The book tells about the author’s early experiences in La Loma, Quezon City, mingling with the lowly populace like goons, illegal settlers, women working as dancers and entertainers. The brave stance of the narrator perpetuates throughout the 40 essays, citing instances in his personal life which most are to be heard only by confessors yet because of his honesty one could only grasp in amazement for the displayed transparency in writings.

The story happens in the locale frequented by ordinary people, devoid of sophistication and elegance, almost stripped of material wealth though manifesting an almost stubborn aim that is to live. How much income is required for a family to avail of its basic needs like nutritious foods, decent house, education, and the necessary medicines? If a father earns as a kaminero and the mother as a dressmaker, what kind of life will they provide for their children?

The author’s voice reverberates as he remembered accomplishing the finishing touches in his mother’s sewing til past midnight throughout the entire Christmas season, followed by mechanical eating of their meager Noche Buena which consisted of salami or hotdog sandwich with hot chocolate. His walkathon habits on his entire college days were imprinte on his memories—thus, even on the moment of his narration of the event, one could feel the intense heat of the sun, the profuse perspiration on back, forehead, and neck. How could he forget the glaring evidence of poverty: “the odor of fried dried fish, the imposed blackouts of their rooms, purchasing less than a kilo of rice, doors stubbornly closed despite of persistent calls from debt collectors and the scandalous silence of the sole family treasure — the radio.”

Cited also are experiences of the author which he undauntedly open himself to public scrutiny, like shedding of tears over movie scenes showing kindness to others or success of an oppressed, avoidance of watching television during the Martial Law days, sexual awakening manifested by fondness of reading bomba komiks’ “Bed Time Stories”, watching bomba films, adulation of movie stars, and his sexual preference. The author without qualms imparts to the readers his identity, not minding scrupulous judgment and misunderstanding.

The essay also manifested the author’s almost innate ability to understand people particularly the poor and marginalized. He did not use any degrading descriptions on jobless people, dancers, mistress, or even the goons. Whatever mistakes these people committed in their lives were treated as something apart from their identities, for in between the lines, a reader may detect an understanding heart and an emphatic attitude towards these people whose aspirations and dreams yet drowned by circumstances contrary to their likings.

Likewise, the biography highlights the author’s tribute to his parents though his experiences with them could rarely be called joyous. Their good traits were enumerated - ”devotion to work and family, love for their children, the patience of a mother over her husband’s infidelity, amidst poverty their unspoken hope for something better in the future.”

Unlike other Filipinos who turn a blind eye to the faults of their parents, the author brought reality to their weaknesses by identifying them: the viceof drunkenness which gripped his father like an iron chain, the sarcasm of his mother, the nagging illiteracy of the father, and physical punishment inflicted upon him. But his deep love for them is
summarized by the brief statement printed on the third page of this book which goes, “Kina Francisco Villanueva at Vicenta Ocampo, mga mahal na magulang na pinagsisihan kong napagkaitan ng pagmamahal.” Indeed, an expression of an unexpressed emotion was immortalized.

Finally, the essays echo the investment that the author had risk in his disclosure; surely he is reminding the readers that processing experiences is the key in living a meaningful life. Reliving experience can be beneficial if at the end one realizes the lesson it has taught yet could be a harsh reality if it makes one identity obscured by resentment, anger, inner conflict and alienation.