cited

Pinoy pop literature: Romancing in Tagalog
Pam Brooke A. Casin

In this day and age where J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter is the current poster icon of "elite" literature, where bookstores like Fully Booked have taken the country by storm, and where blogging has paved way to the rise of the new media and perhaps, literature, it is quite surprising to learn that even with all these advances, the cultural phenomenon that is Tagalog romance is still breathing in the country, leaping with the transition of time, swinging its way to patronizing readers, and carrying in it the traditions of Filipino culture.

Although considered by many as bakya and baduy, local romance novels have sustained their power over many years and have created a niche in the halls of Philippine culture alongside with the komiks (comics) of the past decades.

Liwayway Magazine, which had its maiden issue in 1923, is one of the predecessors of the Tagalog romance novel. Established by the late Don Ramon Roces, the oldest existing Tagalog magazine has been catering its pieces to the masses and showcasing ordinary human relations that people could easily identify with.

The emergence of the Tagalog serial novels in Liwayway Magazine and in some others set the stage for other fiction sub-genres, including the local romance novels of today which retails at an average of P30-40. Widely read all over the country, these 100- to 125-page pocketbooks with sensual and intimate graphic covers are patronized by people from all walks of life.

Perhaps, Precious Pages Corporation (PPC) is one of the more recognized publishers of these novels which started its business in 1992 at a time where many businesses have closed down due to an energy crisis in the country. Not feeling undermined by the energy crisis and the probable failure of their business attempt, Segundo Matias Jr. and Richard Reynante, two men from advertising, film, and television, gathered all their resources and came up with the book imprint Precious Hearts Romances (PHR). It was timely because "romance pocketbooks were gaining popularity among Filipino romantics, especially women."

Within five years since its birth, the company was able to pool a stable roster of romance writers, acquire printing machines, employ a core staff of mostly production workers, and rent a place for both its business office and printing office. Thereafter, book releases reached up to 25 titles per month, and PHR became the household name in the local romance scene.

Shortly after, PPC decided to organize summer writing workshops for aspiring romance novelists. With these workshops, the company was able to sift through potential writers and eventually adopt them to the growing pool of writers they had.

Love affair

Jernalie Dumapay, a journalism graduate, started falling in love with romance novels back in high school and had her first romance novel published at age 19 after she attended one of PHR's annual summer writing workshops. "It was never my plan to become a Tagalog romance writer," she explains. "I wanted to be a hard-hitting journalist, actually. But then I attended a PHR workshop and opted to try my luck with a manuscript. Before I knew it, I had myself published, and the rest is history." Now, she is considered as one of the most prolific writers of Precious Hearts.

It was almost in the same manner too that Almira Jose found herself writing for Precious Hearts. The psychology graduate got hooked with the foreign romance novel Sweet Dreams at age 10. She also devoured Harlequin and Mills and Boons during her high school and college days and swore by Tagalog romance pocketbooks. Upon entering the corporate world, Jose got busy with office work that she excused herself from her hobby of reading romance.

But the monotony of the corporate world got into her system, and she eventually lost appetite in working and began complaining of being confined in the formulaic, corporate box altogether, frequently absenting herself from office and coming in late if and when she decided to give her conventional work another chance. Soon, Jose quit her job and passed two manuscripts to Precious Hearts. She was rejected at her first two attempts. Unnerved by rejections, Jose had her first romance novel published in 2003 under Precious Hearts.

The withstanding love affair of writers and readers alike with these novels may just lie in its ability to recreate romance and folly all in the context of an expected happy ending.

Keeping it real

Writers say the parochial approach of the genre has something to do with the plot of any typical romance. Many agree that reading these novels has the same effects as when one watches a movie--it instantly gratifies and warms the heart. In an interview with web writer Amadis Ma. Guerrero, Tess Parayno claims she writes romance novels patterned to the guidelines of her publishing company.

"The narrative must be fast-paced, truthful, and all the more realistic," tells Parayno. She explains that romance novels must not border on the whimsical so that readers can relate to the storyline and may find themselves in place of the
characters themselves. It is as good as saying that the characters and the plot must be believable and credible enough so that the novel subsumes the readers.

And since the main purpose of romance novels is to entertain audiences, sensitive issues like terrorism, politics, or religion should not be discussed in the local novel along with long narratives. Likewise, Parayno believes that every Tagalog romance novel should have in itself a "redeeming factor" which comes into play at the end of every story. "For instance, if the protagonist is a villain, he should reform by the end of the novel," says Parayno.

