista at paraan.
Gayunpaman, ramdam ko rin ang kahabaan ng nobela. Madaming kaganapan, rebelasyon at pagbabago. madaming idinetalye at binigyang puwang na diskurso. Bawat tauhan ay may sariling back story, nabigyan ng mukha, ng pagkakataon na makahingi ng simpatiya. Kaya enjoy pa rin naman.
Isipin mo man na isang alegorya ang nobela o isang mas mahabang Zsa Zsa Zaturnah, bahala ka na. Para sa akin, isa pa rin itong tagumpay para kay Ricky Lee.
Sige na nga, 4 stars talaga!
(May kaunting spoilers)
Sa totoo lang, wala pa akong napapanood na pelikula sa panulat ni Maestro Ricky Lee. (Whaaaatttt????) Dahil siguro dito ay mas obhetibo ang aking pagbasa at paghusga sa kaniyang mga pampanitikang akda. (Naks!)
Una kong nabasa ang Para Kay B (O kung paano dinevastate ng love ang 4 out of 5 sa atin). Marami akong nagustuhan sa nobelang iyon bagamat mas nagbabasa ako ng mga akdang nakasulat sa Ingles. Mabigat, malaman, kumplikado, madamdamin, pulitikal. Iyan ay ilan lamang sa mga salitang maaaring gamitin para ilarawan ang Para Kay B. Hindi ko na nga naaalala ang bawat tagpo, ang bawat kwento, ngunit naaalala ko ang aking nararamdaman sa bawat pahina.
Ang Si Amapola sa 65 na Kabanata ay naiibang nobela dahil sa masasabing mas "normal" ang porma ng nobela (hindi ko alam ang terms sa Filipino ng mga kritikal na rebyu ng panitikan). May tuwirang paglalahad, pagbabalik-tanaw, pagpapalit ng punto-de-bista. Mas madaling basahin kumbaga, at dahil diyan, mas madaling i-enjoy.
Natatangi ang pangunahing tauhan na si Amapola bilang siya ay isang baklang impersonator na may multiple personality disorder o iba-ibang katauhan. Sa detalyeng ito pa lang ay marami nang pwedeng gawing pagpapakahulugan. Kung ikaw ba ay nag-iimpersonate, hindi mo ba maituturing na isa sa mga katauhan mo ang mga iniimpersonate mo? Ano ang implikasyon ng pagiging hati sa kasarian?
Speaking of hati, si Amapola din ay isang aswang. Hati siya literally. Bakit aswang na baklang impersonator na may multiple personalities? Grabe ang pagkakahati-hati ni Amapola! At yan ang kabuuan ng hati-hating bida na sa maraming lebel ay nangangailangan ng pagtanggap sa lipunan.
Iba-iba ang mararamdaman habang binabasa ang nobela. Suspense para sa mga adbentyur ni Amapola. Pagkainis sa mga pangyayari. Pagkabigla sa mala-telenobelang pasabog. Pagkalungkot para sa mga ibang tauhan, sa kanilang kanya-kanyang kwento. Katatawanan sa mga makukulit at LOL na mga pangyayari. Marami.
Isa sa mga pangunahing Aaaww moments ay ang pagkukwento sa Alamat ng Bakla. Hindi ko na idedetalye dito. Basta sa dulo ay mapapa-Aawww ka. Kung hindi ka homophobic.
May mga pasintabi rin sa mga pulitikal na personalidad, na bagamat di pinangalanan ay makikilala pa rin ng mambabasa. Kakatuwa rin ang timing ng pag-launch ng nobela sa pagdiriwang ng kapanganakan ni Andres Bonifacio dahil masasariwa ng mambabasa ang kwento ng ating kasaysayan, lalo ng kay Bonifacio... sa naiibang punto de bista at paraan.
Gayunpaman, ramdam ko rin ang kahabaan ng nobela. Madaming kaganapan, rebelasyon at pagbabago. madaming idinetalye at binigyang puwang na diskurso. Bawat tauhan ay may sariling back story, nabigyan ng mukha, ng pagkakataon na makahingi ng simpatiya. Kaya enjoy pa rin naman.
Isipin mo man na isang alegorya ang nobela o isang mas mahabang Zsa Zsa Zaturnah, bahala ka na. Para sa akin, isa pa rin itong tagumpay para kay Ricky Lee.
Sige na nga, 4 stars talaga!
January 9, 2012
May mga pagkakataong nakakatulugan ko ang pagbabasa sa librong ito. May mga pagkakataong hindi ako makahabol sa kwento. May mga pagkakataong may mga eksenang para sa akin ay pwede namang wala. Ganyan ko natapos ang pagbabasa sa librong ito.
Masyadong marami ang tauhan para sa akin. Ako kasi yung tipo ng mambabasa na nagugulumihanan pag marami na ang sangkot sa kwento idadagdag mo pa ang pahirap sa pagbibigkas ng mga pangalan at salita. Marami ring eksena sa kwento ang parang pilit na lang pinagdudugtong dugtong.
Natapos ko ang libro na may pag-aalinlangan sa kung tama ba ang pagkakaintindi ko. May mga puntong hindi ko maintindihan ang ibig ipahiwatig ng mga salita sa bawat isa. Isa pa, hanggang ngayon hindi ko maintindihan ang ibig sabihin kung bakit mananananggal ang bida, kung meron man iyong kahulugan.
Ang ilan lamang sa mga nagamay ko sa kwento ay yung mga parteng may pasaring sa kasalukuyang lipunan. Mga pinagdadaan at paghihirap ng bansa sa mga lider nito, na para akin, na silang manananggal. Pero salungat sa kwento, ang manananggal dito ay isang tagapagligtas.
Siguro ang punto de vista, totoo walang propesiya. Walang itinakda. Walang manananggal na magliligtas sa sambayanan. Tayo mismo, sa sarili natin, ang magliligtas sa bansa.
Masyadong marami ang tauhan para sa akin. Ako kasi yung tipo ng mambabasa na nagugulumihanan pag marami na ang sangkot sa kwento idadagdag mo pa ang pahirap sa pagbibigkas ng mga pangalan at salita. Marami ring eksena sa kwento ang parang pilit na lang pinagdudugtong dugtong.
Natapos ko ang libro na may pag-aalinlangan sa kung tama ba ang pagkakaintindi ko. May mga puntong hindi ko maintindihan ang ibig ipahiwatig ng mga salita sa bawat isa. Isa pa, hanggang ngayon hindi ko maintindihan ang ibig sabihin kung bakit mananananggal ang bida, kung meron man iyong kahulugan.
Ang ilan lamang sa mga nagamay ko sa kwento ay yung mga parteng may pasaring sa kasalukuyang lipunan. Mga pinagdadaan at paghihirap ng bansa sa mga lider nito, na para akin, na silang manananggal. Pero salungat sa kwento, ang manananggal dito ay isang tagapagligtas.
Siguro ang punto de vista, totoo walang propesiya. Walang itinakda. Walang manananggal na magliligtas sa sambayanan. Tayo mismo, sa sarili natin, ang magliligtas sa bansa.
January 27, 2014
The only reason I gave it a star is because the last chapter got me turning pages and Isaac's story was the only one that kept me interested—but other than that, it was a major clutter fest! 3/4 of the time I didn't know what the book was about.
When I read a book, I try and look for the reality in it even if it's in the sci-fi/fantasy genre, there's always that element. But with this one, I couldn't find it! There was too much fantasy and the only element that kept it grounded and believable was Isaac's story—and he got rid of his character so quickly—what a shame!
Character development was an epic failure too, considering that the book is almost 400 pages long.
I tried to appreciate the novel but the more I read it, the more I hated it!
It seemed like Lee had all this ideas and decided to put it in one novel and entitle it Amapola. Ricky Lee should just stick to writing screen plays.
When I read a book, I try and look for the reality in it even if it's in the sci-fi/fantasy genre, there's always that element. But with this one, I couldn't find it! There was too much fantasy and the only element that kept it grounded and believable was Isaac's story—and he got rid of his character so quickly—what a shame!
Character development was an epic failure too, considering that the book is almost 400 pages long.
I tried to appreciate the novel but the more I read it, the more I hated it!
It seemed like Lee had all this ideas and decided to put it in one novel and entitle it Amapola. Ricky Lee should just stick to writing screen plays.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2025
Sadly this just wasn't a well written book... the characters and situations got introduced as if on a whim. Honestly got the impression that this was written without an outline whatsoever...
do not get me started on the MC like so many attributes are stuffed in that you kinda won't develop any sort of care for their plight... the story itself was all over the place.
I really wanted to LOVE this book but alas it gave nothing back. Ricky Lee is still a literal legend though
do not get me started on the MC like so many attributes are stuffed in that you kinda won't develop any sort of care for their plight... the story itself was all over the place.
I really wanted to LOVE this book but alas it gave nothing back. Ricky Lee is still a literal legend though
May 2, 2020
When I bought this book, maybe 3 years ago, I don't have even the faintest idea of what this is about. It is just one of the books we are ought to tackle for my 21st Century Literature class. I have attempted to read this book several times for the past 3 years, but the farthest I was able to get through was only 50 or so pages. Fortunately, my attempt just a few days ago let me go through the end and actually enjoy the story.
Ricky Lee's Si Amapola sa 65 na Kabanata is a humorous yet striking literary piece. Albeit, this is not for everyone - not for those who solely seek fun - but for those who have an open mind to see the reflection of the Philippine society told in a fictional way. It hits a lot of sensitive topics some chooses to steer clear of, like from how every elected president will become anti-poor and anti-Filipino, normalizing Aswang - which I see as a symbol of every exploited and minority sectors (e.g. LGBTQIA+ community, activists, etc.), homosexuality, activism and resistance of the Filipino against a fascist government, and a lot more.
Your understanding and appreciation of the story will surely reflect from your taste, preferred genre, open-mindedness, and maturity as a reader. Rest assured, you will learn something from it. You can try to read the book, make an effort to study the history of Philippine Society and Revolution, and read the book again. You might want to compare the level of your understanding and appreciation between the 2 attempts.
Ricky Lee's Si Amapola sa 65 na Kabanata is a humorous yet striking literary piece. Albeit, this is not for everyone - not for those who solely seek fun - but for those who have an open mind to see the reflection of the Philippine society told in a fictional way. It hits a lot of sensitive topics some chooses to steer clear of, like from how every elected president will become anti-poor and anti-Filipino, normalizing Aswang - which I see as a symbol of every exploited and minority sectors (e.g. LGBTQIA+ community, activists, etc.), homosexuality, activism and resistance of the Filipino against a fascist government, and a lot more.
Your understanding and appreciation of the story will surely reflect from your taste, preferred genre, open-mindedness, and maturity as a reader. Rest assured, you will learn something from it. You can try to read the book, make an effort to study the history of Philippine Society and Revolution, and read the book again. You might want to compare the level of your understanding and appreciation between the 2 attempts.
