The Filipino Group discussion

Opening this thread for our May 2013 discussion: Smaller and Smaller Circles by F.H. Batacan. Our moderator is Charles Tan, aka Flipreads.

Smaller and Smaller Circles is a Philippine detective novel. It's a short novel, so it shouldn't be a hard read. As a fan of crime procedural shows (hello, CSI), I really enjoyed this novel when I read it in college.

Copies are sort of scarce, so to those who have copies, please share! :D I think there are copies available in NBS Shang? If you spot one, please post here!

I'll stop here and let Charles post about the reading plan + discussion questions.

do we have Ecopies of this book? 1st time ako mga babasa ng Filipino book...

Tina: I got my copy at NBS Greenbelt 1 last Friday. I think there were other copies left pa naman.

Monique made some inquiry last week. According to NBS, they have plenty of copies at their Southmall and Megamall branches.

I bought my copy just last week at Powerbooks Greenbelt 3. I think they still have substantial number of copies. :)

If you are near the UP Diliman area, they still have a lot of copies sa UP Press :)

Questian, I hate to say this but please support Filipino authors by buying their books. I think, this is priced at P150 lang naman. Pretty cheap compared to other books. :D

Hehe. Actually yun yung reason kung bakit ko sya nabili, 150 lang naman kasi, di na masama. Tapos detective type yung story, eh fan ako ni Conan(hindi yung barbarian), so kering-keri di sasakit ang bulsa ko, masaya pa ako. Masarap din yung amoy ng papel nya, kaya Questian, go na, bili na.

Biena, baka naman sanay lang sa Ebooks si Questian.

Anyway, I think reading the book is support enough for the author.

No online discussion? (I am really just leaving a comment so that I would be alerted of any new posts from this thread, hahaha.)

barrow n lng siguro aq sa inyo guys, mahirap kc mag tambay ng good book sa house coz my family, tends to tapon book pag hnd n gingamit. And na gagalit ang mama ko pag na kikita nila aqng nga babasa ng book n hnd textbook.

i like reading books in any form nmn, yung lng the reason why i switched to ebooks kc, hnd xa ma itatapon ng mama ko, or hnd makikita in physical form. so ayun, dont take it negatively na always look for ebooks, if my mom wasnt the kind to throw away books, i'd have brought alot of them already...

nag papaliwang lng po...sorry if i step on some of your toes...

kawawa ang libro sa bahay, i need to tago it para lng hnd sila mapuna...

Hello there! I inquired sa NBS--SM F'view and they still have 7 copies.

Sayang questian, naipahiram ko a yung copy ko.

Paano nga ba reading plan nito?

its okay sir ranee, i'l try to produce a copy nlng...hehehehe...

Nya, sir ranee? Teh, certified girlaloo po aketch. Hi ke Nijel!

te po tulog na...ang labo po kc ng pic mo...

I finally got my hands on this book! Excited to read this! :)

Hi peeps! Musta pagbabasa ninyo neto?

Just a question? Do you think a Pinoy serial killer may exist? I understand a Pinoy that kills out of rage after a pikon moment in a drinking spree turned sour in the kanto, or hired killers especially at times like this, election. Pero a psycho killer?

I think there is such people in our country, but, not as well known like in America...i mean the most dreadful killings only happens before, during and after the elections-which we guys will be doing on Monday- but i do believe that there is such a person among us, that is capable of doing such things...

hmmmm.....makagawa ng fiction story about it......

The idea of a serial killing was romanticized many times, but there was no incident recorded. Study says it's not in the Filipino nature. We have to take account how we Filipinos have a different outlook in life, we can even afford a smile in the most difficult/trying times. Besides, Philippines still tops the Christian countries in Asia list.

But we are also changing; new generations are setting different priorities; and most things that motivates and disappoints people now are so far from what they were before. So, we might encounter such in the near future.

What's possible in our country is serial rape. There are hundreds of rape and sexual assaults that remain unrecorded though.

