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By Chatty Bella
The adventure that is part and parcel of
Philippine history is full of colorful tales and tribulations of
eras succumbing to change and generations borne of a cultural
richness moved by a distinctive clash, mix, and adaptation of global
influences. Bookworms and escapists alike can delve into times of
yore and explore the adventure-laden period chronicled by noted
author, Carmen Guerrero Nakpil.
A year after the fans of Myself, Elsewhere, by
Carmen Guerrero Nakpil, relished the first volume of her
autobiography, they will have their curiosity rewarded with the
publication of its sequel, Legends & Adventures. The new book
retains the sharp observations, the charm and fine writing of the
earlier volume which dealt on the town of Ermita, the author’s
early years and the devastation of World War II while adding the
fast-paced excitement of post-war Manila, rebuilt and independent,
as the Sin City of the Far East, where the young war widow covers
the hard news and survives new perils.
“A new life is riskier than the old one, as
any tatterdemalion survivor will tell you,” she writes of herself.
“The steely rules of old Ermita are gone and the only etiquette is
Dog Eat Dog.” As an assertive, impudent journalist she moves
through several decades of “Legends” (the politicians, writers,
artists and celebrities) and “Adventures” in newsrooms,
communes, palaces and hovels in New York, Tripoli, Florence,
Beijing, Kazakhstan and Paris, always just a step ahead of all kinds
of danger. But she’s also a working mother, a public servant and
first of all, a writer.
Legends & Adventures has more pages, 50 more
photos, and a clever Andy Warholesque portrait on its cover, which
is a nod to the eight lives she has had since 1945.
Both Myself, Elsewhere (winner of the National
Book Award 2007, Manila Critics Circle) and Legends & Adventures
are now available at National Bookstore, Powerbooks and Fully
Booked.
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