Amid the Alien Corn Nick Joaquin

8/13/2019 Amid the Alien Corn Nick Joaquin

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WILFRIDO D. NOLLEDO

AMID THE ALIEN CORN

By Quijano de Manila (Nick oa!uin"

Oc#o$e% &' )

A C*LT a+on, #-e youn, %i#e%/.o0 #-e coun#%y i/ Wil0%ido Nolledo1 -o i/ #o2-ili33ine 3%o/e -a# 4illa i/ #o i#/ 5e%/e.

I0 4illa -a/ -ei,-#ened #-e lan,ua,e o0 3oe#%y #o an al+o/# an,elicincande/cence1 Nolledo -a/ dee3ened #-e lan,ua,e o0 0ic#ion #o a nea%6a3ocaly3#ic den/i#y. Fo% $o#- #-e/e +a,i1 #-e +ediu+ i/ #-e +e//a,e. A 4illa3oe+ i#/el0 in0o%+/ #-e clai%5oyance %e!ui%ed #o $e-old i#7 e5e%y /#o%y $yNolledo %ec%ea#e/ a %eade% in#o i#/ %eade% in #-e /a+e ay #-a# no# e5e%yonecould /ee a 2ica//o un#il #-e $ody o0 2ica//o8/ o%k -ad de5elo3ed in #-e3u$lic a ne eye i#- -ic- #o 5ie i#. I# /ound/ inc%edi$le no 1 $u# -a#-a5e $eco+e #-e cla//ic He+in, ay /#o%ie/ e%e 0ound un%eada$le $y #-eedi#o%/ -e 0i%/# /en# #-e+ #o. Nolledo unde% en# a /i+ila% e93e%ience. Hi/3%o/e a/ 0ound da::lin, all %i,-#;$u# -a# #-e -ell a/ #-e ,uy /ayin,3ain and #-e kan#o6$oy Manila... >o one +i,-# $e,in #o #a, #-ein0luence/.. ?oda%d and An#onioni and Fellini and Be%,+an ould -a5e #o $e/3eci0ied7 Elio#1 #oo1 and #-e ,o#-ic Hen%y a+e/7 and #-e %i#ual/ o0 2-ili33ine0olk Ca#-olici/+. T-e 3%o/e ill /o+e#i+e/ $ello i#- $ee%1 #-ou,- #-e%e0e%ence/ a%e #o ine1 >3ani/- o% %ice.

Bu# -a# al ay/ %e/ul#/ 0%o+ all #-i/ i/ Nolledo1 al ay/ 3eculia%ly -i+/el0= a+e#-od in -i/ +adne//1 a cunnin, e5en in -i/ +o/# deli%iou/ di#-y%a+$/. T-eNolledo la$y%in#- i/ $a%o!ue1 $u# a# #-e -ea%# o0 i# i/ a co:ine// o0 o3en /3ace


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-e%e a# a /i+3le #a$le /i#/ a +an i#- i0e and c-ild%en ea#in, /u33e% unde%#-e /#a%/.

A local cul# i#-in a decade a0#e% -e $e,an %i#in,1 Nolledo -a/ no 1 a# @ 1/#e33ed $e0o%e #-e in#e%na#ional audience. Ou# #-i/ +on#- in Ne o%k13u$li/-ed $y E. 2. Du##on Co+3any1 i/ Nolledo / 0i%/# no5el1 Bu# Fo% T-eLo5e%/1 -e%e #-e youn, +a,u/ o0 lan,ua,e -a/ #u%ned #-e 2-ili33ine a%e93e%ience in#o a 3oe+. I#8/ a $eau#i0ully 3%in#ed $ook1 %unnin, #o @& 3a,e/1and i# $e,in/ i#- a 3%olo,ue #-a# $e,in/ i#- a 3a%a,%a3- #-a# $e,in/ i#- a/en#ence #-a# a%e like no $e,innin, you8d e5e% e93ec# o0 a a% no5el.

