Novels: Tatlong Gabi Tatlong Araw

Story by: Eros Atalia

VISPRINT

(4/5 ★★★★☆)

(Cover by Karen Francisco)

"MULA  TABLOID HANGGANG TV NETWORK, naibibigay ni Raymundo Mojica ang hinihingi sa kaniya ng industriya. Nagsimulang horoscope writer sa isang tabloid na may pinakamalaking sirkulasyon hanggang maging kilala sa paggawa ng documentary.

Bumalik siya sa kapistahan ng Brgy. Magapok, dahil na rin sa kahilingan ng namatay niyang ina, upang ilagay ang picture frame sa altar at isaboy ang kaunting abo sa kapatagang napalapit sa puso nito. Pagdating ni Mong (kanyang palayaw) sa probinsya ng Sta. Barbara na nakakasakop sa Brgy. Magapok, tutumbukin ito ng super typhoon. Nakipag-unahan si Mong sa bagyo para makarating agad nang ligtas sa Magapok.

Napuno ng kababalaghan at karahasan ang isa sanang simpleng kasiyahan ng tatlong araw na pista ng patron na si Sta. Barbara de Bendita. Isa-isang nawala ang mga alagang hayop at tao. Nasaksihan niya kung paanong kinain ng lupa ang isang buong baka. Nakipaghilahan siya kasama ng mga taga-Magapok laban sa isang kamay na humihila-pailalim sa isang bata. Nagawa niyang mai-record sa kaniyang camera ang daan-daang kataong hindi na nagising at pati na rin ang pag-agaw ng kung anong liwanag sa mga natitirang buhay sa Magapok.

Sa dinami-dami ng kaniyang teorya, mula sa pakikipagsabwatan ng mga minero sa bandido, ng rebelde sa sundalo, ng sinkhole, ng bio-chemical warfare hanggang sa alien abduction...naging mailap ang katotohanan sa isang tulad niyang mamamahayag na tagapaghatid o tagalikha ng katotohanan."

The Good:

The story of life in Barangay Magapok was neatly told through the eyes of Mong.

It is presented in the perspective of a journalist, hence, the documentary-like vibe that one could get from reading this novel. Setting up the horrors that Barangay Magapok would have to endure besides the approaching super typhoon, Atalia has made this story appear like an investigative research.

At first glance, it might just be a simple overview of disturbances in some communities that can usually be seen on documentaries such as illegal logging, illegal mining, bandits and rebels. It also takes a look at how some news are carried out. From the simple horoscope readings up to the big announcements made by politicians, there indeed is a bigger news revolving around the news reporter.

The Bad:

If one is really strick about grammar, such reader could find a couple of those in this novel.

The Verdict:

It really deserves the Carlos Palanca Memorial Award that this novel got for such type of story telling that the author has managed to give.

Tatlong Gabi Tatlong Araw can make one wonder as to how this novel might look like if it is adapted to the big screens via found footage type of story telling. If it fails, I'm sure it would work just fine if it was turned as a documentary type of film. Because that is how amazing the narrative was written here.

Although it might be hard to interview a Malakat for this film. This is an excellent work that will bring you to tears as the news report comes to an end.

"...matutulungan po nating mamulat at mag-isip ang masa kahit paano. Na hindi totoong ang kausap lang ng matalino ay kapwa matalino." - Mong