Lumbay ng Dila
Lumbay ng Dila (2010) is a novel written by Filipino author Genevieve L. Asenjo. The novel is set mainly in Antique in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines and it tells the story of Sadyah Zapanta – Lopez. It won the Juan C. Laya Prize for Fiction in Philippine Language in the 2011 Philippine National Book Awards.
Summary
The novel tells the story of Sadyah Zapanta – Lopez, the granddaughter of Marcelo N. Lopez and the daughter of Marcelo and Teresa Lopez. Marcelo N. Lopez was imprisoned after being accused as the mastermind of the Guinsang-an Bridge massacre.
Sadyah is an assistant professor in De La Salle University and she graduated from the University of the Philippines – Visayas with a degree in literature. The novel chronicles her search for love and happiness through her relationships with Stephen Chua, Ishmael Onos, Priya Iyer.
Characters
Sadyah Zapanta - Lopez is an assistant professor in De La Salle University from Antique who currently lives in Manila. She seeks closure with her family about what really happened that night during the Guinsang-an Bridge massacre.
Marcelo N. Lopez is Sadyah’s grandfather. He was imprisoned because he was accused of being the mastermind of the Guinsang-an Bridge massacre.
Leandro Lopez is the father of Sadyah and the husband of Teresa. During his days as a commander in the NPA, he was called Kumander Pusa. Pusa is the Tagalog word for cat and he was given this name because of his ability to escape death in many dangerous situations.
Teresa Lopez is the mother of Sadyah and the wife of Leandro. During her days as a commander in the NPA, she was called Kumander Rafflesia. Rafflesia is a kind of parasitic flower mainly found in southeast Asia.
Stephen Chua is Sadyah’s first lover in the novel. She meets him online but they eventually decide to meet in person. Their relationship was more sexual than emotional, both of them seemingly detached from each other.
Ishmael Onos is Sadyah’s second lover in the novel. He is a Muslim and Sadyah meets him in a Muslim – Christian forum.
Priya Iyer is Sadyah’s third lover in the novel. He is an Indian corporate professional living in the building adjacent from Sadyah's building.
Auntie Fely and Uncle Lydio are Sadyah's aunt and uncle. Auntie Fely is the sister of Sadyah’s father Leandro and uncle Lydio is her husband. They raised Sadyah after her parents left her in their care.
Nene and Bong Bong are Sadyah's cousins. They are the children of her auntie Fely and Uncle Lydio. Sadyah grew up with Nene and Bong Bong.
Selected Reviews
For this was the root of our tongue’s sorrow, the lumbay ng dila: that whatever we taste, and say, is not––and cannot be––fully ours.
- -Edgar Calabia Samar[1]
Very fresh approach in storytelling. Asenjo is said to be one of the new voices in Philippine literature.
- -K.D Absolutely[2]
I really enjoyed reading this novel because it brought out the Filipino woman within me. This novel caused me to have different emotions in a matter of time. Thus, I really recommend everyone, especially the Filipinos, to read this book.
- -Abigail Punongbayan[3]