a deeper study of Subanons, A Novel by Antonio Enriquez

Subanons
A Novel By Antonio Reyes Enriquez
Presented by: Dorcas Menoc – Bandiala
Presented to: Dr. Anthony L. Tan
March 20, 2009
Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology

About the Novel
Subanons, Published in 1993 depicts the lives of the Subanons in Mindanao at the height of the government’s military campaign against NPAs. The Subanons are not merely caught in this crossfire; they are singled out as the primary casualties of war. Their days are fraught with a violence against which their only recourse are their values and their gods.
Background and Overview of the Novel
The novel Subanons by Antonio Reyes Enriquez is a fact-based occurring in the Zamboanga Peninsula, Mindanao during the Marcos’ regime. At a surface level, the main theme is to expose the conflicting situation of the Subanons being sandwiched between NPAs demand for revolutionary taxes and the Military’s inhuman and unjust killing of innocent residents of the Zamboanga Peninsula. Other themes could include the tension between solidarity and individuality, between rational and emotional reactions, preservation of cultural and personal values and strong faith in their gods amidst the terror of torture and death.
In the novel, Subanons, adults and children were tortured mercilessly and brutally killed by military with high powered rifles creating holes on helpless bodies. It happened after the brave Datu was executed by the guerillas. Atrocious killings followed after the datu’s nephew was caught with a WWW II grenade vintage which he brought with him to show off to his friends. The boy was made to name names that should be included in the hotlist as rebels. The Mayor of that town ordered the murder of all these people in the list.


The Author
Antonio Enriquez (A. R. Enriquez)
Ramiroville, A. Ramiro Street
Carinugan, Barrio Balulang
Cagayan de Oro City 9000
Misamis Oriental Province,
Philippines

Tel. No. (088) 233-2952
Email: antonio_e36@yahoo.com

Born and raised in Zamboanga City--A (Antonio) R (Reyes) Enriquez is the author of several books of short stories and novels. He has been published in his homeland, the Philippines, and regarded as the first Filipino fictionist writing in his homeland to break into foreign publication with his short story collection, "Dance a White Horse to Sleep and Other Stories," and Carlos Palanca grand prize "Surveyors of the Liguasan Marsh"--both published by UQP, Queensland, Australia, the latter in 1977. His short stories have been translated to Korean, German, French, and Chabacano.

It was his fearful and unforgettable experience in Liguasan Marsh in Maguindanao that likely started his career as a novelist; Liguasan Marsh was the setting of his first novel, “Surveyors of the Liguasan Marsh.” However, his “happiest and most memorable times” in his grandfather’s land in a coastal village of Labuan, west of Zamboanga city, which encouraged him to write about farmers, fishermen, and the common folks. Labuan village is the setting of most of his stories; He is a much awarded writer, among the notable awards: UMPHIL; U.P. National Fellow for Literature lifetime award; S.E.A. Write Award, Hawthornden International Retreat for Writers Fellowship; and Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Award in Literature, for the short story and its grand prize for the novel categories, English division.
He and his wife Joy, with their five grandchildren, now live in Cagayan de Oro City.
Author: A.R. Enriquez**A Palanca Award Laureate

Characters:

Amado Bualan (Datu): The Protagonist in the story – he and the rest of the Bualans are actually the protagonists in the story. They belong to the Subanon tribe whose desire is to attain peace, order and freedom among their tribe. He is a barrio leader who was executed for not giving in to the rebels' demands.

Subanon：The protagonist in the story, the oppressed tribe both by the rebels and the military

Alawi:The Nephew of Amado Bualan and Manang Rosing who was arrested for bringing a hand grenade

Manang Rosing:The wife of the difuncto Datu Amado Bualan

Mayor Jose Lim: The Tyrant mayor who sought for revenge for his rejection in the past

Major Demosthenes Dulla:The Military leader of the 10th IB in Guipos, Zamboanga Peninsula who takes and gives order from his tyrant leaders

Mr. & Mrs. Rodriguez:A Professor Researcher from Zamboanga City State University whose intention was to study and preserve the ancestry of the Subanon Tribe

Military:The front liners and the executors of violence and oppression

Commander Ka Oca:The leader of the rebel troops who demands not only to the government but also oppresses the civilians. He ordered and executed the death of Datu Amado Bualan.

Shamman Tampilis:A man who was believed to have supernatural powers, who saved the corpse of Vice – Mayor Ginaya for a respectable burial.

Dr. Bualan:The doctor who was accused as a witch doctor. He was also in the list of people to be murdered as member of the Bualan clan. He wasn’t killed though because the soldiers were scared of him thinking he was a witch doctor.

Vice – Mayor Ginaya:One of the Bualans. He was also murdered

Balat: Vice – Mayor Ginaya’s Buddy who was also murdered ahead of him.

Mr. Ramos:BIR Collector who was willing to bribe the oppressor in case he will be harassed by giving them his BIR Tax collections

Farmer Rigid:the farmer who was brutally tortured because military accused him of spying the soldiers for the communist rebels

Sigbe:a widow who went to see Kalinga

Kalinga:The 3rd wife of Shamman Tampilis

Binay: The wife of Mayor Jose Lim
Puring Bugao:The woman whom Mayor Jose Lim wanted to marry

Myna:The mother of Puring Bugao

Bungi: The toothless outlaw whom Amado Bualan went to talk out with regarding the release of the village cattle

Nuay Sapatos:the Shoe-less ones who collect revolutionary taxes from the Subanon people

Setting:

The story takes place in Zamboanga peninsula, in July 1985, where the dictatorship of President Marcos was about to end. About 400 nautical miles from the metropolitan city, somewhere in Guipos, in Zamboanga Del Sur, Mindanao, was the camp of the 10th IB Army Unit. It was dark and gloomy, nighttime to be exact; the Subanon Village chief walked his way to the soldiers’ bunk which seemed like empty and dilapidated. Inside the bunkhouse, he saw through the windows across the ladder three armed soldiers in camouflage brutally beating a naked man, which he undoubtedly recognize as Rigid, a farmer in the village who came to the camp earlier to look for his lost farm animal. Unfortunately, the soldiers suspected him to be allegedly a member of the communist group, or rebel. This rebel group is better known as NPA or New People’s Army. The Datu or the chieftain of the Subanon tribe was there and saw the maltreatment and humiliation that the soldiers had inflicted upon their suspect. The room was unventilated and damp yet inside the datu’s heart was burning like coal. The barracks, where the soldiers stay was filled with darkness. Other soldiers who were already drunk were already snoring hard on their beds. There is a strange atmosphere of helplessness, hatred and humiliation that envelopes the suspect, now a victim, and the witness who was ironically the leader of the tribe but couldn’t do anything to save the man who was being badly beaten. Until finally when the soldiers were tired of hitting hard Rigid did they give up and continued in their drinking that Amado, the Datu, helped the man up and brought him out of the barracks. He was sent home by Datu. He left him at the dark side of his home. He left immediately so as to not aggravate the debasement that the man was feeling for himself after that humiliating torture and unjust action.

