Canonical Authors in Philippine Literature

Literary Canon is defined as “a group of literary works that are considered the most important of a particular time period or
place”. For example, there can be a canon composed of works from a particular country, or literary pieces written within a specific set
of years, or even a collection of works that were all written during a certain time period and within a certain region. A literary canon
establishes a collection establishes a collection of similar or related literary works. Of course, there are many ways in which literary
works can be classified, but the canon seems to apply a certain validity or authority to a work of literature. When a work is entered
into the canon, thus canonized, it gains status as an official inclusion into a group of literary works that are widely studied and
respected. Those who decide whether a work will be canonized include influential literary critics, scholars, teachers, and anyone
whose opinions and judgments regarding a literary work are also widely respected. For this reason, there are no rigid qualifications for
canonization, and whether a work will be canonized remains a subjective decision.

The changing thoughts and experiences of both writers and readers over time affect literature. As a consequence, literary
canons change from time to time. More often than not, the popularity of a literary work is based not only on quality but also on the
relevance of its subject matter to Philippine history, the society or the community, and contextual artistry. If it is considered relevant in
this decade, it forms part of the present canon; however, if it loses relevance in the next decade or so, it is removed from the future
canon.

Award winning works easily gain entry into the canon. Therefore, it is not surprising to see among the canonical works the
winners of the first Commonwealth Literary Awards given in 1940 by President Manuel L. Quezon.

 Salvador P. Lopez – “Literature and Society” (essay)

 Manuel Arguilla – “How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife” (short story)
 R. Zulueta da Costa – “Like the Molave” (poem)
 Juan C. Laya – “His Native Soil” (novel)

Also included in the literary canon are those works given government recognition for literary merit in the form of
 Republic Cultural Heritage Awards (1960)
 Pro Patria Awards for Literature (1961)
 Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards
 National Artist Awards (1973)
 Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Awards for Literature