November 14, 2012
Ang gusto lang sabihin nung libro eh kung hindi magtitino ang mga Pilipino, eh kahit pa isang daang Itinakda ang dumating eh sureballs na walang pag-asa ang Pilipinas. Sinisimbolize lang nun ang mga Pilipinong may hati-hating pagkatao na minsan eh nagiging Amerikano, Hapon o Intsik tulad ni Amapola. Pero tulad nga ng ginawang pagpatay kina Isaac at Zaldy, kahit masakit at ayaw nating pakawalan ang pagiging "Americanized" natin eh kailangan kasi sila ang pumipigil satin para maging epektibong mamamayan. Sinisimbolo ni Amapola ang mga Pilipinong hati ang pagkatao, si Emil na isang Noranian naman ay sumisimbolo sa mga Pilipinong gustong gumawa ng pagbabago pero walang magawa para sabayan kaya't umaasa na lang sa iba. Hindi ko alam kung may kabuluhan ang analysis ko sa librong ito pero ang alam kong totoo ay ipinaparating sa atin nito na kailangang sa sarili natin mag-simula ang pag-babago. Kailangan tangalin natin ang pagiging hati.
Mas maganda parin para sa akin ang Para Kay B (Sorry sa pagccompre) pero mulia kong napa-ibig ni Ricky Lee sa kanyang mga likha.
PS
Kahit na nakakatawa at kwela ang librong to, bilang isang satire, pakiramdam ko ay hindi nito purpose ang magpatawa kundi magpaalam.
Mas maganda parin para sa akin ang Para Kay B (Sorry sa pagccompre) pero mulia kong napa-ibig ni Ricky Lee sa kanyang mga likha.
PS
Kahit na nakakatawa at kwela ang librong to, bilang isang satire, pakiramdam ko ay hindi nito purpose ang magpatawa kundi magpaalam.
December 17, 2012
Dahil walang pagibig, mga punyeta kayong pelikula at TV at mga nagbebenta ng ang mamahal na bulaklak kapag Valentine's Day! Sino ba yang si St. Valentine? At anong kuwenta ng bracelet? Hindi totoong laging nananalo ang pagibig! Ang pagibig ay para lang sa mga walang self esteem at ang tingin sa sarili ay hindi kumpleto kung wala ang minamahal!
Nangyari na ba sa inyo ang gano'n? 'Yong moment sa pelikula at sa TV na ang bidang lalaki at ang bidang babae ay coincidence na pinagtagpo uli ng tadhana, ang mga tao sa palibot ay pigil ang paghinga at maski ang langit ay diabetic sa tamis ang pagkakangiti, tumutugtog ang mga biyulin at sabay sa pagtingin ang bidang lalaki sa bidang babae, na suot-suot pa rin ang bracelet na regalo niya dito ay mari-realize niya na ikaw, ikaw ang nagiwan ng twenty kiyaw sa sala! Saka slow motion na nagsisising tatakbo siya papunta sa babae para mag-sorry?
Well, hindi iyon ang nangyari! Na-imagine ko lang.
winner ilang beses ko siang binasa til now tawa pa din ako ng tawa!
Nangyari na ba sa inyo ang gano'n? 'Yong moment sa pelikula at sa TV na ang bidang lalaki at ang bidang babae ay coincidence na pinagtagpo uli ng tadhana, ang mga tao sa palibot ay pigil ang paghinga at maski ang langit ay diabetic sa tamis ang pagkakangiti, tumutugtog ang mga biyulin at sabay sa pagtingin ang bidang lalaki sa bidang babae, na suot-suot pa rin ang bracelet na regalo niya dito ay mari-realize niya na ikaw, ikaw ang nagiwan ng twenty kiyaw sa sala! Saka slow motion na nagsisising tatakbo siya papunta sa babae para mag-sorry?
Well, hindi iyon ang nangyari! Na-imagine ko lang.
winner ilang beses ko siang binasa til now tawa pa din ako ng tawa!
July 5, 2020
shuta natapos ko na rin sa wakas
naeenjoy ko pa siya nung una. nakakatawa at nakakatuwa yung writing ni ricky lee, at kuntento lang akong sundan si amapola sa mga adventures niya. kaso sa bandang gitna, pagulo na nang pagulo yung kwento. itong librong 'to, para siyang limang magkakaibang kwento na pilit pinagtagpi-tagpi para gumawa ng isang kwento. nakakalito basahin, lalo na't sobrang dalas magpalit ng POV, 'di lang sa pagitan ng iba-ibang karakter kundi sa pagitan din ng first person, third person, at maging second person.
ewan naguluhan lang talaga ako. tingin ko masyadong ambitious 'tong libro. sa bandang dulo rin sobrang urat na urat na ako basahin, binabasa ko na lang para matapos na :( masyadong madaming nangyari, literal na nakakawindang, tas yung ending ganon lang???? nakakaloka.
gusto ko yung attempts sa sociopolitical commentary, kaso 'di masyadong na-flesh out. problematic din ang gender politics ng libro.
hay. ricky lee this aint it T___T sayang kasi gustong gusto ko pa naman yung iba niyang mga libro. oh well.
naeenjoy ko pa siya nung una. nakakatawa at nakakatuwa yung writing ni ricky lee, at kuntento lang akong sundan si amapola sa mga adventures niya. kaso sa bandang gitna, pagulo na nang pagulo yung kwento. itong librong 'to, para siyang limang magkakaibang kwento na pilit pinagtagpi-tagpi para gumawa ng isang kwento. nakakalito basahin, lalo na't sobrang dalas magpalit ng POV, 'di lang sa pagitan ng iba-ibang karakter kundi sa pagitan din ng first person, third person, at maging second person.
ewan naguluhan lang talaga ako. tingin ko masyadong ambitious 'tong libro. sa bandang dulo rin sobrang urat na urat na ako basahin, binabasa ko na lang para matapos na :( masyadong madaming nangyari, literal na nakakawindang, tas yung ending ganon lang???? nakakaloka.
gusto ko yung attempts sa sociopolitical commentary, kaso 'di masyadong na-flesh out. problematic din ang gender politics ng libro.
hay. ricky lee this aint it T___T sayang kasi gustong gusto ko pa naman yung iba niyang mga libro. oh well.
January 16, 2012
I was thinking, should I just accept the story as it is, or should I interpret this story as something that reflects the society? I felt that there were a lot of unimportant scenes and It really took me some time to finish this.
April 3, 2012
This is very surreal and fun! Very interesting to read and it exceeded my expectations. Great job. Characters you will never forget for sure and the plot and story is simply amazing!
July 27, 2023
Hanggang ngayon may mga bagay pa din akong iniisip king ang ibang eksena ay palaisipan at may malalim na kahulugan ngunit hanggang ngayon ay hindi ko pa rin ma iconnect ang aking mga nabasa ko.
Isa sa magandang natalakay sa librong ito ang usaping Politika, ang paghulma ng mga kapwa natin Pilipino sa nakaraan.
Medyo naumay siguro din ako sa pag highlight kay Nora Aunor at sa karakter sa libro na avid fan nya. Dinomina ng Noranian ang librong ito sa aking palagay. May mga pagkakataong natatawa ako sa mga jokes ngunit karamihan sa kanila ay hindi lumalanding ng tama at corny ang datingan sa akin.
I hate to say this but I guess this time, I wasnt able to like Sir Ricky Lee's writing on this novel. 🥺🥺
Rating this as 3.0 star
Isa sa magandang natalakay sa librong ito ang usaping Politika, ang paghulma ng mga kapwa natin Pilipino sa nakaraan.
Medyo naumay siguro din ako sa pag highlight kay Nora Aunor at sa karakter sa libro na avid fan nya. Dinomina ng Noranian ang librong ito sa aking palagay. May mga pagkakataong natatawa ako sa mga jokes ngunit karamihan sa kanila ay hindi lumalanding ng tama at corny ang datingan sa akin.
I hate to say this but I guess this time, I wasnt able to like Sir Ricky Lee's writing on this novel. 🥺🥺
Rating this as 3.0 star
February 2, 2012
NOTE: WIth unintentional spoilers.
This is one of those few books that I like so much, but when you ask me why, I can't exactly explain the reason. I finished and put down the book with so much joy in my head, thinking "I've read another masterpiece." But then, masterpiece in what way?
Amapola, sa 65 na Kabanata is about a homosexual who happened to be a "mananangal" in a monstrous-literal way, and was tasked to save the country from any possible proverbial destruction. Amapola as the lead character, when he's not a monster, is a modern gay character, with all the gay lingo and characteristics you can think of.
Ricky Lee's Para Kay B is one of the books that I really LOVE (imagine a wide-eyed grin with it) and I can explain profoundly why I adore the book, but with Amapola? Uhmnnn...well, the only that puts doubt in my "liking" the book was the fact that after finishing the book, I was asking myself, "what did it try to teach me?" and all I did was answer my own question with, "I'll ponder on it, give me more time." I tried to come up with a blanket answer, but I really had to go through each pointers to see and further understand my own choice.
Amapola sent me laughing on my desk as I read it on our break time. I even missed my destination while on a jeepney as I read Amapola's insane adventures. The book was endearing. The characters were marvelous. I love how I was able to shift my emotions in every shift of each characters perspective. I love the way I felt sad for Zaldy, for Amapola, for Giselle and for every characters told in the story. Well, it's Ricky Lee who wrote it, and I was not dissappointed with how meaty and colorful each characters are.
The lead character, being a gay one, depicts how the gays are at this day and age. The way they talk, the way they act, the way they are typecast, and treated in still stereotype manner. Amapola tells us the story of his life, in a vibrant manner, despite of the bitter truth in every words and actions in the story. For a day or two I felt like I'm one of the homosexuals, singing, performing in those comedy bars in Tomas Morato. I saw myself in their story, though I am a real woman.
I felt Amapola's struggle with his other personalities, and I felt each personalities dilemma. I found myself in Giselle's situation, trying to find acceptance and eventually realizing that people uses people, and in the end, you can only rely on yourself.
The political dilemma is understandable, I know how dirty each politicians can be, with all of those masks they wear when in front of the voting public. How each politician had to pay back all their supporters, eventually forgetting about their political will. Politics nowadays are one of the dirtiest scheme one could think of.
Amapola showed us how we can be destructive with our own but different personality through Montero's existence. It showed us how we can try to live a clean slate, and still find ourselves being engulfed with the dark side of ourselves, that in order to get rid of that dark side, we had to fight for it. We have to focus and understand where each dark side is coming from. Amapola and Montero mirrored Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde's story, but in a different approach.
I guess, I like the book because I found myself in it, in its every character, and it's one of the things that really made me like a book - when I don't feel detached from the storyline and each characters. Somehow, Lola Sepa's existence blurred my vision for the book, and I cannot take a full a grasp on her character's purpose. I can tell that she's bound to teach us something greater than Amapola's but I found myself lost in tracking her message. In missing that piece of story made me question why I like the book.
Also, I had this feeling that it tried to force all the nagging issues of the society right into my throat, that I somehow found myself confused on what issue I should dwell into. I was busy thinking about the so-called tragedies of being judged by the society as homosexual, then after turning a page I am now struggling to move forward from the sinking sand of politics. It was good that I can relate on each character with how Ricky Lee worked and written it, but at the same time it somehow gets confusing and overwhelming.
