book review: "Makamisa: The Search for Rizal's Third Novel" by Ambeth R. Ocampo

MAKAMISA: The Search for Rizal's Third Novel
Ambeth R. Ocampo

No Filipino can graduate from school without having read, or at least pretend to read, the novels of the country's national hero, the Noli me tangere & the El Filibusterismo. As such, the study of the life of Jose Rizal & his works have become a burden & a joyless chore. For anyone to enjoy Ambeth Ocampo's book "Makamisa", one first needs to have a sincere appreciation of Rizal and his legacy.

In "Makamisa", Ocampo takes us with him on a journey as he searches for & eventually finds Rizal's unfinished third novel. Yes, Rizal had not just one, but six unfinished stories, which I was happy to learn about & read in this book. All these unfinished stories give us a glimpse of the wealth of Rizal's imagination and his unfulfilled potential, sadly cut short by his execution by the Spanish. Thus we are left to forever wonder what else he could have accomplished.

And on this year that we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of our national hero, I hope we can truly say that our interest in Rizal is still alive, because there is still more to learn for those who know to look.

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book review: "Selyo: Philippine History in Postage Stamps" by Reynaldo G. Alejandro, et al

SELYO: Philippine History in Postage Stamps
Reynaldo G. Alejandro, Rosa M. Vallejo, Arminda V. Santiago

I love history, and I read history books for pleasure, so when Anvil Publishing, Inc. gave my book club, Flips Flipping Pages, the opportunity to sample their books for free in return for a review, I decided to take the opportunity to indulge in one of my favorite pastimes. One would think my default choice would have been any work by Ambeth Ocampo, but when I saw "Selyo" on the publisher's online inventory, I could not resist it (although I did also get Ocampo's "Makamisa"). Not only did the book purport to be about history, it would have pictures too.

"Selyo", as its subtitle states, is about "Philippine History in Postage Stamps". It is a celebration of nationalistic stamps from 1854, the first Philippine and Asian adhesive postage stamp, to 1998, in honor of the centennial not only of Philippine Independence, but of the Philippine Postal System as well.

The book is divided into 4 main chapters - Famous Filipinos, Historical Events, Dr. Jose P. Rizal, and Philippine Centennial - and shows the reader an enlarged image of each stamp along with a smaller image of the stamp in its actual size, with a description of the person or event commemorated. Although of course it would be impossible to include all the people & events in Philippine history that have ever been commemorated on stamp, the authors do a good job in presenting what they had. Not only would philatelists appreciate it, but history buffs like me as well.

Do you know who Ambrosio Bautista is? He was the author of the Declaration of Philippine Independence in 1898, commemorated in a 1981 stamp. Did you know that Filipino women earned the right to vote after a plebiscite in 1937, as commemorated in a stamp 50 years later? These are just a couple of historical nuggets, glossed over in books and classes if discussed at all, that can be discovered throughout the book.

My only gripe with the book is the lack of organization in the first chapter. A stamp with a 16th century sultan is placed next to a 20th century war general next to a 19th century revolutionary. I wish the heroes were arranged in chronological order to maintain the history aspect of the book.

For the insatiably curious, the book also opens further avenues of reading. Who decides who or what to commemorate on a stamp? Who does the art? Who decides the value put on each stamp?

Sadly, with the advent of mobile phones and text messaging and email and chat, the art of letter writing is dying, and with it, stamps and stamp collecting. Stamps are used to commemorate the past, but they may be well on their way to becoming things of the past themselves.

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book review: "Rizal Without the Overcoat" by Ambeth R. Ocampo

RIZAL WITHOUT THE OVERCOAT
Ambeth R. Ocampo

I have wanted to read "Rizal Without the Overcoat" by Ambeth Ocampo since the beginning of the year, and as Rizal Day was looming nearer I thought, what better day to read the book than on the anniversary of Rizal's death, which was today? I almost didn't get to read it though, for when I went to National Bookstore in SM Manila yesterday I couldn't find a copy and the store's computer listed it as out of stock. Then as I believe fate would have it, when I returned to the store a couple of hours later to get the pen I had engraved, I saw the book displayed at one of the cashiers and promptly got it.

