Everybody cries, even if you don’t show it. All it takes is a little happiness. Or a little hurt. Right now, I’ve had a little of both.
After years in exile, Aaron Guillermo returns to his hometown, Bacolod City. But home is no longer the place he once knew. As he steps back onto familiar soil, he faces the sugar cane crisis on the island of Negros, his father’s growing political ambitions, and an affair that threatens to unravel their family. Thrust into a world of power, corruption, and betrayal, Aaron must navigate the ghosts of his past and the truths of his present. In a foreign and familiar land, his homecoming will change everything he knows about himself, his family, and the life he thought he left behind.
Welcome to my stop for the Bittersweetland Book Tour 🎉 This historical novel is set in Bacolod in the aftermath of Ninoy Aquino’s assassination. It begins with a homecoming, as the extended Guillermo family gathers to celebrate the birthday of one of their patriarchs.
I was very excited to dive into this because I was half hoping to see an exploration of feudalism, land grabbing, and the militarization of farming communities in Negros. It turned out to be the other way around, as I instead found myself immersed in the lives of the ruling class. Disappointment turned into enlightenment, as I further recognized these kinds of people… and how completely out of touch they can be 🥲
Even the family home Montecielo is a metaphor for the protective wall the wealthy Guillermos have built—it is a bubble where they can always feel safe inside, regardless of what is happening outside, shielded by privilege. Their wealth seems to have warped their moral sense and worldview. Even in death, we see the segregation of rich and poor at the funeral.
At the center is the story of a weak man rendered helpless in the turmoil of the world and his own emotions, despite all his wealth. Aaron is described as the “perfect package,” as he looks the part and says all the right things, but he is conflicted inside. He grew up with no real love from his family, which is why he doesn’t know how to love—only how to possess—and now he is being haunted by his father’s ghost.
Speaking of hauntings, I loved how the author portrays wealth as a curse. Maybe it’s true that money will not bring real happiness unless it is used for the good of many (It’s me, I’m many, JK🤡) Patriarchy is also not sugar-coated here, as we see men who treat women as mere trophies. I felt the women characters were portrayed in a rather reductive way—often framed as morally skewed and consistently making poor decisions.
This is definitely a challenging read, and not even the beautiful prose can make me like any of the characters. But if you know me, you know I love an Osamu Dazai train wreck.
The book makes strong connections between wealth, dirty politics, and bad governance. The rich are portrayed as bigger criminals than the poor. Their delusion and entitlement seems unfathomable sometimes. Overall, this novel is a powerful reminder of why the rich and powerful should not be glorified, especially in a country where many people do honest labor for very little in return.
⚠️ CW: strong language, body shaming, child loss, violence, self-harm, su1c1de, s3xual assault, adultery, murder, misogyny
Big thanks to the author, Talk Bookish To Me PH, and Ateneo Press for having me in this tour 💙 All opinions expressed in this review are honest and entirely my own, regardless of whether the book was purchased or provided for free.
Overall rating: 3/5 ⭐⭐⭐༼ つ ◕_◕ ༽つ
About the Author
R. Torres Pandan is a writer, lawyer, and former law dean. In 2015, he won the Cirilo F. Bautista Grand Prize for the Novel for When Will This War End? He has won two other Palanca Awards for poetry in 2006 and children’s poetry in 2012. His book of poetry, Days of Grace, was shortlisted for the 2005 National Book Awards. He was the project director of the Iyas La Salle National Writers Workshop from 2016 to 2024. In 2018, he received the Taboan Awards from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts for “masterful craft of poetry and fiction” and a “full life of exemplary service as a committed defender of justice and staunch promoter of Philippine letters.”
Book Details
Bittersweetland by R. Torres Pandan
373 pages
Paperback
Published January 1, 2025
by Ateneo de Manila University Press
ISBN 9786214484072 (ISBN10: 6214484071)
Language: English