I intend to read the book again, I know I missed something there. I missed something right in front of my eyes. The book is entertaining and engaging, I know rereading it would not be hard for me.
This is one of those few books that I like so much, but when you ask me why, I can't exactly explain the reason. I finished and put down the book with so much joy in my head, thinking "I've read another masterpiece." But then, masterpiece in what way?
Amapola, sa 65 na Kabanata is about a homosexual who happened to be a "mananangal" in a monstrous-literal way, and was tasked to save the country from any possible proverbial destruction. Amapola as the lead character, when he's not a monster, is a modern gay character, with all the gay lingo and characteristics you can think of.
Ricky Lee's Para Kay B is one of the books that I really LOVE (imagine a wide-eyed grin with it) and I can explain profoundly why I adore the book, but with Amapola? Uhmnnn...well, the only that puts doubt in my "liking" the book was the fact that after finishing the book, I was asking myself, "what did it try to teach me?" and all I did was answer my own question with, "I'll ponder on it, give me more time." I tried to come up with a blanket answer, but I really had to go through each pointers to see and further understand my own choice.
Amapola sent me laughing on my desk as I read it on our break time. I even missed my destination while on a jeepney as I read Amapola's insane adventures. The book was endearing. The characters were marvelous. I love how I was able to shift my emotions in every shift of each characters perspective. I love the way I felt sad for Zaldy, for Amapola, for Giselle and for every characters told in the story. Well, it's Ricky Lee who wrote it, and I was not dissappointed with how meaty and colorful each characters are.
The lead character, being a gay one, depicts how the gays are at this day and age. The way they talk, the way they act, the way they are typecast, and treated in still stereotype manner. Amapola tells us the story of his life, in a vibrant manner, despite of the bitter truth in every words and actions in the story. For a day or two I felt like I'm one of the homosexuals, singing, performing in those comedy bars in Tomas Morato. I saw myself in their story, though I am a real woman.
I felt Amapola's struggle with his other personalities, and I felt each personalities dilemma. I found myself in Giselle's situation, trying to find acceptance and eventually realizing that people uses people, and in the end, you can only rely on yourself.
The political dilemma is understandable, I know how dirty each politicians can be, with all of those masks they wear when in front of the voting public. How each politician had to pay back all their supporters, eventually forgetting about their political will. Politics nowadays are one of the dirtiest scheme one could think of.
Amapola showed us how we can be destructive with our own but different personality through Montero's existence. It showed us how we can try to live a clean slate, and still find ourselves being engulfed with the dark side of ourselves, that in order to get rid of that dark side, we had to fight for it. We have to focus and understand where each dark side is coming from. Amapola and Montero mirrored Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde's story, but in a different approach.
I guess, I like the book because I found myself in it, in its every character, and it's one of the things that really made me like a book - when I don't feel detached from the storyline and each characters. Somehow, Lola Sepa's existence blurred my vision for the book, and I cannot take a full a grasp on her character's purpose. I can tell that she's bound to teach us something greater than Amapola's but I found myself lost in tracking her message. In missing that piece of story made me question why I like the book.
Also, I had this feeling that it tried to force all the nagging issues of the society right into my throat, that I somehow found myself confused on what issue I should dwell into. I was busy thinking about the so-called tragedies of being judged by the society as homosexual, then after turning a page I am now struggling to move forward from the sinking sand of politics. It was good that I can relate on each character with how Ricky Lee worked and written it, but at the same time it somehow gets confusing and overwhelming.
I intend to read the book again, I know I missed something there. I missed something right in front of my eyes. The book is entertaining and engaging, I know rereading it would not be hard for me.
October 10, 2017
I EMBARKED on Ricky Lee's second novel, Si Amapola Sa 65 Na Kabanata, about a year ago, when I was bent on patronizing Philippine literature—contemporary or otherwise. Caught up with too much work, I set the book aside and was only able to finish it last Saturday, thanks to the cold and the rain and the awesome Rehab weekend.
The protagonist is a transvestite named Amapola who works as an impersonator in Timog and Tomas Morato. Clearly it's next to impossible to put down a novel that begins this way:
Sa labas, habang ang mga kababayan ko ay hindi pa nakaka-recover sa sunod-sunod na bagyong pinasimulan ng Ondoy, ako, sa loob ng High Notes sa kanto ng Timog at Morato, ay naka-split sa stage, ini-impersonate si Beyoncé, kinakanta ang If I Were A Boy, theme song ng mga tomboy.
Amapola, we later learn, is an aswang of the manananggal variety. At night her body is cut in half. Wings grow out of her back, and she flies up in the air, searching for food: human flesh and blood. We discover that there are two kinds of manananggal—the good kind only feeds on animals, the bad ones (tunggab) are hell-bent on devouring human beings, particularly unborn children inside their mothers' uteri. Amapola, the protagonist, belongs to the former.
The richness of Amapola's character doesn't end there: he has a multiple character disorder. Amapola is often found talking all by himself, when he is merely conversing with the other two persons inside her head: the shy, English-speaking Zaldy; and the testosterone-overloaded Isaac. Imagine what happens when one character takes over all the others.
Amapola is destined to save the Philippines from apocalyptic destruction brought about by the onslaught of the tunggab and the impending reign of the newly elected president Trono. This messianic calling comes to him through Lola Sepa who emerges from—where else?—the toilet bowl. The old lady is Amapola's great-great-grandmother, once a manananggal, too, who fought the Spanish alongside the Katipuneros.
He, too, has an object of love: Homer, a widower, who has a son named Truman whom Amapola is particularly fond of. How will Homer react when he discovers that Amapola (or "Ate Amy", as Truman would call him) is an aswang? Ricky Lee never pushes this too far, and we get the impression that this is a love that can never be.
Ricky Lee employs a humor that's distinctly Filipino: Noranians who will do anything to bring Nora Aunor back to the country and see her perform one last time; bar club impersonators with the names Bev Without An S and Churvah Alilih; a manananggal named Stuterrer who always stutters; and the familiar, inspiring mother who will accept her children for whoever and whatever he may be.
Being accepted for who a person is forms the core theme of the book, but Ricky Lee also highlights the importance of nationalism, love for country and others, sacrifice, friendship, and the value of a good laughter.
His writing is excellent, debunking the age-old notion that to write in Filipino, one must write as if one were filling out a formal theme notebook (I remember that the notebook I owned was a cheap Aspen, with spiral binding, the one with Manilyn Reynes as the cover. I didn't have a choice. It was the only item available at the canteen).
If you want a good laugh, do yourself a favor and get a copy of this novel.
September 15, 2025
3 ⭐️ - I like Amapola as the main character. However, while we did see his/her interesting adventures (promise, there were a lot!), the other characters didn't make an impact.
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January 1, 2012Mabilisang pag-tingin: Maraming konsepto rito ang nangangailangan ng medyo malalimang pag-iisip (gaya na lamang ng mitolohiyang Pinoy, pulitika, multiple personality disorder, kasaysayan ng Pilipinas, Pinoy mentality, etc.), at mas magandang medyo pamilyar ka sa ang lugar ng Morato para talagang manamnam mo ang kwento. Hindi 'ata ito librong pwedeng basahin nang pahapyaw lamang, sapagkat maraming tema rito ang, bagaman sa unang tingin ay parang simple lamang, totoong malalim ang pinag-ugatan.
[Dahil sa aspetong ito, tuwang-tuwa ako sa pagbabasa ng librong ito. Akalain mo yun, may elemento ng komedya, drama, aksyon, kababalaghan (talagang parang nanonood ka ng sine!), marami ka pang matututunan, at marami kang maaaring mapagtanto.]
Siya nga pala, habang binabasa ko ito, naiisip ko agad ang Ang Kagilagilalas na Pakikipagsapalaran ni Zsazsa Zaturnnah at Kapitan Sino.
---
Mga ibang punto:
- Winner! talaga si Amapola. Bentang-benta sa'kin ang kanyang pagiging persona! Paano ba naman kasi, hindi niya kinahihiya ang kanyang pagiging gay; binabalandra pa nga niya ito, hindi lamang sa damit, kung hindi pati sa pananalita.
- Nag-iiba ang perspektiba habang umusad ang kwento; i.e. nag-sisimula man ito kay Amapola, lumilipat din ito sa ibang gumagalaw sa kwentong ito.
- May parteng nag-hahalo ang katotohanan / kasaysayan at kathang-isip / "kasalukuyan".
- Naramdaman ko rito na, kahit mukhang napakasaklam ng ibang tauhan dito, lahat sila'y tao lamang, at may kanya-kanyang kadahilanan para sa ginagawa nila - kahit alam nila na kapag ginawa nila ang ganitong bagay, sila na ang ituturing na pinakamasamang tao sa mundo.
[Ipapagpatuloy.]
[Dahil sa aspetong ito, tuwang-tuwa ako sa pagbabasa ng librong ito. Akalain mo yun, may elemento ng komedya, drama, aksyon, kababalaghan (talagang parang nanonood ka ng sine!), marami ka pang matututunan, at marami kang maaaring mapagtanto.]
Siya nga pala, habang binabasa ko ito, naiisip ko agad ang Ang Kagilagilalas na Pakikipagsapalaran ni Zsazsa Zaturnnah at Kapitan Sino.
---
Mga ibang punto:
- Winner! talaga si Amapola. Bentang-benta sa'kin ang kanyang pagiging persona! Paano ba naman kasi, hindi niya kinahihiya ang kanyang pagiging gay; binabalandra pa nga niya ito, hindi lamang sa damit, kung hindi pati sa pananalita.
- Nag-iiba ang perspektiba habang umusad ang kwento; i.e. nag-sisimula man ito kay Amapola, lumilipat din ito sa ibang gumagalaw sa kwentong ito.
- May parteng nag-hahalo ang katotohanan / kasaysayan at kathang-isip / "kasalukuyan".
- Naramdaman ko rito na, kahit mukhang napakasaklam ng ibang tauhan dito, lahat sila'y tao lamang, at may kanya-kanyang kadahilanan para sa ginagawa nila - kahit alam nila na kapag ginawa nila ang ganitong bagay, sila na ang ituturing na pinakamasamang tao sa mundo.
[Ipapagpatuloy.]
September 26, 2023
I bought this book during the Manila International Book Fair years ago. I cannot even remember the exact year but I am sure it was before the pandemic. And I know, it’s a shame that I am only reading this book now despite enjoying Para Kay B. Well to be honest, I am quite intimidated by this book. I myself can’t pinpoint the reason why. Maybe because of how dense it is (and it’s my mistake that I read some reviews before I started reading this book and majority of the complaints is its length) or because I enjoyed Para Kay B so much that I am afraid I won’t enjoy this book. Gladly, I gave in and started reading it because I really did enjoy this book. I found myself not being able to put it down and I actually finished it in just 2 days. A feat for a slow reader like me. I felt like watching a telenovela with touches of some historical, political, psychological, and fantasy themes.
