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I first encountered Without Seeing the Dawn back in high school where we were tasked, I think in our English subject, to read acclaimed classic literary works by some Filipino writers and pass a reaction paper afterwards. It is a war novel set in the Japanese period and tells of the grim experiences of Filipino during that era. While reading it I was so amused because there would be descriptions of some places of downtown Iloilo City during the Japanese era. And so I couldn't help but imagine what the Iloilo National High School looked way back then as this is one of the places described in the novel.
I have a copy of Without Seeing the Dawn but I couldn't find it anymore. Hmph! :)
SUMMARY
Without Seeing the Dawn was set in a small farming village called Manhayang in Santa Barbara, Iloilo. The residents of the barangay were living their simple life when the violence of war reached their place and brought death and suffering. Ricardo Suerte, the young son of Juan Suerte wanted to marry Lucia (nicknamed "Lucing"), the daughter of the teniente del barrio. Although Ricardo's father wished to send him to school, the blessing to marry was given and the traditional asking the hand custom known as the pamamanhikan was done. Ricardo built a house for him and his wife on the land that was entrusted to Ricardo's father by Don Diego (a landlord) despite the advice of the elderly that building one's house in May will bring misfortune. Soon after, misfortune struck: their first child was stillborn, Lucia had an affair with Luis, the son of Don Diego, and the land the Suerte's had been tilling was given to another tenant. The couple went to Iloilo City where Ricardo met fellow stevedore and union member Nestong and Rosing, a prostitute. Lucia left Ricardo because of Rosing. Ricardo followed Lucia who was then in Badlan after receiving news that Lucia was pregnant and that the representante (representative) entrusted them with a land to till. They named their son Crisostomo. Misfortune came again because their landlord sold the land they were tilling, and a flood destroyed their harvest and killed their carabao. They went to Mindanao to find a land to own. However, Ricardo was drafted for military service. Upon his return, Lucia was pregnant but his father and their son died. At first he was not told the truth, the real reason why his father and son died was because they were killed by Japanese soldiers, not by illness. His wife was also raped by the Japanese occupiers. He was angered after knowing the truth and became an enemy executioner. Because of Ricardo's behavior, Lucia sent him away. When the Japanese invaders ordered the people to go to a designated barrio to be identified as non-guerrillas, the Manhayang villagers evacuated the area, except for Lucia who wanted to wait for Ricardo who would be leading the "suicide attack" at the enemies' garrison. When they met, Ricardo asked for Lucia's forgiveness but said farewell after giving Lucia some money. Lucia refused and stayed even if she had to welcome back Ricardo as a corpse.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Stevan Javellana (or Esteban Javellana) is from LaPaz, Iloilo City during the American-Japanese era. He graduated from UP College of Law and migrated to the United States in 1945 and two years after produced the novel which became his first and only novel written in English. His short stories though were published in the 50's Manila Times Magazine.
Without Seeing the Dawn (The Lost Ones), as mentioned, became a bestseller in US and Manila and has received praises from the New York Times, New York Sun, Chicago Sun, and fellow Filipino writers.
In 1976 the novel was adapted into a movie by the famous director Lino Brocka with the title Santiago! which starred Fernando Poe Jr. and Hilda Koronel.
See part of the movie below. Movie by onenamedjuan through youtube.
Some links about Stevan Javellana and Without Seeing the Dawn
Javellana: Did He Die Without Seeing the Dawn?
Without Seeing the Dawn
Philippine Literature
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ReplyDeletevery inspiring.
ReplyDeleteHi, just wanted to ask what did Rosing (the prostitute) say/do that encouraged Lucia to leave her husband?
ReplyDeleteit was because of what Carding did that Lucing left. He lied to Lucing that he was going to attend a meeting with the union he was a part of but instead he went to Rosing and escorted her to what i think was a bar where she was working. He slept with her, returned home early morning and had a quarel with Lucing. She questioned him of what he really did that night but he answered she had nothing to do with is and in terms of women, he could do whatever he wanted.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the comparison of past and present society based on this story?
ReplyDelete