An Analysis of Lualhati Bautista’s GAPO and Dekada 70’

Kristine Joyce M. Guevarra

ABM 11- ST. EZEKIEL
Miss Lisette Isonza
II. About the Author

Lualhati Torres Bautista (born December 2, 1945) is one of the foremost Filipino
female novelists in the history of contemporary Philippine literature. Her novels include Dekada
'70, Bata, Bata, Pa'no Ka Ginawa?, and ‘GAPÔ. Bautista was born in Tondo, Manila, Philippines
on December 2, 1945, to Esteban Bautista and Gloria Torres. She graduated from Emilio Jacinto
Elementary School in 1958, and from Torres High School in 1962. She was a journalism student
at the Lyceum of the Philippines, but dropped out because she had always wanted to be a writer
and schoolwork was taking too much time Her first short story, "Katugon ng Damdamin," was
published in Liwayway Magazine and thus started her writing career.Despite a lack of formal
training, Bautista as a writer became known for her honest realism, courageous exploration of
Philippine women's issues, and compelling female protagonists who confront difficult situations
at home and in the workplace with uncommon grit and strength.

Works as novelist

Lualhati garnered several Palanca Awards (1980, 1983 and 1984) for her novels ‘GAPÔ, Dekada
'70 and Bata, Bata… Pa’no Ka Ginawa? exposing injustices and chronicling women activism
during the Marcos era.

‘GAPÔ, Palanca Awards 1980 grand prize winner, published in 1992, is the story of a man
coming to grips with life as an Amerasian. It is a multi-layered scrutiny of the politics behind US
bases in the Philippines, seen from ordinary citizens living in Olongapo City point of view.
Dekada '70 is the story of a family caught in the middle of the tumultuous decade of the 1970s. It
details how a middle-class family struggled and faced the changes that empowered Filipinos to
rise against the Marcos government. These series of events happened after the bombing of Plaza
Miranda, the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus, the proclamation of martial law and the
random arrests of political prisoners. The oppressive nature of the Marcos regime, which made
the people become more radical, and the shaping of the decade were all witnessed by the female
protagonist, Amanda Bartolome, a mother of five boys.

Bata, Bata… Pa'no Ka Ginawa?, literally, "Child, Child… How Were You Made?", narrates the
life of Lea, a working mother and a social activist, who has two children. The novel begun with
an introductory chapter about the graduation day from kindergarten of Maya, Lea’s daughter. A
program and a celebration were held. In the beginning, everything in Lea’s life were going
smoothly – her life in connection with her children, with friends of the opposite gender, and with
her volunteer work for a human rights organization. But Lea’s children were both growing-up –
and Lea could see their gradual transformation. There were the changes in their ways and
personalities: Maya’s curiosity was becoming more obvious every day, while Ojie was crossing
the boundaries from boyhood to teenage to adulthood. In the end, all three, and especially Lea,
have to confront Philippine society’s view of single motherhood; and the novel itself brazens out
to the questions of how it is to be a mother, and how a mother executes this role through modern-
day concepts of parenthood.

Bautista's published book, In Sisterhood (2013) received Filipino Readers' Choice Award
Nominee for Fiction in Filipino/ Taglish in 2014 organized by the Filipino Book Bloggers
Group. Meanwhile, in 2015, Bautista launches another book entitled Sixty in the City which
tackles life of three good friends Guia, Roda and Menang – who are in their mid-60s, realized
that there's a good life out of being just a wife, mother and homemaker.

Short stories

Two of Bautista's short stories won the Palanca Awards, namely "Tatlong Kwento ng Buhay ni
Juan Candelabra" (Three Stories in the Life of Juan Candelabra), first prize, 1982; and "Buwan,
Buwan, Hulugan mo Ako ng Sundang" (Moon, Moon, Drop Me a dagger), third prize, 1983. On
1991 Bautista with Cacho Publishing House, published her compilations of short stories
entitled Buwan, Buwan, Hulugan Mo Ako ng Sundang: Dalawang Dekada ng Maiikling
Kuwento.

