Our 36 Favorite Filipino Books of 2022
Decolonizing reading lists with titles penned by some of the most exciting Filipino authors here and abroad right now. From poetry, short stories, and essay collections to memoirs, comics, and novels, these works have been some of our favorite reads from the past year.
Pieces like these show us the most refreshing contemporary Filipino voices, exploring how such writers have reclaimed and even elevated languages. Each of them addresses a wide range of subjects—reflecting on the personal, political, cultural, etc.—that are as affecting as they are timely.
The books on the list come in no particular order, except for, say, some subconscious biases we may have had along the way. It's going to feel random and chaotic because, quite frankly, it is random and chaotic.
1| Yñiga by Glenn Diaz
Publisher: Ateneo de Manila University Press
Shortlisted for the 2020 Novel Prize, Glenn Diaz's latest novel, Yñiga, follows the life of Yñiga Calinauan, who finds her life upended when a retired army general wanted for the murder of peasants and activists in the countryside is captured across the street from her home. She returns to a small fishing town in hopes of regaining the quiet life she lost. Here, the terror she looks to escape follows her as she reckons with the "forest of memory" that haunts her family.
2| Joy: A Novel by Angelo R. Lacuesta
Publisher:Â Penguin Random House Southeast Asia
Multi-hyphenated fictionist (and Esquire Philippines editor-at-large) Angelo R. Lacuesta beautifully marries memory and intimacy with his first novel, Joy. The book revolves around adman Lucas Letreto, who receives an unexpected email from his absentee father, renaissance man Ariston Letreto. Our protagonist is forced to confront longing, identity, connection, and the lives of contemporary Filipinos scattered across space and time.
3|Â I was the President's Mistress!! by Miguel Syjuco
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Winner of the Man Asian Literary Prize for Ilustrado, Miguel Syjuco is back with this hilariously insightful satire about power, sex, and corruption. Equal parts protest and confession, this book has us learning of Vita Nova, a mistress of the country's conservative president, who faces impeachment. She bares all in this tell-all memoir in the most audacious of ways. We hear the animate of 13 voices, representing the various cross-sections of a conflicted people.
4| The End of All Skies by Vincent C. Sales
Publisher: Penguin Random House Southeast Asia
Vince C. Sales' The End of All Skies serves up an elaborate piece of contemporary fantasy based on Filipino mythology. We get to know about the city of Sun Girna Ginar, once ruled by a tyrant of a Sultan. The book catches the final days of the city's glory, as the powerless in the city rise up against gods and monsters. Here, we learn of its great fall through the perspectives of a hunter, a thief, and an exiled datu longing for atonement.
5|Â Bibliolepsy by Gina Apostol
Publisher:Â Soho Press
This explosive coming-of-age tale is brought to us by the multi-awarded Gina Apostol. Bibliolepsy is a Philippine National Book Award-winning book that weaves both historical, personal, and literary memory. It's an ode to modern-day Filipino literature and the fallacies of the revolution through the eyes of Primi Peregrino, who is caught in the middle of the brutal rule of Ferdinand Marcos. Indulgent, sexy, and spiritual, this book gives us an unorthodox take on the events that brought down the dictatorship.
6| Maqueda: mga usipon mula lawod hanggang baybayon by Nap I. Arcilla III
Publisher:Â Balangay Books
The recipient of the 22nd Madrigal Gonzalez Best First Book Award in Filipino, Nap I. Arcilla III's Maqueda: mga usipon mula lawod hanggang baybayon is a collection of short stories about the sea and the misfortunes of the people who call it home. We get a careful dissection of identity, language, consciousness, and storytelling in Arcilla's distinctive style, set across various regional tragedies in the Philippines.
7|Â Modus by Conchitina R. CruzÂ
Publisher:Â Paper Trails Projects
Cleverly sharp and compelling as ever, the 12 poems in Conchitina R. Cruz's Modus perhaps isn't the best introduction to the poet's work. It nevertheless espouses the best of what we've come to expect of Cruz: layers of rhetoric, scanty language, her textbook wit. The poems can be considered a critique of the genre itself in a sense. Classic Chingbee in form and structure.
8|Â How to Read Now by Elaine Castillo
Publisher:Â Viking
As one of the most dynamic young writers today, Elaine Castillo gives us another brilliant wake-up call with How to Read Now. The collection of essays takes us through the politics and ethics of reading. They also allow us to elevate the literary discourse by exposing the relationship between readers, writers, and the art form. Books as empathy machines? Castillo gives a strong criticism of such.