The main reason I wanted to read the book [the minor one being to read it as part of the Flips Flipping Pages 2009 Diversity Challenge] was because I wanted to give Rizal another chance. Give Rizal another chance at what, you may ask.

Rizal was my childhood hero. I think this was because of the books my parents gave me and which became my favorite books in childhood, illustrated biographies of the young Jose Rizal geared towards the young reader.

"Rizal His Childhood" by Gregorio F. Zaide,

[the only?] one of my young Rizal books that survived the years

Reading Ambeth Ocampo's book I was surprised to learn that he finished high school and college without reading Rizal's novels "Noli Me Tangere" and "El Filibusterismo", for not only did I read them when they were assigned in Filipino class during high school, I enjoyed them. However, when I went to university [the same university which was apparently Rizal's favorite] and took the required Rizal class, I became disillusioned with him, for then I thought him a privileged but spoiled man who didn't care much about the revolution against the Spanish colonizing his country. Now, after reading "Rizal Without the Overcoat", I'm beginning to understand that it was not that Rizal didn't support the revolution, he just didn't think it was the right time for it then.

"Rizal Without the Overcoat" treats its readers to vignettes of Rizal's life. Who would have thought that Rizal ate tuyo for breakfast? I was also happy to learn that Rizal was a bookworm like I am, who would rather starve than not be able to buy books. The book also shows Rizal as a son, a brother, a scholar, an artist, a teacher, and the hero that he is, but I think most importantly, as a human being. Ambeth Ocampo makes me want to [re]discover more, not only about Rizal but our other heroes as well, apart from the dry facts presented in school textbooks.

In the end, the book makes one think of the relevance of Rizal today. Unfortunately, many people think of Rizal Day as a mere non-working holiday, without pausing to reflect on the reason why this date was set aside to honor Jose Rizal.

"... my future, my life, my joys, everything, I have sacrificed for love of her. Whatever my fate may be, I shall die blessing my country and wishing her the dawn of her redemption."

Is there anyone alive now who is be able to say the same?

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book review: "Humboldt's Cosmos" by Gerard Helferich

HUMBOLDT'S COSMOS
Gerard Helferich

Subtitled "Alexander von Humboldt and the Latin American Journey that Changed the Way We See the World", the book is a mix of science, history, and travel. It's amazing and inspiring to read about how much the scientists of the past, at an early age (in their 30's), were able "discover" as much as they did given the limitations of technology, transportation, and communication during their day.




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book review: "Dumbbells, Ear Caps and Hair Restorers" by Jane Furnival

DUMBBELLS, EAR CAPS AND HAIR RESTORERS:
A Shopper's Guide to Gentlemen's Foibles - 1800s-1930s
Jane Furnival

After rereading “The Historian” for next month’s unofficial FFP discussion (which I will try to write a review on later), I wanted something light and quick and easy to read.

“Dumbbells, Ear Caps and Hair Restorers: A Shopper's Guide to Gentlemen's Foibles - 1800s-1930s” features the must-haves for the gentleman-of-the-world in the 19th century. It contains images of actual advertisements, from Dunhills’ Bobby Finders - “Will spot a policeman at half a mile even if disguised as a respectable man” - to my favorite, The Acme Mustache Guard - “Solid Comfort While Eating. No Use for Napkins. Does not interfere with free use of mouth.” (LOL!) - and reads like a brochure. Think home TV shopping, only in book form.

The author also inserts amusing comments and trivia, like how the Prince of Wales served as the fashion icon of his time, even if he continued to commit several faux pas! An interesting glimpse into everyday life in the 19th century, and it makes one realize that men can be as vain about their looks as women.

(Since I started to keep a book diary I’ve found it easier to arrange my thoughts and impressions on the books I’ve read, so thanks to Marie for the inspiration!)

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