As screenwriter

Lualhati Bautista's venture as screenwriter produced several critically acclaimed works. Her first
screenplay was Sakada (Seasonal Sugarcane Workers), 1976, which exposed the plight of
Filipino peasants. Her second film was Kung Mahawi Man ang Ulap in 1984, which was
nominated for awards in the Film Academy of the Philippines. One of her best screenplays, also
written during the same year was Bulaklak ng City Jail based on her novel about imprisoned
women, has won almost all awards for that year from various awards guilds including Star
Awards and Metro Manila Film Festival. In 1998 her work was used for Chito Rono's film
adaptation of Bata Bata Paano Ka Ginawa Starring Vilma Santos. In 2000 she even wrote Gusto
Ko Nang Lumigaya the screenplay for Viva Films starring Pops Fernandez for Maryo J Delos
Reyes political drama thriller.

Other honors

She became a national fellow for fiction of the University of the Philippines Creative Writing
Center in 1986. Bautista also served as vice-president of the Screenwriters Guild of the
Philippines and chair of the Kapisanan ng mga Manunulat ng Nobelang Popular.

She was the only Filipino included in a book on foremost International Women Writers
published in Japan in 1991.

Bautista was honored by the Ateneo Library of Women's Writings on March 10, 2004 during the
8th Annual Lecture on Vernacular Literature by Women. In 2005, the Feminist Centennial Film
Festival presented her with a recognition award for her outstanding achievement in screenplay
writing. In 2006, she was recipient of the Diwata Award for best writer by the 16th International
Women's Film Festival of the UP Film Center.
Translations of her novels

Excerpts from Lualhati Bautista's novels have been anthologized in Tulikärpänena book of short
stories written by Filipino women published in Finland by The Finnish-Philippine Society (FPS),
a non-governmental organization founded in 1988. Tulikärpänen was edited and translated by
Riitta Vartti, et al. In Firefly: Writings by Various Authors, the English version of the Finnish
collection, the excerpt from the Filipino novel Gapô was given the title "The Night in Olongapo"
while the excerpt from Bata, Bata, Pa'no Ka Ginawa? was titled "Children's Party".

A full translation of Bautista's best works could better represent the characteristics of Filipino
writing in international publishing. Dekada '70 has been translated to the Japanese language and
was published by Mekong Publishing House in the early 1990's. Tatlong Kuwento ng Buhay ni
Julian Candelabra, (ist prize, Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature, 1983) was translated in
English and published by The Lifted Brow in Australia.

Works

Books

 Bulaklak sa City Jail

 Dekada '70
 Bata, Bata… Pa’no Ka Ginawa?
 ‘GAPÔ
 Sixty in the City
 In Sisterhood
 Sonata
 Hinugot sa Tadyang (non-fiction)
 Buwan, Buwan, Hulugan Mo Ako ng Sundang: Dalawang Dekada ng Maiikling Kuwento
 Desaparesidos

Novelettes

 Sila At Ang Gabi: Isang Buong Laot at Kalahati ng Daigdig (1994)

  Ang Babae sa Basag na Salamin (1994)
 Araw ng mga Puso
 Apat Na Screenplay
 Ang Kabilang Panig ng Bakod
 Hugot sa Sinapupunan
 Desisyon
 Sumakay tayo sa buwan

Screenplays

 Sakada (Co-writer)
 Kung Mahawi Man ang Ulap
 Bulaklak sa City Jail
 Kadenang Bulaklak
 The Maricris Sioson Story
 Nena
 Bata, Bata...Pa'no Ka Ginawa?: The Screenplay
 Dekada '70
 Sex Object
 Isang Kabanata sa Libro ng Buhay ni Leilani Cruzaldo (Television drama)

Television Scripts

 Dear Teacher (Co-writer)

 Daga sa Timba ng Tubig
 Mama
 Pira-pirasong Pangarap
 Desaparesidos (1998)
III.

