Published April 15, 2021, 11:01 AM
Celebrate National Literature Month with these free reads
Although we aren’t still out of the woods when it comes to the pandemic, April still holds many things to celebrate here in the Philippines, one of which is National Literature Month. This time, the spotlight is on Filipino authors and other literary treasures, whether autobiographical or pure fiction, a 500-paged book or artsy graphic novels.
Yes, graphic novels or comic books are now seen by many as a form of serious literature, not only because of the rise of superhero movies but because of its history of great storytelling that comes from the wild imagination of writers and talented illustrators. Locally, many periodicals and magazines in their golden days are filled with comic strips, exploring different themes such as societal issues, romance, and, topping it all off, Philippine folklore.
Courtesy Paolo Garcia
Paolo Garcia had a rough 2020, even by COVID standards. Around this time last year, Taal Volcano erupted, blanketing the Filipino musicianâs Laguna home in thick ashfall. Days after the volcanic fury, his father died. And two months later, the pandemic broke out.
His work didnât fare much better, either: the lockdowns cancelled virtually all his live gigs, shrunk his time with collaborators, and drove him out of sound studios and back to the corners of his home.
So itâs a miracle that Garcia managed the music calendar he did last year. He produced âMuling Kagatâ, a remixed rarities album of songs by Hotdog, the famed disco-funk band credited with birthing the Manila sound genre â and the group whose founding members happen to be his dad Dennis Garcia and uncle Rene Garcia.