Ang Mundong Ito ay Lupa

by Edgardo M. Reyes

383 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Edgardo M. Reyes is a Filipino male novelist. His literature first appeared in the Tagalog magazine, Liwayway. His novels include Laro sa Baga, and Sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag. He is also the one of the authors of the critically-acclaimed anthology.

Reviews

[K.D. Absolutely · Rating 3 out of 5]

Now, my problem is how to translate the title for the sake of my non-Filipino friends. Ang Mundong Ito ay Lupa literally means "This Earth is Soil" but that is a stupid translation. If I understood the metaphor of Reyes, what he meant by the title was that each of us: men or women, rich or poor, young or old, educated or not, etc., have both of our feet touch the ground where we stand or walk on so we are all equal. We all have not only our own problems and worries but also our own share of happiness and success.

This is my 4th read book by my favorite Tagalog novelist, Edgardo M. Reyes, who died early this year. This book is not as great as his opus Sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag (5 stars) and his erotic work, Laro Sa Baga (4 stars) but a bit better than Mga Uod at Rosas (3 stars).

This is a story of a pretty provincial young lass, Ned who is at her first year in college taking B.S. Pre-Med at the University of Santo Tomas because her parents want her to be a doctor. However, she wants to be a playwright. One time, after seeing a play in Rahaj Sulayman theater in Fort Santiago, she approaches the director, Senor Roberto who is also the editor-in-chief of Kontak at political magazine that is at the brink of bankruptcy. What happens next is Ned's life as a struggling writer and the people she meets along the way. She discovers her talent and herself by observing how people behaves in real world that is full of economic hardships, political intrigues and social and gender discrimination.

The writing is flawless. Reyes' mastery of Tagalog as a medium is just excellent. It is pure Tagalog yet it does not have that taste and feel of being old or provincial. His plot is neither pretentious nor presumptuous. He seems to just want to tell a story and you can feel his sincerity on each page. It's like he wants to entertain you and he knows how to give his best on each page so you'll get your time and money's worth. He does not try hard by inventing a convoluted or complex scenario just to impress or show his talent. It seemed to me while reading that he knew where to bring his reader and make sure that when I closed to book, I would be pleased. This feeling I oftentimes can't find in me while reading most books by contemporary Filipino writers.

"Kung nasa kalahatian man lamang sina Bob Ong at Eros Atalia ng talento ni Sir Edgar Reyes, di ko sya mami-miss..." - K.D.

How I wish he had not died yet. I would have gone to your place because I'd like to have your autograph and have our picture together, Mr. Reyes. Pity me. Why on earth that I only decided to read most of your works now that you are dead?

[W · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Iba ang tagalog ng mga utak-Ingles. Parang sinigang na ang ipinang-asim ay apple cider. Lasang gamot sa mga nasanay sa sukang Paombong."-Reggie(Character sa libro.)

Tila ako dinadala ng agos habang binabasa ang libro. Tuloy-tuloy lang. Wala akong nakitang kapintasan. Ang ganda. Gustong-gusto ko.

Luma na'ng libro at baka hindi ka makasunod sa kuwento dahil sa mga hindi maintindihan na salita? Basahin mo libro, tsong, nang magkaalaman.

Sa pagbabasa, lagi na lang akong nag-aalala para kay Ned. Lagi kong naiisip na baka reypin siya ng mga lalaking nakapalibot sa kanya. Laging ganoon, tuwing lalakad siya na may kasamang lalake, tuwing nasa paligid si Henry, tuwing may tumitingin sa kanya nang kakaiba.

Sana'y mabasa ito ng mga kabataan tulad ko, pati na rin yung iba pang libro ni Sir Edgardo. Kahit minsan lamang sa iyong buhay ay makabasa ka ng libro ni Sir Edgardo M. Reyes.

[Brettny Oñez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maganda ang pagkakasulat. Ibang-iba sa nakasanayan kong istilo. Nakapagbibigay ng bagong pananaw ukol sa mga bagay na hindi natin lubusang nakikita at naiintindihan. Nakakapanibago. :)

Translation:

This book was well-written. It is a whole-lot different from the other books I have read. Also, this book is an eye-opener for me. It made me see and understand things I am not capable of noticing. Just entirely wonderful :)

[Kino · Rating 4 out of 5]

First Filipino novel I have ever read. Incredibly fluid pacing with characters that carry that sort of taint that is found with every being that has encountered the wall of reality and realized there is no way through or around it. Heavy but not too much with characters you can relate with or somehow feel that you know. Journey to the land where everyone's feet touches the ground.

