Reading Miguel Syjuco’s “Ilustrado”
Do I am reading Syjuco’s novel again. The last time was approximately 12 months ago. The first time I read it was in college, some time in 2009 and 2010. Upon search now, the novel was about a year old back then.Â
I’ve been reading it for 12 years now.
Back then, it felt like it was too experimental. And if my knowledge of literary theory does not betray me, it is too postmodern. I was young, and I was too fixed on a clear flow of narrative. This novel, while it has a clear beginning, middle, and end, would insert various details contextualizing the characters of the novel. The two leads’ stories are shared even if they happened at different times. At the end, they were writing each other.Â
It was a bit too confusing to me, but it intrigued me too. To begin, it was, arguably, about Filipino diaspora, a topic special to me and my undergraduate years. But of course, it is so much more than that. It played with the upper class, Philippine politics, the elitism of the Filipino literary community, the welcomed sadness of a writer, among others.Â
There are so many targets to consider. No wonder Syjuco chose a hodge-podge flow of narrative.
Within the first few years of reading the novel, I thought that I enjoyed it because of how well it flowed. Despite confusion at first, I understood it and therefore, grew to love it. Now in my 30s, I feel like I like it for a different reason.
In my late 30s, I leaned towards more mature novels. I appreciated plots with the sad truth about the world. Not the sad truth about teenage stuff like love and finding yourself I liked before.Â
I don’t know why, but I really like that novel. One thing about the novel that sticks to me is its presentation of how a once great family is crumbling now. The families in the novel were both influential, a reckoning. But something happens and they fall. Their fall still affects their surroundings, rather quietly. And somehow, it falls under one person’s shoulders to pick them back up.
(I hope my memory of the novel from my last complete reading do not fail me. Or else, I sound stupid, and if Syjuco reads this, I’m dead,)
I wonder why I like that about the novel. What does it say about me? Do I relate to it and think my family is going through the same thing? Maybe I’m just being a gossip and think about great families falling. I could also just be thinking “Oh, the problems of the rich,” because let’s admit, some of their troubles are luxury compared to what people of the lower class go through.
The novel also criticizes the Filipino literary community, how creative and academic writers alike have something problematic to say about each other. It somewhat reminds me of the time when I was a college student, how my seniors, who I looked up to, were elitists using their skills to alleviate themselves as writers and put the lesser writers down. We were all students though, with nothing to prove ourselves with. Hell, even established writers talked behind each other’s backs yet kissed each others’ asses too. Many of the professors, published writers themselves, didn’t explain much about why something is wrong; they just stated what’s wrong and expected us students to figure it out.Â
I do not think I am thinking about the Philippine politics aspect of the narrative. I don’t even think much of it in real life, so why would I think of it in a novel?
I need to understand why I really like it. Is it the family, the literary community, or the politics? Or maybe I am missing the point altogether and subconsciously love how the narrative fucks me over in the end?Â
I need to finish reading the novel to reflect on it carefully.
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I am at the part where MIguel meets Sadie. I’m reminded that this is the part I hate the most. I feel like it’s so convenient that he met her. Feels like it’s the lowest point of the novel.
