Redirecting the Flow of Literary Relations of the Philippines with the World

Continuing her prolific output over the past four decades, Soledad S. Reyes has published Retrieving the Past / Recuperating the Voice, a collection of critical essays on Philippine literature, and The Star of Panghulo, an English translation of Patricio Mariano's Ang Tala sa Panghulo (1913/1972). These two books follow Reyes's other books of critical essays: Narratives of Note (University of Santo Tomas Publishing House, 2012), From Darna to Zsazsa Zaturnnah (Anvil, 2009), A Dark Tinge to the World (University of the Philippines Press, 2005), Tellers of Tales, Singers of Songs (De La Salle University Press, 2001), Pagbasa ng Panitikan at Kulturang Popular (Ateneo de Manila University Press, 1997), and The Romance Mode in Philippine Popular Literature and Other Essays (De La Salle University Press, 1991), along with her recent English translations of Filipino novels and short stories such as Rosario de Guzman-Lingat's The Locked Door and Other Stories (Ateneo de Manila University Press, 2017), The Cloak of God (De La Salle University Press, 2013), The Death of Summer (De La Salle University Press, 2013), and What Now, Ricky? (Anvil, 2013); Macario Pineda's Love in the Rice Fields and Other Short Stories (Anvil, 2016) and The Gold in Makiling (Anvil, 2012); and Antonio G. Sempio's The Golden Dagger (De La Salle University Press, 2016).

Reyes's two recent books represent her continued commitment to reevaluating and expanding the Filipino literary canon. The six essays in Retrieving the Past / Recuperating the Voice attempt to root the majority of Tagalog literature to José Rizal's influence both on the writings of more "canonized" writers like Lope K. Santos, Faustino Aguilar, and Lazaro Francisco and more "popular" writers like Patricio Mariano, Teofilo Sauco, Antonio Sempio, and Lina Flor. In this way, Reyes tries to give importance to works and writers that other critics and literary historians marginalize. And her translation of a romantic novel like Patricio Mariano's Ang Tala sa Panghulo into English, instead of works by more canonical writers like Santos, Aguilar, or Francisco, cannot but be understood as her attempt to reshape the literary canon. For Reyes, it is through translation that literature, especially Filipino literature, can remain central to the lives of people. In this way, her translation work cannot be read other than as an extension of her critical work.

The story of The Star of Panghulo revolves around Berta, a puffed-rice vendor from the barrio of Panghulo. She has taken on the role of breadwinner for her adoptive family since Nana Sula, the woman who adopted her after her mother died, has become too old to work. Along with Nana Sula, Berta also takes care of Elang and Enrique, children who have recognized her as their adoptive mother. Berta would fall in love with Luciano, a rich and educated young man living in Manila, when he becomes a patron of her puffed rice. The love between the two of them would grow closer when Luciano gets shot in the chest by a jealous suitor of his female friend during a hunting trip near Panghulo. Berta would nurse Luciano back to health but would hesitate to express her love for him because of his reputation as a ladies' man and the difference in their social status. It is revealed in the end that Mang Pedro, Luciano's kind neighbor, is actually Berta's father. Pedro also comes from humble beginnings, being a dropout who then decided to become a silversmith to earn a living. He falls in love with Sinay, Berta's mother and the daughter of the rich but abusive Kapitan Lino. Kapitan Lino is against the relationship between Pedro and Sinay. He plots to accuse Pedro of theft, which would cause Pedro's arrest and deportation to Balabak. Sinay would escape from her father after he nearly beat...