Li/#en=

He a/ $e,innin, #o ea# 0lo e%/ and #-e c%e/cen# +oon a/ in -i/ eye/-en -e a oke a,ain. One ni,-# lon, a,o -en #-ey -ad in#e%ce3#ed a code

0%o+ #-e ene+y on #-e /-o%# a5e and -ad no# needed -i+ any+o%e1 #-ey3ulled ou# #-ei% #en#/1 +an#led -i+ i#- lea5e/ and le0# -i+. T-ey le0# -i+ a%i0le1 a $u%i $a/ke# and a $ook o0 3/al+/1 0o% #-e Majo% -ad dec%eed inde0en/e o0 #-e +u%de%e%= Le# #-e li##le Le,ionnai%e lie -e%e and die7 i# i/

%i##en1 i# /-all $e %ead. Bu# #-e $oy en# on /lee3in,= and did no# die and-en -e a akened i# a/ #o /ee (i# a/ #o 0ind -i+/el0 alone" a $i%d1 a -i#e6in,ed +aya da%# in 0%o+ #-e e/#1 3e%-a3/ -eaded 0o% #-e +on/oon.

>#eadyin, #-e >3%in,0ield1 -e cocked #-e -a++e% i#- a !ui5e%in, #-u+$1and ai#ed. I# 0le a ay1 -a#e5e% i# a/1 and no -e /!uin#ed u3 and%e+e+$e%ed #-a# i# a/ #-e 0i%/# #i+e in a lon, /3ell -e -ad /een #-e /ky1 and-e #-ou,-#= I# i/ lon,e%1 lonelie% and lo5elie% #-an any o0 +y 3%aye%/. He/i,-#ed #-e ni+$u/6an ea,le in ca3#i5i#y6and 0i%ed.

Lo%d1 -e /aid1 GI a+ 3unc-in, -ole/ in you% ,a%%e#.

A0#e% #-a#1 one /-ould !uo#e #-e $lu%$ on #-e $ook / jacke#=

Bu# Fo% T-e Lo5e%/ +a%k/ #-e de$u# o0 a /#%on,ly o%i,inal 5oice incon#e+3o%a%y 0ic#ion. T-i/ e9#%ao%dina%y no5el i/ no le// %e+a%ka$le 0o% #-e3o e% and $eau#y o0 i#/8 lan,ua,e #-an 0o% #-e e9o#ic and +a,ical o%ld i#


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c%ea#e/. >e# in #-e 2-ili33ine/ du%in, #-e >econd Wo%ld Wa%1 Bu# Fo% T-eLo5e%/ de3ic#/ #-e /u%5i5al o0 a ,%ou3 o0 Fili3ino/ du%in, #-e a3ane/eOccu3a#ion and A+e%ican li$e%a#ion.

An old +ail -o u/ed #o ande% #-e coun#%y/ide en#e%#ainin, c-ild%en1 ayoun, ,i%l %a3ed $y a3ane/e /oldie%/ and a -a&06ca/#e all -uddled #o,e#-e% in#-e /lu+/ o0 Manila #-ei% eye/ 0a/#ened on #-e /ky and #-e /ea. A# ni,-#,ue%%illa +e//en,e%/ $%in, o%d o0 #-e co+in, o0 #-e A+e%ican A%+y #o d%i5e1a ay #-e a3ane/e in5ade%/. T-i/ i/ #-e $e,innin, o0 a ne no5el -o/e/u%0ace /#o%y only /u,,e/#/ #-e in5en#ion and -i/#o%y #-a# a ai#/ #-e %eade%.

T-e ca/# o0 c-a%ac#e%/ i/ eno%+ou/1 %an,in, 0%o+ a -al06+ad 3%i/one% #o a a3ane/e +ajo% -o 5ie / #-e a% a/ #-e 0i%/# /#e3 in #-e li$e%a#ion o0 #-eA/ian 3eo3le 0%o+ We/#e%n ci5ili:a#ion. T-e%e i/ an A+e%ican 3ilo# /-o# do n$y #-e a3ane/e -o 0all/ in lo5e i#- #-e youn, ,i%l1 an a+a:in, kee3e% o0 a

$oa%din,-ou/e -o /3end/ -e% li0e 3lannin, #-e /educ#ion o0 #-e old +an.

No# 0o% yea%/ -a/ #-e%e $een a no5el /o #ee+in, i#- li0e1 /o %ic- andco+3le9 in lan,ua,e1 -i/#o%y1 +y#-olo,y.