Going back to the book, (view spoiler)[the serial killing was well thought. The profiling was absolutely possible, given the setting and all. But a criminalist clergyman? Well, there's always a first. (hide spoiler)]

This is the premise of the book, a serial killer. And take note of the setting, Payatas. Ever thought of that, when you started reading the book? Why kill in Payatas?

I haven’t read the book so, i just have to go on instinct...

Since Payatas, is a dumping ground for "basura", maybe the killer thought of his victim in that state. Hence he kills him in the same dumping ground, amidst the mountain of garbage. It's not about hiding the smell; it's more like demoralizing the victim...

Ranee wrote: "This is the premise of the book, a serial killer. And take note of the setting, Payatas. Ever thought of that, when you started reading the book? Why kill in Payatas?"

Hi Doc! Finished reading this last night. Four stars. :)

Anyway, to answer your question. I did consider the setting, but I knew there was a reason for it. I can't remember now if the blurb indicates that the premise of the book is on serial killing, but I didn't raise too many questions while I was reading. I was intent first on finishing it, because I knew that the questions will come up when I close the book. :)

Now I have a question to put to you guys, but only for those who are done reading the book.

(view spoiler)[The reason for the killings (view spoiler)[childhood trauma from the repeated rapes (hide spoiler)], the manner by which the killer carried them out (view spoiler)[(peeling off the skin on the face, mutilating the genitals and taking out the heart) (hide spoiler)], the place where the killings were done and the bodies were dumped (view spoiler)[Payatas, where the killer attended high school and where his own trauma began (hide spoiler)] and the age bracket of the victims (view spoiler)[12-14ish, nearly the same age as the killer and his peers when the rapes occurred (hide spoiler)] were established and explained in the book. However, one thing didn't add up: the priests discovered that the mutilated body parts of the victims were stored in the killer's huge freezer in his apartment. What do you think is the reason for still keeping these body parts instead of just discarding them altogether (view spoiler)[because personally, I didn't see any rationale for it, given the criminal mind of the killer (hide spoiler)]?

Yun lang. :) (hide spoiler)]

Monique:

(view spoiler)[Trophies? Serial killers are notorious for keeping parts of their victims. It serves as a souvenir of that time they killed a victim. (hide spoiler)]

Aaron: (view spoiler)[Hmm. Pwede. Naalala ko si Thistledown. Haha. (hide spoiler)]

Monique: (view spoiler)[Oo nga! And si Dexter. He keeps a drop of blood of all his victims on slides. It's a stupid thing to do. It will just incriminate them more if they get caught. (hide spoiler)]

Aaron: (view spoiler)[Dexter! I miss watching Dexter. Creepy crazy dude. Haha! (hide spoiler)]

Hello classmates!
These are my answers to the questions

1. Ranee: This is the premise of the book, a serial killer. And take note of the setting, Payatas. Ever thought of that, when you started reading the book? Why kill in Payatas?(view spoiler)[

Firstly, I do agree with Monique, it's where it all started, the place he was violated. It seems appropriate to start there, but it does not mean he should stop there. Psychopaths and Sociopaths evolve.

Secondly, Payatas is a place that authorities will not look twice given the choice. In society, desolate places as such is not very significant. People living below poverty line usually were left with their own devices, they are expected to make amends with what's thrown at them. So, when there was a missing child report, there were no police officers scrambling to find the child, di ba? (hide spoiler)]

2. Monique: (view spoiler)[What do you think is the reason for still keeping these body parts instead of just discarding them altogether [because personally, I didn't see any rationale for it, given the criminal mind of the killer?

There are certain things to take note of before concluding cases as serial killing, such as: 1. there is a certain method of killing, a signature; 2. there is a pattern or frequency; 3. preferences -like gender, age, hair color, etc; 4. they take trophies.