PLOT
Exposition
The book begins showing the shameful and humiliating torture of a farmer, Rigid, by the Military men at the station. At the onset of the story, we could see brutal tortures and unlawful inhuman beatings of the civilian man, again, Rigid. The soldiers beat him as he was suspected to be a rebel, an NPA who was accordingly spying on them. The farmer insisted he was just looking for his lost carabao. Shortly after, the cruel and abusive soldiers took basinful slops and innards of carabao and were forced by the soldiers through his mouth which caused him to throw up vehemently afterwards. The Datu saw this but was unable to help or save him from the military hands. After the torture, the soldiers returned to drinking again and left the almost lifeless man naked. The Datu helped him out, fast and quick and brought him home. The Datu, Amado Bualan had to shade himself in the dark so that the wife will not see him. He intentionally did that to protect Rigid from total humiliation and embarrassment. Amado Bualan was sure that he would all the more feel the humiliation if his wife will know that someone else saw his nakedness and what he has gone through. It will debase his manhood.

Rising Action
In the beginning of the novel, Farmer Rigid was brutally tortured. Despite his innocence, the military continued to debase him and humiliate by stripping off his clothes. He was accused of spying on the soldiers for the rebels which accuses he adamantly denied and refuted because he was just looking for his lost carabao. But his reasons were never heard out. He was still beaten and tortured.

Complications
The persistent coming of the communist rebels to collect the peoples’ revolutionary taxes which were refused by the villagers has added problem to the villagers.

Conflict
Subanons were squeezed between the pressures from NPA’s and the atrocities of the Dictator’s soldiers. The execution of Datu Amado Bualan by Commander Ka Oca. Datu Bualan was being judged as having committed crimes against his people thus created a conflict among the Subanon Tribe.

Major Conflicts were:
Rigid vs. Soldiers – when he was tortured by the soldiers
Amado Bualan vs. Commander Ka Oca – when he was executed
Amado Bualan vs. villagers – during the council meeting
Alawi vs. soldiers – when he was arrested
Bualans vs. Mayor Jose Lim – when he ordered the murder of all the members of the
Bualan family

Climax
The boys captivity and the death of all those members of the Bualan family, including the murder of the innocent victims as a result of the military zoning, the unjust military killings of Balat and the Vice Mayor Ginaya.

Falling Action
Shamman Tampilis took the corpse of Vice mayor Ginaya from the stage platform at the plaza and brought it home with him to be given proper burial when others had chosen not to get in between but he did so without fear.

Denouement
The hope for peace and freedom from the dictator’s hands that they did not see await them in the morrow.

In the final scene of the book, there was the conversation between the two women, one a widow and the other the wife of Shamman Tampilis. They were concern about what could possibly happen athe next day.
A hint of the author's intention can be found in the final description of the mountain ranges of MT. Guillian and the setting of the sun that like hope it will come the next day, shining bright like the sun.

Summary
Part 1
Chapter 1: The torture of Farmer Rigid
It was dark and gloomy, nighttime to be exact; the Subanon Village chief walked his way to the soldiers’ bunk which seemed like empty and dilapidated. Inside the bunkhouse, he saw through the windows across the ladder three armed soldiers in camouflage brutally beating a naked man, which he undoubtedly recognize as Rigid, a farmer in the village who came to the camp earlier to look for his lost farm animal. Unfortunately, the soldiers suspected him to be allegedly a member of the communist group, or rebel. This rebel group is better known as NPA or New People’s Army. The Datu or the chieftain of the Subanon tribe was there and saw the maltreatment and humiliation that the soldiers had inflicted upon their suspect. The room was unventilated and damp yet inside the datu’s heart was burning like coal. The barracks, where the soldiers stay was filled with darkness. Other soldiers who were already drunk were already snoring hard on their beds. There is a strange atmosphere of helplessness, hatred and humiliation that envelopes the suspect, now a victim, and the witness who was ironically the leader of the tribe but couldn’t do anything to save the man who was being badly beaten. Until finally when the soldiers were tired of hitting hard in Rigid did they give up and continued in their drinking that Amado, the Datu, helped the man up and brought him out of the barracks. He was sent home by Datu. He left him at the dark side of his home. He left immediately so as to not aggravate the debasement that the man was feeling for himself after that humiliating torture and unjust action.

Chapter 2: The Slaughtering of Dogs
Weeks later after Rigid’s beating, Lapuyan Municipality, specifically the Karpok Village, was confronted with another problem when one night, a little before midnight the dogs all over the village were howling and barking. The people were awakened by their noise. Datu Amado Bualan, light sleeper as he is, was the first to wake up moments later. He was suspecting that the “nuay sapatos” or “the shoe-less ones” , referring to the communist rebels were stealthily creeping to the village under the cover of darkness since the barrio failed to “contribute” as revolutionary tax which is half of their crops, animals and fowl. Manang Rosing, Datu Bualan’s wife was scared started to worry as she packed some things to escape when worse comes to worst. The dogs’ barking was louder and restless. Manang Rosing was in terror because it was as if they were also hearing footsteps but couldn’t exactly figure out if there were really people coming into their homes. They were preparing themselves to escape in case rebels will barge in their homes. The family was helpless with Datu Amado being unarm except for his almost century old WW II hand grenade which may not even explode and a kampilan, and an old long bolo, about two-generation old which he inherited from his father.
A quarter of an hour had passed or maybe less, the surroundings had gone back to silence but still the Datu couldn’t tell his terror and fear. This time, with the silence of the night comes also the silence of the dogs, not even a howl or a yelp coming from any dogs in the village. It was the following day that they realized all the dogs in the village were actually killed by the “nuay sapatos”. They intentionally did that to terrorize the villager so they would be forced to give their revolutionary taxes.
Datu Amado Bualan recalled how peaceful Karpok used to be and reminisced how happy they were before the declaration of Martial Law. He and his people were free from oppression. They were free, the river people. Night or day, whether in the farm or on cogon hills, in the wood or forest, there were no soldiers to terrorize and beat them to death leaving them almost with little life or no “nuay sapatos” to take them away and salvage them. And despite how poor the Subanons were, they never went hungry. They always had something to eat. Life was described then as easy and carefree. And they were simply happy. They only have one fear, and that is the Datu or the Thimuay when they commit transgressions. Unlike now, they are uncertain of their tomorrow.

