My "Linggo ng Wika" Entry

I was a member/subscriber of FictionPress. I planned on publishing all my novels, short-stories, and poems there for like three years ago and actually I was able to post a few of those literaries there. I should have completely forgot the website now if not for this student who sent a review on one of my novels there - Empire of the Orient Pearl: Dark Times Rising.

It happened last last week when I was doing my rounds of checking each of my email accounts. I got this notification mail from FictionPress that someone gave a review for my work. I read the review and part of it was to ask my permission for her to use the novel for their school project and to give my pen name for it. She's from Miriam College. As part of their Buwan ng Wika celebration, they need to find an English novel made by a Filipino writer, and compose a literary paper for it.

I just find it cool how she'd chosen my story for her project over any other commercially published novels because as she said, "Those that I've found in bookstore are rather boring...".

Astig.

Well, at least, that made my day. Pang projects na pala ang kalibre ng mga sinusulat ko. Nyahaha. Hydrocephalus!

Anyway, I hope she'll do well with the novel and if she happened to pass around this blog I want you to know that you got the right choice! Nyahahaha.

On the other hand, the novel "Empire of the Orient Pearl: Dark Times Rising" is one of a series of novels I conceptualized as to be of alternative history-fantasy genre. It highlighted the events that happened during the Imperial Age of Man, when Holy Rome and City-State Sparta, Spain and Portugal, the Barbaric Tribes of Central Europe, and Feudal Japan flourished as central powers of their own protectorate territories. Along this timeline in history, my idea was to insert the question "What if the Southeast Asian region became one of these powers during those critical time in the civilization of Man?". "What if the Philippines became the central power behind this Empire?"

Such lead me to Bathala - the Imperial name of the Philippines with the Southeast Asian countries collectively under the Balangay ni Bathala (Bathalan Empire). The novels basically revolved around these ideas. Also, one x-factor of these novels perhaps is the fact that I experimented on applying the procedure I called cross-language technique in creative writing wherein the language used on the narrative will be different to the actual languages spoken on majority of the conversations in the stories. In my case, I used an English narration on Tagalog conversations.

Here's an excerpt from the novel:

Empire of the Orient Pearl: Dark Times Rising
Chapter 2 - "The Last Tribunal"

There was a feeling of tension within the walls of the Tribunal Amphitheater as the State Ambassadors together with their Magistrates and some minor administrative delegations congregated on the domed establishment. They have, at least, assumed some insights on the upcoming events upon taking notice of the Dugong crew members who were in full battle gear, present in the assembly. The Imperial Court rarely permitted personalities beyond government officials.

The amphitheater was at the edge of a sea cliff. Not far downhill, the formidable warship, Dugong, was set to sail at one of the Hukbong Layag waterfronts with its heaved hulking sails overshadowing the eerie full moon’s reflection on the calm waters of Laguna Lake. This too were evidently viewed by the curious statesmen from the structure’s large arched portico entry. Someone must be leaving or maybe Bathala was set for a military expedition, was most of them had presumed.

The commotion was cut short when a loud clanging sound from a large gong signified the preparations for formal commencement of the gathering and entry of the Emperor. Everyone inside the dome went into their proper places, rose, and silenced. The Ambassadors settled in the front banks with their Magistrates huddled behind them as the admin delegates situated themselves on the secondary tiers. The Dugong expedition team stood as spectators in the outer circle.

“Mga Maharlikang Kinatawan, Mahistrado, at miyembro ng mababang tribunal,” a hoarse voice paused as it announced, ”ang Datu ng Balangay ng Bathala!”

An entourage of six Kalasag entered the amphitheater followed by the Diwa and finally, the Datu, strangely clad in a commoner’s garment. Datu Silwas went straight ahead the rostrum as the weary Diwa seated behind him; the Kalasag encircled the majestically architectured podium.
The Emperor gestured for the audience to be seated.

“Kumalat na ang salot na sakit, marami na ang namatay sa gutom, wala pang lunas magpa-hanggang ngayon! Delikado tayong maubos sa sakit dito sa Balangay. Lulusob ang mga kaaway oras na malaman nila na mahina na ang ating kakayahang militar,” the Emperor gravely said upon standing on the pulpit, not wasting any time for futile introductions, “ilan lang ang mga iyan sa mga nalalapit na mangyayari.”