For me, the peeling of the face and cutting of the genitals seemed logical for the serial killer, but the cutting out of the heart seems exaggerated. (hide spoiler)]

There are these psycho killers and those that do them in serials. Classic ones include Hannibal and the real life serial killer, Ted Bundy.

If I remember my psychology, one theory points to the id, ego, superego model. They happen to have a poor superego, hence they fail to transcend and actualize. Question, how are you today?
Hehe.
Seriously, since we have started dissecting the killer, let us implore further.
Q1. At the start of the book, when the "work" of the killer was described in full details, how empathic were you?

Caution:Open tags if you have finished the book
Q2. (view spoiler)[ as the story developed, we learn that this killer was also a victim. Did your empathy over his victims changed? How so? Or if not, why so? (Kelangan lang magrhyme). (hide spoiler)]

Q3. (view spoiler)[ in the spirit of pointing fingers, who should we blame for the actions of the killer? The parents, the rapist teacher, himself, or (let us tread on a greater aspect) the society? It may be the macrosociety, in general or the microsociety that we picture Payatas. (hide spoiler)]

Q4. (view spoiler)[ the killer is a dentist, is there any symbolic thing about his profession hence the author chose this or you think it is just a coincidence and I am overanalyzing this? Would you think it is perfect cover? Why or why not? And for fun, would you think your profession could be a perfect cover for a psychokiller? Why? (hide spoiler)]

Monique (view spoiler)[ yup, trophies, they are attached to their victims in that way (hide spoiler)]

Louize (view spoiler)[ the things he removed symbolizes his past hence the removal of the heart for me is not exaggerated. It sort of explained that this killings is his way to wash off his guilt, removal of the face meant he was ashamed to face the people around him with his real self, or as we say, wala na akong mukhang ihaharap sa inyo, hence he had this mask/default personality on; the removal of the genitals was that he was ashamed of his own sexual desires, of his sex part. ergo, madumi na syang tao, madumi na ang ari nya; And the heart, kasi mabigat sa puso ang nangyari or something to that effect. Also, if I were the killer, and I have to pick between the heart or the brain, I'd also choose the heart, why? It is easier to gouge out the heart than crack open the skull to get the brain. (hide spoiler)]

Hello classmates!

Ranee (view spoiler)[ I do get that the removal of the face symbolizes shame, and removal of the genitals symbolizes sexual degradation; but removal of the heart symbolizes rituals or ceremonial prescription as per history and study. I think the gouging of the heart was done to throw the investigation off, so that the police will consider a different angle. I believe Chapters 24-26 made those clearer. The heart and the genitals are not as important as the face.

Throughout the narration, the killer focused more on the removal of the face, meaning he doesn't want to be recognized, he doesn't want to be seen for who he is; thus, the acquisition of a reliable/competent tool to do it. (hide spoiler)]

Q1: For me the empathy was instant.

Q2: (view spoiler)[ I did develop an empathy for the killer too, but it did not change any bit of what I felt for the victims. I doesn't change the accountability. (hide spoiler)]

Q3: (view spoiler)[ The parents. What sort of parents would look away from something as horrible as that? If something like that happened to my own child, I will not only go ballistic, I'll be radioactive! Parents should want the best for their children, which means parents should be the strength and voice of their kids when the circumstance requires it. Instead, what did Alex's parents did? *emotions leaking out here* (hide spoiler)]

Q4: (view spoiler)[ Symbolic? No, not really. But any profession is possible, even mine, as long as the killer can establish trust in the community of perpetuation or maintain good cover by being normal. But really, the explicit removal of the face instantly points to a medical practitioner, right? (hide spoiler)]

Uhmn. Let me share my thoughts, too. :)


Q2.(view spoiler)[It's not that my empathy over his victims totally changed, but it did give room for understanding towards the killer. It didn't change much of my reaction because the victims are innocent to whatever he went through. My thoughts MIGHT have changed if those victims are the ones who ill treated him but it's not the situation. (hide spoiler)]



