Cover Nine recently-published books by Filipina authors
Nine recently-published books by Filipina authors
1 / 1
From graphic novels to epic fantasies, Filipina authors have been releasing an exciting range of books. Here’s a list that you don’t want to miss
Looking for your next read? Look no further than these recent releases from Filipina authors.
Each writer adds a unique Filipino twist to different genres. A recurring theme in many of the books is the cultural importance placed on family. In their own unique ways, the writers examine the chaos and comfort that such bonds provide.
But the stories don’t end there. Upon zooming out, they also examine the different cultural forces that shape our experiences today. Where did we come from, they ask—and where do we go from here?
There may be only nine books on this list. But let this be an introduction to the wide array of Filipina writers shaping our literary landscape today.
1. ‘Some People Need Killing’ by Pat Evangelista
Above ‘Some People Need Killing’ by Patricia Evangelista
‘Some People Need Killing’ by Patricia Evangelista
1 / 1
From the title alone, this book feels incendiary.
Evangelista presents a thoroughly researched, riveting history of the Philippine drug war. She examines the struggle from all sides–from the police chiefs to the vigilante groups, the victims’ families to the weary journalists–without flinching.
A unique facet of her story is the use of language as a tool to downplay the war’s severity. By spotlighting the victims who were written off as ‘disappeared’ and later ‘salvaged’, Evangelista unveils the machinations of the drug war. The passivity of such words absolved the murderers of their responsibility. In doing so, the blame was entirely on the victims.
Evangelista doesn’t shy away from examining how privilege breeds apathy. By using concise yet lyrical language, she invites her readers to examine their own biases and take a stance.
This book illuminated truths that were difficult to swallow and even more difficult to ignore.
Read more: ‘Why did they have to die?’: Inside Patricia Evangelista’s ‘Some Peopple Need Killing’
2. ‘Oha: A Story Told in One Eternal Second’ by Krie R Lopez
Above ‘Oha: A Story Told in One Eternal Second’ by Krie R Lopez
‘Oha: A Story Told in One Eternal Second’ by Krie R Lopez
1 / 1
What happens in the afterlife? What impact do our actions have, even after we’re gone?
Fifteen-year-old Mia grapples with these questions after passing away from a long illness. Having grown up in 1940s Baguio, her spirit remains tethered to the physical spaces she used to inhabit.
As the decades pass, she immerses herself in her neighbours’ lives. She watches as people fall in love, betray each other, and make impossible decisions.
At the same time, she watches Baguio transform around her, surrounded by the ghosts whose role in Baguio’s past lays the groundwork for its future.
A heartwarming read, Mia’s attempts to anchor herself to love in all its forms make this story unforgettable.
Related: Exploding Galaxies revives lost classics of Philippine fiction
3. ‘Stray Cats’ by Irene Sarmiento
Above ‘Stray Cats’ by Irene Sarmiento
‘Stray Cats’ by Irene Sarmiento
1 / 1
Eighth graders Elisa Paz and Raquel Madria are inseparable. They alternate between two worlds: the real one and the world where monsters of Filipino folklore walk among them.
One day, Raquel goes missing. Elisa teams up with a talking orange cat named Oscar to find her. Along the way, they encounter all kinds of creatures, from kapres to bruhas. But Elisa is not afraid. She’s going to find her best friend, no matter what.
But what can she do when the true villains are human after all?
Stray Cats is a gritty foray into social issues like class conflicts, kidnapping, and child trafficking. It is far from the typical Young Adult novel. But it gives a voice to the youth, whose perspectives are often ignored. As young as she is, Elisa reminds us that change is possible when we stand up for one another.
4. ‘When Jasmine Blooms’ by Tif Marcelo
Above ‘When Jasmine Blooms’ by Tif Marcelo
‘When Jasmine Blooms’ by Tif Marcelo
1 / 1
Two years after losing her daughter Libby, Celine escapes her grief by becoming a workaholic. But evasion only lasts for so long. Soon, she has to face her struggles or risk losing her family entirely.
She wonders how different life would be if she’d chosen differently. What if she stayed with her first love instead of marrying the father of her children?
When she wakes up the following day, that question has become her reality. She is now married to her high school sweetheart. Instead of having children of her own, Libby now rents Celine’s house.
Inspired by Little Women, Marcelo explores motherhood, loss, and finding purpose after pain. Putting oneself back together may be a struggle. But on the other side lies a hopeful kind of grace.
5. ‘Nervous: Essays on Heritage and Healing’ by Jen Soriano
Above ‘Nervous: Essays on Heritage and Healing’ by Jen Soriano
‘Nervous: Essays on Heritage and Healing’ by Jen Soriano
1 / 1
Jen Soriano, the daughter of a neurosurgeon, is no stranger to the intricacies of the human brain. But when her chronic pain and mental health issues become impossible to bear, she traces the roots of her struggles.
