Fiction

What It Means to Be Malaya

A Novel

by Emmily Magtalas Rhodes

Description

What It Means To Be Malaya by Emmily Magtalas Rhodes follows the moral and psychological growth of Bunny, a young woman on the brink of adulthood as she negotiates her various relationships with her family and with friends in school.

The popular and attractive Malaya stands out among these friends. A sensitive introvert who dreads socializing and endures the sterility of a regimented life with her mother, Bunny sees Malaya as the epitome of unfettered youth, who awakens in her a yearning to belong.

The novel is a social commentary that holds a mirror to Philippine society, casting a critical eye on our definition of success; obsession with beauty contests; on beauty-enhancing products; on Western standards of beauty and fashion; on the advertising and PR industry; on church-going people unaware and unmindful of the disconnect between their religious practice and their behavior toward other persons.

All told, an engaging, compelling read.

—Susan Lara, Award-Wining Fictionist

More Information

Author Biography

Emmily Magtalas Rhodes is a freelance writer.  She was born during Marcos-era martial law, and grew up sheltered in the suburbs of  Manila, where she only caught glimpses of the  political climate from newspapers, TV, and the  radio. A shy child, she took refuge in books and  comics, and kept a journal from a young age.  She currently lives in a spa town in England  with her husband and two sons.

Ateneo de Manila University Press

Ateneo de Manila University Press

Established in 1972, The Ateneo de Manila University Press is the publishing arm of the Ateneo de Manila University. We publish scholarly titles in the social sciences and humanities that reflect on the Philippines in Asia and in the world. These works are highly regarded contributions to scholarship, research, and education, and serve as an avenue for new directions in creative work.   The Ateneo Press was awarded Publisher of the Year by the Manila Critics Circle in the last three consecutive years: 2017, 2018, and 2019. Our books have won over 200 awards for their high-quality content, design, and production from the National Book Awards and Gintong Aklat Awards, while several of our literary titles have received recognition from the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards, the most prestigious literary award in the Philippines.

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Bibliographic Information

  • Publisher/Imprint Ateneo de Manila University / Bughaw
  • Publication Date July 2020
  • Orginal LanguageEnglish
  • ISBN/Identifier 9789715509961
  • FormatPDF
  • Primary Price 395 PHP
  • Pages238
  • ReadershipTeenage/Young Adult
  • Publish StatusPublished
  • Copyright Year2020

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