Q3.(view spoiler)[Not that I think there's sole person whom I can point fingers to on what caused the actions of the killer, but I think I can factor in the "contribution", or the lack of it, of his parents, and of course, I blame the killer himself. Yes, one may say that the rapist teacher started it all, but his parents could have done something with it. They are the ones who should have helped him recover from that murky past, but they did not do anything. They could no longer prevent whatever happened to the child, but they could have prevented those succeeding acts of molestation - he will remains to be a rape victim, but they could have stopped him to be a serial killer. (hide spoiler)]


Q4. (view spoiler)[
I don't think it symbolizes anything, and I think the author chose that to establish character and connection. (view spoiler)[ I overanalyzed this: The author needs to establish a serial killing that's "professionally" and "skillfully" done, so it must be a character with knowledge in medical instruments or has access to it. It cannot be a doctor, because the doctor is a female, and if she happened to be a male doctor he would be a prime suspect, so wala nang thrill. The killer has to be someone na di mo agad pagsususpetsahan ang existence sa kwento, kaya yung character ng killer inintroduce lang vey subtly, na dentist sya, blah. blah. blah. Ah basta. Ganun. Ayan, underanalyzed na. :) (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

I finally found the book yesterday and it was short enough to finish on a study break, so yay, I can finally participate! (There are a lot of copies pa in NBS Shang, people :D)

Doc Ranee's first question, on the setting: (view spoiler)[Like what Mommy Louize said, nobody would think twice about following up the Payatas cases. The book said something about the police being quick about it if the victims were wealthy and/or influential, and I agree. It's just the way it works here. I just am really disturbed that nobody even cares enough to just take a look. Also, yeah, it makes much more sense for a serial killer to do the killings where it all began. It's like he's trying to erase his past somehow by adding in something more gruesome and extreme. (hide spoiler)]

Atty Monique's: (view spoiler)[Echoing everyone else: yup, trophies! Serial killers glorify each murder act, and they like keeping souvenirs. Parang hobby nila. Ew. (hide spoiler)]

Latest questions!

Q1 Very empathic. I was drifting to sleep when I started reading it, but I tried not to because it might reflect in my dreams (I dreamed about something entirely different, thank goodness)

Q2 (view spoiler)[I felt sorry for the killer, because the things that happened to him drove him to do what he did, but it frankly doesn't change anything. What he did was still unforgivable. (hide spoiler)]

Q3 (view spoiler)[I concede that a lot of people could be blamed on it: Mr. Gorospe, for doing it in the first place; the parents, for turning a blind eye and choosing the easy path; etc etc but in the end, I think the only person to be blamed for the killer's actions is the killer himself. He had a choice, and he chose to do the evil thing. I guess this could be contested if he has a mental illness of some sort, but as long as he could decide for himself what he could and would do, I hold him accountable for everything. Despite his past, he had no right. (hide spoiler)]

Q4 (view spoiler)[I guess it adds to the scare factor? A lot of people are scared of dentists and never got over it from childhood, like Fr. Saenz. Also, in pop culture there are loads of creepy references to dentists. They have all these freaky little instruments displayed as you sit on their chair, and a dentist's patient can see what they pick up and put into their mouths. I remember this movie, Little Shop of Horrors, and there was also a sadistic dentist played by Steve Martin.

Oh and look, he has a song!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=On3mrK...

And I also remember this Supernatural episode where, because of some supernatural thing (doy) a guy confesses to his dentist that he slept with the dentist's daughter. What the dentist did after was drill into his mouth, and he doesn't stop! I think you can guess what happens from that.

Oh, and there was this news article last year about this dentist's drill falling down a patient's throat.

All right, now I'm just creeping myself out. But yeah, there are so many creepy things a dentist can do! They can be anywhere, plus it's easier for a dentist to gain rapport with kids and other people in the community, like what Mommy Louize said. Eurgh *shudders* (hide spoiler)]

Hi! Here's what I think...