Chapter 3: The Subanon Council of Elders’ meeting
A day after the incident, the Subanon Council of Elders met with the villagers. Datu Amado started his talk by telling them what they already knew and that is, the “shoe-less ones” were responsible for the killings of their dogs the night before. Women and children were at already at the all-purpose shed fifteen minutes before the meeting had even started. Datu Bualan told the villagers that what the rebels had done the night before was meant to warn them to “contribute” otherwise worst will happen. Those who did not do so had paid dearly. The sitios nearby had refused to contribute half of their crops to the revolutionary cause and were afterwards burnt to the ground. Datu Bualan asked for their opinions whether to give in to the rebels’ demand to contribute or not but the villagers adamantly refused so. If they do so, their children will starve to death and worst of all, the “shoe-less ones” were never satisfied as they recalled how the revolutionary started. It all started with a little of everything. Few sacks of rice and corn, two to three goats and a dozen chickens at first until the demands went up to one third of their crops until it went even higher leaving them almost nothing for their children. The revolutionary taxes were accordingly voluntary contributions but in the end have become an obligation that shouldn’t be neglected or else they suffer.
Sadly, it wasn’t only the communist rebels that the Subanons were fighting against during that time. Because after the declaration of martial law, there was military zoning conducted house-to-house searching for firearms and deadly weapons. Not only that, young men were brutalized even for the flimsiest and lousiest reasons. They would be kicked and hit with the rifles butts. And those who were suspected to be aiding the rebels were brought to the army camps for interrogation and if they didn’t admit so, would be tortured. In fact some of them were not able to return and as the villagers believed that they were being “salvaged”. The word is coined to mean suspects were executed to death and buried in some abandoned fields. Because of that, most of the young Subanons moved from the village to the city, that is, the Zamboanga City, a 12 – hour trip by launch via the rough China Sea. They had to go there to look for jobs but were oftentimes jobs were “unavailable” for them, the Subanons. Subanons discovered the prejudices they had to go through. Because they were Subanons meant doors would have to be shut to their faces, just because they were natives. Slim were the chances for them to land a good job. Most of their jobs were dishwashers, washing the slime, sweater and fish guts off the floor and at a Chinese restaurant; they washed dishes or collected slops in pail. It would be very lucky enough for a Subanon to be able to get a good job in the city because nobody trusted them there. Highlander tribes were treated as suspects.
But being help in the city wasn’t their first choice. Almost all of the young Subano men wanted to become soldiers for they had seen what power there was in a barrel of a gun. In fact, the military called them “the fodder for the Moro Rebels”. Still, being natives, getting into the military wasn’t easy they had to bribe the recruitment officer. The recruitment officer would take their money and promise them enlistment in the military but which promises weren’t kept. They were treated as ignorant pagans. Because the native recruits were ashamed to go home, many joined the NPAs whom in the first place they’d been fleeing from.
These were some of the painful memories that the Subanon had experienced in the hand of the abusive military. So while on meeting things have been discussed whether to give in to their demands or not. But Datu Amado Bualan was sure that if they don’t give in, he would face execution by the NPA and that would mean, his own deaths but he was ready to give his life just not to give in to their demands. He wouldn’t want to betray the trust of his people and not even debase himself by doing so. He decided to stick to his principles. He would die for his people, and for his village. So after the meeting, the people left the all-purpose shed and knowing that not giving in to the demands of the rebels would mean worst thing would happen that the night before, when rebels slaughtered their dogs. The people were disappointed and afraid as to what may happen next.

Chapter 4: Bungi and Datu Bualan
After the slaughtering of the villagers’ dog, Datu Amado Bualan became silent and bored on dinner time which usually he tells stories about his good deeds. One of the good deeds he had done was that when he went to the hideout of an outlaw to talk him out about releasing the village’ cattle. What he did was very dangerous. Bungi, or the Toothless one could have shot him dead but Datu Amado Bualan did not mind the risk he had to go through knowing that what he was doing was for his people. As a Subanon it was his duty to do so because if he didn’t then that would mean he is weak.
Indeed, Bungi released the cattle, or made him choose which cattle to pick from the corral or fence and told him to leave at once. Bungi had to say to Datu to leave at once lest he forgets that he’s a son of the respected Paganding and the ancestors of Bualans. That hideout was actually the graveyard of the Bualan clan. It was indeed an honor for Datu Amado to have claimed the cattle again from Bungi but the problem he was facing then wasn't about Bungi but about the rebels who would be soon coming after him for sure. Even the Farmer Rigid, who was being tortured by the soldiers, left him, along with other villagers. They have left the village for fear. Rigid, instead of being indifferent against the soldiers who had eaten his carabao did not do anything but leave as well for fear that they might be killed by the communist rebels whom they were anticipating to be back the soonest while all others have left. Rising was suggesting that they too should leave but Amado couldn’t betray his pride. He isn’t leaving his village. He had already sent his children ahead to his cousin in the city and Alawi, the boy who lives with them and Rosing had to prepare and would be moving to Lapuyan, to another barrio where the Vice –mayor, Carlos Ginaya, also a blood relative of Bualan lives. Amado, despite Rosing’s intense persistence to leave, did not bother to listen. He was more conscious of his surroundings. The silence of the night outside was louder than Rosing’s voice. While Amado was in deep thinking, somewhere outside looming in the darkness was a shadow waiting for the last light of the oil lamp to flicker out.

Chapter 5: the death of Datu Bualan
Less than a fortnight later, early one morning, the communists came to Karpok as everyone in the village has expected. Just the day before, almost all of the villagers and then last of the council elders, including the Shaman had left. Many nipa huts on the slopes were empty. And in the barrio, only just about a quarter of an hour earlier, billows of smoke could be seen but now houses and farms were abandoned. Although most of them would say they would not leave so long as the Datu himself did not leave. Only very few keep their word. About this time, only Manang Rosing and her nephew, Alawi and Datu Amado Bualan were in the house. But at that very moment the shoe=less ones had barged into the house just when he was about to leave for his farm. He was told he would go to a trial for the alleged crime he committed against the people. Even if he wanted to change his clothes on decent one to appear decent before his people, he wasn't allowed to. Instead he was punched hard in the ear and pushed him roughly down the wooden steps. The communist rebels wouldn’t accept there’re any worse than the soldiers. Manang Rosing screamed and cried that Datu Amado had not defied his people. Alawi hid in the bushes while the NPA rebels pushed Amado across the empty lot in front of his house where across this lot as its border, stood a huge baluno tree which was over a hundred years old and overlooked a creek. It was so huge, gnarled and tough that not even five people could put their extended arms together around d the entire trunk. Its mango-like fruit, the Subanon natives had for centuries saved the tribe from starvation. In some unexplainable way, It was called the life-preserving tree because it bore abundant fruit even during droughts. It is also in this same huge tree when he was tried by the NPA. The people‘s court, including the NPS rebels. Ten Subanons from among the herded men were picked up to make up the so-called People’s witnesses. It was an informer in the village who gave them their names and whom all ten owed Datu Amado Bualan a favor.
Commander Ka Oca, the leader of the NPAs was learning back on the bench and started to narrate the sins Amado Bualan had committed against his people. And each accusation was confirmed guilty by one of then picked men down to the last person. and because of that, as planned by the NPA commander that those people who loved and adored Amado will hate him for all the sins he committed against the Peoples. The NPA commander KA Oca demanded death to the enemy of the people as he shouted at the top of his lungs. Commander Ka Oca pointed his .45 caliber pistol’s barrel at his temple. Manang Rosing was crying helplessly who was held back by the villagers. The Datu was somewhat nostalgic and sad for his wife that he lowered his gaze from his wife and left everything to his gods. The commander then pulled the pistol’s trigger which released a slug which cut through his temple and entered into Amado’s head, and exploded. Amado was killed in front of his people, right there in the life – preserving tree huge baluno tree.

