Reportage on Lovers (1977) | Nick Joaquin
As the caption written on the title below says; it's a "medley of factual romances, happy or tragical, most of which made news."
The first stories I wasn't sure if these were actual true stories. It seemed almost like a Gabriel Garcia Marquez plot.
Reading it now in 2016, some names seemed familiar; BenCab, the Aranetas, the Laurels. Others are some of which one will not usually learn in history class; though they may have made quite a stir at the time.
It's an interesting insight on the toils and spoils of love. We oftentimes forget love transcends time. I wouldn't have known that the stories were from the 1960's-1970's if it wasn't stated. They could easily pass as today's stories.
It seems love transcends distance and race as well. One is about a Japanese girl and a Filipino boxer. Another about a Yugoslav and a Filipina ballet dancer. Interesting ones also from a Colombian Miss International, an Irish American, and a German Baroness all partnering up with Filipino men.
It does present its own tragedies: an unsolved murder, infidelity, being torn between subversion and in-group loyalty.
The classic boy meets girl remains a staple for the romantic.
Some excerpts from the book:
The first stories I wasn't sure if these were actual true stories. It seemed almost like a Gabriel Garcia Marquez plot.
Reading it now in 2016, some names seemed familiar; BenCab, the Aranetas, the Laurels. Others are some of which one will not usually learn in history class; though they may have made quite a stir at the time.
It's an interesting insight on the toils and spoils of love. We oftentimes forget love transcends time. I wouldn't have known that the stories were from the 1960's-1970's if it wasn't stated. They could easily pass as today's stories.
It seems love transcends distance and race as well. One is about a Japanese girl and a Filipino boxer. Another about a Yugoslav and a Filipina ballet dancer. Interesting ones also from a Colombian Miss International, an Irish American, and a German Baroness all partnering up with Filipino men.
It does present its own tragedies: an unsolved murder, infidelity, being torn between subversion and in-group loyalty.
The classic boy meets girl remains a staple for the romantic.
Some excerpts from the book:
"Now when in his letters to her he said "I love you," he knew he meant it. It was not love at first sight but love on second thought, not love upon acquaintance but love on recollection."
"... for that first year of theirs together seemed one long summer, a summer with a thousand July's. Its steady burning was their enlightenment and they saw themselves at last in its light: "two people in love, walking around together, riding out to the countryside together, going off on excursions or to other cities for theater and opera, doing the usual things two people in love do."