9|Â Bayan ng mga Bangkay by Chuckberry J. PascualÂ
Publisher: University of the Philippines Press
Chuckberry J. Pascual's Bayan ng mga Bangkay is an inquiry of sorts into our ideas about crime set in contemporary times. The collection of short stories gives us a grim view of the social realities in the Philippines. It captures the individual in social limbo, caught up in the cultural violence which we've normalized in popular culture, social media, politics, and the COVID-19 lockdown.
10|Â How to Stand Up to a Dictator: The Fight for Our Future by Maria RessaÂ
Publisher:Â Harper
In Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa's How to Stand Up to a Dictator: The Fight for Our Future, we learn about her journey into the heart of fascism and authoritarianism. The memoir chronicles Ressa's own experiences against disinformation, trolls, and more. There are also insights and advice from her coverage of the War on Drugs campaign, Brexit, Russian and Chinese cyber-warfare, and the dangers of social media monopolies, among others.
11|Â Isang Dekadang Resty by Jov Ortua Almero
Publisher: University of the Philippines Press
In Isang Dekadang Resty, author Jov Ortua Almero's coming-of-age story tells the exploits of a boy named Rusty from the age of 6 to 16. Resty, who is the only child of an impoverished family in the province, takes us into the deeper struggles of life in rural Philippines. In voyeuristic fashion, readers get to witness the great unraveling of Resty's social consciousness.
12|Â Brief Histories by Don Jaucian
Publisher:Â EVERYTHING'S FINE
CNN Philippines Features Director Don Jaucian's Brief Histories is a deeply personal and poignant criticism of the disenfranchisement of the LGBTQIA+ community. The collection of essays tells the stories of his own experiences as a member of the community growing up in his hometown Olangapo. It's a thoughtful analysis on identity, free spaces, and the burden of a queer person in Filipino society.
13|Â In the Line of Fire: Lectures by Joel Pablo Salud
Publisher:Â San Anselmo Publications, Inc.
Hard-hitting journalist Joel Pablo Salud offers a collection of talks and lectures he delivered in colleges and universities over the course of the past six years. With In The Line of Fire Lectures, the former editor-in-chief of the Philippines Graphic talks of subject matters as relevant as ever to the practice: journalism ethics and principles, the social responsibilities of journalists, and literature in an age of increased polarization.
14| How to Grieve by Jade Mark Capiñanes
Publisher:Â EVERYTHING'S FINE
A known satirist and essayist, Palanca Award winner Jade Mark Capiñanes' new collection of short stories captures the quirks, allegories, and nuances of grieving. There are 19 short stories talking of post-breakup kwek-kwek, an old flame's toothbrush, and the power of Jolly spaghetti, among others. Through first- and third-person narratives, the author shows us grieving as a farce.
15|Â Riverrun by Danton Remoto
Publisher: Anvil Publishing Inc.
Danton Remoto's novel Riverrun is a coming-of-age piece of literary fiction for every reader. It has us following the story of Danilo Cruz, a young gay man growing up in the middle of a dictatorship. It's interestingly shaped as a memoir, with vignettes, flash fiction, excerpts from poems, and the like. From the places he goes to to his attractions to the different men in his life, Danilo learns to transcend tolerance and move to a place of radical acceptance of his own identity.
16| Holding on by Sophia N. Lee
Publisher:Â Simon & Schuster
As the first Filipino picture book by Simon & Schuster, Sophia N. Lee's Holding On is a heartwarming novel about a young Filipino girl grappling with her grandmother's fading memory. Lee uses music as an instrument for remembering, as she recounts the singing that came to define her grandma's house. From songs by Sammy Davis Jr. and Dean Martin to Nora Aunor, Basil Valdez, and more, these pieces of music become a way to endure and connect.
17|Â A Tiny Upward Shove by Melissa Chadburn
Publisher:Â Farrar, Straus and Giroux
A Tiny Upward Shove is as stunning as a debut novel can get. Bordering on magical realism, this ambitious novel offers a glimpse into the wild and peculiar life of Marina Salles. The story is anchored on Chadburn's own understanding of her heritage. The protagonist relies on her grandmother's old Filipino folklore, with the aswang at the center. Her death (not really a spoiler) gives us a closer look at the transformative nature of connection, loss, survival, and justice.