Part 2
Chapter 6: The giving of antique Jars to Minister Libarnes
Long before, no strangers can get inside the Subano tribe for fear of the human sacrifice the Subanon chief would always order one especially stranger from another tribe to someone who had lost his way from Lapuyan. But that was a log time ago.
Two years after the imposition of Martial Law by the dictator Marcos in September 21, 1972, the first strangers and visitors and were welcomed by the old villagers like a prodigal sons. This visitor was the dictator’s minister and about thirty aides and a security of two truckloads of soldiers. He was the minister of PACD – Presidential Action for Community development. Then two years later another batch of visitors came either by solo flight or by pair. Each visit of course meant a celebration for the Subanon. It was then that PACD minster Onofre Libarnes had promised to concretize the road or cement it. It was not because he was just simply magnanimous but because he was greedy for the artifacts and the historical and ancient jars there were in the village. A researcher from Zamboanga State University, Mrs. Rodriguez and her husband came to the village to study its artifacts as well.
Earlier the Bualan chieftains would give gifts “the antique jars” to the visitor’s as a token of gratitude to the minister. The Thimuay Labi Piunlon consented to the giving away of these antique jars in exchange for the concreting of the dirt road in Lapuyan but Minister Libarnes did not keep his promise . Mr. and Mrs. Rodriguez were so shocked for the greed of these visitors who took advantage of the innocence and hospitability of the people there, including the PACD minister who wanted to have one of those antique jars. They said that the minister deserves to be given such gift because it was him who brought the villagers’ greetings to the president. But Mrs. Rodriguez was sad and dismayed thinking that those antique jars will never be returned to he village anymore which she said that those antique jars were not only so expensive which costs over a million pesos each now but it was most of all an invaluable artifact that would represent an epoch in the Subanon peoples’ history. But the jars were gone because they were just too stupid and hospitable, accordingly, for their own good.

Chapter 7: The Arrest of Alawi
Two weeks after the execution of Datu Amado, his nephew Alawi Setit was on a public passenger on his way to the poblacion. In his trousers pocket was a hand grenade WW II vintage. It had belonged to his uncle when the Datu was a guerillero fighting the Japanese forces in the Baganian Peninsula. Don Amado had kept it a souvenir and had hidden it in a bamboo tube in the chicken coop, instead of surrendering it to the military after the imposition of martial law. He once mentioned the hand grenade before to his wife, Manang Rosing before, which Alawi overheard too. After the death of the Datu, Alawi remembered the hand grenade and took it from where it was hidden. He showed it off to his friends so they were all in awe at Alawi’s bravery being able to carry one until one day, on his way to the poblacion. He brought this hand grenade WW II vintage which Datu Amado wasn’t even sure if it would explode. Alawi was so preoccupied with his thoughts that he did not notice that the jeeney had stopped for inspection at the checkpoint. The passengers would have to go down for inspection of the goods. But Alawi was sp surprised and acted silly about the grenade that he jumped over the jeeney window. The two policemen ran after him and caught him and confiscated the grenade as well confiscated the other passengers goods and livestock. The people were so shocked.
Alawi was brought to the INP station at the town plaza. The people came to gather to witness what might happen to Alawi. While the other policemen was butchering the confiscated goods, Alawi was left standing still at the corner of the INP Station confused and scared what might happen to him.

Chapter 8: At Plaza Imbing
In front of the police station, on the dirt road, and empty ground of the town plaza called Imbing named after one of the Subanon gomotans in ancient times, about twenty curious men and women had gathered. New people came but did not mix with those who have gathered earlier. Low voices came droning from among the men and women who were gathered there. Words were exchanged but hardly spoken above a whisper, each careful to bring about attention. Though every curiosity had drawn them all at the INP station, they never forget that if they catch the attention of the policemen, if pleased, they could all be arrested and detained.
The townspeople farmers and natives stood in pairs, threes and fours though the latter was rare; but always never more than four, thus they occupied a bigger are of plaza Imbing more than what such a number normally would. Before the dictator’s time, in such an incident, it would be an be an unnatural and strange sight to see a crowd forming sparse, isolated clusters of not more than four persons, instead of a single mass of unterrified, free people. But now, gunfire and death were not unfamiliar sights to these people, and not any firing could send then scurrying in great panic. Not a few had found themselves scurrying great panic as they are already used to it. They have become calloused and accustomed to indiscriminate military firing. As oppressed people, they learned to adapt to such situations and recover from them quickly. So to that issue of Alawi and the people’s curiosity about what would possible to him, some people went back right away to their village to tell other people to take precautions especially those who planned to talk about the incident because the military intelligence had ears everywhere. One could land to the stockade if he attributed unpleasant incidents and comments giants the tyrant’s regime.

Chapter 9: Mayor Jose Lim and his old resentments
Mayor Jose Lim, Chinese blood had married Binay the cousin of Puring. It was actually Puring, Myna’s mother. Puring is the last Thimuay Labi Pinulon a direct descendant of the Gomotans. He wanted to marry Puring because he knew that marrying a Datu’s daughter or a favorite niece was the quick fireproof way to be wealthy and powerful. But Puring was already betrothed to somebody so, he married the cousin Binay who then had grown so big and had become si fond of listening to soap operas on radio.
The mayor had heard of the arrest of the Alawi, a nephew of the difunto Datu Amado thus arousing in him his old resentments and very bitter memories of being rejected. He found the arrest of Alawi as the best avenue for him to avenge his rejection in the past.

Chapter 10: Mayor beat Alawi and made him write names of NPA
Mayor Jose Lim went straight to the police station to see Alawi himself. At the sight of the mayor in the police station gave Alawi relief and was happy to see the mayor. But when the mayor came closer to him, he himself beat him. Alawi received a blow on the head and a kick in the groin and crashed him against the wall. On Alawi’s face, the temporary light of rescue abruptly turned dark; and surprise, not unmixed with fear, replaced it. And Alawi, realizing the gravity of his situation, real fear now came to the boy, giving him Goosebumps and sweat poured profusely. He promised to do everything for his uncle just so he wouldn’t hurt him anymore. Mayor Jose Lim saw that his plan was working so easily and so easily to accomplish. He told Alawi to make a list of all the communists and informers in Karpok and the neighboring barrios and sitios or he will be shot. Alawi all at once agreed but Mayor Lim wasn’t satisfied. So that the boy will surely keep his promise, he beat him again and again. And before he left, mayor Lim instructed Major Dulla to make sure that the boy is helped about with the listing. With that mayor Lim meant Dulla should write the names himself with the specific people whom mayor Lim mentioned and have the boy sign it. The mayor instructed that those who will be included in the .list everyone who comes against him, and all those who belong to the Bualan clan.