E5en a/ $lu%$/ ,o1 #-a# one i/ a $li#:. A +o%e o$jec#i5e ad5ance o3inion i/o00e%ed $y #-e #%ade jou%nal 2u$li/-e%8/ Weekly1 -ic- %an a 3%e63u$lica#ionno#ice on #-e Nolledo no5el=

T-i/ i/ a /#%an,e1 co+3ellin, $ook #-a# -a/ #-e #o%#uou/ co+3le9i#y and i/0%au,-# i#- #-e la$y%in#-ine #e%%o%/ o0 a d%ea+. I# i/ di00icul# #o con5ey #-e0ull 0la5o% o0 #-i/ no5el1 i#/ co+$ina#ion o0 #-e %eal and /u%%eal #-a# $eco+e/al+o/# -y3no#ic. T-e 3lace i/ Manila du%in, #-e a3ane/e Occu3a#ion.E5e%yone i/ ai#in, 0o% #-e co+in, o0 #-e %e/cuin, A+e%ican/. Ca$al/1a//a//ina#ion/ a$ound. T-e 0ocu/ i/ on Ojo/ 4e%de/1 a $oa%din, -ou/e8c%ee3in, i#- e9o#ica18 in -ic- e5e%yone /ee#-e/ i#- collec#i5e andindi5idual %a,e. T-e ca/# o0 c-a%ac#e%/ %an,e/ 0%o+ #-e in#ellec#ual a3ane/eco++ande% o0 a 3%i/on ca+31 #o a na+ele// ,i%l1 a a% o%3-an1 a /#%an,e old+an. T-e la+e1 #-e -al# and #-e $lind a%e all -e%e1 $u# ,%o#e/!ue a/ #-ey a%e1#-ey a%e #%ea#ed i#- %e5e%ence. >e%iou/ %e5ie a##en#ion can $e e93ec#ed.

Ho e5e% -i/ $ook +ay 0a%e on #-e +a%ke# and i#- #-e c%i#ic/1 Nolledo -a/ad5anced #-e cau/e o0 e93%e//ion in #-e 2-ili33ine/ and in #-e cla//ic i0


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+elanc-oly #%adi#ion o0 e3oc-al 2-ili33ine $ook/ (#-e Ri:al no5el/1 #-e 4illa3oe+/" 3u$li/-ed in #e%%a aliena.

T-e e93a#%ia#e %i#e% i/ /#ill ou% cul#u%e -e%o.

DIN?1 a/ 0a+ily and 0%iend call Wil0%ido Nolledo1 i/ a Manila $oy1 $o%n and$%ed in #-e #ou,- di/#%ic# o0 Balic6 Balic. He -i,-6/c-ool8d a# >an Beda10ini/-ed #-e 0ou%#- yea% a# Na#ional *ni5e%/i#y1 +o5ed on #o >an#o To+a/ 0o% aLi#. B. and a ,%adua#e cou%/e. Hi/ colle,e1 #-e 2-ile#/1 a/ #-en 0a+ed a/ a$%eedin, ,%ound 0o% %i#e%/1 -a5in, 3%oduced /uc- li,-#/ a/ o-nny Tu5e%a1>ionil o/e1 o-nny ?a#$on#on1 Rolando Tinio and o/e Flo%e/. On #-e 3on#i0icalca+3u/ Din, a/ a /-y !uie# $oy1 a lone%1 $u# -e did ,e# #o $e li#e%a%y edi#o%0I%/# o0 #-e 2-ile#/ +a,a:ine1 Blue Quill and #-en o0 #-e uni5e%/i#y o%,an1 T-e4a%/i#a%ian. Hi/ 3o/# on Blue Quill a/ #aken o5e% $y a /li+ cool ,i%l na+edBlanca Da#uin1 -o+ Din, $e,an #o 0ancy. A# & 1 Din, $%oke in#o 3%in# i#- a%e3o%# on #-e7 Ca$anela6Andu-a 0i,-# 0o% T-e >3o%#in, Wo%ld7 a# )1 e+e%,eda/ a 0ic#ioni/# i#- a /e%ie/ o0 /-o%# /#o%ie/6. >un. 4e%onica and Ca%ni5alin #-e C-%onicle eekly +a,a:ine7 #-en on #-e #o3 3%i:e in #-e &' J Ma%ian

ea% li#e%a%y con#e/# i#- T-e Be,innin,. Bu# #-e Nolledo cul# ac#ually $e,ani#- -i/ 3%i:e inne%/ in #-e F%ee 2%e// /-o%# /#o%y con#e/#= Ma%ia