Definitely a great read.

Worth buying, worth the time reading.

[Billy Ibarra · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Ang mundo ay mundo. Sinumang nagpapakabulag sa katotohanan ay isinumpa upang iligaw at pagdusahin ng sariling pagkukunwari." 

Nagsimulang ipakilala ang pangunahing si Zenaida Nazareno (Ned) bilang lumaki sa isang konserbatibong pamilya---babaeng lumaki sa dikta ng lipunan kung paano ba kumilos ang isang babae. Nang magkolehiyo, pinakuha siya ng pre-med sa UST, malayo sa nais niyang pagsusulat ng dula. Dahil mula sa probinsiya, kinailangan niyang mag-dorm, at dito niya mararanasan ang mga hindi niya pa nararanasan. Dito siya magsisimulang mamulat sa kamunduhan  dahil sa pakikisalamuha niya sa mga babaeng liberated, habang nananatili pa rin siyang konserbatibo, sa isip, salita, at gawa. Hanggang sa mahilig siyang manood ng mga libreng play sa CCP, hanggang sa makilala niya ang  si Dick Almeda, ang direktor ng dula ng hinahangaan niyang playwright na si Regidor Yumang (Reggie). Sa panahon ding ito ay kinukulit (nililigawan) na si Ned ni Gilbert Rubio (Bobet). Di magtatagal ay aanyayahan ni Dick si Ned na magsulat sa kanilang magasin na Kontak. Dito niya mararanasang uminterbyu at magsulat tungkol sa mga puta, macho dancer, mga child prostitute, at iyong mga nagbo-bold show. Dito niya makikilala ang mukha ng lipunan na hindi niya pa nakikilala, pati ang isyu ng mga taong nakapaligid sa kaniya.

Medyo nakakainis sa simula ang karakter ni Ned---tipong self-righteous---na akala mo ay siya ang pamantayan ng moralidad. Pero build-up lang ito sa nais iparating ng nobela ni Edgardo M. Reyes. Unti-unti, babaklas si Ned sa idinidikta ng mga kapatid, mag-iisip sa mga nakapaligid sa kaniya, titindig sa kaniyang sariling mga paa, mananatili ang prinsipyo hanggang sa huli. May problema nga lang ako sa dulo: hindi niya pipiliin si Reggie at babalik siya kay Bobet, na minsan na siyang pinagtangkaang galawin noong sabog ito sa chongki. Tipong parang lahat ng nakapaligid sa kaniya ay mga mapagkunwari---si Dick na hindi naging totoo sa kaniya, si Reggie na isa ring hipokrito, ang kaibigan niyang si Fe na nilamon na ng salapi, ang mga big boss sa Kontak na mga sagad-sagaring manggagamit din---'tapos si Bobet ang totoo dahil ipinakita ang tunay na sarili? Anak ng lupa naman, oo. Haha. Sayang ang karakter na na-build-up kung naka-hang na maaari silang magkabalikan ni Bobet! 

Maganda pa rin naman ang nais iparating ng nobela, mabilis ang pacing, at madaling intindihin ang gamit na wika ni Reyes. Ang dami-daming insight sa nobela tungkol sa pagsusulat at sa mga bagay na ayaw isulat. Ipinakita rin ni Ned na bagama't lagi nating kailangan, hindi lang palaging pera ang mahalaga, dahil ano at anuman, lupa rin ang ating kahahantungan. 

[Oten123 · Rating 5 out of 5]

bahog boto

[Panganorin]

Napakaganda.

[RJET · Rating 5 out of 5]

Noong una kong nabasa to nung 3rd year high school ako, alam ko na kaagad na hindi ko malilimutan ang librong ito. Basically it opened my eyes because that time I haven't had the slightest idea of what society can do. I felt my self corrupted. All fairy tales were a big joke. Daring and most compelling of all his works. (for me) :D

[Jester F. · Rating 5 out of 5]

good story of love, pain, and mystery

[April Rose]

its nice

[Benito Calderon · Rating 4 out of 5]

.

[Alyssa · Rating 1 out of 5]

good