He stressed his voice. “Alam nating lahat na ang Brazilia ang may pinakamagagaling na albularyo sa mundo. Alam din nating lahat na matagal nang kaaway ng Balangay ang Kaharian na iyon. Gayon pa man,” the Datu took a deep breath and abruptly muttered, “magtutungo ako ng Brazilia.”

A multitude of murmurs reverberated among the stone wall of the dome. One of the Ambassadors, evidently from Sayam because of his traditional sarong, stood up and sympathetically said, “Delikado ang anumang pakikipagkasundo sa Kaharian ng Brazilia. Maraming bagay ang maaaring maitaya dito Kamahalan.”

Datu Silwas raised a hand to pacify the assembly. When the crowd appeased, he explicably stated, “Wala nang ibang paraan… kailangang makapagsaliksik ng lunas, at tanging mga albularyo lamang ng Brazilia ang may sapat na kakayahang gumawa nito. Ngunit, huwag kayong mag-alala, hindi ko kukunin ang lunas sa isang kasunduan, at mas lalo na sa isang digmaan…”

He gestured at his garments. “Magpapanggap akong isang mananaliksik na Indones. Tutungo ako doon kasama ang isang may sakit upang siya itong mapag-aralan. Bibilihin ko ang lunas at nang sa gayon ay makagawa ng maraming kopya nito ang ating mga albularyo.”
Vital moments passed as the Emperor continued discussing the plans. Many had shown empathy for him and contradicted the fact that he will be the one leaving for the expedition. The Datu explained why he had chosen to go, and the administrators were so much grateful for the Emperor’s courage.

****

Extra lang: Another review regarding this novel, also from FictionPress. Nakakataba ng puso. It's from Chunhyei and she said:

I Love It! Glad to see an epic of Pilipino proportions!Keep it up! Mabuhay! ^_^

My "Linggo ng Wika" Entry

I was a member/subscriber of FictionPress. I planned on publishing all my novels, short-stories, and poems there for like three years ago and actually I was able to post a few of those literaries there. I should have completely forgot the website now if not for this student who sent a review on one of my novels there - Empire of the Orient Pearl: Dark Times Rising.

It happened last last week when I was doing my rounds of checking each of my email accounts. I got this notification mail from FictionPress that someone gave a review for my work. I read the review and part of it was to ask my permission for her to use the novel for their school project and to give my pen name for it. She's from Miriam College. As part of their Buwan ng Wika celebration, they need to find an English novel made by a Filipino writer, and compose a literary paper for it.

I just find it cool how she'd chosen my story for her project over any other commercially published novels because as she said, "Those that I've found in bookstore are rather boring...".

Astig.

Well, at least, that made my day. Pang projects na pala ang kalibre ng mga sinusulat ko. Nyahaha. Hydrocephalus!

Anyway, I hope she'll do well with the novel and if she happened to pass around this blog I want you to know that you got the right choice! Nyahahaha.

On the other hand, the novel "Empire of the Orient Pearl: Dark Times Rising" is one of a series of novels I conceptualized as to be of alternative history-fantasy genre. It highlighted the events that happened during the Imperial Age of Man, when Holy Rome and City-State Sparta, Spain and Portugal, the Barbaric Tribes of Central Europe, and Feudal Japan flourished as central powers of their own protectorate territories. Along this timeline in history, my idea was to insert the question "What if the Southeast Asian region became one of these powers during those critical time in the civilization of Man?". "What if the Philippines became the central power behind this Empire?"

Such lead me to Bathala - the Imperial name of the Philippines with the Southeast Asian countries collectively under the Balangay ni Bathala (Bathalan Empire). The novels basically revolved around these ideas. Also, one x-factor of these novels perhaps is the fact that I experimented on applying the procedure I called cross-language technique in creative writing wherein the language used on the narrative will be different to the actual languages spoken on majority of the conversations in the stories. In my case, I used an English narration on Tagalog conversations.

