Seniors' Ball

by Rene O. Villanueva

Gaano kaimportante sa isang high school student ng kanyang barkada at mga kaibigan? Gaano kahalaga sa isang teenager ang magkaroon ng sariing identity bukod sa pagiging isang anak o isang estudyante? May best friends si Thea at nakapagkasunduan nilang hindi sila dadalo sa seniors' ball. Pero bigla siyang nagbago ng desisyon. Tama ba ang ginawa niya? O iyon ay isang walang-kapatawarang pagtataksil sa mga kaibigan at sa sarili?

95 pages

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Rene O. Villanueva (September 1954–December 2007) was a Filipino Dramatist and Children's Story Writer who made his mark in Philippine Literature in the late 1970s and well into the first decade of the 21st century. He had a remarkable contribution to Filipino culture as shown in his prolific output which generates continuing interest in his plays and books for young people.

Villanueva was born in La Loma, Quezon City and studied in public schools, the Lyceum of the Philippines, and the University of the Philippines. As a young person, he already had the inclination to the arts, telling stories to playmates and winning in national school writing contests. In college, he was active in the theater as a writer and as a performer. Later when he got into the writing workshop circuit, he joined the literary group Galian sa Arte at Tula (GAT) to learn from veteran writers.

In a children's literature workshop, he stood out as a fellow, and critic National Artist Virgilio S. Almario recognized his writerly gifts. His drama auspiciously began in 1978 with "Entreswelo" and "Pag-ibig ni Mariang Makiling" which won an award in the playwriting workshop, Palihang Aurelio Tolentino. Then in 1980, he won his first Palanca Award with the one-act play "Kumbersasyon" and from then on his pen did not falter a beat. He came out with memorable dramatic works like "May Isang Sundalo"(1981), "Sigwa" (1984), "Botong" (1990), "Kalantiaw" (1994), "Dobol" (1994) and "Watawat" (1999).

Villanueva's stories for children garnered prestigious prizes, including Palanca Award-winning works like "Bertdey ni Guido" (1989), "Ang Unang Baboy sa Langit" (1990), "Tungkung Langit at Alunsina"(1990), "Nemo, Ang Batang Papel" (1992), and "Tatlong Ungas" (1999).

For his pioneering contribution to local children's literature, Villanueva was nominated by the Philippine Board on Books for Young People (PBBY) to the 2002 Hans Christian Andersen Award for Children's Writer, the most prestigious international recognition in the field of writing for children. He is the first Filipino writer to have been nominated to the award.

His indomitable spirit as a writer, teacher and cultural worker found him travelling all over the country to share his views on children's welfare, creative writing, curriculum enrichment, and teaching materials development.

Reviews

[PATRICK · Rating 4 out of 5]

Palanca-Hall-of-Famer Rene O. Villanueva presents the voice of a young girl about to graduate and the ups and downs of the anticipation. I could see why Villanueva is acclaimed. Readers, like me and my cousin who only has read one book in her entire life, will find themselves on the last pages wishing there was more.
My only comment would be is the book's use of Tagalog words. Considering its publication date is 2001 and the quick revolution of modern language, some words are just too 'jologs' for me. Hehe.

[Billy Ibarra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kuwento ng mga spoiled brat na feeling superior sila sa iba---ganito lang ang basa ko sa kuwentong ito.

[Erikson Isaga · Rating 3 out of 5]

Para akong sinilid sa isang time capsule at binalik sa panahon ng kuryosidad, kapilyuhan, pagtuklas, at unti-unting pagbabago ng mundong ginagalawan.

Ang masasabi ko lang ay: iba man ang naging karanasan ko noong hayskul kay Thea, hindi ko naman yata nanaisin—at hindi rin kailanman magugustuhan—na umaktong nagmamagaling at mapagmataas sa iba. 'Yon lang. 'Tsaka sana all naka-Volkswagen.

[Joshene Bersales · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four stars, because Thea's narration is so raw and honest, just like how a sixteen-year-old girl's should be.

Can't say I like her character though, as I find her annoying more than half of the time. But I think that's what makes this novel work--I'm torn between hating her (and her little group, and their desperate attempt to be different from everyone else) and liking her for being true to herself, no matter how annoying it could be at times.

I think a lot of teenage girls will be able to relate to Thea as a person. A lot of adult readers will be irritated at her shallowness, until they remember that they've gone through adolescence once upon a time, and chances are, they've been annoying to older people too.

(Isn't it annoying how much I used the word "annoying" in this review? Ah, see? I did it again.)

[Ghee Luna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kung pagbabasehan ang mga personal kong karanasan, may mga bagay na hindi ako maka-relate kay Thea o kanino man sa kanilang magkaka-ibigan. Iba din ang barkada ko nung high school kung ikukumpara sa barkadahan nila. Pero na-enjoy ko pa din ang kwento nila. Totoo sa pagiging isang high school student ang mga pinagdaanan, alinlangan, kilig at iba pang mga emosyon na pinararating ng kwento. Nakaka-miss tuloy ang high school. Iba man ako bilang isang high school student kumpara kay Thea, pero napa-isip ako, ano nga ba akong klaseng estudyante noong high school ako? Ang sarap I-relive ng lahat. Nag-mukang memory lane tuloy ang librong ito para sakin.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

It is an okay attempt to capture the common problems of Filipino high school students in a novella. Sadly, I found it quite shallow. Thea and her group made a big deal out small things and for me and their "We're a lot better than all you people here" attitude is very, very annoying.

[Gigi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good plot and characters pero parang uneven yung language. Minsan malalim na Filipino, minsan naman too much English. Parang hindi teenager ang nagsasalita. Feeling ko rin mas ok to kung gagawing mga bading yung bida instead of girls.

[Andre Josell]

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