Rarely do I find foreign books that has Philippines on it. The last time was probably with the book, "Five People I Met in Heaven" by Mitch Albom and the character there was Tala(star).
This book started right here, particularly in Subic. And the year was 1963. I must admit that I am poor in History, particularly with the war, that I won't be able to put it exactly in what date did this happen.
But anyway, I always feel joy when our country is mentioned. But, then again, it was kind of short-lived. Because after that beautiful beach description comes the Filipino women and their not-so-good role during the war, which I'd rather not mention. But of course, there were good things. Only, that doesn't come into one's mind at first glance.
But the book seems to pacify my frustration. I am amazed that Denis Johnson was able to talk about the aswang and its folklore. He even related the story of how it all began. Although again, it's not one of the best of the Philippines, it was good that he was able to research more thoroughly on that. Because I myself do not exactly know the tale.
Then, comes our famous San Miguel Beer. From the way these soldiers talk, especially the colonel, it seems that this is probably really one of the best beers in the world. And I take it positively since it comes from a soldier who had traveled around the world. I really wonder what sets it apart.
After Subic, one of the characters, William 'Skip' Sands, was asked by his uncle to go to Mindanao. This was his assignment prior to Vietnam. Skip wants to go to Vietnam, and I wonder why. I wonder what his intentions are, his motives, his beginnings that makes him wants to go to Vietnam.
While in Mindanao, he met Kathy, who at that time, was waiting for any news about her husband Timothy. By the time she heard about him, she ended up going to bed with Skip. And right now, a few pages after, I still wonder if it was lust or frustration that made her do what she did.
Whatever Skip's assignment in Mindanao was, I leave it up to you to read about. It was just a short trip with a rendezvous with a married-woman-who-became-a-widow. And that rendezvous didn't end there. She wrote him letters when she got to Vietnam. And this one really moved me:
They were born into a land at war. Born into a time of trial that never ends.
What I don't think has been talked about is the fact that in order to be Hell, the people in Hell could never be sure they were really there. If God told them they were in Hell, then the torment of uncertainty would be relieved from them, and their torment wouldn't be complete without that nagging question - "Is this suffering I see all around me my eternal damnation and the eternal damnation of all these souls, or is it just a temporary journey?" A temporary journey in the fallen world.
Kathy is in Vietnam. And that is how she sees the place.
How bad was it really?
Right now, James Houston just landed in Vietnam with two other guys named Evans and Fisher. I think James thinks he's in the wrong place. I think James was expecting something else. But right now, I think all he can do is wait til his next assignment, if there would ever be another.
Skip is now in Vietnam, too. And the colonel just handed his new passport. William French Benet. Canadian. I need to find out about this change.
Meantime, it has been five chapters and five years. I am having a hard time with a book of so many characters. James is a brother of that Seaman Houston who was in the Philippines back in 1963. Seaman Houston is now also in Vietnam and I wonder if they would ever get to meet. Again, there are so many characters in the story that I need to go back to a certain chapter o refresh me.
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