BOOK OF THE WEEK #1: Rays of the Invisible Light:Collected Works by Young Moro Writers (Gutierrez Mangansakan II, Editor)
This would be the very first post for ONE-BOOK-A-WEEK CHALLENGE as mentioned in my post detailing the things that I might write about here in Steemit. Supposedly we are going to discuss Miguel Syjuco's Illustrado but I got hold of this book that we are going to talk about today and almost forgot that we need to discuss it for today. My bad. I was excited to read this book and put Illustrado away for a while. Don't worry, Illustrado is a book that we can't really put away forever. Next week, we will have Illustrado.
This book that made me stop reading a Man Asian Literary Prize winning work is a very rare kind of book. Not because there are no people who write books of this kind but it is not that well disseminated. I even doubt if this is available in all major bookstores in the country (better for 50 Shades of Shit, nasa National Bookstore pa). This book is called RAYS OF THE INVISIBLE LIGHT: Collected Works by Young Moro Writers, edited by Gutierrez Mangansakan II.
The anthology includes the works of Mohammad Nassefh Macla, Pearlsha Abubakar, Arifah Macacua Jamil, Zakiyyah Sinarimbo, Reinna Bermudez, Kristine Ong Muslim, Loren Hallilah Lao, Diandra-Ditma Macarambon, Janesa Mariam G. Ladjiman, Datu Shariff Pendatun III, Sahara Alia Silongan and Gutierrez Mangansakan II.
RAYS OF THE INVISIBLE LIGHT is an anthology of works by emerging and leading young Moro Writers in the Philippines. It expresses life in the lens of the Moros. This book tries to explore the issues of family peace, family, and relationships. What I like of this anthology is the sincerity and truthfulness of the authors. No pretensions. Just people who are very enthusiastic to share your stories to everyone. Like a friend whom you haven't heard for a while and you are right there willing to listen to all their joy, sorrow, anger, or pain. I should say that every Filipino must get hold of this book specially the younger ones.
As I slowly finishing the last pages of this book devouring every stories, one thought remained: the Moro-Christian conflict is superficial. Every conflict that the world have with any races, belief, or ideology is superficial. The book will remind us how pointless all conflicts we have in this world. We are all human! Remove all man-made divisions that we have (i.e religion, nationality, sexual orientation, wealth, educatuion, etc). It all boils down to us being part of one human race. So why wage war? Why kill your fellow brother for the sake of your greediness and self vested interests. The book itself is a living testimony to that claim.
I don't want to call this anthology as a Moro work but this is a literature that speaks the universal truth about us. A truth that is not limited to one particular group of people. If you are reading this, I encourage you to grab a copy.
Contact Bidadali Press at their official Facebook Page for your copies.
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thanks for this very informative blog, I look forward for your next blog @gilnambatac
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Hey glad you dropped this in our channel and as a fellow bibliophile I loved how you described it and will look for it in a local bookstore to support it.
Looking forward to other books that you will read.
Thanks! It is very hard to not talk about a good book. I know you understand how it feels. I hope we can do some book discussions on our book posts in the future. Or much better organize a book club here on steemit. :D That's cool.
Btw, for the book. You can contact the publisher directly. I think they will be very happy to send you a copy or two (The editor is also accommodating and kind).