The Joy of Reading Required Filipiniana Reads

What Are the Required Filipiniana Reads?

Required Filipiniana Reads is a subjective listing of works by Filipino authors, written in English, Filipino, or other regional languages. In teaching Philippine literature, these books serve as foundational texts. Personally, for longer reading, my list includes chapters from Noli Me Tangere by José Rizal, entire novels like Sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag by Edgardo M. Reyes, Dekada ’70 by Lualhati Bautista, and Mga Ibong Mandaragit by Amado V. Hernandez. Given the short time available in classes, I avoid overloading students, but the readings I assign are always discussed in depth.

College students often groan or whimper when I hand them the list of required Filipiniana reads. At first, the titles may seem like dusty relics, intimidating because it’s their first encounter with the text. Later, they come to realize that these works are far from relics, they are vibrant doorways into understanding Filipino identity within the context of our history.

Why Bother Reading Philippine Literature?

I was first required to read Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo in high school and again in my General Education classes. At the time, thick novels didn’t appeal to me. There was a comic edition of Noli, and I found it a comforting, entertaining gateway to Rizal’s masterpieces. After the graphic version, I read a Tagalog translation, and only in my postgraduate years did I read the English editions. It is only in my dreams however that I will be able to read it in its original Spanish.

These two works left a lasting imprint on Filipino consciousness: Sisa’s madness, Ibarra’s idealism, Maria Clara’s gentleness, Kapitan Tiago’s contradictions, and other characters whose struggles and ideals echo socio-political histories of national importance. These novels deepen my sense of being Filipino.

1. Identity Mirror

Dekada ’70 by Lualhati Bautista is not just about a family navigating Martial Law. A middle-class Filipino mother awakens to political consciousness as her family becomes embroiled in the nation’s struggle against authoritarian rule. Her story reflects ordinary Filipinos’ resistance, adaptation, and endurance. It shows that domestic life is never separate from agency and engagement in society, the personal and political are intertwined.

2. Personal Context in History

Mga Ibong Mandaragit by Amado V. Hernandez was written after World War II, during a time of growing neocolonial influence in the Philippines. It portrays disillusionment with inequality and foreign control. Hernandez himself was a labor leader and political prisoner. While other works explore resistance, class struggle, and postcolonial identity, this novel uniquely calls on the intellectual class to serve the masses. By requiring it, I hope students understand how power can be manipulated and why critical thinking is essential in times of misinformation.

3. Imagining Poverty

Edgardo M. Reyes’s Sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag (Claws of Light) captures the raw despair of Julio, a young man from the provinces who comes to Manila searching for his beloved Ligaya, only to be swallowed by the city’s harsh realities. Set in the 1970s, the novel exposes the brutal conditions faced by construction workers, the exploitation of the poor, and the disorientation of provincial migrants in an indifferent metropolis. Poverty here is not a statistic, it is systemic, defined by broken dreams and daily survival. Both the novel and Lino Brocka’s film adaptation compel readers to probe the roots and systems behind social inequity.

How to Enjoy Reading the Required Filipiniana Reads

Some students would rather watch a film or listen to a podcast than sit down with a book. The tension often comes from being forced to read something you didn’t choose. It’s hard to enjoy a book when it feels like a chore.

So how can reading become a rich, maybe even enjoyable, experience?

1. Be curious, don’t just check 'done'.

Instead of thinking, “I have to get this over with,” ask, “What might this book reveal that I don’t yet know?”

When I first picked up Noli Me Tangere (comic version), I was intrigued by the title. What does “Noli Me Tangere” mean? Why did Rizal choose it? Even today, the novel still reveals truths and fallacies about power, love, courage, and the cost of silence. Curiosity turns reading into a journey of discovery.

2. Read with a friend or a group.

Group discussions enhance understanding. Talking about a book adds layers of meaning, urgency, and personal investment. For instance, when discussing Dekada ’70, I ask: “If you lived under Martial Law, would you have joined the protests? Would you prioritize family safety, especially your mother’s feelings, or political convictions?” Even hypothetical answers make students engage more deeply with characters and the human stakes literature portrays.

3. Watch film adaptations, but don’t stop there.

Adaptations can make texts accessible, especially for beginners. Lualhati Bautista’s Bata, Bata… Pa’no Ka Ginawa? gains new resonance when seen with Vilma Santos as Lea. But remember, film complements reading, it cannot replace it.

4. Write or journal your reflections.

Reading is input, writing is output. Journaling, even seemingly random thoughts, helps you remember not just the plot but your experience. Your reflections are a conversation with the author. Emotional responses to characters or injustices are gold, writing preserves and deepens them.

5. Discover something new.

Readers rarely stay satisfied with what they know. Experimenting with styles and voices leads to evolution. In Miguel Syjuco’s Ilustrado, students see pastiche, a blend of genres, voices, and timelines, adding layers of meaning. Gina Apostol’s The Revolution According to Raymundo Mata invites playful exploration of narrative form. Observing the author’s craft makes reading exciting and instructive for writers.

Literatures Beyond the Required Reads

Reading required Filipiniana texts should spark broader exploration. Dive into Nick Joaquin’s The Woman Who Had Two Navels, Jessica Zafra’s witty essays and horror stories, or graphic novels like Trese by Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldisimo. Find your entry point, poetry, historical fiction, or short stories, and savor the experience. It will deepen your appreciation of Filipino identity while connecting you to a global literary community.

The true value lies in what awakens in you as you read, reflect, and discuss: a question, a history, a memory. When you next see “Required Filipiniana Reads” on a syllabus, smile. It’s not a chore, it’s an opportunity.

After Reading a Historical Novel:
What hidden story did you discover?
Which archives or voices felt revealed?
How does the author take responsibility for the history they tell?

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