Ilustrado (Miguel Syjuco, 2008)
The back cover of the book says:
"To understand the death (of his teacher, Crispin Salvador), Miguel scours his teacher's life, piercing together Salvador's story through his poetry, interviews, novels, polemics, and memoirs. The result is a rich and dramatic family saga of four generations, tracing 150 years of Philippine history forged under the Spanish, the Americans, and the Filipinos themselves. Finally, we are suprised to learn that this story belongs to Miguel as much as to his lost mentor, and we are treated to an unhindered view of a society caught between reckless decay and hopeful progress."
Miguel (in the story) patches up the life story of his mentor, his own, and of his Motherland, while Ilustrado tries to unravel and solve the enigma that is the Philippines--the Philippine literature and all its potential, the Filipino people themselves, and the despondent country that holds them together.
The mere premise of Syjuco's debut novel excited me but I wasn't honestly prepared for the awe-inspiring story it truly is. It is wrought with themes adeptly ingrained, thoroughly witty, and possesses a pleasant brand of humour that takes the reader by surpise at times. With a host of narrative devices and techniques, with brilliant use of language, Ilustrado sets out to be a work of fiction that is both complex and aggressive. A truly remarkable and splendid read crafted by an undeniable lit virtuoso.
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