The book is a satirical novel that follows the story of Amapola, a gay stage performer in a club who is a manananggal and who was prophesied to become the “savoir” of the Philippines. We follow the adventures of Amapola as he tries to navigate his personal life after knowing what was prophesied of him, a budding love life, her past and family history that haunts her and also at the same time dealing with her two alter personalities (he was clinically diagnosed with having multiple personality disorder) and a political turmoil brewing in the background of the story. There are also a lot of side characters, a lot of backstories, and a lot of pop culture references. It’s easy to get lost because there’s a lot of going on in this book (which I thought I will be) but the flow and the short chapters of the book helped me get through it. And it also helped that the book is really hilarious in most parts.
More than the laughs that this book gave me, this book became a social and political commentary about the situation of the country. It did not shy away from giving a slap as to how we choose our leaders and how naive we are as citizens of the country. While reading this book, I came to realize that it became a coincidence to be reading this one just months after the last election. The results of the last election just fits the commentary in this book about how we vote for our leaders.
Despite that, the book is not any way preachy or the author pushing you his beliefs and ideals. It will make you think of your actions and your decisions. It indirectly offers solutions and it’s up to the readers to think of it their way.
My Thoughts About Si Amapola sa 65 na Kabanata by Ricky Lee (Book Review #147)
I bought this book during the Manila International Book Fair years ago. I cannot even remember the exact year but I am sure it was before the pandemic. And I know, it’s a shame that I am only reading this book now despite enjoying Para Kay B. Well to be honest, I am quite intimidated by this book. I myself can’t pinpoint the reason why. Maybe because of how dense it is (and it’s my mistake that I read some reviews before I started reading this book and majority of the complaints is its length) or because I enjoyed Para Kay B so much that I am afraid I won’t enjoy this book. Gladly, I gave in and started reading it because I really did enjoy this book. I found myself not being able to put it down and I actually finished it in just 2 days. A feat for a slow reader like me. I felt like watching a telenovela with touches of some historical, political, psychological, and fantasy themes.
The book is a satirical novel that follows the story of Amapola, a gay stage performer in a club who is a manananggal and who was prophesied to become the “savoir” of the Philippines. We follow the adventures of Amapola as he tries to navigate his personal life after knowing what was prophesied of him, a budding love life, her past and family history that haunts her and also at the same time dealing with her two alter personalities (he was clinically diagnosed with having multiple personality disorder) and a political turmoil brewing in the background of the story. There are also a lot of side characters, a lot of backstories, and a lot of pop culture references. It’s easy to get lost because there’s a lot of going on in this book (which I thought I will be) but the flow and the short chapters of the book helped me get through it. And it also helped that the book is really hilarious in most parts.
More than the laughs that this book gave me, this book became a social and political commentary about the situation of the country. It did not shy away from giving a slap as to how we choose our leaders and how naive we are as citizens of the country. While reading this book, I came to realize that it became a coincidence to be reading this one just months after the last election. The results of the last election just fits the commentary in this book about how we vote for our leaders.
Despite that, the book is not any way preachy or the author pushing you his beliefs and ideals. It will make you think of your actions and your decisions. It indirectly offers solutions and it’s up to the readers to think of it their way.
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Finally finishing it, I understand that this book is not for everyone. It definitely touches sensitive topics that we Filipinos tend to veer away. Topics like homosexuality, activism, and politics. It’s unforgiving in discussing these topics and I like it for being that. Well for me, reading this book, reiterated the answer to the question of why we Filipinos are stuck in this dire situation that we can’t seem to escape and what brought us here, why, despite the fact that we are hardworking people, there seems to be a problem with us progressing. The answer is, US. We are the reason. It’s because the choices and actions that we make. The choices and actions that we make defines our individual future and the future of our country. We tend to become insensitive of our actions and become selfish in a way. We focus on the short term gains that we can get rather than long term yields. This is a sad realization that really cannot be resolved overnight. Though I am still hopeful that that day will soon come. This book is also about that, hope.
The ending is open ended but it suits me well. I kind of relate it’s being open-ended with the future of our country, being our ending is not yet decided. We still have a chance of changing our course. We can still get out of this old system that is like a quicksand where we are stuck, a system that we know is not working but we still choose to be bound by that system.
Overall, this book is well-written. This book made me more confident to read more Ricky Lee books. Indeed a clever and out of this world imagination!
4 Stars out of 5.
Book review originally appeared on: bongbongbooks.wordpress.com
The book is a satirical novel that follows the story of Amapola, a gay stage performer in a club who is a manananggal and who was prophesied to become the “savoir” of the Philippines. We follow the adventures of Amapola as he tries to navigate his personal life after knowing what was prophesied of him, a budding love life, her past and family history that haunts her and also at the same time dealing with her two alter personalities (he was clinically diagnosed with having multiple personality disorder) and a political turmoil brewing in the background of the story. There are also a lot of side characters, a lot of backstories, and a lot of pop culture references. It’s easy to get lost because there’s a lot of going on in this book (which I thought I will be) but the flow and the short chapters of the book helped me get through it. And it also helped that the book is really hilarious in most parts.
More than the laughs that this book gave me, this book became a social and political commentary about the situation of the country. It did not shy away from giving a slap as to how we choose our leaders and how naive we are as citizens of the country. While reading this book, I came to realize that it became a coincidence to be reading this one just months after the last election. The results of the last election just fits the commentary in this book about how we vote for our leaders.
Despite that, the book is not any way preachy or the author pushing you his beliefs and ideals. It will make you think of your actions and your decisions. It indirectly offers solutions and it’s up to the readers to think of it their way.
My Thoughts About Si Amapola sa 65 na Kabanata by Ricky Lee (Book Review #147)
I bought this book during the Manila International Book Fair years ago. I cannot even remember the exact year but I am sure it was before the pandemic. And I know, it’s a shame that I am only reading this book now despite enjoying Para Kay B. Well to be honest, I am quite intimidated by this book. I myself can’t pinpoint the reason why. Maybe because of how dense it is (and it’s my mistake that I read some reviews before I started reading this book and majority of the complaints is its length) or because I enjoyed Para Kay B so much that I am afraid I won’t enjoy this book. Gladly, I gave in and started reading it because I really did enjoy this book. I found myself not being able to put it down and I actually finished it in just 2 days. A feat for a slow reader like me. I felt like watching a telenovela with touches of some historical, political, psychological, and fantasy themes.
The book is a satirical novel that follows the story of Amapola, a gay stage performer in a club who is a manananggal and who was prophesied to become the “savoir” of the Philippines. We follow the adventures of Amapola as he tries to navigate his personal life after knowing what was prophesied of him, a budding love life, her past and family history that haunts her and also at the same time dealing with her two alter personalities (he was clinically diagnosed with having multiple personality disorder) and a political turmoil brewing in the background of the story. There are also a lot of side characters, a lot of backstories, and a lot of pop culture references. It’s easy to get lost because there’s a lot of going on in this book (which I thought I will be) but the flow and the short chapters of the book helped me get through it. And it also helped that the book is really hilarious in most parts.
More than the laughs that this book gave me, this book became a social and political commentary about the situation of the country. It did not shy away from giving a slap as to how we choose our leaders and how naive we are as citizens of the country. While reading this book, I came to realize that it became a coincidence to be reading this one just months after the last election. The results of the last election just fits the commentary in this book about how we vote for our leaders.
Despite that, the book is not any way preachy or the author pushing you his beliefs and ideals. It will make you think of your actions and your decisions. It indirectly offers solutions and it’s up to the readers to think of it their way.
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Report this ad
Finally finishing it, I understand that this book is not for everyone. It definitely touches sensitive topics that we Filipinos tend to veer away. Topics like homosexuality, activism, and politics. It’s unforgiving in discussing these topics and I like it for being that. Well for me, reading this book, reiterated the answer to the question of why we Filipinos are stuck in this dire situation that we can’t seem to escape and what brought us here, why, despite the fact that we are hardworking people, there seems to be a problem with us progressing. The answer is, US. We are the reason. It’s because the choices and actions that we make. The choices and actions that we make defines our individual future and the future of our country. We tend to become insensitive of our actions and become selfish in a way. We focus on the short term gains that we can get rather than long term yields. This is a sad realization that really cannot be resolved overnight. Though I am still hopeful that that day will soon come. This book is also about that, hope.
The ending is open ended but it suits me well. I kind of relate it’s being open-ended with the future of our country, being our ending is not yet decided. We still have a chance of changing our course. We can still get out of this old system that is like a quicksand where we are stuck, a system that we know is not working but we still choose to be bound by that system.
Overall, this book is well-written. This book made me more confident to read more Ricky Lee books. Indeed a clever and out of this world imagination!
4 Stars out of 5.
Book review originally appeared on: bongbongbooks.wordpress.com
May 2, 2019
Nakakaentertain ang librong 'to, yes! Pero naguluhan ako. Hindi ko sure kung dahil ba 'to sa kakulangan ng kapasidad ng utak kong intindihin ang mga gustong ipahiwatig ng manunulat or talagang magulo.
Naloka ako kung ang gusto bang ipakita ni Sir Ricky, ito ba ay ang nakakatawang pakikipagsapalaran ng isang baklang aswang bilang tagapagligtas ng Pilipinas o itago sa nakakatawang istoryang ito ang mga political views at problema ng mga pilipino at ng bansa.
Para itong pancit canton na hindi maayos ang pagkakahalo kaya may parteng matabang at may parteng malasa. Para sa akin, mas magiging maayos ang reading experience ko kung nahalo ng maayos ang dalawang sangkap na gusto niyang iparating which are yung comedy with political and social keme. Pero parang magkahiwalay sila... hindi iisa. Kaya magulo. Nakakalito. Nawindang ang utak ko!
On the good note (tama ba ang inggles ko?) Gustong-gusto ko ang mga karakter sa storyang ito because they are fleshed out. I can really identify them. Interesting din ang karakter ni Amapola, napakacomplex, napakamakulay! Favorite character ko si Nanay Angie.
Pero yun na nga, pangalawa na 'to sa nababasa kong akda ni Ricky Lee at masasabi kong, hindi yata para sa akin ang mga akda niya. Hindi ata kaya ng utak kong iproseso ang mga sining na pinoproduce niya sa papel. Nakakalungkot pero, ayern!
I will end this by saying na nakakalungkot, Amapola sa 65 na Kabanata is an amazing book kung nahalo lang sana ng maayos ang pancit canton.
Naloka ako kung ang gusto bang ipakita ni Sir Ricky, ito ba ay ang nakakatawang pakikipagsapalaran ng isang baklang aswang bilang tagapagligtas ng Pilipinas o itago sa nakakatawang istoryang ito ang mga political views at problema ng mga pilipino at ng bansa.
Para itong pancit canton na hindi maayos ang pagkakahalo kaya may parteng matabang at may parteng malasa. Para sa akin, mas magiging maayos ang reading experience ko kung nahalo ng maayos ang dalawang sangkap na gusto niyang iparating which are yung comedy with political and social keme. Pero parang magkahiwalay sila... hindi iisa. Kaya magulo. Nakakalito. Nawindang ang utak ko!