Q1. Empathic, very much. But a part of me is also figuring out the technique, sorry can't help it, the guy knows his way with knives. Hehehe

Q2. (view spoiler)[ not really empathic about the killer but it made me understand him more. He has a greater depth now as a character, it gave him more layers, he became more human than a monster. If he were real, he would be a perfect example why victims of molestation should receive therapy. He did not know how to cope. Actually, there had been studies where there's a number of pedophiles who were actually victims themselves when they were young, it's sad but it is a cycle (hide spoiler)]

Q3. (view spoiler)[. As to who should we point our fingers at, it would be the parents really, I agree. When the child needed them most, they were silent, it's the worst thing a child in his age, puberty (hormone, sexual development, peer pressure) grabe, he had nothing to cling on to. and to make matters more complicated, they covered their mistake by creating another one by not cooperating with the police, eh di sana he could be treated properly rather than dead.
The society in general has a social stigma regarding cases of child molestation. yun nga lang rape victims, it takes courage for them to come out and say she/he is a rape victim because the general thinking on this matter is mixed, pagchi-chismisan ka talaga. And I do not know if Batacan was trying to put this fact as something to add social relevance to this novel. Teaches us on social awareness regarding sensitive issues like this. So if you look into it deeper, yung presentation nya sa character is not your usual pa-victim, maawa ka, iyakan mo etc. yng victim, akala mo grew up ok, college grad, dentist yun pala, was actually damaged inside (hide spoiler)]

Q4. (view spoiler)[ symbolic kasi feeling ko, this whole time, he was trying to wipe off the dirt of the past. Gusto nya, malinis sya, gusto nya yung smile, perfect. Kaya lang, when he was treating the teeth of these kids, he sees his past in them. So to be clean, he has to remove things that reminds him of this past he kept repressing inside by killing these kids. This of course is overanalyzing him, pwede naman kasi if you were the author and that you were writing a suspense novel like this, a doctor would be very obvious, walang thrill.
My profession as a cover for a serial killer... Like I've written, obvious suspect pwera na lang if the mode of killing is different. For instance, mag inject ako ng virus or toxin etc. (hide spoiler)]

Hey classmates! (As Louize puts it)

Question ulet, (view spoiler)[ Do you think Jesuit priests as forensic anthropologists/ investigators work for the charisma of this book? Believable ba sya? Do you find it flawed or too fictional? Plus, they sometimes speak in French, nakadagdag ba sa aliw yun or generally turn off sya kasi why would they speak in French?
Curious lang ako, kasi when Ms Ronnie and I were discussing the book, she told me wala naman daw ganung Jesuit priests kung makapagsalita. Eh ala akong kilalang paring Jesuit, so nakadagdag sa aliw factor sa akin.

Or, Let's say NBI detectives ang primary investigators, magiging appealing ba ang novel? (hide spoiler)]

Question pa- The book is just about 155 pages. Short read lang talaga, pero which scene/ chapter was the most unforgettable? Yung tipong when someone mentions Smaller and smaller circles, this is the scene that first enters your mind?

(view spoiler)[ my favorite scene was the last part, when the two priests said their prayer in front of the killer's tombstone. It was the part that I realize that at the end of it all, there was no hatred. Here lies this sinner who has done such cruel things and they still prayed for him. It taught me to be merciful (at least be more merciful) and that there is really no pure evil than that which dwells in our hearts when we fail to forgive and lose our mercy. (hide spoiler)]


And for the ultimate question... Bakit smaller and smaller circles ang title?

i want to join but no book... asar nmn o.... hay....

Will answer all the other questions later but for now, will try answering Doc Ranee's question regarding the title.

As far as I remember, the killer himself mentioned the phrase "smaller and smaller circles" when he realized that the priests were very close to discovering his identity. Literally, he knew that he and his pursuers were moving inside smaller and smaller circles... That they will soon catch him.

