State Of War

A seemingly timeless festival is happening amidst a war that knows no end. This was the recurring image of this powerful novel by Ninotchka Rosca. Set in the Marcos era, a time of violence and turmoil, it displays the brutality and beauty of humanity in its cast of colorful characters scattered among the different timelines of Philippine history, from the period of Spanish rule to the American rule. On the island of K, a party …

…deeper agenda to his being in the festival at that time besides partying and parading. It would come as to no surprise if his presence there were related to the assault planned by Gueverra. The novel is filled with these imaginative and intriguing characters, contributing to the dark mood of the rich story that serves as a record of the history of the Philippines, from which Ninotchka Rosca spared no dark details in telling.