On the good note (tama ba ang inggles ko?) Gustong-gusto ko ang mga karakter sa storyang ito because they are fleshed out. I can really identify them. Interesting din ang karakter ni Amapola, napakacomplex, napakamakulay! Favorite character ko si Nanay Angie.
Pero yun na nga, pangalawa na 'to sa nababasa kong akda ni Ricky Lee at masasabi kong, hindi yata para sa akin ang mga akda niya. Hindi ata kaya ng utak kong iproseso ang mga sining na pinoproduce niya sa papel. Nakakalungkot pero, ayern!
I will end this by saying na nakakalungkot, Amapola sa 65 na Kabanata is an amazing book kung nahalo lang sana ng maayos ang pancit canton.
October 3, 2014
Maliligtas ba ng manananggal ang isang bansang tila wala ng pag-asa? Una sa lahat, may naniniwala pa ba sa mga manananggal sa makabagong panahon? Eh 'di ba kakaunti na lang ang naniniwala sa kanila't binabansagan pa silang nasisiraan ng bait? 'Yan ang paghahalintulad na nabuo ko matapos kong mabasa ang akdang ito ni Ricky Lee. Si Amapola (manananggal) ay sumisimbolo sa pagbabago. Pagbabago na tila imposibleng paniwalaan sa gitna ng isang bansang hirap kumawala sa bulok na sistema. Pero kung maniniwala ka kay Amapola, may mangyayari. May magbabago kahit paunti-unti lang. Bansagan ka man nilang baliw, ang mahalaga'y may pinaniniwalaan ka hindi tulad ng ibang nasasanay at nagpapabihag na lang sa nakakasukang sistema na hadlang sa kaunlaran. Mahirap kalabanin ang bulok na sistema dahil parte tayo nito. Pero anong masama kung maniniwala kang kaya nating baguhin ito? Tara. Hatiin ang katawan. Sabay lipad. Para sa bayan.
Currently reading
June 5, 2012Couldn't even finish this book.
I think that I'm just looking for a better story
than Mr. Ricky Lee's first book "Para kay B".
That book was magic.
I think that I'm just looking for a better story
than Mr. Ricky Lee's first book "Para kay B".
That book was magic.
January 3, 2015
Hindi ko alam kung anong dapat na review dito. Medyo speechless pa ako.
Post-Pilipinas "kailan ba tayo aayos" feels.
Post-Pilipinas "kailan ba tayo aayos" feels.
November 13, 2012
i cant wait for ....to infinity and beyond
April 11, 2024
This is one of those books that is hard to write a review about simply because it's layered in humor and tragedies that almost shocks me from how rapidly it goes from each other. That's why it's difficult to understand the intent of th author. Is it to spark a conversation about our obsession with heroes, the futility of dissent, lives lived in halves, and the importance of little moments and relationships in our lives that although imperfect gives joy nonetheless? Or to just depict a flawed and realistic view fashioned in an incoherent, messy narrative layered in humor as an automatic self defense mechanism that mirrors life?
I have no previous context of Ricky Lee's work prior to reading this book. So my reaction from the comical delivery of the events to the nature of the events in question (Giselle's csa, anorexia and experience with domestic violence for example) was so strong I almost dropped the book. But there's a certain enjoyment I have with these books because I only typically encounter them in Filipino literature (especially if written in tagalog) or more specifically in art written by LGBT+ writers. I want to finish this book because I experience a specific catharsis with these writings.
There are stuff I enjoy in this book. The humor, the vivid descriptions of the setting that truly felt like Quezon City I grew up in, the flawed and the interesting colorful characters and how they bonded together despite the cracks in their relationships and I would like to give a special shoutout to the designer of the cover because it was really artistic. I love the map and the bookmark as well. I also like how I didn't anticipate that Montero would be his alter as well despite it being hinted already in the beginning. And also shout out to my queen Giselle you made me wanna go thru this month long reading!
But the stuff I don't particularly enjoy made reading this book long and difficult. For context I needed a month to finish this book. That's because of these things (1) the lack of quotation marks for the dialogue (2) the lack of clarity with the themes (3) the lack of character growth from the titular protagonist herself (4) killing of Isaac and Zaldy too soon and too recklessly (5) the ending
(1) The writing itself is fun but the lack of quotation marks just doesn't add anything for the novel. I thought it was to highlight how we don't know who's really talking between Amapola and her alters but it didn't really go into that direction.
(4) I was genuinely surprised how easily Isaac and Zaldy's character got killed because I thought they would serve more purpose to the plot. I imagine them helping Amy along in her hero act: Zaldy the brains, Isaac the braun. You know? But it didn't go anywhere. I felt like, aside from Isaac's influence on Giselle's villainy at the end they didn't have lasting impact to a story that I thought would feature them more. I mean, I get it. Amy and Nanay Angie felt remorseful and grived about it but it just felt like they got thrown away by the narrative. It left a bitter taste in my mouth.
(3) so let's talk themes because this is my main critique. 1 & 4 can be categorized as nitpicks but this one is truly what stayed in my mind until now. So I mentioned how this book is hard to write a review about because it's difficult to understand the author's intentions and that's partly because of points 3&5. I genuinely think Ricky Lee is trying to tie this book into these relatable and important themes and not just wanted to give a depiction of the mess of a society we live in. But the way these themes are resolved is the issue.
Theme 1: is there really a hero of the prophecy? The answer is left vaguely. Ser Gervancio's views felt like what Ricky Lee was going for but then made Sepa, in her dying moments, believe the true chosen one was actually baby Mira, Giselle's baby or Truman. You see, I don't like it when authors flip flop between views because it dims the message it's going for. Now, because of their defeat after Trono's aggressive measures it now feels like Sepa IS right and waiting for the new chosen one is the only way out. (5) Amapola struggling to fly despite knowing she'll die at the end was trying to be hopeful but because of this new knowledge that the true chosen one is one of those babies it's difficult to feel that way because it's like all of what they're fighting for went to waste.
Theme 2: What does it mean to live your life half-lived? This theme is reinforced by the three identifies of Amapola: being gay, being a manananggal, and having alters. But it feels sodelined or forgotten as the plot progresses and became more plot focused (theme 1). Amapola's character isn't good (3) I know it's harsh to say Amy didn't have character growth but when her moments of realizations and empathy is almost spoonfed and given when she doesn't have a choice anymore is a little too telling. Amy didn't realize she isn't the chosen one all by herself, didn't cherish Isaac's parting words to take care of Giselle, killed off Issac and Zaldy despite treating them as siblings, feeling remorseful about Nanay Angie's grief of the death of her children but at the end of the day she doesn't do anything about it. She was mean to everyone and unlikable because of her lack of responsiveness and selfishness. The lack of character growth from her, no I don't mean the outside forces that made her do all the decision I actually like, made her so boring and unable to relate to. The theme of her living life burdened by her alters wasn't explored because Amapola's character was half-baked. Her character didn't go anywhere and was almost just reacting to these larger themes she has to embody: being the chosen one, having alters and the fate of the country. I just think I need a stronger character writing for her enough to make me feel like she deserve to be at the title. The only storyline that was resolve was her boring feelings for her boring man Homer which is the most boring stale bread of a character whose only saving grace is him killing off his wife which was foreshadowed earlier. Her character feels unresolved because the important themes were left vaguely.
Theme 3: the futility of dissent and solution to this country that is so creative at finding problems for themselves. This theme is contradictory to the "enioy the small moments/relationships you make" because it's essentially doomerism vs hope. The reason why I think this is the conclusion of the book is because of that awful ending. It's always been a frustration of us to think that there's no hope for this country (and society at large) and it was shown through the characters themselves when they make selfish decisions but what I don't understand is the shakiness between these two contradictory themes. Despite trying to tell a story about hope and being the savior of your own life and country it all ends in a tragedy where hope is crushed by strength, greed and corruption. It wanted to tell a story about hope but didn't offer a concrete solution towards it, sidelines characters that are more adept to bringing it just for a main character that didn't really offer much and was confused throughout, and undid it just 1 chapter.
If I were to summarize my conclusion to one sentence it would be: It feels like a Filipino teleserye in all it's glory: fun, true to the Filipino experience, humourous and doesn't take itself too seriously but without the justifications on why it would go bad. Rather than a cohesive plot it's built on unresolved emotional setups to give the impression that it's worth tuning into but the ending is the final crack that would show all of the wishy-washiness of the themes, the weak character building of the main character, and would make you go "does it really need to be this long?" It makes me feel like if this was a teleserye it would work better because it can be excused.
I have no previous context of Ricky Lee's work prior to reading this book. So my reaction from the comical delivery of the events to the nature of the events in question (Giselle's csa, anorexia and experience with domestic violence for example) was so strong I almost dropped the book. But there's a certain enjoyment I have with these books because I only typically encounter them in Filipino literature (especially if written in tagalog) or more specifically in art written by LGBT+ writers. I want to finish this book because I experience a specific catharsis with these writings.
There are stuff I enjoy in this book. The humor, the vivid descriptions of the setting that truly felt like Quezon City I grew up in, the flawed and the interesting colorful characters and how they bonded together despite the cracks in their relationships and I would like to give a special shoutout to the designer of the cover because it was really artistic. I love the map and the bookmark as well. I also like how I didn't anticipate that Montero would be his alter as well despite it being hinted already in the beginning. And also shout out to my queen Giselle you made me wanna go thru this month long reading!
But the stuff I don't particularly enjoy made reading this book long and difficult. For context I needed a month to finish this book. That's because of these things (1) the lack of quotation marks for the dialogue (2) the lack of clarity with the themes (3) the lack of character growth from the titular protagonist herself (4) killing of Isaac and Zaldy too soon and too recklessly (5) the ending
(1) The writing itself is fun but the lack of quotation marks just doesn't add anything for the novel. I thought it was to highlight how we don't know who's really talking between Amapola and her alters but it didn't really go into that direction.
(4) I was genuinely surprised how easily Isaac and Zaldy's character got killed because I thought they would serve more purpose to the plot. I imagine them helping Amy along in her hero act: Zaldy the brains, Isaac the braun. You know? But it didn't go anywhere. I felt like, aside from Isaac's influence on Giselle's villainy at the end they didn't have lasting impact to a story that I thought would feature them more. I mean, I get it. Amy and Nanay Angie felt remorseful and grived about it but it just felt like they got thrown away by the narrative. It left a bitter taste in my mouth.
(3) so let's talk themes because this is my main critique. 1 & 4 can be categorized as nitpicks but this one is truly what stayed in my mind until now. So I mentioned how this book is hard to write a review about because it's difficult to understand the author's intentions and that's partly because of points 3&5. I genuinely think Ricky Lee is trying to tie this book into these relatable and important themes and not just wanted to give a depiction of the mess of a society we live in. But the way these themes are resolved is the issue.