My answers:

(view spoiler)[
1. Do you think Jesuit priests as forensic anthropologists/ investigators work for the charisma of this book? Believable ba sya? Do you find it flawed or too fictional? Plus, they sometimes speak in French, nakadagdag ba sa aliw yun or generally turn off sya kasi why would they speak in French?

I am no authority on religion, or priests specifically, according to history said the Jesuits or the Society of Jesus were formed by people with military background. These are priest whose ministries focuses on missionary work, human rights, social justice and, most notably, higher education. A good example of which is Ateneo de Manila. If these people are in pursuit of greater knowledge, so hindi malayong they took up such studies, including French language siguro.

For me, the use of French language in this book was a bit off. It did not conform to the general public as target readers. Parang nagkaroon bigla ng chic effect. Pwedeng feeling ko lang din ‘yun.

2. Or, Let's say NBI detectives ang primary investigators, magiging appealing ba ang novel?

Okay lang din kung NBI investigator, but the idea that the 2 priests were much competent than the NBI investigators in this novel is much appealing for me.

3. The book is just about 155 pages. Short read lang talaga, pero which scene/ chapter was the most unforgettable? Yung tipong when someone mentions Smaller and smaller circles, this is the scene that first enters your mind?

For me, it would be the scene on Chapter 29. Because I agree with Monique’s answer above, this is where I felt that the circle is really growing smaller for Alex. The feeling of being caged was stronger here.

4. Bakit smaller and smaller circles ang title?

I echo Monique’s answer.
(hide spoiler)]

*poofs in*

(view spoiler)[
1. I wouldn't find it hard to believe that there would be Jesuits who know how to converse in French but I disliked it when they really spoke in French in the book. I like French and all but I couldn't understand it and I can't honestly be bothered to look up what it all means while I was reading it. It sort of made me feel out of place. And I still have no idea what they were talking about :))

I guess if NBI investigators were the leads, it wouldn't be as novel and intriguing as two priests. You don't hear stories of priests investigating crimes that often while NBI investigators are sorta old hat.

I'll get back to y'all on the unforgettable scene. Can't think of any at the moment :D
(hide spoiler)]

*poofs out*

Hey Questian, there tons of copies of Smaller and smaller in NBS Shangrila. Since it's near your area, you might want to grab a copy. also, the F2F is in Shang, so it is near you... Join in!

Jamie wrote: "Guess which kid was on the cover."

Who?
Sirit na

Hi classmates, I'm joining the fun!

(view spoiler)[

Q: Musta pagbabasa ninyo neto?
(view spoiler)[
-Heto, okay naman, natapos ko siya within 24 hours. In fairness!
(hide spoiler)]
Q: Do you think a Pinoy serial killer may exist?
(view spoiler)[
-Not impossible, but I think it's very unlikely. Kasi I think mas kaunti ang mga factors that contribute to the development of psycho/sociopaths. Like sa school, I firmly believe na mas mabait ang mga Filipino kids/students and mas kaunti ang bullies, so less bullying = less chance of trauma = less chance of developing serial killer characteristics.

If ever na may Pinoy serial killer in the making, mahihirapan siya because napakadense na ng populasyon sa Pilipinas, so mahirap maghanap ng lugar para maexecute ang pagpatay sa mga victims. Kasi kung sa random places lang at balahurang pananaksak lang eh random and frequent killing na siya as opposed to serial killing.