18|Â Tinagong Dagat: Kuwento ng mga Batang Mangingisda by Riza G. Babaran
Publisher: University of the Philippines Press
Another finalist of the Madrigal Gonzalez First Book Award, Tinagong Dagat: Kuwento ng mga Batang Mangingisda by Riza G. Babaran is a compilation of 10 stories about young fisherfolk around the Philippines. The author herself is a graduate of BS Fisheries from the University of the Philippines Visayas, and was inspired by the stories of young boys and girls in coastal villages. Each child, despite being swept up in the seas of poverty, defends their right to dream.
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19| Lahat ng Nag-aangas ay Inaagnas by Paolo Tiausas
Publisher: Self-Published
Paolo Tiausas' Lahat ng Nag-aangas ay Inaagnas is a poetry collection that distorts the notions of what it means to be a man and other concepts of male angst. Bordering on the abstract, it challenges our conventional knowledge of male aggression and toxic masculinity. The National Book Awards Nominee for Poetry in Filipino criticizes the failures of manhood through personal, social, and historical reconciliation.
20|Â Sapantahang Wika by Virgilio S. Almario
Publisher: UST Publishing House
When we think of National Artist for Literature Virgilio S. Almario, we think of a poet who has long championed the power our languages. His latest book Sapantahang Wika is no different. The renowned critic, translator, and editor who is one of our greatest modernists picks apart the intersecting narratives of our local literature, culture, and history the way only Rio Alma can.
21|Â Homicide and Halo-Halo by Mia P. Manansala
Publisher: Berkley Books
The second installment of Mia P. Manansala's Tita Rosie's Kitchen mystery series, Homicide and Halo-Halo is a deliciously cozy read, to say the least. We get acquainted with our feisty protagonist Lila Macapagal a few months after the conclusion of Arsenic and Adobo. While she's recovering from the harrowing events that transpired, she faces a steep mental block and a new mystery: the head judge of the town's Miss Teen Shady Palms Beauty Pageant, which Lila had won a while back, has apparently been murdered. The main suspect? Her cousin-slash-rival, Bernadette.
22|Â Brown Girls by Daphne Palasi Andreades
Publisher: Random House
A New York Times Editor's Choice, Brown Girls by Daphne Palasi Andreades is a portrait of diaspora and collective memory set in New York. Wildly expressive and musical in her prose, Andreades' daring debut novel is endearingly brash, as it follows a group of women growing up in the outer borough of New York City. Here, she explores her ideas about class analysis, race, immigrant culture, and marginalization in America.
23|Â Ang mga iniiwan ng tubig by Jason Tabinas
Publisher:Â Ateneo de Manila University Press
Jason Tabinas comes into his own with Ang mga iniiwan ng tubig. We get poems about life in the countryside, set in the town of Bula, Camarines Sur. The collection is a portrayal of the personal and collective anxieties and devastation that comes with the rain, storm, floods, and heat.
24|Â Nothing Deep by Richard Bolisay
Publisher:Â EVERYTHING'S FINE
Richard Bolisay's second collection of essays is another profound meditation on Philippine cinema. In Nothing Deep, the film critic talks to various personalities in the industry, from stars and directors on set to beloved screen writers and filmmakers. He talks of vignettes of Filipino film in the 2010s, as well. It's a collection that puts together critique, nostalgia, and storytelling in the most beautiful of ways.
25| Duty Ka Ba? Komiks by Tepai Pascual
Publisher:Â Avenida Publishing House
See, we need something light from time to time as a palate cleanser. Duty Ka Ba? Komiks by Tepai Pascual is a fun read. The graphic novel about healthcare workers shows us an intimate portrait of life on the frontline. It's equal parts hilarity and tenderness.
26|Â Pugad para sa Aking Special Child, at Iba pang Pugad by Fanny A. Garcia
Publisher:Â Ateneo de Manila University Press
Written by Palanca Award-winning writer Fanny A. Garia, Pugad para sa Aking Special Child, at Iba pang Pugad is as deeply personal as it is political. The multi-genre book talks of Garcia's son, who is on the spectrum. It offers us a closer look into autism and the adjacent factors that shape caretakers in public and private spaces.
27|Â The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez
Publisher:Â Del Rey Books
As one of the best fantasy novels of the year, The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez is an epic folk tale that is clever, imaginative, and thrilling. It follows the story of two warriors as they shepherd an ancient god across broken land, where they look to end tyranny. The book is a dreamscape-y adventure that tackles legacy, identity, and more and is one hell of a saga.