Chapter 11: Brutal military zoning
The following day, Thursday morning, the military conducted the zoning. They would get into the houses and ransack their house with food and other precious materials. Alawi was brought with them, masked. He served as the military guide for the zoning and of those who were in the list. His own Aunt Rosing’s house was ransacked but because of Alawi’s silence, his aunt was saved from death although the Rosing recognized Alawi behind the mask. In another part of the town, there was also zoning where military killed even the innocent children. They did not pick who they would kill. Young girls and boys, women and men, young and adults alike were murdered brutally. So during that military zoning of the villages which ended late afternoon, some twenty Subanon men, women and children were shot and killed and about a third of that number were wounded or declared missing.

Part 3
Chapter 12: Military Zoning in Lapuyan
On a cold Friday, three days after Alawi’s arrest and after he had signed the list with names for the alleged suspects as rebels or communist, Major Dulla and his troops went to his first target. Almost all stores and markets stalls were closed. The people knew that once there were arrests, it is expected that military would conduct zoning 2 to 3 days after. All the families, stores and merchandise were confiscated except for those who are at the mayor’s side and the Chinese meztiso were safe. While in Karpok, up on a hill was the clinic of Dr. Bualan, he was also included in the list. But after the soldiers harassed even those sick people, they left the clinic because they thought that he was a fake doctor, a balian.
In a while, the soldiers and the young lieutenant crossed the hanging bridge: one soldier was holding his scapular, the other was feeling assured with his red turban, and no curses by any witch doctor could touch them.

Chapter 13: Bugao’s Residence with Mr. Rodriguez and Mr. Ramos
Meanwhile, at Bugao Residence, Puring (the supposed girl whom Mayor Lim wished to marry before), was talking with Mr. Rodriguez, the anthropologist and the BIR collector. By this time they have already heard about the military zoning taking place in Lapuyan and Karpok and the nearby villages, barrios and sitios. They anticipate that they will be visited since they realized that most of the victims were from the Bualan clan. Once they thought they heard footsteps, maybe soldiers, going past the house and knowing at the neighbor’s door. And later in the night they heard a cry from the riverbank which cry was abruptly cut off maybe by rifle but. They saw the soldiers, like savages and murderers, prowling in the dark night.

Chapter 14 –16: Balat’s and Vice – Mayor Ginaya’s murder
Balat is the right hand of Dr. Ginaya. He lives at the shed of Vice – Mayor Ginaya. The house is just close to the Bugao residence. The guests were starting to pack their things for fear that their house will soon be visited by these soldiers. At first Balat, very scared, tried to escape but the soldiers were able to catch him. He was shot and brutally murdered. His body was dragged by the soldiers away from the house. At first the neighbors, including the Bugao family and their guests heard a scream but later there was silence.
The soldiers went back to the nearby area where they have taken Balat from. The squad came to the bend of the dirt road, past the biggest general merchandise store there. After the bend some ten meters or so, was the vice mayor’s house. The soldiers quickened there steps to catch up with the others.
At the Vice – Mayor’s house, they haven’t the slightest idea that he would be t5he next victim. The couple was already on bed talking about what they hard earlier, the cries for help of his buddy, Balat. But the Vice – Mayor never thought that he was part of the list. They were surprised when there was knocking at the door. The Vice Mayor had to open it himself and in a split of a second, the moment he open the door, there was a flash of light that faced his sight. It was a gun fire. His body felt numbness after that shot. The Vice Mayor’s body was dragged and was placed at the town plaza. Meanwhile all others peoples on the list including Mr. Bugao, were arrested.
On the bare floor of the wooden stage platform, the corpse was covered with a coat of black ugly flies, which like the dogs were habitués of the fish and meat stalls and the garbage dump areas. The flies busied themselves making miniscule tears at the flesh with their tiny jaws. The sun rays continued to beat on the rotting flesh, to clothes sticking to it stealthily, as sausage skin would; the dried blood served as glue. None of the dogs attempted to come near the Vice – Mayor’s corpse. Still imprinted in their minds were the smell of the gun powder and the thunder of the guns they heard earlier. At first the foul-smell of the corpse disturbed the residents but eventually get used to it. Nobody came close to the dead body. Only Balian Tampilis was known to venture out in the middle of the night alone, in his usual stroll. And it was believed that it was him who drove those dogs away.
The exposure of the corpse at the plaza also exposed the stench almost everywhere but three days later the Shamman Tampilis came, wrapped the body around with a mat and brought the corpse with him, which were gone all of a sudden, as if sucked in between walls of the houses along each side of the road.

Chapter 17: Sigbe, Tampilis sister went to see her sister in law
Three hours later after Shamman Tampilis claimed the Vice Mayor Ginaya’s body his widowed sister, Sigbe left her house and went to see the third wife of Shamman Tampilis, Kalinga. Kalinga said she is worried for Tampilis because of what he had done. She was scared that this time he had overdone his strangeness. But Sigbe said that they have two gods to watch over him. His own Gulay, and the God of the Christians.
They couldn’t forget Ginaya’s death and how his body was treated as an animal carcass. They knew that his corpse was used to frighten them and to take their will to defy them but according to them, they have been mistaken because the people will not forget how for three days and three nights they had to breathe the foulness of repression and terror.
Neither of the two ladies looked through the window of the landing from where, if they were to gaze out, they would see the outline of Mt. Guillian as it began to fade in the setting of the sun. But tomorrow, the sun will rise behind the mountain ranges and Mt. Guillian, an ancient times, their outline will once again show against the sky.

Chapter Analyses
Chapter 1: The Torture of Farmer Rigid
The first chapter which is about 9 pages talks about the brutality of the soldiers against civilians. Questions that would certainly pop out are:
1. Farmer Rigid was looking for his lost carabao; he was on the right track. Was it wrong to ask the soldiers, the supposed protector of the country, of peace and order of our land and our people for him to be beaten to death? There seems to be really no freedom at all for any citizen to express himself during that time and if this situation had persisted up to the present, how would people survive? There is an obvious abuse of power among the soldiers. They seem to be the ultimate power in the land. Their guns and bullets their best allies.
2. Evil is really innate in man. There is that evil spirit lurking in man’s spirit. Once given power will drive him wild and oppressive. Is that how power could make the hearts of man calloused and unaffected? Like that of the soldiers who brutally beat Rigid, the one whose carabao was lost. He was the victim here, but why was he accused? And even if he was indeed a spy, why would they hurt a helpless man, alone? Why wouldn’t they just arrest him and detain him to stockade instead of hurting him like a brute? Human as we are, we cannot even afford to hurt animals that hard. We cannot even hurt a dog or a cat just like that. Evil.
3. One question that I feel I need to ask is: What could have happened if the Datu helped him out or came in between the soldiers and Rigid? Will the Datu be also beaten? How cruel of them to do that. Was it really declared by the President that all suspects be tortured, debased and humiliated?

This chapter is really an eye opener. A shock I have recovered as slowly as until now I could imagine the vivid description of what this man had gone through. I could feel the excruciating pain. The cries. The terror. All these I feel was unbearable.