Some novelists, on the other hand, feel the need to inform their audiences and not just resort to plain entertainment. While the main purpose of local novels is to entertain, writers should make it a point to research well, lest they want to insult readers. A novel should not intimidate readers but educate and entertain them.

An air of mystery

One difference of Tagalog romance from Western romance novels is its use of highly romanticized language unlike the graphic and explicit tools Western writers use. In the country, most novels have to pass a certain standard of morality. Writers follow ethical guidelines set by their publishing company.

The use of pseudonyms is apparent in almost all romance novels. Almost all romance fictionists make this seem the rule of thumb rather an anomaly.

Dumapay reasons, "Para kapag hindi bumenta ang mga gawa ng writer sa isang pen name o kapag hindi bumenta ang pen name, pwedeng magbagong-buhay ang isang writer gamit ang panibagong pen name at magsulat ulit."

Flawed

However, these novels written in conversational and informal Tagalog and Taglish have always been mocked. Part of the reason for this is probably the use of the local language as the primary mode of communication in the genre. It is with this usage that most elite Filipinos and critics alike mock the genre--regarding the local novel as trash and embracing all the more literature written in English.

The apparent competition among Filipino writers and foreign ones adds up to the problem of the Filipino language deemed by many as an illegitimate medium of literature in the country.

Ultimately, there are many flaws that critics and careful and choosy readers see and notice about the genre itself. The eminent predictability of the Tagalog romance novel plot dissuades critical readers from accepting wholly the genre. Its stereotypical portrayal of the damsel-in-distress lead and the overtones of the male leads are also much to blame. Also, the typographical and grammatical errors found in some poorly edited romance novel accord to the lack of seriousness granted to the genre.

Here to stay

One of the literati observes "there is no specific novel that stands out like a banned book the masses can call their own. When it comes to works written in Filipino, we could really use a poster boy, the equivalent of Harry Potter, that will sweep the masses off their feet and yet be similarly embraced by the literati."

Not perfect as they are, more often than not predictable, fairly conventional and all the more cheesy and tacky, the Tagalog romance novels have survived more than the average Filipino comics and are here to stay. Their staying power is sure a mystery to some, but for as long as the readers demand their dose of romance from publishing companies and writers as well, people can be very sure that in one way or the other, a romance novel either from their local convenience store or from some sidewalk in Divisoria and Recto will undoubtedly ooze its way in--bringing Filipino culture and tradition within their reach and bridging time through musings of the heart.

look who's back!

if you're not new to this blog then it's probably no secret to you that i'm a big rose tan fan. i just looove the way she writes! i love her witty one liners and her almost slapstick humor. most of all, i love her all too real characters.

one RT series that has truly been dear to me is her senorita serires. i distinctly remember it was my friend lorie from work that lent me a couple or so senorita books way back. she told me to try and read them because i'll surely like them. true enough, i did read 'em and did like 'em and since then you could say i was hooked

if i'm not mistaken, it's been two years give or take since the last senorita graced the shelves. i really thought the run was over. same goes for the senorito's which i like as well.

so imagine my surprise and delight when i saw this on the shelves earlier today



the teaser goes

Bituing sinapawan ang ningning. Iyan ang sinapit ni Georgia nang muli ay maglakad siya bilang Reyna Elena sa Santa-Krusan. Siya ang star of the night, ang supernova ng taunang Flore de Mayo.

But this year, someone took the limelight away from her. Not another sagala. Hindi lindol, hindi tsunami, hindi landlslide. Ang asteroid na tumakip sa kanyang ningning ay walang iba kundi si Ben Primero, ang eskorte niya. Tinilian, pinalakpakan, at dinumog ito ng tanan.

Hindi niya mapapatawad ito...

PS. I like the part with her sinigang analogy (p.76) because I can really relate with it besides sinigang is my favorite dish, hehe

here's the thing

tungkol sa spot the difference.

i was able to talk with sonia francesca earlier. ang unang sinabi ko sa kanya ay ang tungkol sa mga libro namin na tila iisa ang illustration. ganito pala ang nangyari. may option kasi kami bilang writer na magbigay ng pictures (usually cut-outs from magazines) na gagamiting basis ng illustrator para maging cover ng mga libro namin. ganoon ang ginawa ni sonia. nag-submit siya ng cut-out pic para magamit na "model" ng artist.

and so, the illustrations on our books may look one and the same but they were drawn by two different artists. mine's by roldan agsalud and hers is by annie (i think). nagkataon lang na magkaparehas yung pinabasehan nilang pic.

yun lang po.

spot the difference

i noticed sonia francesca's book on the shelf and instantly recognized the illustration

mainit pa sa hot pandesal

makikita ninyo sa blogsite na ito ang mga bagong labas na libro ng precious :)

LBM

LBM - looking back at memories

Kahapon, nabasa ko ang TDLH#13 - Rodrigo Ambrosia ni Vanessa. Lyrics of the song Darkness Fell from Wolfgang could be found somewhere in the story. Dahil doon, naalala ko tuloy yung noong unang panahon ko. I was crazy about this band once.

