Note:
Writing the review for this book is already at my agenda for the past week but
since I was so busy at my MA and the office and to think that Sara Sionil is my
dear officemate, I have this feeling of guilt that after reading her Lolo’s
novel she may think I didn’t like it (Off course not! I like the book so much,
in which probably she don’t know? ). My apology for the delayed of the review
but here it goes.
“Conquest by force is not sanctioned by God. The Americans have no right to be here. We will defeat them in the end because we believe this land they usurp is our; God created it for us. The whole history of mankind has shown how faith endures while steel rusts.” -December 2, 1899
At this time when adventure in the book is so
popular, form JRR Tolkien’s Lord of the Ring to JK Rowling’s harry Potter, F.
Sionil provide us more vivid adventure of a Filipino acolyte who trap in the
mid of the Spanish tyranny. The story expand up to the Filipino-American war
were dignity is priceless and country is your love one. The book will teach you
how far will you serve for neither someone nor what are the definition of
selfless love, for your country, for your family and for your change of course
of history.
Istak Salvador, a one time acolyte, educated through
a good friar who teach him latin and Spanish, medicine and logic, becomes a victim
of Spanish oppression force to leave Poon (a town in Ilocos Sur) after his
father Baac accidentally killed a friar who wants them to be expelled from
their land. This is a personal revenge when Baac realized that Priest who will
be the town curate is the same priests who oppress him after the latter refused
to do the force labor made him forcibly in the Polo y Servicio causing the permanent dislocation of his arm. From
Poon to Vigan, the Salvador family and some company experience a perilous
adventure. The forest and mountains of the north killed Baac through a snake
bite and a child when a tribal inhabitant attacks them. Agno river drown their
mother after they cross the river. When they reach Rosales in Pangasinan, he changes
his last name to Samson.
In Rosales, the revolution broke out and the
American forces took an advance position up to Ilocos Sur searching for the
President of the Republic. Prime Minister and personal adviser (who just
describe as a cripple) was in sick and stayed of Istak closed friend. Through
Istak knowledge of medicinal plant, the cripple was assign to him to be cure at
least. At the time, they exchange thought and ideas about the Americans and the
dodging Republic. Through this, Mabini realized the importance of Istak for the
up coming event. Mabini asked Istak to bring a letter to President Aguinaldo
since he knows all the trails and way in the Cordilleras. With full strength
and patriotism, he depart Rosales and went to the mountains were he saw all the
brutalities of the Americans. At Tirad, Gen. Gregorio del Pilar at first
refused to believe him but the latter became part of the Battle of Tirad pass
where he was killed.
Post-modernism in history is what F. Sionil Jose tried to expand in a fictional literary identity. Though obviously this is not
History as per se, since this is a historical fiction (an account that is not
really happened therefore cannot be subjected as reference). Post-modernist
idea occurred when the character which is no one, that is a representation of
those unknown heroes that should be heard in our history. Filipino Historians
always provide us those leaders that shape or construct those events that are
important in narrating our past. But what about those men, who does not lead
but took part of that particular event?
Istak Samson is an example of a character in a postmodernist literary
creation. He was just an acolyte who appointed to create history, if he will do
it or not, it’s up to him. But off course patriotism is in every heart of a
Filipino and that what Istak try to portray.
Just what Mabini says talking to Istak “ – it has always been the many
faces of men, those foot soldiers, who have suffered most, who have died. It is
they who make a nation.” The book is a
good insight for a new idea of how you read history, but remember history and
literary fictions is different for you maybe confuse.
