Women's Month Reading List: Fiction

Everyone has a story to tell. But in reality, not all stories are treated equally. This March, we spotlight women fictionists and their contributions to the development of literature within and beyond the Philippines. Through their work, we are given fresh perspectives on myths and folktales, history and the present, the ordinary and the extraordinary. They emphasize the necessity of inclusive spaces for storytelling. Stories that are written by women, in all their diverse genres, must be celebrated beyond this month. If want to join this endless celebration, we compiled a list of books by women you can start with: 

Song of the Mango and Other New Myths by Vida Cruz-Borja

If you’re looking for folklore and myths but with a twist. . .

Vida Cruz-Borja’s short story anthology conjures up magical worlds that mirror the complexities of heart-warming and heart-breaking realities. What if a diwata served human heartbreak at a cafe? What if a mangkukulam sold you ink that lets you write your ideal lovers into life? Can a woman and a kapre fall in love? This book has fantastical answers to these fantastical questions.

Heroes, Villains, and Other Women by Kate Osias

If you want characters that take charge of their destinies. . .

Imagine what Gabriela Silang felt before her execution, did she regret her choice to fight for her country’s freedom? Imagine you woke up one day and your heart was stolen, will you look for it despite the dangers this journey may entail? Imagine Leonora from Ibong Adarna, did she just wait around for a prince to return to her? Kate Osias doesn’t box her women characters into archetypes: hero or villain. Each has the choice to be either or both, choices that make stories that can’t help but be interesting.

Tales from the Southern Kingdom by Virginia M. Villanueva

If you’re interested in stories that have been passed down through generations . . .

Dr. Virginia M. Villanueva has spent her life absorbing Tausug and Sama stories from her family and her patients. In this book, she reworks them for young people all over the archipelago, to encourage appreciation of such rich cultures. Read about the magical lives and adventures of princes, princesses, sultans, datus, mermaids, and witches that will surely fill you with childlike wonder. 

What It Means To Be Malaya by Emmily Magtalas Rhodes

If you’re looking for a story about self-discovery. . .

Emmily Magtalas Rhodes explores the quintessential struggles of youth: How do you find who you are when there are so many standards telling you what you should be?  Bunny, an introvert with a strict mother, can’t help but compare herself to the popular and attractive Malaya. But this is not a story about teenage girl rivalry, it is a social commentary on our image-centric society, one that pits people against one another in a competition for beauty and success, at the expense of what is true. 

Broken Islands by Criselda Yabes

If you like characters with unbreakable spirits. . .

Women are no strangers to tragedy. And though they persist, that doesn’t mean it is easy. This novel focuses on two women in the alternate universe Cebu after Typhoon Yolanda.  Luna is part of the wealthy Cimafranca family and Alba works for them. Separated by their differing economic backgrounds, they are connected by their agency during love and loss, as well as their enduring ability to see beauty despite the pain. 

The Collaborators by Katrina Tuvera

If you're fascinated by morally gray characters. . . 

History, and the people within them, are never as simple or as easy to understand as we want them to be. Carlos Armando looks back at his life, from the war to martial law and its aftermath. Katrina Tuvera delves into the instances of collaboration and complicity in our colonial past and how they molded the country as we know it today. How did certain Filipinos navigate morality when faced with dire realities? What are the truths they knew and what are the lies they wanted to believe? 

Canal de la Reina by Liwayway A. Arceo 

If you want to read a classic. . . 

Canal de la Reina delves into the battle between the fictional De Los Angeles and Marciel families, a battle not fought with fists but with lies and manipulation. Their power struggle intensifies when the land they both stake claim to is devastated by a flood. Mga Piling Katha is a collection of the renowned writer’s most notable works, ones that infuse difficult realities with emotions that pierce through the heart. The works of Liwayway A. Arceo are classics that continue to criticize the societal cancers that plague our country to this day. 

The Ravaged World: Short Fiction of Rosario de Guzman-Lingat, Translated from the Filipino by Soledad Reyes 

If you want stories without happy endings. . .

Rosario de Guzman-Lingat doesn’t shy away from writing about the horrors of history that have wounded ordinary Filipinos. A weary war veteran watches young activists fight for freedom, a fight that he too once fought. A young boy faces real-life monsters: neglect, abuse, and poverty. Through her stories, Guzman-Lingat dares readers to meet the eyes of ugly truths. Soledad S. Reyes’s translation of her work amplifies these truths so that they may never be forgotten.

The press continues its commitment to publishing fiction that experiments and pushes the boundaries of genre. This women’s month, we hope that you join us as we uplift narratives written by women—with the hope that more to join their ranks.