Theme 1: is there really a hero of the prophecy? The answer is left vaguely. Ser Gervancio's views felt like what Ricky Lee was going for but then made Sepa, in her dying moments, believe the true chosen one was actually baby Mira, Giselle's baby or Truman. You see, I don't like it when authors flip flop between views because it dims the message it's going for. Now, because of their defeat after Trono's aggressive measures it now feels like Sepa IS right and waiting for the new chosen one is the only way out. (5) Amapola struggling to fly despite knowing she'll die at the end was trying to be hopeful but because of this new knowledge that the true chosen one is one of those babies it's difficult to feel that way because it's like all of what they're fighting for went to waste.
Theme 2: What does it mean to live your life half-lived? This theme is reinforced by the three identifies of Amapola: being gay, being a manananggal, and having alters. But it feels sodelined or forgotten as the plot progresses and became more plot focused (theme 1). Amapola's character isn't good (3) I know it's harsh to say Amy didn't have character growth but when her moments of realizations and empathy is almost spoonfed and given when she doesn't have a choice anymore is a little too telling. Amy didn't realize she isn't the chosen one all by herself, didn't cherish Isaac's parting words to take care of Giselle, killed off Issac and Zaldy despite treating them as siblings, feeling remorseful about Nanay Angie's grief of the death of her children but at the end of the day she doesn't do anything about it. She was mean to everyone and unlikable because of her lack of responsiveness and selfishness. The lack of character growth from her, no I don't mean the outside forces that made her do all the decision I actually like, made her so boring and unable to relate to. The theme of her living life burdened by her alters wasn't explored because Amapola's character was half-baked. Her character didn't go anywhere and was almost just reacting to these larger themes she has to embody: being the chosen one, having alters and the fate of the country. I just think I need a stronger character writing for her enough to make me feel like she deserve to be at the title. The only storyline that was resolve was her boring feelings for her boring man Homer which is the most boring stale bread of a character whose only saving grace is him killing off his wife which was foreshadowed earlier. Her character feels unresolved because the important themes were left vaguely.
Theme 3: the futility of dissent and solution to this country that is so creative at finding problems for themselves. This theme is contradictory to the "enioy the small moments/relationships you make" because it's essentially doomerism vs hope. The reason why I think this is the conclusion of the book is because of that awful ending. It's always been a frustration of us to think that there's no hope for this country (and society at large) and it was shown through the characters themselves when they make selfish decisions but what I don't understand is the shakiness between these two contradictory themes. Despite trying to tell a story about hope and being the savior of your own life and country it all ends in a tragedy where hope is crushed by strength, greed and corruption. It wanted to tell a story about hope but didn't offer a concrete solution towards it, sidelines characters that are more adept to bringing it just for a main character that didn't really offer much and was confused throughout, and undid it just 1 chapter.
If I were to summarize my conclusion to one sentence it would be: It feels like a Filipino teleserye in all it's glory: fun, true to the Filipino experience, humourous and doesn't take itself too seriously but without the justifications on why it would go bad. Rather than a cohesive plot it's built on unresolved emotional setups to give the impression that it's worth tuning into but the ending is the final crack that would show all of the wishy-washiness of the themes, the weak character building of the main character, and would make you go "does it really need to be this long?" It makes me feel like if this was a teleserye it would work better because it can be excused.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 26, 2019
Rating: 3.5
Itong nobelang ito ay isa sa mga pinakagusto Kong mabasa noong estudyante na ako at sa wakas ay napagbigyan na ako ng tadhana. Una sa lahat, nagagalak ako sa pagtatangka ng nobelang ito na pagsama-samahin ang elemento ng kontemporaryo, ng kasaysayan, ng mitolohiya / kuwentong-bayan, ng politika, isyung panlipunan at ng komunidad ng LGBT. Bihira na sa kasalukuyan, lalo na sa mga makabagong Pilipinong manunulat na bigyang pansin ang kuwento ng mga elemental tulad ng mananaggal bilang paksa ng kuwento. Napakagandang pagkakataong mabigyan ng kamalayan ang mga mambabasa tungkol dito. Sunod ang mga isyu ng lipunan at politika na isa sa mga pinakasentro ng nobela ang nagustuhan ko. Hindi tipikal na tungkol sa buhay pag-ibig lang (may bahagi ang lovelife ni Amapola at Homer pero hindi dito umiikot ang mundo ni Amapola). Hindi rin dapat palampasin na ito ay isinalaysay sa Punto de vista ni Amapola at nakita natin kung gaano kakulay ang buhay ng isang bakla.
Marahil nakulangan lang ako sa daloy ng kuwento. Ang daming nangyari na sa aking palagay ay higit na mainam kung inilaan na lang sa mga pangyayaring makatutulong sa pagpapalutang ng mensahe. Tulad ng mga sumusunod:
- ano ba ang perspektibo ng lipunan sa taong may multiple personality?
- paano ba magiging isang ina ang isang bakla?
- maliban sa pagiging isang entertainer (at sa pagiging itinakda), ano ang estado ng LGBT sa pilipinas?
Gayunpaman may mga bagay rin akong nagustuhan sa kuwento
- mga inosenteng tanong ng isang bata
- pagtanggap ni Nanay Angie sa (mga) pagkatao ni Amapola
- folklore
- ang pagbanggit kay Bonifacio
- ang mga perspecktibo ni Lola Sepa
Sa huli, masasabi kong maganda ang nobelang ito sa pagtatangkang talakayin ang iba't ibang paksa.
Itong nobelang ito ay isa sa mga pinakagusto Kong mabasa noong estudyante na ako at sa wakas ay napagbigyan na ako ng tadhana. Una sa lahat, nagagalak ako sa pagtatangka ng nobelang ito na pagsama-samahin ang elemento ng kontemporaryo, ng kasaysayan, ng mitolohiya / kuwentong-bayan, ng politika, isyung panlipunan at ng komunidad ng LGBT. Bihira na sa kasalukuyan, lalo na sa mga makabagong Pilipinong manunulat na bigyang pansin ang kuwento ng mga elemental tulad ng mananaggal bilang paksa ng kuwento. Napakagandang pagkakataong mabigyan ng kamalayan ang mga mambabasa tungkol dito. Sunod ang mga isyu ng lipunan at politika na isa sa mga pinakasentro ng nobela ang nagustuhan ko. Hindi tipikal na tungkol sa buhay pag-ibig lang (may bahagi ang lovelife ni Amapola at Homer pero hindi dito umiikot ang mundo ni Amapola). Hindi rin dapat palampasin na ito ay isinalaysay sa Punto de vista ni Amapola at nakita natin kung gaano kakulay ang buhay ng isang bakla.
Marahil nakulangan lang ako sa daloy ng kuwento. Ang daming nangyari na sa aking palagay ay higit na mainam kung inilaan na lang sa mga pangyayaring makatutulong sa pagpapalutang ng mensahe. Tulad ng mga sumusunod:
- ano ba ang perspektibo ng lipunan sa taong may multiple personality?
- paano ba magiging isang ina ang isang bakla?
- maliban sa pagiging isang entertainer (at sa pagiging itinakda), ano ang estado ng LGBT sa pilipinas?
Gayunpaman may mga bagay rin akong nagustuhan sa kuwento
- mga inosenteng tanong ng isang bata
- pagtanggap ni Nanay Angie sa (mga) pagkatao ni Amapola
- folklore
- ang pagbanggit kay Bonifacio
- ang mga perspecktibo ni Lola Sepa
Sa huli, masasabi kong maganda ang nobelang ito sa pagtatangkang talakayin ang iba't ibang paksa.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 5, 2012
Mula kay Ricky Lee, ang premyadong scriptwriter ng mga pelikulang tulad ng Himala, Anak, Dubai, at iba pa, at ang naghatid sa atin ng nakatutuwang nobelang pag-ibig na Para Kay B (na siya ring naging dahilan kung bakit lagi tayong nag-iisip kung kasama nga ba tayo sa quota ng pag-ibig na 'yan), narito ang isa na namang nobelang tiyak na kagigiliwan ng mga Pilipinong mambabasa -- Si Amapola sa 65 na Kabanata. Istorya ito ng isang baklang impersonator na naging manananggal at merong ibang katauhan o 'multiple personality disorder' na tinatawag na 'alters', at napiling maging tagapagligtas ng mga aswang at ng buong Pilipinas. Malawak ang imahinasyon ni Ricky Lee sa paggawa ng nobelang ito dahil sangkot dito ang die-hard Noranians, isang convenience store para sa mga manananggal, mga taong bigla na lamang sumusulpot galing sa inodoro, matatabang aswang, at iba pa.
Kapag ang istorya ay may kinalaman sa mga aswang o kahit anong lamang lupa, karaniwan nang impresyon ng mga mambabasa ay isang klase ito ng fantasy o horror novel. Subalit taliwas sa nakasanayan, ang nobelang ito ay may halong sociopolitical (may ilang patama sa ating lipunan) at kaunting komedya. Dito makikita ang husay sa paggawa ni Ricky Lee ng mga kuwento, kaya naman halos lahat ng pelikulang ginawaan niya ng script ay talagang nag-click sa takilya. May mga pagkakataon din na naaalala ko ang mga nobela ni Dan Brown dahil sa paggamit ni Ricky Lee ng anagrams, o 'yung mga salitang kapag iniba-iba mo ang posisyon ng mga letra ay may mabubuo pa ring ibang salita o diwa, tulad ng pangalan ni Andres Bonifacio ("a bonsai confider", "Ironic Foes Band", "nice food Sabrina"), Aswang ("sagwan"), at Gregoria de Jesus ("arise used jogger").
Nalilito lang ako minsan sa estilo ng pagsusulat ni Ricky Lee. Kapag merong tauhan kasi na nagsasalita sa nobela ay hindi niya nakaugaliang maglagay ng quotation marks (") sa unahan at hulihan ng dialogue, maski sa nauna niyang nobela.
Subalit isa naman sa mga nagustuhan ko sa istilo ng mga nobelang sinulat ni Ricky Lee ay ang pasimpleng pagpapatawa nito sa ilang pahina. Kung nabasa ninyo ang Para Kay B, ang una n'yang nobela, mapapansing pahapyaw siyang gumagamit ng mga nakatutuwang salita para mas maging masaya at 'magaan' ang pangungusap, bagay na ginawa niya rin dito nang madalas sa librong ito.
Narito ang dalawa sa naaalala kong sipi na nakapagpatawa sa akin (pasensya na dahil 'yang dalawa lang ang naaalala ko kung saang pahina ng libro mababasa):
1. Pinag-iisipan niyang mabuti kung sino ang mas malasa, ang mayaman ba o ang mahirap? Ang mga mangingisda (malansa), ang mga negosyante (makunat), ang mga politician (madulas), ang mga kriminal (matinik). Kumain siya ng isang manang (allelujah nang allelujah). Allelujah kang putang ina ka. Saka isang Chief Justice sa korte. Isang tinedyer na nagtatanggal sa pagkabuhol ng earphones ng iPod nito. Isang head ng charitable foundation. Anong kapwa-kapwa! Saka ang number one supermodel. Nagtatalsikan ang mga dugo sa dingding at nagsasayaw ang mga lamang-loob at namumuwalan siya. Saka siya nagpatuloy lumipad para pumatay pa. Happily fat. Joy to be baboy.