28|Â Saglit: Alaala't Muni by Rofel Brion
Publisher: Ateneo de Manila University Press
Rofel G. Brion's Saglit: Alaala’t Muni functions as an extraordinary gaze at the mundane. Brion meditates on the most normal of things, from birthdays and meetings with friends to train rides from work. It's a refreshing collection of small stories that captures the beauty and terror of everyday life.
29|Â The Demo Versions by Aldus Santos
Publisher: EVERYTHING'S FINE
It's been a productive year for writer-musician Aldus Santos. After publishing his poetry collection Decroux Men, he gives us The Demo Versions, which is another must-read from the music journalist and critic. The book offers us a memoir and music critique that is both experimental and lyrical in its prose. It also provides us an innovative take on musical interpretation, in form, substance, and creation.
30|Â Chloe and the Kaishao Boys by Mae Coyiuto
Publisher:Â Putnam
Mae Coyiuto's Chloe and the Kaishao Boys is a delightfully endearing read. Moving, funny, and immersive, the book functions as a Filipino young adult rom-com of sorts. It follows the life of Chinese-Filipino Chloe, who finds herself one step closer to her dream of becoming an animator after getting off the University of Southern California waitlist. In the Philippines, however, she is burdened by family expectations, while in America, she faces relative uncertainty. It's a tale of love, friendship, becoming, and dream-building.
31| Kakatok-Katok Sa Bahay Ni Benok by Mon Sy
Publisher:Â CANVAS
Mon Sy and Faye Abantao's Kakatok-Katok Sa Bahay Ni Benok takes us into the grim realities of tokhang, with Benok and Sitio San Nikolas at the heart of it. Their journey shows us the power of the collective action, specifically the participation of children in our fight against tyrannical rule.
32|Â Of Myths And Men by Catherine DellosaÂ
Publisher:Â Penguin Random House
Catherine Dellosa has outdone herself this time with Of Myths And Men. The young adult novel has 18-year-old Ava grappling with the mythological creatures she’s only ever seen in video games. Since getting her hands on her first console, she's saved the world 152 times, in fact. But dealing with wendigos, mananaggals, foxes, centaurs, and aliens in real life proves to be a much more daunting challenge. Can she do it again?
33|Â The Sleepless by Victor Manibo
Publisher: Erewhon
Speculative fiction writer Victor Manibo serves us a hot piece of sci-fi literature with The Sleepless. Set in a world taken over by insomnia in New York City, the story is a dystopian thriller that has journalist Jamie Vega searching for answers. He investigates a controversial corporate takeover, on the eve of his boss's death. Our protagonist gets caught up in extremist groups, corporate interests, and, eventually, the cold-blooded truth.
34|Â Dauntless by Elisa A. Bonnin
Publisher:Â Swoon Reads
A rich and inventive epic fantasy, Dauntless by Elisa A. Bonnin is one of the more enjoyable and thrilling reads on this list. It introduces us to three girls who explore an unknown world, dealing with beasts left and right while they're at it. The book is a reimagining of myths, legends, and heroes, addressing notions of romance, friendship, generational trauma, and queer Filipino identities.
35|Â Deep in Providence by Riss M. Neilson
Publisher: Henry Holt
Riss M. Nelson's Deep in Providence is raw, magical, dark, and haunting. We can't use enough superlatives here. In Providence, Rhode Island, bestf riends Miliani, Inez, Natalie, and Jasmine have learned of the magic of their streets. They confront every inch in the community and do it with a little help from Miliani’s Filipino grandfather, who taught her a thing or two about spells. We're treated to a story that tackles love, family, immigration, addiction, sexuality, and religion, among other things.
36| The Mountain That Grew by Alfred A. Yuson
Publisher: San Anselmo Publications, Inc.
Alfred A. Yuson is at it again with The Mountain That Grew. It may be a children's story, but it carries itself with a cadence and maturity for Filipinos of all ages. The story is about the island of Manao, a deserted place where its inhabits leave for better lives elsewhere. Speaking of diaspora, magic, and heritage, it tells of a man named Ka Liser, who notices how the mountain is growing and embarks on a journey to find out why. It's a story that oozes with symbolism, mystery, and whimsy.
(Note: some of these were published before 2022 and had been republished this year, so we may have cheated a little bit).
