Ermita (novel)

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This article is about the novel. For the place in the Philippines, see Ermita, Manila.
Ermita: A Filipino Novel
Author F. Sionil José
Country Philippines
Language English
Genre(s) Fiction
Publisher Solidarid Publishing House, Inc.
Publication date 1988
ISBN ISBN 9718845127

Ermita: A Filipino Novel is a novel by the known Filipino author F. Sionil Jose written in the English language.[1] The novel was published in Korean, in 2007. It was translated from English to Korean by Boo Hee-ryung.[2][3]

Contents

[edit] Plot summary

This novel is about the life and struggles of a Filipino woman, despite of being reminiscent of a place of the same name in the City of Manila. The plot revolves around the story of an illegitimate daughter whose roots are from a rich upperclass family. The narrative delivers and portrays the themes of immorality, the presence of hope, wealth, revenge, duty and the influence of the United States to the culture and society of the Philippines. Ermita Rojo, the female protagonist and primary character, was named after a place at the heart of Manila. As a foresaken eligitimate daughter, revenge was the goal of Ermi - Ermita Rojo's nickname - against her biological family, particularly against her mother, uncle and aunt. She utilized her influence and power as a woman to manipulate men. the novel is a glimpse at Filipino life and living in the Philippine Republic, where the reader will be able to recognize the character and face of a society weary and devastated by the effects of the Second World War. Here is the history of the Philippines - and of Ermita "Ermi" Rojo - despite of the novel's facade as being a work of fiction. Ermi was a representative character who became a victim of inevitable history, experience, and asperity imposed on her by others.[4]

[edit] Scenes

F. Sionil José brings the reader to a story to a time in Philippine history before the declaration of Martial Law by Ferdinand Marcos during the 1950s. José also brings his readers to a place called Ermita, Manila, a place formerly frequented by the wealthy in the City of Manila. The reader is also brought to the Philippines in the year 1941, a country that went through the experience of being attacked and occupied by the Empire of Japan, a nation that suffered the effects of World War II and of going through the regime of the Marcos government.[4]

[edit] Primary characters

  • Ermita “Ermi” Rojo – the protagonist of the novel
  • MacArthur – Ermita's friend since childhood

[edit] Reviews

Ermita: A Filipino Novel was one of the books reviewed by Ian Buruma for the The New York Review of Books,[1] and was one of the recommended Filipino-authored books to be reviewed under a reading and writing program of the University of Hawai’i at Manoa,[5] together with other works by José, together with other long narratives written by Filipino authors such as Nick Joaquin, Bienvenido Santos, Ninotchka Rosca, Edilberto Tiempo, Alfrredo Navarro Salanga, NVM Gonzales, Cecilia Manguerra Brainard, Alfred Yuson, Carlos Bulosan, Jessica Hagedorn, Peter Bacho, and Wilfredo Nolledo.[5]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b "Francisco "Franky" Sionil Jose". Buruma, Ian. The Bartered Bride, The New York Review of Books, Vol. 36, No. 9, June 1, 1989, retrieved on March 17, 2008
  2. ^ Garcia, Cathy Rose. “Author F. Sionil Jose’s Insight on Philippines” (an article about F. Sionil Jose’s novel, Ermita – published in Korean), Arts & Living, The Korea Times, KoreaTimes.co.kr, April 27, 2007
  3. ^ Garcia, Cathy Rose. “Author F. Sionil Jose’s Insight on Philippines” (an article about F. Sionil Jose’s novel: Ermita – published in Korean), BookAsia.org (Korean website), April 27, 2007
  4. ^ a b José, F. Sionil. Ermita: A Filipino Novel, Solidaridad Publishing House: Manila, 1988/1994, 258 pages, ISBN 9718845127
  5. ^ a b List of Filipino Novels in English Suggested for Review, Creating a Learning Community through Peer Support in Philippine Literature, 300-Level Philippine Literature in English (Writing-Intensive), Manoa Writing Program, University of Hawaii, MWP.Hawaii.edu, 2007, retrieved on March 16, 2008

[edit] See also

v • d • e
Books by F. Sionil José
The Rosales Saga:
Po-on (1984) | Tree (1978) | My Brother, My Executioner (1973) | The Pretenders (1962) | Mass (1974)
Other novels/works:
Gagamba (1991) | Viajero (1993) | Sins (1994) | Ben Singkol (2001) | Ermita (1988) | Vibora! (2007) | Sherds (2007)


[edit] External links

Languages