2. Pumasok ito ng bintana at paglabas ay isa nang malaking pile ng Nora Aunor collection ang dala-dala. Lumipad ito at saka inihagis sa buong Metro Manila ang mga ito. Umulan ang Kanorahan sa buong siyudad at akala ng mga tao ay nagbalik na nga si Nora, siguro bumoto. Nagpe-pearly shells ang mga poste. Nagpapakabona ang mga island. I did not kill anybody! sabi ng mga asong kalye. Walang maisagot ang mga pusa dahil ang papel nila ay ang piping si Aaaah sa Sidhi. Ang sumagot ay ang mga vendor, nakatingala sa langit. Walang sinumang hindi nakakakilala sa pangalang Magnolia dela Cruz, sabi nila. Ang hindi marunong rumespeto sa aking pangalan ay aso lamang!
At dahil ang naghatid ng balita kay Amapola tungkol sa pagiging tagapagligtas niya ng Pilipinas ay ang pulis na si Emil, isang Nora Aunor fanatic, ang mga salitang may kinalaman kay Nora Aunor ay nakakatuwa rin:
Noranology - isang subject na walang sawang pino-propose ng mga Noranians sa mga universities
Noranio - mga lalaking gaya ni Emil na naging Noranian dahil sa ina
Norathritis - isang die-hard Noranian na hindi makagalaw sa sobrang saya matapos makita sa personal si Nora Aunor
Noraniacs - Noranian na madalas kainisan ng kapwa Noranian dahil sila ay paulit-ulit na nagba-blog ng mga article tungkol sa iba't ibang balita kay Nora Aunor
Naisip ko tuloy, siguro'y Noranian din ang manunulat na si Ricky Lee, o 'di naman kaya'y malapit na kaibigan niya si Nora Aunor. Kung tutuusin, ang ganitong istilo ng pagpapatawa ng awtor (seryoso subalit may panaka-nakang pagpapatawa) ay maaaring naging dahilan kung bakit naging popular ang Para Kay B. (At napansin kong mas pinagtutuunan ko ng pansin ang awtor sa review na ito at hindi ang mismong nobela.)
Hindi ko talaga alam kung bakit naging ganito kababa ang rating ko sa kabila ng pagka-enjoy ko naman kahit paano sa pagbabasa nito. Siguro eh na-excite lang talaga ako dahil ang susunod kong babasahin na nakalinya pagkatapos nito ay talaga namang pinananabikan ko -- ang Sputnik Sweetheart ni Haruki Murakami. Pero ika nga nila, ibang istorya na 'yon.
Sa totoo lang, medyo nahirapan akong timbangin ang librong ito. Gusto kong bigyan lamang ng two stars pero pakiramdam ko, hindi ito karapat-dapat bigyan ng ganoon kababang rating dahil nagustuhan ko naman ang istorya. Yun nga lang, medyo naguluhan ako ng kaunti sa ending. Pero kung pagbabasehan ang kabuuan nito, masasabi kong mas malaking porsiyento ng aking sarili ang nagsasabing nagustuhan ko ang libro, kaya ayan, tatlong bituin (three stars) -- nagustuhan ko naman ang ikalawang nobelang ito ni Ricky Lee.
Kapag ang istorya ay may kinalaman sa mga aswang o kahit anong lamang lupa, karaniwan nang impresyon ng mga mambabasa ay isang klase ito ng fantasy o horror novel. Subalit taliwas sa nakasanayan, ang nobelang ito ay may halong sociopolitical (may ilang patama sa ating lipunan) at kaunting komedya. Dito makikita ang husay sa paggawa ni Ricky Lee ng mga kuwento, kaya naman halos lahat ng pelikulang ginawaan niya ng script ay talagang nag-click sa takilya. May mga pagkakataon din na naaalala ko ang mga nobela ni Dan Brown dahil sa paggamit ni Ricky Lee ng anagrams, o 'yung mga salitang kapag iniba-iba mo ang posisyon ng mga letra ay may mabubuo pa ring ibang salita o diwa, tulad ng pangalan ni Andres Bonifacio ("a bonsai confider", "Ironic Foes Band", "nice food Sabrina"), Aswang ("sagwan"), at Gregoria de Jesus ("arise used jogger").
Nalilito lang ako minsan sa estilo ng pagsusulat ni Ricky Lee. Kapag merong tauhan kasi na nagsasalita sa nobela ay hindi niya nakaugaliang maglagay ng quotation marks (") sa unahan at hulihan ng dialogue, maski sa nauna niyang nobela.
Subalit isa naman sa mga nagustuhan ko sa istilo ng mga nobelang sinulat ni Ricky Lee ay ang pasimpleng pagpapatawa nito sa ilang pahina. Kung nabasa ninyo ang Para Kay B, ang una n'yang nobela, mapapansing pahapyaw siyang gumagamit ng mga nakatutuwang salita para mas maging masaya at 'magaan' ang pangungusap, bagay na ginawa niya rin dito nang madalas sa librong ito.
Narito ang dalawa sa naaalala kong sipi na nakapagpatawa sa akin (pasensya na dahil 'yang dalawa lang ang naaalala ko kung saang pahina ng libro mababasa):
1. Pinag-iisipan niyang mabuti kung sino ang mas malasa, ang mayaman ba o ang mahirap? Ang mga mangingisda (malansa), ang mga negosyante (makunat), ang mga politician (madulas), ang mga kriminal (matinik). Kumain siya ng isang manang (allelujah nang allelujah). Allelujah kang putang ina ka. Saka isang Chief Justice sa korte. Isang tinedyer na nagtatanggal sa pagkabuhol ng earphones ng iPod nito. Isang head ng charitable foundation. Anong kapwa-kapwa! Saka ang number one supermodel. Nagtatalsikan ang mga dugo sa dingding at nagsasayaw ang mga lamang-loob at namumuwalan siya. Saka siya nagpatuloy lumipad para pumatay pa. Happily fat. Joy to be baboy.
2. Pumasok ito ng bintana at paglabas ay isa nang malaking pile ng Nora Aunor collection ang dala-dala. Lumipad ito at saka inihagis sa buong Metro Manila ang mga ito. Umulan ang Kanorahan sa buong siyudad at akala ng mga tao ay nagbalik na nga si Nora, siguro bumoto. Nagpe-pearly shells ang mga poste. Nagpapakabona ang mga island. I did not kill anybody! sabi ng mga asong kalye. Walang maisagot ang mga pusa dahil ang papel nila ay ang piping si Aaaah sa Sidhi. Ang sumagot ay ang mga vendor, nakatingala sa langit. Walang sinumang hindi nakakakilala sa pangalang Magnolia dela Cruz, sabi nila. Ang hindi marunong rumespeto sa aking pangalan ay aso lamang!
At dahil ang naghatid ng balita kay Amapola tungkol sa pagiging tagapagligtas niya ng Pilipinas ay ang pulis na si Emil, isang Nora Aunor fanatic, ang mga salitang may kinalaman kay Nora Aunor ay nakakatuwa rin:
Noranology - isang subject na walang sawang pino-propose ng mga Noranians sa mga universities
Noranio - mga lalaking gaya ni Emil na naging Noranian dahil sa ina
Norathritis - isang die-hard Noranian na hindi makagalaw sa sobrang saya matapos makita sa personal si Nora Aunor
Noraniacs - Noranian na madalas kainisan ng kapwa Noranian dahil sila ay paulit-ulit na nagba-blog ng mga article tungkol sa iba't ibang balita kay Nora Aunor
Naisip ko tuloy, siguro'y Noranian din ang manunulat na si Ricky Lee, o 'di naman kaya'y malapit na kaibigan niya si Nora Aunor. Kung tutuusin, ang ganitong istilo ng pagpapatawa ng awtor (seryoso subalit may panaka-nakang pagpapatawa) ay maaaring naging dahilan kung bakit naging popular ang Para Kay B. (At napansin kong mas pinagtutuunan ko ng pansin ang awtor sa review na ito at hindi ang mismong nobela.)
Hindi ko talaga alam kung bakit naging ganito kababa ang rating ko sa kabila ng pagka-enjoy ko naman kahit paano sa pagbabasa nito. Siguro eh na-excite lang talaga ako dahil ang susunod kong babasahin na nakalinya pagkatapos nito ay talaga namang pinananabikan ko -- ang Sputnik Sweetheart ni Haruki Murakami. Pero ika nga nila, ibang istorya na 'yon.
Sa totoo lang, medyo nahirapan akong timbangin ang librong ito. Gusto kong bigyan lamang ng two stars pero pakiramdam ko, hindi ito karapat-dapat bigyan ng ganoon kababang rating dahil nagustuhan ko naman ang istorya. Yun nga lang, medyo naguluhan ako ng kaunti sa ending. Pero kung pagbabasehan ang kabuuan nito, masasabi kong mas malaking porsiyento ng aking sarili ang nagsasabing nagustuhan ko ang libro, kaya ayan, tatlong bituin (three stars) -- nagustuhan ko naman ang ikalawang nobelang ito ni Ricky Lee.
October 25, 2020
Kakat'wang paglalahad ng iba't-ibang buhay sa sa mundo ng mga manananggal!
Sa lahat ng mga akdang nabasa ko mula kay Ricky Lee, ito ang pinaka nakakaaliw para sa akin. Gusto ko ang pagkakagawa sa mundo ni Amapola at sa kaniya mismo. Bagamat magulo, ito ay totoo (kung aalisin lahat ng fictional na elemento ng kwento)
Makikita rin dito ang iba't ibang uri ng pagmamahal; mula sa pagtanggap ni Nanay Angie sa buong katauhan ni Amapola, sa pagmamahal ni Lola Sepa kay Andres at sa bayan, ni Emil kay Nora, ni Homer sa kanyang Anak, at ni Amapola sa kanyang sarili.
Labis kong hinahangaan ang pagiging buo ni Amapola—ang kanyang tiwala at bilib sa sarili. Gustong-gusto ko rin ang kanyang mga alter na sina Zaldy at Isaac. Sa palagay ko'y si Isaac ang may pinaka interesanteng kwento at lubos akong nalungkot nang mawala sila sa kwento.
Medyo hindi ko lamang nagustuhan ang arko ni Montero, dahil simula dito ay nagulo na ang kwento para sa akin. Sa huling bahagi din ng kwento ay halos wala nang pinatunguhan ang pagkakabuo ng mga naunang kabanata. Bagamat naiintindihan ko na ito'y mahalaga sa pagpapakilala kung sino si Amapola, pakiramdam ko'y walang pinatunguhan ang ilan sa mga nais nilang mangyari sa simula.