Chapter 2: The killings of dogs
The main thrust in this chapter is the attempt to show how the NPAs had terrorized the villagers. That even by slaughtering animals, they could threaten the people to succumb to their wants; to give in to their wants. But what they did not realize that the slaughtering of the dogs, probably had scared or terrified them but had never let them lose hope and faith in themselves. The more they became strong to stick to what they believed is true and right.

Chapter 3: The Subanon Council of Elders’ meeting
It is very important for a people to preserve its culture. Unity is one important element that would keep a tribe strong and sturdy. Nothing will move them if they only had oneness in spirit and in thoughts. Had the other members of the tribe brave enough to fight like that of Datu Amado, then things would have been resolved. The power of fear would actually cause someone to lurk into the corner of his house and be silent rather than being silenced forever by the oppressors.

Chapter 4: Bungi and Datu Bualan
The bravery of Datu Amado Bualan is exceptional. It was because of his own principle and his fore parents’ beliefs about manliness. He wouldn’t be treated man enough if he doesn't do any act as risky as what he did when he went to see Bungi. What he did was no easy task. It was such a risky decision. Indeed, Datu Bualan was caught in a dilemma as to see the man alone or just leave all what intended to take back in Bungi’s possession? But for Datu Amado, death is sweet for those who do something great and heroic. It makes him a complete person. And having done that has made himself a better person, to others as well as to himself most of all.

Chapter 5: The death of Datu Bualan
The death of Datu Bualan served as an eye opener and most of all as a sacrifice. He was betrayed especially by those people whom he has done favor to. Hardships and difficulties in life would sometimes lead people or squeeze people to betray someone else. But I believe it isn't an excuse. Perhaps if these people have chosen to stick to truth, Datu Amado would probably have not died. But death is sweet again if one dies with meaning and with worth. Others were killed out of nothing but Datu Amado was killed with a reason. He was killed because he wouldn’t give in to the selfish demands of these rebels. Giving in to their demands would mean making them worst people in the world. Worst, because they will continue to abuse the tribe. It takes an individual to respect his own self before others will do that to them. Unfortunately, Amado was alone, alone against the many devourers. But his being alone did not scare him. He died with dignity and honor. And shame for those who saved themselves and betrayed the man who had once worked for their own good and advantage. There was irony in the death of Datu Bualan when as stated in the last line. He actually died at the huge baluno tree which was way down from his ancestors was believed to be a life-preserving tree but it was right there where he was executed, where he died. His life wasn’t preserved then. It was consumed and devoured by the selfish and indolent NPAs who were oppressing their own kind. And for those who were around and have witnessed his death, which tree would symbolize indeed a life – preserving tree because of Datu Amado’s sacrifice, he died for others, and other lives were preserved. He gave his life so others will see how much he wanted to keep his land for his people and posterity.

Part 2
Chapter 6: The giving of antique Jars to Minister Libarnes
Since time immemorial, corruption had always been the game of the politicians. They took advantage of the ignorance of the tribe and had only thought of their own advantage, Filipinos against Filipinos, thus making our country poorer and poorer. It’s no wonder that up to this time, 24 years after this tyranny, we are still experiencing the same kind of corrupt politicians. Nothing has changed. We are still devoured. Nothing is left for us, even our ancestry and our treasures. The jar which symbolizes the ancestry and represents the Subanon tribe was owned by the rich, by the selfish tyrants who were also after of power. And so with the people themselves, they were like puppets owned by these military, subject under their control.

Chapter 7: The capture of Alawi
Alawi’s capture is a picture of total abuse and evil nature of man. Alawi, like any ordinary boy, even if he was exposed to violence and terror had nothing in mind but innocence. He was innocent when he had that grenade because it wasn’t intended to kill anybody but just to show off to his friends. Violence excuses no one. It doesn’t leave out even the innocent children. How power can actually make man cruel, if used in a selfish way and evil motives. Alawi symbolizes innocence, a child who yet to learn so many things in life.

Chapter 8: The people talking about what might happen to Alawi
In short, people had no freedom of speech, no freedom to gather and meet as a group. They were all controlled and deprived of their rights. And with the constant violence and oppression around them have made these people amused to it. They 我ere helpless, because nobody from the group could even stand to help the boy whom they knew was an innocent one and a boy who came from a well-bred family, of values and good morale. But that didn’t matter to them. Fear was so strong that it deprived them of doing what they were supposed to do.

Chapter 9: Mayor Jose Lim and resentments and revenge
Here’s another oppressor, a man which represents another kind of a devourer, one who’s only after of making himself rich and who’s greedy of power. He ordered the murder of those people who went against him even those who haven’t done him wrong. He would kill those who have rejected his proposal for marriage before. He is the kind of person who was into avenging for his unsuccessful plans. Again, his selfish motives have truly made him another evil and tyrant leader. He took revenge even to the innocent child. He was a helpless man so dependent of his power.

Chapter 10: Mayor beat Alawi and made him write names of NPA
The tyrant leader, Mayor Jose Lim had used the innocence, fear and helplessness of a child for his own purpose, for the realization of his revenge. He took advantage of the child’s weakness. Other people have been involved because of these.

Chapter 11 -12: brutal military zoning
It is obvious that the military have really oppressed the oppressed. They have been brutal to the defenseless. They have been cruel to the innocent. What I did not understand is that why would they do that? My point is, like those children killed, why were they murdered brutally too? They were harmless, defenseless but why would a tyrant leader order such killing? I pondered on this and I said was it not that perhaps these military have wrongfully taken the order of the president? Perhaps the problem wasn’t actually in the president, it was in those who execute the order if the order was to kill those who went against the government. Who defied the government and the leaders, why would include the helpless, defenseless and unarmed children? I see nothing but a picture of total abuse of power.
Just imagine even the sick people were kicked and hurt, but here comes one soldier who was scared of the balian, a witch doctor, why then didn’t he kill the doctor? It is maybe because they believed more on supernatural power. Human being didn’t have power unless he had guns. But to that case of the doctor, since he was thought of as a witch doctor, his power is far scary than the power of the guns that’s why he wasn’t touched. If that was the case, then we couldn’t blame our ancestors if they were too dependent on charms and other supernatural powers because it was the only way they could defend themselves.
Part 3
Chapter 13 –15: Military brutality
Those in the list were murdered one by one. Military men went house to house and kill each in the list, when homes that time weren’t safe. No place was ever safe in that time. And the sanctity of the dead body was not observed. When our dead are supposed to be given proper burial, that time the corpse were dragged or just thrown or buried anywhere. Families were deprived to see or touch their love ones. People will just be noising anytime and killed the next day. This is a picture of oppression, brutality and military abuse.
If this chapter has to be summarized it could be described in one word: brutality.

Chapter 16: Shamman Tampilis claimed V – Mayor Ginaya’s corpse
Only the Shamman (Tampilis) was able to come near the corpse of Vice – Mayor Ginaya. He was the only one who was able to give him proper burial. It was only him because he was believed to have power. He can go invisible at night and he moved swiftly. This chapter shows a picture of magical realism wherein this scene is a little magical but could actually happen. He symbolizes somebody who is not afraid, one who was willing to sacrifice his life for others. He showed the kind of bravery that others have not shown. It tells us that even if others choose to protect themselves and keep themselves away from harm, he was willing to sacrifice himself. The Bualans symbolize the spirit of bravery there is in man that only requires stirring.