Chimera By: Khatrina Bonagua

“Most, if not all of us, have probably “fallen in love” with someone in a dream, waking up wishing we were back in the
dream, when later, we wonder at our infatuation. Some of us have been dreaming about the same person. And some of us have even
lucidly fallen in love. Besides being an interesting experience (or strange) there are times where waking up is a literal nightmare, a
paradise lost.”
*****
I’ve always been fond of history. I don’t know why, but the thought of discovering something from the past thrills me.
Maybe that’s the reason why I collect antiques. From accessories to furnitures, big or small. I find them all magical. It was as if, I’m
transported back in time.
Speaking of time, my recent antique purchase was a wristwatch. The moment I laid my eyes on it, I just knew, I got to have it.
I’ve never seen a watch just like this one before. Instead of the usual numbers, it has years on it–from 1970-2010, and it was pointing
at the year 1989, my birth year. Cool.
I bought it without thinking twice.
If I only knew.
*****
And then, I noticed the watch that I bought yesterday. It looked… new. It was still pointing at my birth year, but it didn’t look the
same.
I fastened it on my wrist. Then I tried to remove it, unfortunately, I couldn’t.
It was getting weird.
I went out of the room and slammed the door behind me.
Oh my.
I was absolutely not in my house. Everything’s not the same.
I heard a laugh across the room. I turned around and saw my dad–my younger looking dad excitedly talking to someone on the phone.
I trooped down the stairs and approached my dad.
My dad was surprised. I asked him what was happening. But he didn’t seem to get it. He even asked me who I was.
What?!
I told him that I was his daughter, and all he answered was that he didn’t know me at all. He even threw me out of the house.
I cried. I knocked at the door but he didn’t mind.
What’s happening?!
Everything around me was different, yet it all seemed to look familiar.
Wait.
This was my village 18 years ago. Our house, it was not yet fully finished. The old playground that was removed five years ago was
there, too. The trees and almost everything was like the pictures plastered on my parent’s old scrapbook.
Those figures, I was having a dream.
I pinched my arm and slapped my face, “Hey, wake up,”
There was no use. “I’m stuck.”
“The wristwatch, yes this one, this must be the culprit.”
“Am I like back in time? Wow.” I held my watch to get a closer look. Was this like being in a time machine?
Where would I go? Year 1989, my watch read. My birth year. So that was why my dad was so excited over the phone, maybe he got
the news that mom was giving birth.
I walked on the street and observed my surroundings. People were eyeing at me suspiciously. Yeah, I knew I looked weird wearing
pajamas outside. Stop rubbing it in.
Familiar faces began to show up. My parents, my friends, my godparents, even the manong who guarded the gate–yet, they all looked
18 years younger.
But there was this guy who caught my attention. He was wearing a white shirt, sitting all alone at a swing.
I decided to approach him. I didn’t know why I did it, but it was as if, someone’s pushing me to greet him.
And then it all started.
*****
We talked for hours. I didn’t mention that I was from the future. He might think that I was crazy or something. And oh, his name was
Red.
Red and I instantly clicked together. It was as if, we knew each other before.
We walked around our village. We laughed; we talked; we were like the best of friends already.
My problems and confusions drifted away. I didn’t care where I was. Actually, I began to like it here.
Red decided to buy something at a nearby food stand. I waited for him and checked my watch.
He arrived with two cones of ice cream. He suddenly stopped and took my arm. He asked me where I got my watch, I told him I
bought it from an antique shop.
Suddenly, he insisted that we should go home.
What about that?!
He brought me home and told me that we should see each other again soon.
He kissed me goodbye and left. I wasn’t able to say anything.
I sneaked at our house and climbed up at the window. Good, they were all gone. Maybe, they went to the hospital or something. I went
into my room, opened the door and was surprised to see that a crib was there.
Aww. So this was my crib. My parents were really expecting me.
I yawned. My eyes were shutting down all by themselves. I sat down on the sofa, and fell asleep.
*****
I heard someone calling my name. I hurried down silently and went out.
It was Red. I asked him what was wrong. It’s the middle of the night!
He said that he was going to help me.
Help me to do what?!
Finally, he explained that the moment he saw the watch, he knew that I was from the future. And he knew how to bring me back.
“Wait. I don’t want to go back. I just want to stay here. With you.”
I asked him, “How did you figure it all out?”
Red said, “I had this dream–a dream about the future. From the swing, the watch, and even me.” At first, he didn’t believe it, but his
feelings told him that he should try. Luckily he did. He went to the park, and saw me.
But I didn’t want to go. Before I knew it, I was hugging him and crying at his shirt.
He comforted me and said, “I feel responsible for you.” I told him it was all my fault that I was way back in time.
He said maybe it was fate.
I hugged him more tightly.
*****
I woke up and realized that I fell asleep on Red’s lap. He was nice not to wake me up.
He said that it was already time. That I should be back in between sunrise and sunset. This afternoon.
I asked him now.
He said that he could unlock the watch from my wrist. He showed the key to me. Then after that, I should throw the watch.
I borrowed the key from him. He said that it was a gift from an old lady who talked to him weeks ago. After the day, he started
dreaming about me.
I asked Red if I could just stay here. I told him that I wanted to be with him, even though I barely knew him.
But then, he said that I didn’t belong in this time. Even if he liked it as much as I did–there was no use. I was from the future, he’s
from the past.
I cried again.
He held my hand and took the key from it. Then he unlocked the watch. It worked.
I cried harder.
He said that I should not worry. After this day, everything would be back to normal.
He pulled a string from his pocket and put the key on it, it served as a pendant. He put it around my neck.
He said that it was a remembrance. I gave it back to him, saying that memories of him were enough for me to remember him.
I told him that I would miss him so much.
I couldn’t believe it. I found the perfect love at the wrong time. Cliché, but true.
I hugged him again. He kissed me back.
It seemed like hours. After that, he whispered something about being with someone who would walk into my life and make me realize
why it could never work out with him.
I said that I would still wait for him.
*****
I was blinded by the light that was coming from my window. I opened my eyes and realized that I was back.
“Am I dreaming? Was that only a dream?”
Crying, I went out of my room. I knocked on my parents’ room; they were still asleep. I decided to go back to the antique shop.
Outside, I discovered that everything was back to normal.
I kept on walking, wiping my tears, looking for any sign of a white-shirted guy.
I arrived at the shop. It was closed. The sign said that it was under renovation.
I couldn’t believe it.
It was all a dream.
*****
Year 2010.
I still remember that dream. It was a very wonderful, weird one.
I have no regrets. I was just happy that I had experienced being in a time machine. And meeting someone–someone really special from
the past. Though I still don’t know if it really happened… if I was just dreaming or not.
My family went to the States a year after that dream. I finished my studies there. After three years, I decided to visit our country, to
go back to our village again.
It has been years since I last visited the antique shop where I bought the watch. I went to visit it first. I was not expecting anything. I
really just wanted to check thing out.
Ding!
I entered the shop and a new face greeted me.
It was a guy, just about my age. He had his back on me.
I approached him, then he smiled back.
I was shocked to see his necklace.
The key necklace.
I was about to walk away when he suddenly grabbed my arm.
I looked back.
He removed the necklace from his neck and handed it to me.
He said that his father who passed away five years ago gave it to him. His father said that someday, he would find out what it was for.
I cried. I couldn’t believe it.
He hugged me, saying that his father was right that I was worth the wait.
I said, “I am stupid.”
He retorted, “Maybe it is FATE.”

Discussion Questions:

1. Why the selection is titled “Chimera”?

2. Described the protagonist.
3. What is the conflict in the story?
4. Did you have a similar experience? If so, narrate briefly your story.
5. If you were the writer, how would you conclude the story?
6. What insights have you gained from reading the selection?

Khatrina Bonagua is a 26-year-old superhero wannabe. She writes and edits copies during the day, saves the world at night,
and covers events in between. You might have seen her somewhere, with her clothes so short and her hair so messy. Don’t be
intimidated, she’s a harmless lanky creature.
 Armed with overworked neurons, unending curiosity, and immeasurable enthusiasm, she’s out to inject the world with
sunshine and sarcasm.