DARKNESS FELL

And so she woke up from a dream

That was beautiful and starry and oh so wild

It was all still clear in her eyes

And though her mind was foggy

And blank she wondered why

Her life couldn't be as lovely it was time...

There was this king he had no castle or throne

But his horse was great and white

He rode alone and liked it that way

But when he met her he swore

He would never leave her side...

They rode across the land

Two lovers hand in hand

And no danger could come near

And when something made her cry

She'd look at him teary eyed

And he would make her feel better

Oh so much better so much better than before

And now this forest was their home

It was a night time

And the right time for love

In the dark

She placed her hand upon his chest

And all the rest just flowed

Makin' love down under an ancient far away night

It was so grand just holdin' someone's hand

And now safety came naturally

It was so clear that she would never ever have to fear

Oh tell me a story of magic and spiralling ships

And stars in the night

Just whisper in my ears

Make it soft but make it clear

I want to hear every breath you say

He placed his hand upon her breast

But she woke up from the land

Tears falling in her hands

As she looked up askin' why

She laid back in her bed

Thoughts raising in her head

Why can't my life be beautiful she said

As she closed her eyes again

Just prayin' he'd return

But only Darkness Fell upon her...

Kahapon pa rin, nagpunta ako sa mall para bumili ng mouse dahil ayaw ng makisama ng mouse ko. Pagpasok na pagpasok ko pa lang, "...collectively known as Color It Red..." kaagad ang narinig ko. Apparently, the group was playing there live! Tingnan mo nga naman ang pagkakataon. I luv this band! Hanggang ngayon hindi ako nagsasawang pakinggan ang music nila.

Kanina naman. Habang nanonood ako ng Gulong ng Palad ay sumingit ang teaser ng MMK. Pamilyar agad sa akin yung mga pinakitang eksena. Parang kilala ko yung kuwento. And then finally, sa dulo ng teaser pinakilala kung sino yung ipi-feature, si Raymond Narag. Nyak! kaya naman pala pamilyar. Around the time I was going gaga over the bands I mentioned above, I got a chance to meet the guy. He was in CJ then. Hanga ako sa taong ito dahil hindi siya nauubusan ng pag-asa. He's a friend of a friend of a friend. You know how it goes. Last I heard, may scholarship siyang nakuha to study abroad. Nabanggit na sa akin kung saan, nakalimutan ko lang.

braullio

Hit or miss. Narinig ko ang katagang 'yan noong mag-workshop ako sa PHR dalawang taon na ang nakararaan. Ang sabi ng aming facilitator, normal lang daw sa isang romance writer ang magkaroon ng di-kagandahang nobela paminsan-minsan. Hit or miss kumbaga.

Hindi lingid sa inyo na paborito kong writer si Ms. Rose Tan ngunit aaminin kong hindi ako gaanong nagandahan sa ilan sa mga likha niya nitong huli. Hindi ko na babanggitin ang mga pamagat dahil baka maimpluwensiyahan ko pa ang panlasa ninyo. Basta sa aking pananaw ay mga "misses" niya ang mga iyon.

Pero okay lang dahil aliw pa ding basahin kaya sulit naman ang ibinayad kong treinta y cinco pesos. Ang hula ko nagpapa-kondisyon pa siya siguro kaya ganoon. Hindi ba't matagal siyang hindi naglabas ng libro?

Anyway, nabasa ko kanina ang latest niya sa Senorito series, si Braullio. She's back! Galing! Mahirap i-kahon ang kuwento kasi hindi siya tear jerker at hindi din naman siya comedy. Well, in a way, comedy siya pero hindi siya laugh-out-loud funny gaya ng nakasanayan na natin sa panulat ni RT. Kung iyon ang hanap mo, hindi mo iyon makikita sa nobelang ito.

Hindi halata ngunit may lalim ang ilan sa mga nobela ni RT at kabilang si Braullio sa mga iyon. Maliban sa pinagtahi-tahing eksena, may isa pang lebel ang istorya. Isang lebel na sumasalamin sa "human condition" natin. Iyon ang nagustuhan ko sa kanya.

