In the Claws of Brightness

Last updated
In the Claws of Brightness
Sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag ni Edgardo Reyes Tagalog Bookcover.jpg
1986 cover art for Edgardo M. Reyes's Sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag
Author Edgardo M. Reyes
Language Tagalog
Genre Fiction
Publisher De La Salle University Press
Publication date
1966-1967
Publication place Philippines
The Japanese book cover for Edgardo M. Reyes's Sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag. Sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag ni Edgardo Reyes Japanese Bookcover.jpg
The Japanese book cover for Edgardo M. Reyes's Sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag.

In the Claws of Brightness (Filipino: Sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag), is a 1986 Tagalog language novel written by Filipino author Edgardo M. Reyes, originally serialized in Liwayway magazine from 1966 to 1967. The title In the Claws of Brightness is a word-for-word literal translation of the Tagalog title, which as a phrase effectively makes little sense in English. A more practical English translation would be At the Verge of Dawn. The story became the basis for the award-winning Filipino film, Manila in the Claws of Light . [1]

Contents

Summary

Julio, a poor fisherman, goes to Manila to search for his betrothed named Ligaya. Sometime before Julio's trip, Ligaya had left with a lady named Mrs. Cruz in order to study and work in the city. Now in Manila, Julio becomes a victim to some of the city's scums. Julio experiences abuses while working in a construction site. He eventually loses his job and desperately looks for a decent place where he can sleep. Slowly, Julio develops a cynical demeanor as he gradually loses hope of ever finding Ligaya.

All this is put on hold, however, when Julio finally reunites Ligaya, and learns from her that she is a victim of sex trafficking. Julio and Ligaya plan to escape. [2]

Film adaptation

The 1975 adaptation of the book entitled Manila in the Claws of Light was directed by award-winning director Lino Brocka. The script was written by Clodualdo del Mundo, Jr. [1] Jose Capino, writing for Criterion , noted that the film was met with "charges of anti-Chinese racism from reviewers." [3]

Translation

The book had been translated into Japanese by Motoe Terami-Wada. The novel, retitled as Manila: Hikaru Tsume (マニラ : 光る爪) had become a bestselling book in Japan. [1]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lino Brocka</span> Filipino film director (1949–1991)

Catalino Ortiz Brocka was a Filipino film director. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential and significant filmmakers in the history of Philippine cinema. His body of work and life pledged to uphold anti-authoritarian politics that opposed the Marcos dictatorship at the time and continues to do so.

Edgardo M. Reyes was a Filipino novelist. His works of fiction first appeared in the Tagalog magazine, Liwayway. His novels include Laro sa Baga,

The 37th Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature was held to commemorate the memory of Don Carlos Palanca Sr. through an endeavor that would promote education and culture in the country.

The 36th Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature was held to commemorate the memory of Don Carlos Palanca Sr. through an endeavor that would promote education and culture in the country.

The 32nd Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature was held to commemorate the memory of Don Carlos Palanca Sr. through an endeavor that would promote education and culture in the country.

The 28th Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature was held to commemorate the memory of Don Carlos Palanca Sr. through an endeavor that would promote education and culture in the country.

The 30th Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature was held to commemorate the memory of Don Carlos Palanca Sr. through an endeavor that would promote education and culture in the country. This year saw the inclusion of a new category, Novel/Nobela, for both the English and Filipino Divisions.

The 41st Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature was held to commemorate the memory of Don Carlos Palanca Sr. through an endeavor that would promote education and culture in the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jose Dalisay Jr.</span> Filipino writer

Jose Y. Dalisay Jr. is a Filipino writer. He has won numerous awards and prizes for fiction, poetry, drama, non-fiction and screenwriting, including 16 Palanca Awards.

<i>Manila in the Claws of Light</i> 1975 Filipino film

Manila in the Claws of Light is a 1975 Filipino neo noir drama mystery film directed by Lino Brocka based on the story In the Claws of Brightness by Edgardo M. Reyes. It stars Hilda Koronel, Lou Salvador, Jr., Tommy Abuel, and in his film debut, Rafael Roco, Jr. The film features cinematography by Miguel de Leon and editing by brothers Edgardo and Ike Jarlego. It tells the story of Júlio Madiaga, a young man from the province of Marinduque who arrives in Manila for a mission to find his lover Ligaya. While making plans for his mission, he has to survive the conditions in the capital city, contending with issues like crime and prostitution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rogelio Ordoñez</span> Filipino fiction writer, poet, activist, journalist and educator

Rogelio Lunasco Ordoñez also known as Ka Roger, was a multi-awarded Filipino fiction writer, poet, activist, journalist and educator. He was one of the authors of the iconic Tagalog literature anthology Mga Agos sa Disyerto in the 1960s. He was a contributor to Liwayway Magazine, Pilipino Free Press, Asia-Philippines Leader, Pilosopong Tasyo, Diario Uno and Pinoy Weekly.

The Gawad Urian Awards are annual film awards in the Philippines presented since 1977 by the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino, a film critic organization composed of critics, writers, and scholars. It is the regarded as the highest award for a film given by critics in the Philippines and is seen as the counterpart of the United States' New York Film Critics Circle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lope K. Santos</span> Filipino writer, poet, activist, and politician

Lope K. Santos was a Filipino Tagalog-language writer and former senator of the Philippines. He is best known for his 1906 socialist novel, Banaag at Sikat and for his contributions to the development of Filipino grammar and Tagalog orthography.

"Sa Aking Mga Kabatà" is a poem about the love of one's native language written in Tagalog. It is widely attributed to the Filipino national hero José Rizal, who supposedly wrote it in 1868 at the age of eight. There is not enough evidence, however, to support authorship by Rizal and several historians now believe it to be a hoax.

Soledad Sarmiento Reyes is a Philippine literature scholar, literary and art critic, author, anthologist, consultant, professor, instructor, editor, annotator, researcher, and essayist in the Philippines. Specializing in the field of popular culture and the arts in the Philippines, Reyes is a professor teaching interdisciplinary studies at the University of the Philippines and the Ateneo de Manila University. She is an accomplished author of books and anthologies. "sa nobela mababalatuba ang mga pangyayati sa buhay ng isang kagawad sa union

<i>Ang Tala sa Panghulo</i> 1913 novel by Patricio Mariano

Ang Tala sa Panghulo is a 1913 Tagalog-language romance novel written by Filipino novelist Patricio Mariano. The 207-page book was published in Manila by R. Martinez and was printed by the Imprenta at Litograpya Ni Juan Fajardo during the American era in Philippine history. The novel is alternatively known as Ang Tala sa Panghulo: Nobelang Taga-ilog, which can also mean Ang Tala sa Panghulo: Nobelang Tagalog, thus the alternative English translation is The Bright Star at Panghulo: A Tagalog Novel.

Rogelio Mangahas was a Filipino artist and poet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tommy Abuel</span> Filipino actor

Tomas "Tommy" Rosales Abuel Jr. is a Filipino actor and lawyer. He won the FAMAS Best Supporting Actor Award in Maynila, Sa Kuko Ng Liwanag (1975), and Karma (1981); and Cinemalaya Best Actor Award in Dagsin (2016).

Ramon Guillermo is a Filipino novelist, translator, poet, activist, and academic in the field of Southeast Asian Studies.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag" by Edgardo M. Reyes (Tagalog), goodreads.com
  2. "Sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag" by Edgardo M. Reyes (Tagalog), kabayancentral.com
  3. Capino, Jose (2018-06-12). "Manila in the Claws of Light: A Proletarian Inferno". Criterion . Retrieved 2020-12-09.