Kung sa probinsya naman, pwede rin naman siguro, kaso kasi baka wala siyang supply ng murdering instruments, pahirapan pang mag-order, hehe.
(hide spoiler)]
Q. This is the premise of the book, a serial killer. And take note of the setting, Payatas. Ever thought of that, when you started reading the book? Why kill in Payatas?
(view spoiler)[
-Why Payatas? Why not? Seriously, I think it's a perfect place. Madaling ibalabag ang remains of the kids dun without being noticed. And it makes perfect sense din when you get to know the history of the serial killer.
(hide spoiler)]
Q. What do you think is the reason for still keeping these body parts instead of just discarding them altogether?
(view spoiler)[
-Because he can! JK. Maybe a keepsake? Since full of effort ang technique niya for killing and since may pattern, he might as well keep something? OT: Nakakaloka ang reaction ng photographer sa part na ito. Like really? NBI photographer ka? This made me think na hindi yung organs yung nakalagay sa fridge, but the faces. So kung faces yung nasa fridge, I think he is keeping them so that he will be reminded that yes, there are people (the peeled faces) about him but they are not watching him (because they don't have eyes). He hates being watched, right? So hayun.
(hide spoiler)]
Q. At the start of the book, when the "work" of the killer was described in full details, how empathic were you?
(view spoiler)[
-Not really empathic, but I was more curious. I mean, I had to watch out if the details make sense. Are the explanations medically valid? I couldn't say because I have no head for it, and I have no head for mystery novels if you really want to know.
(hide spoiler)]
Q. As the story developed, we learn that this killer was also a victim. Did your empathy over his victims change? How so? Or if not, why so?
(view spoiler)[
-A bit, mostly because I found the situation implausible. Like really? None of those boys said anything? Okay, it was explained that this was during the time when people were wont to shut up (it's the Marcos era). For sure, there might have been other students before and after the serial killer, and none of them had a radical streak? There must have been at least one squeaky kid!
(hide spoiler)]
Q. In the spirit of pointing fingers, who should we blame for the actions of the killer? The parents, the rapist teacher, himself, or (let us tread on a greater aspect) the society?
(view spoiler)[
-The killer himself is accountable for his actions, but why he became like that is a combination of psychological and social factors. Surely, he wasn't born to kill? He was even a very good kid until the PE teacher.
(hide spoiler)]
Q. The killer is a dentist, is there any symbolic thing about his profession hence the author chose this or you think it is just a coincidence and I am overanalyzing this? Would you think it is perfect cover? Why or why not? And for fun, would you think your profession could be a perfect cover for a psychokiller? Why?
(view spoiler)[
-The only thing that I find symbolic about dentists is that they pull out rotten things with a quiet aggression. However, the serial killer's victims are not rotten people, so there's nothing symbolic in it. The author chose this profession so that she can have a logical explanation for the serial killer's knowledge on jaw bones and for his medical equipment.
(hide spoiler)]
Q. Do you think Jesuit priests as forensic anthropologists/investigators work for the charisma of this book? Believable ba sya? Do you find it flawed or too fictional? Plus, they sometimes speak in French, nakadagdag ba sa aliw yun or generally turn off sya kasi why would they speak in French? Or, Let's say NBI detectives ang primary investigators, magiging appealing ba ang novel?
(view spoiler)[
-Major flaw. The priest thing didn't even come into play. They could have been anyone so long as they are forensic anthropologists, and the novel wouldn't have changed a bit.

And this language thing? Like really? A reporter as busy as Joanna Bonifacio has all the time in the world to master English, Tagalog, Japanese, German, French, and Italian? B.S.
(hide spoiler)]
Q. The book is just about 155 pages. Short read lang talaga, pero which scene/chapter was the most unforgettable? Yung tipong when someone mentions Smaller and smaller circles, this is the scene that first enters your mind?
(view spoiler)[
-Yung first chapter, yung nagsuka-suka si Emil nang makita niya yung biktima, tapos kumaripas ng takbo ang mga bata sa takot. Pero kapag nababanggit yung title, naaalala ko yung part kung saan naglilitanya si serial killer kung saan binanggit niya yung title.
(hide spoiler)]
(hide spoiler)]

Nice answers Angus!

I agree with you Blue, never even bothered trying to google translate the French words, so if they were important, kebs!

