The Comic Parable: Twice Blessed by Ninotchka Rosca

My Personal Rating:

Only an author hailing from your own country is capable of accurately describing intergenerational cultural diversities, the striking realities that we live in, and capturing emotions that only we could truly understand. That’s what Twice Blessed by Filipina feminist Ninotchka Rosca evoked, a book published in 1992 and 1993 American Book Award recipient.

In Twice Blessed, we follow the lives of the Basbas twins Hector and Katerina, narrated mostly through the voice of Teresa Tikloptuhod, the daughter of a provincial governor and Katerina’s close confidante. Hector Basbas is a charismatic man ambitioning to be president no matter the cost – a shining sun symbolizing new hope for a country struggling to be reborn post-war. To every Sun, there is a moon. His was in the form of his fraternal twin, Katerina Basbas. A temperamental but cunning socialite. She pulls the strings behind the scenes, rubs shoulders with the right people, and lends a hand to ensure that they don’t run out of “gasoline” (a term referring to bribes and favors that compel people to be cooperative) to mechanize the machinery of Hector’s political agendas.

The humiliations and catastrophes they went through were what fueled Hector’s ambition to become president and the catalyst to Katerina being married off in haste to Armand Gloriosa, a notable heir to a powerful clan. Hector and Armand ran an illegal marijuana trade and smuggled goods, building together an underground empire of hidden wealth and political power protected by their band of loyal cutthroat mercenaries called the Diablo Brotherhood (directly translates to “demons”). Throughout the twins’ lives, they had an incestuous relationship. Horrifically, even Katerina’s children with her husband were eventually lured into Hector’s erotic passions.

When Hector was elected to the presidency, his adversary and Incumbent President Blackie Dominguez relentlessly challenged and labeled the results fraudulent upon defeat at a reelection bid. This led to Katerina, Hector, Armand, and Teresa scattering from province to province to secure warlords and politicians’ loyalty to Hector. But when the president-elect’s plane crashes after a provincial visit, we see lost hope for the Basbas allies. Alas, a week later, Hector was found alive but nearing death. As he was nursed back to health, Incumbent President Blackie visits him, offering Hector his amiable concession in exchange for money. With Katerina as the only other witness, Hector agrees to the arrangement, and the book ends as the grand inauguration takes place.

The rise of Hector Basbas into power was a feat any reader would avidly follow, no matter how far-fetched it sounded. It is a story and character that any Filipino could recognize the resemblance with the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos even in our current slew of politicians. There was no doubt that Katerina Basbas was an allusion to Imelda Marcos, characterized by her delusions of grandeur, the burial of her humble beginnings, the lavish spending, and right down to her fictional extravagant shoe collection. The book’s events resulted from snowballing political and social maneuvers, topped with a good sprinkling of cultural references. This book showcased the sacrifices we make, the transformation of people, and the different lengths that one will cross for the sake of reputation, power, safety, and personal gain.

Twice Blessed is an interesting read, albeit the writing style is sometimes too indirect to the point that you’ll have to double-check whose point of view it is or which timeline you’re at. Suppose you’re aware of the status quo on the country’s state of political affairs and an observer of social and cultural phenomena in the Philippine setting.

In that case, this book is a refresher on what you already know and see. It is rich in historical parallels and realistic scenes. It’s a chilling realization once the occurrences presented in this book that are still evident today finally dawns on you.