Chapter 17: Sigbe , Tampilis sister went to see her sister in law
I just thought that the last chapter is significant, especially for women. It is remarkable that ended with the two women, Lingam the third wife of Shamman Tampilis and Sigbe, the widowed sister of Shamman Tampilis, whom both women are close to the heart of Tampilis. Tampilis as we have seen ion the previous chapter had saved the corpse of his blood relative Vice – Mayor Ginaya and gave him a respectable burial. The two women were anticipating that their clan was one by one being murdered. The Bualans who stand for the people’s right, who fight for people’s right, who faced and sacrificed so much for others, all these men were slowly murdered one by one, leaving their wives a widow. My point is, as the last chapter ends with the women talking, I perceive it as a depiction of the role of own in the society. How did they go about with the hope awaiting them? The last paragraph states, “And neither had to look through the window of the landing from where, if the two women were to gaze out, they would see the outline of Mt. Guillian as it began to fade in the last light of day. But tomorrow, the sun will rise behind the, mountain ranges and Mt. Guillian, as in ancient times, their outline will once again how against the sky”
I see this chapter significant as well as the lines in the last paragraph as something which depicts hope for change. Hope for a brighter tomorrow. Hope that after the setting of the sun will rise a new day filled with peace and freedom. Hope for everyone and this hope will come from women. Was it not that this situation was towards the end of the long tyrant years of President Marcos? Was it not close to the people power in EDSA? Was it not the change of society wherein a new president sat in Malacanang in the person of a Woman? A widow? Madam Corazon Aquino. Didn’t her husband also die because of this tyranny? I see so much significance in this last paragraph referring to the political change where the dawning of the day and the rising of a new tomorrow give hope to every heart that has long been deprived of it. Thanks to people power. Thanks to EDSA Revolution. Thanks to President Corazon Aquino, who, despite her being a widow had fought for people’s power, rejected the Marcos regime and military oppression. Rejected the abusive in power!

Themes:
Antonio Enriquez’ Novel attempts to trace back and show the defects of society to the defects of human nature...The moral is that the shape of society must depend on the ethical nature of the individual and not on any political system.
Good and Evil: If there is evil power lurking in man, there is also this goodness him. Life is a choice. It is on our choice which makes a difference in our life, society and others.
Power: Different types of power, some used and abused. The NPAs were abusive in power. The military were dependent on the power of guns. Mayor Jose Lim shows tyrant power by
Symbolism:
Bualans – the Bualan clan represents the people whose heart was for goodness. Straight and willing to do the right thing no matter what happens.
Alawi – represents the innocence in each victim of tyranny.
Mt. Guillian - is a new hope ranging from man’s heart. Its trace fades when the sun sets but in the rising of a new tomorrow, comes a brighter sun, of hope, of peace, of freedom
Sigbe and Kalinga – represents the widow President Aquino, the rising of a new leadership, the voice of a woman be heard.

Point of view
All novels use at least one perspective, or point of view, from which to tell the story. This may consist of a point of view of no single character (the omniscient, or "all-knowing" point of view), a single character, multiple characters in turn, and combinations or variations on these. Enriquez uses the omniscient point of view, which enables him to stand outside and above the story itself, making no reference to the inner life of any of the individual characters.

A Book Review
By: Christine Godinez-Ortega. “When Writing is in the Blood,” Inquirer Mindanao, December 11, 1999

Antonio Enriquez: Subanons, novel
University of the Philippine Press, E. de los Santos Street, Diliman Quezon City, 131 pages

The scion of a gobernadorcillo who helped carve the Zamboanga City we know we know today makes literary history with his third novel, “Subanons.”
The 17-chapter, 133-page novel in English is the first to tell us about an upland tribe from Mindanao’s Zamboanga peninsula.
No Filipino novelist, whether in Spanish, English or in the Philippine languages, has done it before for any of the country’s upland tribes.
“Subanons” was released by the University of the Philippines Press in September. It won first prize for the novel in English in the 1993 Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature.
It was sent to three publishers until the author settled for the UP Press but not before novelist Antonio Reyes Enriquez asked, “Why should writers beg?”
Today’s university-educated Filipinos who prefer to read foreign novels may ask: Why read Enriquez?
And why not? After all, the Filipino writer has not taken so easily to such a demanding genre as the novel, with perhaps the exception of, surprisingly, novelists in other Philippine languages, like Iloko, Tagalog, Cebuano and Hiligaynon---works that are not in the consciousness of the university readership.
Now, if only to support a Filipino novelist, all Filipinos should read Enriquez. But then, this could be misinterpreted as mercenary, chauvinist even.
Well, not only has Enriquez a story to tell, he also knows how to tell it.
After four collections of short stories and two novels to his name and even as he is finishing his fourth, 800-page novel, “The Revolt of General Vicente Alvarez,” Enriquez’s important place in Philippine literature is secure.
It is said that when a fictionist writes his first novel, he has arrived. And it has been a long road to success for this 63-yea-old Zamboangueño whose parents wanted him to be a doctor instead.
After enrolling in several courses in various schools in Manila without getting a degree, he returned to Zamboanga and traveled to many places in the Visayas and Mindanao, doing odd jobs, becoming a journalist and joining a survey company in Cotabato---the basis for his first novel, “Surveyors of the Liguasan Marsh,” a 1982 Palanca first-prize winner for the novel in English, published in 1981 by the University of Queensland Press in Australia.
Enriquez’s love for writing is in the blood and his gift of imagination approximates the American novelist Henry James’s idea of a writer’s imagination to be like a sensitive spider at its web, catching “the very air we breathe” and converting “the very pulse of the air into revelations.”
But like most writers, Enriquez has had his share of ups and downs in his 40-year writing career.
His early short stories wee published by the Philippine Herald and Philippine Graphic in 1962. His first short story was rejected by the editor of the Sunday Times Magazine who could not believe that such a polished story could be written by an unknown Mindanaoan.
That editor, who confessed to his error of judgment when Enriquez was already reaping prizes for his fiction in later years, is now a columnist for a daily in Cebu City.
Enriquez, who is today based in Cagayan de Oro City, drove to Iligan City for an interview with the Inquirer Mindanao. He joked a lot about the writing craft in what was an incoherent interview because of the presence of Inquirer correspondent Bobby Timonera, the poet Tony Tan, the novelist’s ethno-musicologist wife Joy and grandson Julien Patrick contributed to that freewheeling mood.
“Subanons” was easy to write, Enriquez confided. Some events in the novel, especially the atrocities committed against the Subanons, were witnessed by Enriquez.
In the late ‘70s when he was still with the Ministry of Information, he accompanied Joy several times to Lapuyan, Zamboanga del Sur. Joy was doing research on the Subanon eight-episode epic, the unpublished, “Gambatetu.”
But it was the piercing cry of a 15-year-old Subanon killed by soldiers on suspicion of being a communist that gave impetus to the writing of “Subanons.”
No one really pays attention to the Subanons, they complained to Enriquez in the course of his data gathering. In fact, the Subanons are sore that their building of our national hero, Jose Rizal’s house in Dapitan has never been acknowledged. Not even a street is named after them.
Enriquez learned much from the Russian writers, Anton Chekhov and Vladimir Nabokov. He admires them so much that he named his other grandson, Anton Vladimir, son of his only child Vanessa.
From Chekov, Enriquez learned to describe scene’s vividly as well as the tricks in unraveling the story. From Nabokov, Enriquez learned good writing.
Enriquez learned from other writers as well. He owes debts to N.V.M. Gonzales for local color. Nick Joaquin for his language and his understanding of Spanish culture, and, Graham Green for his profundity through simple language.
Toward the end of the interview, Enriquez refused to name any promising fictionist writing in this decade. Although he acknowledged their “more polished use of language,” he said they “confuse him” for “sometimes they have no stories to tell.”
His friendly advice is for them to learn from the masters by “reading more.”
Enriquez asserts that Filipino novelists can hold their own among foreign novelists, adding that they are just as good in terms of technique and use of language, like Bienvenido Santos, Wilfredo Nolledo who “dazzles,” and Jose Dalisay and his “breathtaking prose.”
As the conversation shifted to why Filipinos are reading the native speakers in English more than their own writers who have actually mastered English and made I their own, Enriquez quoted Nick Joaquin when they met during a workshop in Davao City: “Filipino writers in the ‘30s, in showing our grandfather’s world, made us look subservient because they only saw what the American language saw.”
Of course, this is not true anymore of today’s writers for we only have to judge what Enriquez has achieved.
Writing “Subanons” for Filipinos and presenting it in his own terms is, no doubt, Enriquez’s way of fulfilling their need for illumination about a Mindanao experience, thus enriching Philippine literature and contributing to its flowering in diversity as well as in maturity.

