Dekada '70 Author Lualhati Bautista Dies at 77
She was also the author of Desaparesidos.
(SPOT.ph) Lualhati T. Bautista, a Filipina writer, novelist, liberal activist, and political critic, died on February 12, Sunday. This was confirmed by her first cousin Sonny Ross Samonte and the Torres clan in a post. Bautista was known for her novels Dekada '70; Bata, Bata, Pa'no Ka Ginawa?; and ‘GAPÔ.
Who was Lualhati Bautista?
Born in Tondo on December 2, 1945, Bautista started writing at the age of 16, she said in a 1999 interview by Abet Zialcita for the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
"I already had a published work. But I had been writing stories since I learned how to read and write,' she added. Her first short story, Katugon ng Damdamin, was published in Liwayway Magazine, which she often read as a child. She also won the Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for ‘GAPÔ (1980, published in 1988), Dekada '70 (1983), and Bata, Bata… Pa'no Ka Ginawa? (1984, published in 1988).
'GAPÔ, or 'GAPÔ at isang puting Pilipino, sa mundo ng mga Amerikanong kulay brown, is named after the place Olongapo, a former U.S. military base. It follows the story of an Amerasian.
Dekada '70 follows a middle-class family caught in the middle of the tumultuous decade of the 1970s. The female protagonist, Amanda Bartolome, witnesses a series of events that not only shackled the Filipinos but also gave birth to a generation that has become more radical—including her sons who quickly turn to activism. It was made into a film in 2002, starring Vilma Santos and Christopher De Leon; and into a musical directed by Pat Valera in 2018.
Desaparesidos looks into the lives of former Martial Law rebels Anna and Roy. Through flashbacks and narrations, we learn about the abuses and tortures they—and many other activist abductees (the disappeared or desaparesido)—had to bear during that dark period under the Marcos dictatorship. It was adapted and directed for the stage by Guelan Varela-Luarca in 2018.
Also read: Luahalti Bautista's Novels on Martial Law Come Alive Onstage
Bautista was red-tagged on August 11, 2020 by one Jefferson Lodia Badong. He said in a comment, "Nagbabasa ako. Kilala mo si Lualhati Bautista? NPA yon oo. Maging siya sinulat niya sa aklat niya. Di lang Google source ko. Natuto ako magbasa ng aklat bago kayo natutong mag-Facebook. Wag mo kong turuan ng facts." This was later deleted after Bautista posted a screencap of his words in her account. Badong also changed his profile name and replaced his photographs. He also apologized to Bautista in a private message, which was posted online by the author.
Also read: Penguin Classics Edition of Lualhati Bautista's Dekada '70 Is in the Works
In 2021, local brand Linya-Linya partnered with Bautista to produce a graphic tee that reads "Sundin and tibok ng puso. Sundan ang sariling bahaghari." This message of hope was inspired by the author's post in December 2020.