[Hot Off the Press] I am A Voice

New translation from the Ateneo Press I am A Voice compiles stories of nuanced humanity in a post-war Philippines

A new release from the Ateneo Press, I Am a Voice by Genoveva Edroza-Matute, translated for the first time into English by eminent literary scholar Soledad S. Reyes, compiles short stories and essays that showcase great command over the written word—weaving just the right amount of emotion and imagery in the exploration of the intricate lives of diverse characters. 

First published in 1952, Ako’y Isang Tinig introduced a distinct voice in the postwar Tagalog literary landscape. Edroza-Matute doesn’t waste her words. Each one is deftly used to move her narratives forward. She refrains from moralizing or displaying over-the-top emotion. She focuses on the characters’ experiences—how they feel and see the world with their limited and flawed perceptions, emphasizing the nuances in their humanity. One story follows a teacher as she watches the strange behavior of one of her students and must confront a heartbreaking truth in the end. Another story follows an unnamed young boy, his love for paper boats, and a devastating incident that changes his life forever. Another story follows a different teacher with a terrible secret that does not deter her from seeing the goodness that the world has to offer. Through Reyes’s translation, these carefully crafted stories are given new life for a modern audience.

I Am a Voice depicts the immensely distinct and realistic voices of the characters within it. It doesn’t shy away from exploring the horrors of postwar Philippines. It’s the perfect read for those who love complex characters and ambiguous endings that mirror the very world we live in. 

About the Author 

Born in Santa Cruz, Manila, in 1915, Genoveva Matute-Edroza was a celebrated storyteller, essayist, and lifelong educator. She is best known for her short story "Ang Kuwento ni Mabuti," included in this collection, which was the first Tagalog short story to win the Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature, making her the first Filipino woman to receive the prestigious award. After a distinguished career, she retired in 1980 as dean of the Filipino department at the Philippine Normal University. She passed away in 2009, leaving a legacy in Philippine literature and education. 

About the Translator 

Soledad S. Reyes is the country’s premier literary scholar and translator whose work focuses on revitalizing Tagalog classics such as the fiction of Rosario de Guzman-Lingat and Macario Pineda. She is the author of Nobelang Tagalog, 1905–1975: Tradisyon at Modernismo and the memoir Balik-Tanaw: The Road Taken, which won Best Book of Nonfiction Prose in English at the 42nd National Book Awards. She is professor emeritus at the Ateneo de Manila University.

I am A Voice by Genoveva Edroza-Matute, translated by Soledad S. Reyes is published by the Ateneo de Manila University Press under the Bughaw imprint. The book retails at PHP 495 and is available at the Ateneo University Press Bookshop in Bellarmine Hall, and the Press’s official Lazada and Shopee stores.

Get your copy in paperback: Website | Shopee and Lazada