What she finds is more than she could have expected.
She connects the puzzle pieces of scientific data, historical events, and family stories. She learns how trauma is passed from one generation to the next. By situating her family’s experiences in a larger social context, she gives them more nuance and compassion.
With essays on disabilities, mental health, music, history, and more, Soriano carves a space for the glorious messiness of what it means to be human.
In case you missed it: 8 spellbinding bookcases to nurture bookshelf wealth
6. ‘Chloe and the Kaishao Boys’ by Mae Coyiuto
Above ‘Chloe and the Kaishao Boys’ by Mae Coyiuto
‘Chloe and the Kaishao Boys’ by Mae Coyiuto
1 / 1
Chloe is ready to chase her dreams of studying animation at the University of Southern California. But her father wants her to take over the family business.
In a last-ditch effort to keep her in Manila, her aunt plans to throw a debut for Chloe. Her father sets her up on endless kaishaos (dates) for the event, hoping that she’ll find someone who’s worth staying in Manila for.
More than just a summer romance, this book is about growing up Filipino-Chinese. One experience Chloe faces is the Great Wall, where Filipino boys are off-limits to Chinese girls.
The story also navigates Chloe’s complicated relationship with her father. Although her dreams may not align with her family’s expectations, eventually, she learns to prioritise her own dreams.
7. ‘Strange Intimacies’ by Zea Asis
Above ‘Strange Intimacies’ by Zea Asis
‘Strange Intimacies’ by Zea Asis
1 / 1
Coming of age is always complicated. But having stories like Strange Intimacies makes the journey less lonely.
In this essay collection, Zea Asis immerses the reader in the commodification of Filipino girlhood. We are bombarded with advertisements that hold the shinier version of ourselves just out of reach. We’re told that the next romantic pursuit will be our happy ending. Our dissatisfaction keeps us from finding peace.
Instead of settling for that, Zea Asis inhabits a whole new space. Her curiosity and kindness guide these essays for her past self, her present desires, and the bright future ahead.
8. ‘The Encanto’s Daughter’ by Melissa Dela Cruz
Above ‘The Encanto’s Daughter’ by Melissa Dela Cruz
‘The Encanto’s Daughter’ by Melissa Dela Cruz
1 / 1
MJ Rodriguez seems like an ordinary human. But in reality, she’s the half-encanto heir to King Vivencio of the Sirena Court. When her father suddenly passes away, the entire kingdom is in uproar. Despite being the obvious choice, her father’s council refuses to let a half-human healer sit on the throne.
MJ is clearly an outsider, asking the wrong questions and making all sorts of mistakes. But she’s a breath of fresh air for a kingdom that’s lived in stagnant fear for so long.
She quickly realises that a sorceress’s curse caused her father’s death. MJ forms a surprising alliance with Sir Lucas of the Sigbin Court to hunt her down. But with a significant threat looming over the kingdom, she has to choose between following her head or her heart.
9. ‘The Man in the McIntosh Suit’ by Rina Ayuyang
Above ‘The Man in the McIntosh Suit’ by Rina Ayuyang
‘The Man in the McIntosh Suit’ by Rina Ayuyang
1 / 1
Set in 1920s California, when Filipino migrants made a living picking fruits in a field, this novel follows Bobot, a labourer whose law degree is rendered useless in this foreign land.
One day, his cousin writes him a letter. He claims to have seen Bobot’s estranged wife in San Francisco. Bobot immediately trades his rundown clothes for the nearest suit, ready to find her. But when he gets there, he gets entangled with the mob.
This ambitious graphic novel uniquely situates Filipino-Americans in the noir genre. The American Dream clearly has limits for people of colour, who struggled to make ends meet even before the Great Depression.
The Man in the McIntosh Suit is populated by colourful, complicated characters. Their mishaps will undoubtedly keep you on the edge of your seat all the way to the end.
NOW READ
Boozy Bookworm: 7 Quirky Summer Reads and Drinks To Pair Them With
Paz Márquez-Benítez: the woman whose words led to a literary breakthrough
Literature Masterclass: 3 Tips On Writing From Celebrated Authors
About
Celine first read Charlotte’s Web at the age of five–and she hasn’t stopped turning pages since. Her favourite authors are Mona Awad and Nat Cassidy. Besides writing for Tatler, she listens to BTS and spends time with her family.
Work
Celine took up secondary education with a major in English, graduating from De La Salle University in 2023. She advocates for female empowerment through creative expression by writing for Tatler Homes.
For story leads or inquiries, you may reach out to her via celine.dabao@tatlerasia.com.
