I stumbled upon an article in Yahoo! Phillippines about Pinoy Literature Top Ten List. As stated in the article, I agree that libraries and bookstores here in the country are dominated by foreign bestsellers. They overshadow the books under the “Philippine publications”, which are underrated because of lack audience from the mass. In fact, some writers are considered as world class like F. Sionil José and Nick Joaquin, who are both National Artists.
But I think I’m guilty of not being able to support our own literature. I haven’t brought a single book authored by Filipino writers (except books required by the school curriculum such Noli Me Tangere and El filibusterismo written by Jose Rizal). Though I have my own list of books to buy or read under the Filipiniana section such as The Best of This is a Crazy Planets by Lourd De Veyra and the books written by Bob Ong.
And now, here are the Top 10 List of Pinoy (informal term for Filipino) Literature recommended by Gel G. Galang of Juice.ph featuring Palanca Awards Winners and National Artists:
1. GAGAMBA by F. Sionil Jose
2. THE TWISTED SERIES by Jessica Zafra
3. ILUSTRADO by Miguel Syjuco
4. MY SAD REPUBLIC by Eric Gamalinda
5. SOLEDAD’S SISTER by Butch Dalisay
6. MONDOMANILA by Norman Wilwayco
7. IN THE COMPANY OF STRANGERS by Michelle Cruz Skinner
8. NEWS OF THE SHAMAN by Karl de Mesa
9. THE SKY OVER DIMAS by Vince Groyon
10. THE WOMAN WHO HAD TWO NAVELS by Nick Joaquin
P.S.: Sorry if I added too many links in this post. XD
Br. Allen 
True …
Not really impressed those Gamilanda or Syjuco novels.
try checking out Rosario Cruz Lucero’s Feast and Famine, Lualhati Bautista’s Dekada 70, Nick Joaquin’s Cave and Shadows, Lualhati Milan-Abreu’s Agaw-Dilim, Agaw-Liwanag too 🙂
Thanks for the recommendations. I’ll put them in my to-read list in my Author’s Library section.
Btw, I’ve checked your website and… wow! You’re a true bibliophile. 🙂
haha, thanks. but that is, sad to say, a bit of an overstatement. re: colonial mentality, that is reflected not only in Filipino middle class preference for all things foreign but also in what much of what is written by Filipino authors, including those of F. Sionil’s, Syjuco’s, and Gamilanda. the present neocolonial order is presented as pre-given, ideal, or eternal. by reproducing attitudes and values that reinforce foreign and elite domination, their texts become complicit to oppression and exploitation. it is not therefore a matter of colonial mentality, but of how our minds have become mental colonies made captive by imperialist interests. Some related musings on the matter: Neocolonial Philippine Education
Subconscious colonial mentality?
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thanks a lot man, but my professor is asking about literary words…. it really help somehow.
I am bery much pleased to see this blog post. But I am looking forward to receive a copy of the full text. I would like this literary pieces to be discussed and realize in my Philippine Literature Class this summer. Hoping for a positive response on this matter.
Leo Improgo Tan III
College Instructor
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