Summary of Dekada ‘70

Bartolome family has their blissful and normal life before entering the 70’s. The head of the
family, Julian Bartolome together with his wife Amanda, give their children, who are all boys,
their right to express themselves. It just shows how they love their sons. The family belongs to
the middle-class, Amanda is the only woman, and they have five sons. However, they lives have
changed when the new president have declared the martial law. Amanda and Julian have their
own dilemmas while at it. They usually fight because Amanda, as a woman, wanted to achieve
other things rather than being just a housewife, while Julian just want her to become the latter.
She is torn between the laws back then and her responsibilities as being the mother and wife.
Due to this upbringing front (martial law), Jules, the eldest son began to be exposed in such
rebellious acts. He first hid it from his family, but still, they have found out what he has been
doing because of the unruly papers Amanda saw. Jules’ decision on joining the NPA is approved
by his parents, however, they still fear of losing him. Jules and his younger brother (and tht hird
son), Emmanuel, are partners in fighting the government because Emmanuel writes what Jules
dictates. The second son, Isagani became a member of the navy. Jules fought over Isagani being
one of the US Navy since he obviously doesn’t like it; Jules is a nationalistic person. However,
Gani still managed to become one. But before that, he made his mistake of getting his girlfriend
pregnant and suddenly became married. Yet, their marriage did not work because his wife has
something to accomplish with her life. The fourth son is Jason, Julian’s favorite. Jason is a
typical teenager and enjoys life too much. He is a happy-go-lucky child. He brings cheers to the
family especially when struggles come. But Jason died, not by his witty acts, but because the
police killed him, unjustified. And the fifth son is Benjamin. He is merely in the middle of his
teenage years back then and still doesn’t have a broad understanding about what is happening
around him

Summary of GAPO

Michael Taylor Jr. is a twenty year old folk singer in a bar named freedom pad. He was the son
of an American soldier whom he had never seen or known. He was angry with the
Americans because his father had left his mother and his children outside to be made fun of by
others. He was even more angry when he witnessed the taunts of the American soldiers to his
friends. Dolores, his mother adopted him and grew up with him. Magda was an avid fan of
American soldiers despite the pain she suffered because of them. Michael is best friends with
Modesto and Ali. Modesto was a military worker in the military base. Turn it over to his
employer. He had no American friends there except William Smith. He just quit his job because
he earns a lot of money here. Ali, in turn, was a scoundrel. And they met Modesto. He became
the girlfriend of an American soldier, Richard Halloway. One day, Modesto could no longer
endure the oppression of the American soldiers at the military base. He contacted an officer there
and got out of the melee. Modesto would have been alone when he was assisted by colleagues of
a white soldier. Despite William's restraint and supplication, they killed Modesto. Ali was
robbed by Nina Richard and Ignacio was also beaten. Magda had a new bride named Steve
Taylor. At first Steve was very kind until he became pregnant. Michael was about to meet a
soldier on a canoe when they discovered that he had a family back in the United States. Her
memories of her mother, as well as Nina Ali and Modesto's memories, are still alive. Once again
the US soldiers cheated on Magda. Michael hit Steve in the head with his guitar that killed Steve.
Michael was trapped. In the latter part of the story, Magda visits Michael in jail. She
announced her son's name to Michael. The boy will be Michael Taylor III. Holding their hands
tightly on both sides of the railing.

IV. Analysis

The difference between Magdalena and Amanda. Magdalena has personality who cares herself,
she desperate for an American man who has a lot of money so that her life change without doing
anything but waiting for that man without knowing that man is in love with her and ready to
accept her but the man who came to her life is a man which reveals already a married man and
has a family in America she knew it when she became pregnant , she didn’t think what other
people saying about them she become a stupid when it comes to the person that she loves but
Amanda has a big difference with Magdalena because Amanda cares for her children and her
husband. She loves her children so much and she afore people around her. She is very supportive
wife to his husband and at the same to his sons. Amanda is patient and understanding one. She
has dignity not because she’s a mother, but because of her “voice for freedom” as a person.
V. References/Citation APA

Dekada 70 Summary. (2017, May 16). Retrieved November 6, 2019, from

https://newyorkessays.com/essay-dekada-70-summary/

Wikipedia contributors. (2019, September 24). Lualhati Bautista. In

Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 15:13, November 6, 2019
Summary ng Gapo ni Lualhati Bautista - Answers
. [online] Available at:https://www.answers.com/Q/Summary_ng_Gapo_ni_Lualhati_Bautista
[Accessed 13 Sep.2011].