Here's an excerpt from the novel:

Empire of the Orient Pearl: Dark Times Rising
Chapter 2 - "The Last Tribunal"

There was a feeling of tension within the walls of the Tribunal Amphitheater as the State Ambassadors together with their Magistrates and some minor administrative delegations congregated on the domed establishment. They have, at least, assumed some insights on the upcoming events upon taking notice of the Dugong crew members who were in full battle gear, present in the assembly. The Imperial Court rarely permitted personalities beyond government officials.

The amphitheater was at the edge of a sea cliff. Not far downhill, the formidable warship, Dugong, was set to sail at one of the Hukbong Layag waterfronts with its heaved hulking sails overshadowing the eerie full moon’s reflection on the calm waters of Laguna Lake. This too were evidently viewed by the curious statesmen from the structure’s large arched portico entry. Someone must be leaving or maybe Bathala was set for a military expedition, was most of them had presumed.

The commotion was cut short when a loud clanging sound from a large gong signified the preparations for formal commencement of the gathering and entry of the Emperor. Everyone inside the dome went into their proper places, rose, and silenced. The Ambassadors settled in the front banks with their Magistrates huddled behind them as the admin delegates situated themselves on the secondary tiers. The Dugong expedition team stood as spectators in the outer circle.

“Mga Maharlikang Kinatawan, Mahistrado, at miyembro ng mababang tribunal,” a hoarse voice paused as it announced, ”ang Datu ng Balangay ng Bathala!”

An entourage of six Kalasag entered the amphitheater followed by the Diwa and finally, the Datu, strangely clad in a commoner’s garment. Datu Silwas went straight ahead the rostrum as the weary Diwa seated behind him; the Kalasag encircled the majestically architectured podium.
The Emperor gestured for the audience to be seated.

“Kumalat na ang salot na sakit, marami na ang namatay sa gutom, wala pang lunas magpa-hanggang ngayon! Delikado tayong maubos sa sakit dito sa Balangay. Lulusob ang mga kaaway oras na malaman nila na mahina na ang ating kakayahang militar,” the Emperor gravely said upon standing on the pulpit, not wasting any time for futile introductions, “ilan lang ang mga iyan sa mga nalalapit na mangyayari.”

He stressed his voice. “Alam nating lahat na ang Brazilia ang may pinakamagagaling na albularyo sa mundo. Alam din nating lahat na matagal nang kaaway ng Balangay ang Kaharian na iyon. Gayon pa man,” the Datu took a deep breath and abruptly muttered, “magtutungo ako ng Brazilia.”

A multitude of murmurs reverberated among the stone wall of the dome. One of the Ambassadors, evidently from Sayam because of his traditional sarong, stood up and sympathetically said, “Delikado ang anumang pakikipagkasundo sa Kaharian ng Brazilia. Maraming bagay ang maaaring maitaya dito Kamahalan.”

Datu Silwas raised a hand to pacify the assembly. When the crowd appeased, he explicably stated, “Wala nang ibang paraan… kailangang makapagsaliksik ng lunas, at tanging mga albularyo lamang ng Brazilia ang may sapat na kakayahang gumawa nito. Ngunit, huwag kayong mag-alala, hindi ko kukunin ang lunas sa isang kasunduan, at mas lalo na sa isang digmaan…”

He gestured at his garments. “Magpapanggap akong isang mananaliksik na Indones. Tutungo ako doon kasama ang isang may sakit upang siya itong mapag-aralan. Bibilihin ko ang lunas at nang sa gayon ay makagawa ng maraming kopya nito ang ating mga albularyo.”
Vital moments passed as the Emperor continued discussing the plans. Many had shown empathy for him and contradicted the fact that he will be the one leaving for the expedition. The Datu explained why he had chosen to go, and the administrators were so much grateful for the Emperor’s courage.

****

Extra lang: Another review regarding this novel, also from FictionPress. Nakakataba ng puso. It's from Chunhyei and she said:

I Love It! Glad to see an epic of Pilipino proportions!Keep it up! Mabuhay! ^_^