Conce3cion (/econd 3%i:e1 &' '"7 Kayu+an,,i1 Mon A+ou% (#-i%d 3%i:e1&' )"7 Rice Wine (0i%/# 3%i:e1 &' &"7 and T-e La/# Caucu/ (0i%/# 3%i:e1&' @". In #-e/e /#o%ie/ #-e Nolledo /#yle -a/ al%eady de5elo3ed i#/

c-a%ac#e%i/#ic den/i#y. He on #-%ee #-i%d 3%i:e/ in #-e 2alanca Con#e/# (&' )1&1 " and /i9 3%i:e/ 0o% -i/ one6ac# 3lay/1 one o0 -ic-1 GTu%n Red #-e

>ea1 a/ #-e #o3 inne% 0o% &' @.

In &' '1 # o yea%/ a0#e% -e% ,%adua#ion1 -e +a%%ied Blanca Da#uin1 #-eye5en#ually /e# u3 -ou/e on an alley o00 Tayu+an a3#ly na+ed Maka#a= #-e3oe# li5ed on 2oe# >#%ee#. He joined #-e F%ee 2%e// /#a00 in &' J1 #u%ned 0%o+#ee#o#alle% in#o $ee% d%inke%1 did #-e +o5ie %i#e6u3/ and /uc- +e+o%a$lea%#icle/ a/ an e93o/e on No%#- Ha%$o% and a %e3o%# on Manila / ni,-#li0e. In

&' -e le0# 0o% #-e *ni#ed >#a#e/ on a 0ello /-i3 #o #-e W%i#e%/ Wo%k/-o3 o0Io a *ni5e%/i#y.

T-i/ Oc#o$e%1 #-%ee yea%/ a0#e% -e /#a%#ed i#1 Bu# Fo% T-e Lo5e%/ a33ea%ed inNe o%k1 #-e 0i%/# $ook 0%o+ one Fili3ino %i#e% -o look/ #o $e 0ecund anddu%a$le.


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THE NO4EL1 Bu# Fo% T-e Lo5e%/1 -a/ #-e 0eel o0 #-e 3ica%e/!ue1 a 5a,a$ond+anne% e/#a$li/-ed $y i#/ 3%olo,ue1 -e%e a 0an#a/#ic #%io6an A+e%ican/oldie%1 a na#i5e ,i%l1 a a3ane/e /ailo%6 ande% #-%ou,- #-e ni,-#+a%e

land/ca3e/ o0 a%. >oldie% and /ailo% a%e killed1 #-e ,i%l /-oo#/ do n #-ei%kille%/1 #-en i/ 0loa#ed 8a ay on a 3iece o0 -ou/e1 ee3in, and /in,in,= )Qua/i+o#o6>an1 I lon, 0o% you% #%ea/on. . .

T-e no5el 3%o3e%1 #-ou,- co%ed %ound a $oa%din,6 -ou/e in Manila1 like i/e i/a+$ulan# i#- %o,ue/ and innocen#/ d%i0#in, a%ound like /lee3 alke%/. T-ey%an,e a 5a%iou/ ,eo,%a3-y.

I#e+= Hidal,o de Anuncio1 a Ca/#ilian %elic o0 %oad6/-o 5aude5ille1 once a,%ea# clo n1 no +e%ely #-e non6#o3 $anana on #-e $u%le/!ue /#a,e o0

a%#i+e Manila. Nolledo -e%e a+a:in,ly %ec%ea#e/ #-e a#+o/3-e%e o0decayed 5aude5ille and in #-e a$/u%d 0i,u%e o0 Hidal,o de Anuncioin#e% ea5e/ $ack/#a,e 5ul,a%i#y and ell6$%ed no/#al,ia1 Quia3o andIn#%a+u%o/.