Sources
Book
Enriquez, Antonio R. “Subanons.” Complete and Unabridged. Philippine Writers Series 1999 Likhaan: Sentro ng Malikhaing Pagsulat, University of the Philippines Press Printery Division, 1999.

Electronic Source:

http://www.esnips.com/user/arenriquez

http://www.zamboanga.com/Literature/Zamboanga_Literature_Awards_Tony_Enriquez_UMPIL1.htm

http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=Subanons%2C+a+novel+by+Antonio+Enriquez&vc=&fr=yfp-t-501&toggle=1&cop=mss&ei=UTF-8&fp_ip=PH

http://www.scribd.com/doc/7271149/Selected-Book-Reviews-Antonio-Enriquez?autodown=doc

http://www.zamboanga.com/Literature/Zamboanga_Literature_non-fiction-novel_The_Revolt_of_General_Gueremon_Tenorio7-2006.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1993_Palanca_Awards


Add-ons: 1993 Palanca Awards
The Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature winners in the year 1993 (rank, title of winning entry, name of author).
[edit] English division
Novel
Grand Prizes: “Killing Time in a Warm Place” by Jose Y. Dalisay Jr.; and “Subanons” ni Antonio R. Enriquez Badingin
Short story
First Prize: “The Axolatl Colony” by Jaime An Lim
Second Prize: “Molde Perdido” by Myra L. Go
Third Prize: “Blood on the Moon” by Mig Alvarez Enriquez
Short story for children
First Prize: “The Man Who Hated Birds” by Leoncio P. Deriada
Second Prize: “The Boy and the Tree of Time” by Jaime An Lim; and “The Pillow Cat” by Marivi Soliven
Third Prize: “Little Bird, Little Fish and the Elephant” by Victorino Manalo; and “The Bamboo Who Wanted to Become a Christmas Tree” by Erlinda Acacio Flores
Poetry
First Prize: “Poems for Muddas” by Anthony L. Tan
Second Prize: “In Time Passing and Other Poems” by Elsa Martinez Coscolluela
Third Prize: “Excerpt from the Unfinished Life” by Mariano Kilates
Essay
First Prize: “Undoing Secrets” by Ma. Luisa A. Igloria
Second Prize: “Listening to My Father” by Victorino Manalo
Third Prize: “Bad Boy, Robin, Baad, Baad Boy” by Jessica Zafra
One-Act Play
First Prize: “Paper Anniversary” by Corinna Esperanza A. Nuqui
Second Prize: “And There Was Light” by Edelisa C. Cruz
Third Prize: “A Jewel for Two” by Ruby Senatin
Full-length Play
First Prize: “The Comfort of Women” by Elsa Martinez Coscolluela
Second Prize: “Death in the Form of A Rose” by Anton Juan Jr.
Third Prize: “Besame Mucho, Love Me Forever” by Rolando S. Tinio
[edit] Filipino division
Novel
Grand Prizes: “Bulaklak ng Maynila” by Domingo Landicho; and “Moog” by Buenaventura S. Medina Jr.
Short story
First Prize: “Rosal” by Mayette Bayuga
Second Prize: “Kamusta na Bok?” by Marco A.V. Lopez
Third Prize: “Lihim sa Tag-araw” by Honorio Bartolome De Dios; and “Wala sa Sarili” by Froilan Sempio Medina
Short story for children
First Prize: “Kuwento ni Malinis” by Rene O. Villanueva
Second Prize: “Si Burnay, ang Batang Palayok” by Augie D. Rivera Jr.
Third Prize: “Ang Paglalakbay ni Butirik, ang Dyip na Masungit” by Adora Balmes
Poetry
First Prize: “Pangunungkan at iba pang Saliksik” by Roberto T. Añonuevo
Second Prize: “Ang Lunes na Mahirap Bunuin” by Nicolas B. Pichay
Third Prize: ”Ilang Pagtutuwid sa Paraan ng Pagtawid” by Fidel Rillo Jr.
Essay
First Prize: “May Katulong sa Aking Sopas” by Reuel Molina Aguila
Second Prize: “Soledad: Ang Mga Babae sa Kanilang Pag-iisa” by Glecy C. Atienza
Third Prize: “Paano ba Umuwi Sa Sariling Bayan” by Cesar Aljama
One-Act Play
First Prize: No winner
Second Prize: “Kristo Tagala” by Ramon C. Jocson and Fernando Villarca Cao
Third Prize: “Madumi” by Allan L. Palileo
Full-length Play
First Prize: “Separasyon” by Lito Casaje
Second Prize: “Aninag, Anino” by Jose Y. Dalisay Jr.
Third Prize: “Ang Butihing Babae ng Timog” by Jose Y. Dalisay Jr.; and “Ang Ninoy ni Ninay” by Ramon C. Jocson
Teleplay
First Prize: “Ang Kuwento ni A” by Rolando S. Tinio
Second Prize: “Magnanakaw” by Rolando F. Santos
Third Prize: “Karatula” by Mes De Guzman