Sa kabuuan, palagay ko'y sinasasalamin ni Amapola ang mga taong sumasalungat sa gobyerno. Sa kabila ng maraming personalidad, sa huli ay iisa lamang sya. Si Zaldy and simbolo ng kanyang talino, si Isaac ang kakayahan nyang magmahal, si Montero ang kanyang mga takot at pagdadalawang isip, at si Amapola ang masigasig na pusong tumitindig sa kanyang nga paniniwala.
Sa lahat ng mga akdang nabasa ko mula kay Ricky Lee, ito ang pinaka nakakaaliw para sa akin. Gusto ko ang pagkakagawa sa mundo ni Amapola at sa kaniya mismo. Bagamat magulo, ito ay totoo (kung aalisin lahat ng fictional na elemento ng kwento)
Makikita rin dito ang iba't ibang uri ng pagmamahal; mula sa pagtanggap ni Nanay Angie sa buong katauhan ni Amapola, sa pagmamahal ni Lola Sepa kay Andres at sa bayan, ni Emil kay Nora, ni Homer sa kanyang Anak, at ni Amapola sa kanyang sarili.
Labis kong hinahangaan ang pagiging buo ni Amapola—ang kanyang tiwala at bilib sa sarili. Gustong-gusto ko rin ang kanyang mga alter na sina Zaldy at Isaac. Sa palagay ko'y si Isaac ang may pinaka interesanteng kwento at lubos akong nalungkot nang mawala sila sa kwento.
Medyo hindi ko lamang nagustuhan ang arko ni Montero, dahil simula dito ay nagulo na ang kwento para sa akin. Sa huling bahagi din ng kwento ay halos wala nang pinatunguhan ang pagkakabuo ng mga naunang kabanata. Bagamat naiintindihan ko na ito'y mahalaga sa pagpapakilala kung sino si Amapola, pakiramdam ko'y walang pinatunguhan ang ilan sa mga nais nilang mangyari sa simula.
Sa kabuuan, palagay ko'y sinasasalamin ni Amapola ang mga taong sumasalungat sa gobyerno. Sa kabila ng maraming personalidad, sa huli ay iisa lamang sya. Si Zaldy and simbolo ng kanyang talino, si Isaac ang kakayahan nyang magmahal, si Montero ang kanyang mga takot at pagdadalawang isip, at si Amapola ang masigasig na pusong tumitindig sa kanyang nga paniniwala.
April 6, 2023
Mga bagay na nagustuhan
1. Nag-tackle ng ilang social issues gaya ng politics, child-labor at pagtangkilik ng mga produktong banyaga.
2. Aliw na aliw ako sa mga jokes. Nakakatawa siya lalo na iyong binaggit na iba't ibang uri ng mga mananaggal at ang unang pagkikita ni Emil at Amapola.
3. Gusto ko rin 'yong pagkakaroon niya ng touch of history sa mga kapitunero partikular si Andres Bonifacio.
4. Bet ko rin 'yung mga tagpuan na ginamit sa kwento. Very Pilipino ang atake.
5. Unexpect plot, gaya ni Giselle at Montero.
Mga bagay na hindi ko nagustuhan
1. Sobrang bagal ng pacing to the point na matatapos na lang iyong huling kabanata pero wala pa ring masyadong ganap si Amapola.
2. 'Yung pagkamatay ng ibang karater parang hindi pinag-isipan. For me, binigyan sana ng ibang way para mas katanggap-tanggap. Malaki kasi ang naging exsposure ng iba sa kwento eh tapos mamatay lang ng ganun. Hindi ko matanggap.
3. Hindi ko gusto 'yung ending. Nag-expect ako ng plot twist sa dulo. Tapos iyong itinakda thingy parang biglang naglaho sa banghay ng nobela? Sana may book 2 ito.
Pero may nabasa akong isang review dito nasa tingin ko naman tama ang naging point of view niya. Kung kaya't babalikan ko ang nobelang ito para muling basahin at makita ang mga bagay na hindi ko na-appreciate sa unang pagkakataon.
1. Nag-tackle ng ilang social issues gaya ng politics, child-labor at pagtangkilik ng mga produktong banyaga.
2. Aliw na aliw ako sa mga jokes. Nakakatawa siya lalo na iyong binaggit na iba't ibang uri ng mga mananaggal at ang unang pagkikita ni Emil at Amapola.
3. Gusto ko rin 'yong pagkakaroon niya ng touch of history sa mga kapitunero partikular si Andres Bonifacio.
4. Bet ko rin 'yung mga tagpuan na ginamit sa kwento. Very Pilipino ang atake.
5. Unexpect plot, gaya ni Giselle at Montero.
Mga bagay na hindi ko nagustuhan
1. Sobrang bagal ng pacing to the point na matatapos na lang iyong huling kabanata pero wala pa ring masyadong ganap si Amapola.
2. 'Yung pagkamatay ng ibang karater parang hindi pinag-isipan. For me, binigyan sana ng ibang way para mas katanggap-tanggap. Malaki kasi ang naging exsposure ng iba sa kwento eh tapos mamatay lang ng ganun. Hindi ko matanggap.
3. Hindi ko gusto 'yung ending. Nag-expect ako ng plot twist sa dulo. Tapos iyong itinakda thingy parang biglang naglaho sa banghay ng nobela? Sana may book 2 ito.
Pero may nabasa akong isang review dito nasa tingin ko naman tama ang naging point of view niya. Kung kaya't babalikan ko ang nobelang ito para muling basahin at makita ang mga bagay na hindi ko na-appreciate sa unang pagkakataon.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 7, 2025
#BernardReads | BOOK REVIEW 📚
Si Amapola sa 65 na Kabanata ni #RickyLee 🦇
Nabili ko ito kasabay pa ng #ParakayB noong #MIBF2024 ngunit isang taon bago ko nasimulan basahin.
At unang kabanata pa lang, parang umiikot ang puwet ko paghahanap ng puwedeng kuwentuhan kung gaano kaaliw si Amapola, ang misadventures niya, ang pighati at kaartehan niya sa buhay. Haha.
Nai-imagine ko kung magiging play ito o kaya short series. Ang laro ng pacing at ng narrative, nagpapadagdag ng aliw. Nahuhuli ko na lang ang sarili kong tumatawa mag-isa.
Umikot ang kuwento sa kung paano ba tatangapin ni Amapola ang nakalaan sa kaniya. Maraming memorable scenes, mga katakter na sure na tatatak, at mga jokes na siguradong may katatamaan.
Hindi lang ako sigurado kung nagustuhan ko ang twist ng villain. Maging ang pinaka-ending ngunit katulad ng Para kay B, poetic ito at enough para ma-satisfy. Nguniy siguradong nag-iwan ng mga tanong para sa hinaharap.
Ito ay nobelang siguradong papatok sa kahit na sinong Pinoy, may flavor na masarap ulit-ulitin. Hindi ko alam kung paano i-a-adapt, teatro man o sa pinilakang tabing pero nakakaloka kung paano nga ba.
Mabuti na nga lang at nabili ko na ang graphic adaptation niya ni Sir Manix Abrera. Magsasama muli kami ni #Amapola.
#bookrecommendations #bookreview #SiAmapola
Si Amapola sa 65 na Kabanata ni #RickyLee 🦇
Nabili ko ito kasabay pa ng #ParakayB noong #MIBF2024 ngunit isang taon bago ko nasimulan basahin.
At unang kabanata pa lang, parang umiikot ang puwet ko paghahanap ng puwedeng kuwentuhan kung gaano kaaliw si Amapola, ang misadventures niya, ang pighati at kaartehan niya sa buhay. Haha.
Nai-imagine ko kung magiging play ito o kaya short series. Ang laro ng pacing at ng narrative, nagpapadagdag ng aliw. Nahuhuli ko na lang ang sarili kong tumatawa mag-isa.
Umikot ang kuwento sa kung paano ba tatangapin ni Amapola ang nakalaan sa kaniya. Maraming memorable scenes, mga katakter na sure na tatatak, at mga jokes na siguradong may katatamaan.
Hindi lang ako sigurado kung nagustuhan ko ang twist ng villain. Maging ang pinaka-ending ngunit katulad ng Para kay B, poetic ito at enough para ma-satisfy. Nguniy siguradong nag-iwan ng mga tanong para sa hinaharap.
Ito ay nobelang siguradong papatok sa kahit na sinong Pinoy, may flavor na masarap ulit-ulitin. Hindi ko alam kung paano i-a-adapt, teatro man o sa pinilakang tabing pero nakakaloka kung paano nga ba.
Mabuti na nga lang at nabili ko na ang graphic adaptation niya ni Sir Manix Abrera. Magsasama muli kami ni #Amapola.
#bookrecommendations #bookreview #SiAmapola
September 24, 2024
Habang palapit nang palapit ako sa ika-65 na kabanata ay mas lumalalim ang paghanga ko kay Ricky Lee bilang isang manunulat, at mas lumalalim rin ang poot na nararamdaman para sa mga nangaabuso sa kapwa at sa bayan.
Ang librong Si Amapola Sa 65 Na Kabanata ay nilabas noong 2011, ngunit ang mga pangyayari rito ay patuloy na sumasalamin sa kasalukuyan nating estado. Ganoon pa rin, iba lang ang mga karakter, ang mga nakaupo sa gobyerno, at ang mga taong patuloy na lumalaban para sa katarungan. Isa sa mga pinaka-nagustuhan ko sa librong ito ay ang napakagandang representasyon nito sa totoong uri ng pag-ibig: walang pinipili, walang ibinubukod, maski anong uri. Aswang man o tao. May mga alter man o wala. Ganito ang uri ng pagtanggap ng mga tao sa mga kapwa nila ang tuluyan nating inaasam. Nakakamit nga ba natin ito? Makakamit pa ba natin ito?
Ang librong ito ay isang nakakapanibala-balahibong kwento kung saa'y tampok ang napakarami at napakalawak na problema sa ating lipunan ngayon. Labis nitong pinapalalim ang pagiisip ng mga mambabasa tungkol sa kung sino nga ba sila. At kung sino nga ba ang tunay na nagaalipusta.
Ang librong Si Amapola Sa 65 Na Kabanata ay nilabas noong 2011, ngunit ang mga pangyayari rito ay patuloy na sumasalamin sa kasalukuyan nating estado. Ganoon pa rin, iba lang ang mga karakter, ang mga nakaupo sa gobyerno, at ang mga taong patuloy na lumalaban para sa katarungan. Isa sa mga pinaka-nagustuhan ko sa librong ito ay ang napakagandang representasyon nito sa totoong uri ng pag-ibig: walang pinipili, walang ibinubukod, maski anong uri. Aswang man o tao. May mga alter man o wala. Ganito ang uri ng pagtanggap ng mga tao sa mga kapwa nila ang tuluyan nating inaasam. Nakakamit nga ba natin ito? Makakamit pa ba natin ito?
Ang librong ito ay isang nakakapanibala-balahibong kwento kung saa'y tampok ang napakarami at napakalawak na problema sa ating lipunan ngayon. Labis nitong pinapalalim ang pagiisip ng mga mambabasa tungkol sa kung sino nga ba sila. At kung sino nga ba ang tunay na nagaalipusta.
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