I#e+= T-e Hidal,o8/ /ca$%ou/ -ou/e$oy Mola5e A+o%an (#-e na+e/ in #-e$ook -a5e an a+u/in, ,%o#e/!ue%ie"1 a ni,-# +a++al. . . $%ed 0%o+ 0ou%,ene%a#ion/ o0 /!ua##e%6/ca5en,e%/ in Tondo1 #-ie08 and -u/#le% and -un#e% o0u%$an ,a+e= A+o%an lo5ed Manila. I# a/ -i/ #e%%i#o%y. E/3ecially a# ni,-# o00ull +oon and /c%a ny ca#/ and do,/. T-o/e ani+al/8 -a$i#/ -e #i+ed #o #-e/econd1 kno in, e9ac#ly -e%e #o loca#e #-e+ a# a ,i5en -ou%1 -o la%,e a,%ou3 a/ loo/e Mea# a/ #-e #-in, and #-e C-ine/e cook/ -o o3e%a#edManila / 0%in,e 3anci#e%ia/ ne5e% a/ked !ue/#ion/.

I#e+= Ti%a Colo+$o1 landlady o0 #-e $oa%din,-ou/e on Calle Ojo/ 4e%de/ #-%ee#i+e/ ido ed1 /#ill a 5o%aciou/ 0eede% on +ale +ea#1 o0 -ic- /-e can -a5e-e% 0ill 0%o+ #-o/e o0 -e% $oa%de%/ -o a%e $e-ind in %en# and a%e illin, #o3ay in kind= T-e >3e%+ Coun# a/ o0 #-i/ +o%nin, a/ 0i0#y60i0#y. Fou%3%o$a$le/ (# o $ac-elo%/1 # o co++on6la -u/$and/" e%e %e+ainde%ed 0o%ac#i5e du#y du%in, #-e -oliday/. Quali#a#i5ely1 a# lea/# one o0 #-e/e 3o//e//ed3-y/ical a//e#/ ne,o#ia$le in A6I 0o%nica#ion . . .He% $ul$ou/ no/e could /ni00ou# a +an8/ ,eni#al/ in a /ui# o0 a%+o%. Bu# i#8/ -e% ,en#eel #enan# in Roo+&@1 Hidal,o de Anuncio1 #-a# landlady Ti%a Colo+$o i/ +o/# in a %u# #o ,e# #o


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-e% $a/e+en# $ed. Ti%a Colo+$o i/ Nolledo8/ ea%#- ,odde//= He% icke% c-ai%a/ /e# do n in %oo+ #-i%#een. Like an E#-io3ian -i,- 3%ie/#e// en %ou#e #o

#-e #e+3le1 #-e landlady -ad $een $o%ne u3 #-e /#ai%/ 8 $y -e% a##endan#/(8+aid/ in ailin,8" -o1 du/ky and /#olid1 %e/e+$led Ba$ylonian /la5e/%an/o+ed #o i+3e%ial /e%5ice. 2ayin, #enan#/ 3eeled ou# #-ei% doo%/ 0o% a

,li+3/e o0 #-ei% +i/#%e// (3lu+3ed u3 $y 0ea#-e% cu/-ion/" . . . T-e Colo+$o%unne%/ %e#u%ned1 #-ei% %eina ,e/#icula#in, i#- 0ly6/ a##e%. >in,in, i#-/3ea%/ in #-ei% lun,/1 #-ey 3ounced u3on #-e icke% #-%one1 $ea%in, Ti%a #-e

Te%%i$le alo0# . . . >-e a/ Fi%/# Fe+ale1 #-e Wo+an o0 #-e >ei,1 neu% (#-ou,-Hidal,o did no# kno i#"1 Queen o0 #-e >ca5en,e%/1 /a%a36/a%a3

I#e+= A /ick ,i%l -o+ Hidal,o de Anuncio 0ind/ on A5enida Ri:al and #ake/$ack #o -i/ %oo+ a# Ojo/ 4e%de/1 -e%e1 on a akin, 0%o+ a lon, /lee31 /-e%ela#e/ #o an a//e+$ly #-e ond%ou/ ad5en#u%e/ o0 -e% 3ica%e/!ue li0e. >-ei/1 i# #u%n/ ou#1 #-e ,i%l in #-e 3%olo,ue. And #-e 2-ili33ine /y+$ol< Nei#-e%an Hidal,o no% a >-iku%a1 ,i5en all #-e #i+e and ,i5in, $ack #y%anny1 ouldlea5e one1 +a%k on -e% #-a# /-e ould no# /o+e-o /-ed like a +ol#in, /kin6$ein, a/ /-e a/ #-a# +o/# i%%educi$le ,%ade o0 -u+an a /nake e5e% #u%ned#o. W-a#8/ .-e% na+e< Nei #-e% B%ooklyn8/ $%a5ado no% #-e 3%o+i/e o0 Ne