Truth...ito ang elementong nakita ko sa mga bida ng kuwento. Ipinapakita nila na kahit anong tayog ng isang tao, tao pa din siya, may kahinaang taglay. Tulad ko, tulad mo, tulad niya. Hindi natin puwedeng takasan ang bagay na 'yan dahil bahagi 'yan ng pagiging tao natin. Ang kailangan ay yakapin natin ang mga kahinaan natin at huwag gamiting dahilan para huwag nating mahalin ang sarili natin (Rangie) o hadlangan ang sarili nating lumigaya (Bray).

cry baby

I met this person once, she's an avid PHR reader. Pinky ang pangalan niya at siya ang nagpakilala sa akin sa panulat ni Angela del Mar. As in para lang mabasa ko eh ibinili pa niya talaga ako ng kopya ng libro ng author na ito. Unfortunately, hindi ko na mahagilap yung libro ngayon. Marahil may nanghiram sa akin at hindi pa naibabalik kaya hindi ko masabi ang title. I'm like that, mahina ang memorya ko sa pangalan, mukha, at titles. Ang natatandaan ko lang ay kaunting eksena mula sa kuwento at syempre na nagustuhan ko siya.

Kahapon, dahil nasa area na rin lang ako ay sumaglit ako sa Precious Pages sa SM Manila. Doon ay nakakita ulit ako ng libro ni Angela del Mar, ang title ay "Ikaw Lang". Twenty pesos ko lang siya nabili kasi naka sale na siya. Back-issue na kasi, early last year pa yata na-release.

Kagabi binasa ko yung libro at muli, sobrang naiyak na naman ako. I've only read three books from this author at lahat ng mga iyon ay pinaiyak ako. Ganoon siya gumawa ng kuwento, nakakaiyak talaga. Kanina nga, binabalik-balikan kong basahin ang mga eksenang naantig ang puso ko. Ganyan ako kapag nagustuhan ko ang isang libro.

The story is about not settling for less than your dreams which by the way is my personal philosophy. Sobrang mahal kasi ni Diandra ang nobyo niya kaya kahit labag sa kagustuhan ng ina niya ay nakipag-live in siya dito. Only to find that months later, hindi din pala niya kayang siya lang parati ang nagbibigay. Alam niyang mahal siya ni lalaki kaya lang hindi sapat ang pag-ibig lang. She wanted kids and she wanted a wedding ring. Mga bagay na hindi kayang ibigay sa kanya ni Ethan. And so, she left him.

Ang pangyayaring ito ang gumising kay Ethan. Noon lang niya na-realize kung gaano siya naging unfair kay Diandra. Noon lang din niya na-realize na hindi pala niya kaya ang wala si Diandra sa buhay niya.

Mahirap gumawa ng kuwento na single point of view lang. Hindi mo kasi maipahiwatig ng mabuti ang nararamdaman ng hero, parating side lang ng heroine. Pero sa kuwentong ito, kahit single point of view siya ay damang-dama ko ang pangungulila ni Ethan para kaya Diandra. Sabi niya sa ending, "Nasubukan ko na ang buhay nang wala ka. Isang bangungot iyon. Hindi ko kaya, Di, ang wala ka sa buhay ko. Hindi ko kaya." *sniff*

lad lit

it's still months to go before my birthday yet my peyborit pamangkin andre gave me a present already...hindi kasi ako makalabas ng NBS because I loathed to leave behind a set of books that i favored...i didn't want to buy `em coz then i'd be short on cash yet i didn't want to let go of them either...finally andre offered to buy em and told me it was his birthday present for me :)

in other news. yesterday i saw my long lost kuya. he's based in the states and is back in the country for a visit. also to do some med missions in quezon. anyway, he kinda reprimanded me for not writing to him more...nahiya naman akong bigla sa balat ko. kaya lang wala naman kasi akong sasabihin sa kanya eh. we don't have that close of a relationship because even before i was born, nasa states na siya. but i made a promise to myself that i'll make an effort to write, after all, he's my kuya...generation gap and all.

to read list

Nagimbal ako nang pagsama-samahin ko mga librong nabili ko o nahiram o di kaya'y nabigay sa akin noon pero hanggang ngayon ay hindi ko pa din nababasa. Grabe! literal na umabot ng isang dipa ang haba nila. Hindi ko tuloy malaman kung alin ang uunahin ko.

To view my to read list, click this.