Baka naman may serial killer na Pinoy talaga, we just lack the people who are there to look for patterns. Kumusta naman kasi ang database natin, most precincts typewritten pa rin ang reports, talo na tayo sa crossmatching of evidences pa lang. Scary, but think, as a society, last thing that we'll think of is a serial killer amongst us. If the usual personality of a psychokiller is antisocial, eh sa atin, branded lang yun na emo, oh di ba? Then again, how well do we know our neighbors? Praning lang, hahaha

Ok we're on the last stretch! Hope to see you this Sunday!

Q1 (view spoiler)[ Angus have mentioned the reporter, you think her character was significant/insignificant? Why or why not?
Personally, I didn't know why she was there, she was given all these credentials etc, and yes she sort of found a clue in one of her footage but still, the way she was presented was an overkill. Maybe I was expecting more from her (hide spoiler)]

Q2 (view spoiler)[ the book is short but somehow Batacan managed to give a sidestory for the 2 priests' relationship outside the crime scene investigation, teacher-student, yung family dinners etc. Was it necessary? Or you felt it was kulang?
I enjoyed it parang bromance lang. You could see that it was not only their sanity but their strong spirituality that keeps them intact as a person. After those autopsies, seeing the crime scenes, they still get to enjoy family dinners together and converse. And yes, it felt not really kulang, not in the sense it was lacking but I wanted more stories regarding them. (hide spoiler)]

Q3. Do you think this can be made into a movie?

Pahiram nlng ako ng book guys, if ok lng sa inyo...


sorry!!

Also, we did have notable movies that tackled serial killers in the Philippine setting. i liked Radyo, starred by Ruffa Mae Quinto and Epi Quizon, it's an indiefilm. Epi is a serial killer who calls Ruffa Mae, a dj regarding his lovelife. He literally gets rid of the girls na binasted sya. There's Keka, starring Katya Santos but this was more of a revenge plot than a serial killing type. Pashare. If you know any good movies with this plot.

English films, medyo marami na. Of course there's silence of the lambs, Se7en, the bone collector. This one isnot thatfamous but is really good, when the bough breaks

Love your answers, Angus! :)

Sorry, Doc Ranee, hindi ko napanood 'yang Pinoy movies na 'yan e. Pero, yes, I think this can be turn into a movie, provided it's done by a good director.

I just finished the book! the best ang answers mo Angus haha sobrang natawa ako sa sinabi mo:
Nakakaloka ang reaction ng photographer sa part na ito. Like really? NBI photographer ka?

There are some things that I don't understand near the ending:
(view spoiler)[
1) Why did the jesuit priest need to go to Cebu and interview the parents of the suspect PRIOR to the arrest or questioning of the suspect himself? I think it was a stupid move, it just tipped the suspect off and allowed him to escape. I think there was enough circumstantial evidence to invite the dentist/serial killer for questioning. Once the suspect is detained, then they can search his place for clues and interview the parents to know more about his past and motivations. But instead the serial killer escaped and managed to kill another child.
2) Another stupid move, why did Fr. Saenz need to go into the mobile clinic alone? Ano yun, pa-hero effect?The serial killer was not holding anyone hostage. They could have easily tear-gassed the inside of the clinic to flush out the suspect and tranquilize him without killing him. Since he was supposed to be the 'first' filipino serial killer, he was more valuable alive than dead, aside of course, from the need for him to answer for his crimes. The older Jesuit's heroics was really unnecessary.
(hide spoiler)]

I'm tempted to ask if this is going to be made into a film, sinong mga local na artista ang bagay na gumanap sa mga major characters, or para mas masaya, sino sa mga TFG ang bagay sa mga karakter :) haha

I suppose I should answer, so I will. After I do some morning work.

On another note -- did anyone else have a desire to watch a CSI episode after reading this? This book revived my little dream of working in forensics...if only I wasn't too queasy. Haha.

Also, I hear the author is writing a prequel. Not sure what's it about, but maybe it's how the priests got to know each other, or how they started doing what they're doing.