o%k ill #ake you ou# o0 #-e co%n 0ield/. Bu# -a#8/ -e% na+e< A/ lon, a//-e a/ a d%yad a+on, de+on/ on 3on#oon $%id,e/1 a/ lon, a/ /-e a/ adeci$el in #-e d%u+ %oll o0 #-e *.>. Ca5al%y1 a/ lon, a/ /-e a/ a c%icke# in #-ec%u/#/ o0 In#%a+u%o/1 and a/ lon, a/ /-e a/ Manda%in eye/ and Malayan -ai%a+on, $en:ed%ine +a/k/ and $lond co%nuco3ia. . . Ma%ia Al+a. 4i%,in >oul.

I#e+= T-e $oa%din,-ou/e= c%ee3in, i#- e9o#ica1 i# / li0e /ou%ce delinea#ed1$y /o+na+$uli/#ic +a++alia 6 -o/e c-ie0 accen# i/ #-e >c%ea+1 -o/eo$/e//ion i/ >u%5i5al a# any 3%ice.

Nolledo -a/ +ade #-a# $oa%din,-ou/e an i+a,e o0 #-e 3anic o%ld o0 a%6c%a:ed Manila and #-e 5a%iou/ /#%ea+/ o0 con/ciou/ne// #-a# a/- #-%ou,- i#1,lin#in, i#- $i#/ o0 -i/#o%y1 / ell a# la/# in#o a #ide o0 %acial +e+o%y.

A# $ook / cli+a9;Fe$%ua%y1 #-e +on#- o0 A!ua%iu/6; #-e Li$e%a#ion i/#-unde%in, 0a#ally (Boo+ Boo+ Boo+ " o5e% Manila and Ti%a Colo+$o -a/0inally +ade i# #o Roo+ &@1 i/ #%yin, #o %a3e Hidal,o de Anuncio1 $u# can8#coa9 a -a%d on. 2e%-a3/ a li##le lo5in, $i#e< Boo+ Boo+ Boo+


7/7

T-e -ead ca%ne o007 a li,a+en# /#uck in -e% inci/o% le0#. A/ #-e $oa%din,-ou/ee93lode/ #o A+e%ican 0i%e. W-en #-e %uin/ a%e du, u3 /i9 +on#-/ la#e%1 #-eclean6u3 de#ail un6 ea%#-= one inc%edi$ly in#ac# 3ai% o0 >3ani/- cojone/ (a/#-ou,- le0# in 3%e/e%5a#i5e/"7 a /o3%ano8/ de-yd%a#ed #on/il/ (#o $e +i/#aken0o% 3i, li5e%"7 and a o+an8/ $ac#e%ial $%ea/# (/iliconed i#- o%+/".

A/ you can /ee1 Bu# Fo% T-e Lo5e%/ i/ an ou#%a,eou/ $ook. I#8/ 5e%y 0unnyand /a5a,e and ,%i+ and $eau#i0ul. I# -a/ a lon, u3%oa%iou/ 3a//a,e on

jackin, o00 #-a# ou#62o%#noy/ #-e Co+3lain# and an e!ually -ila%iou/ c-a3#e%on a. nude #an,o con#e/# -e%e #-e inne% i/ #-e la/# +ale #o co+e. .

T-e /#yle i/ a /u/#ained audaci#y. T-ou,- #-e lan,ua,e i/ -ei,-#ened #o #-ele5el o0 3oe#%y1 #-e na%%a#i5e i/ %eada$le #ale1 #-e ac#ion an e9ci#e+en#. Ac%i#ic once /aid1 a3%o3o/ D. H. La %ence1 #-a# %eali/+ in #-e +ode%n no5el/-ould $e a $u/- %eco,ni:a$ly %eal $u# on 0i%e. In Nolledo1 a/ in La %ence1 #-e$u/-e/ a%e 0o% %eal6and e5e%y $u/- $u%n/.

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Amid the Alien Corn Nick Joaquin