EILEEN TABIOS Engages
Gigantvm Penisisvm: A Tale of Demonic Possession by Jose Elvin Bueno
(Clash Books, 2024)
I don’t know—I’m kind of fearful this book is not going to get the attention it deserves.* Gigantvm Penisivm by Jose Elvin Bueno is the zeitgeist. Moreover, it's a critique of Philippine socio-economic-political affairs. Its depth, when the primary narrative relates to what's shallow about current culture, makes it brilliant. For Bueno has written the Social Media Novel Of Our Times with an admirable overlay of unfashionable politics. Yes, for deserved emphasis, I boldfaced that reference: Social Media Novel Of Our Times.
Before I address its story, I do want to highlight that this novel manifests Bueno’s strength as a writer. I consider him one of the most effective purveyors today of high-energy writing. His smarts, wit, diction, and I suspect a sense of humor definitely fortify his vigorous writing style.
The novel has a deceptively simple set-up: four young and beautiful children from well-off families are partying. I cite “deceptively simple” because the setting—to attentive readers—is really a critique of the socio-economic development of the Philippines that’s based on an elite hoarding the majority of the country’s resources/wealth. For characters, there are Rafa, a corporate professional/loyal wingman; Basti, a financial wizard/unrivaled scenester; Vicente, a video gamer/early adopter; Pia, a fashion model/revered influencer; and Mitzi, a free spirit/porn star. Before the party in a condo in Manila ends, some force has taken over one of them who eventually kills the others. But, Reader, you probably won’t care about the deaths because the four are tools in the manner of the insult as well as just tools as literary devices to make the novel unfold. You won’t care because these characters are not likely to elicit reader empathy.
That’s okay because the novel, as well, is not about them. The novel is about how matters become relevant—even, how matters exist—simply from being shared on social media platforms. One of the subversive elements in Bueno’s approach is the suggested nuance that perhaps even murder’s immorality can be sacrificed for the value of being shareable and Like-able.
I noticed that this book received a one-star review on Amazon. Out of curiosity, I looked up that one-star reviewer’s comments. I don’t agree with that reviewer’s conclusion, but it did make me recall that in the middle of the book it can get difficult differentiating one character from another due to the insertion of the “demon”’s words. To this, I suggest to the reader to push through because it gets better so that the last third of the novel will reward your perseverance. And besides, as I said above, the novel is not really about the characters. This is mostly a novel of ideas.
Another subversive element—and one that I truly enjoyed—is how the past existence of the Philippine Martial Law dictator Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos, Sr.—with all of his four names—is erased simply because no one among the “millions” canvassed on one of the character’s social media platforms recognized the name. Woot! (I hope Bueno, who earlier critiqued Philippine politics through his earlier novels—Sindicato & Co. (2021) and Subversivo, Inc. (2014)—had a rollicking good time writing that part of the novel! We writers get such small rewards sometimes, but a reward is a reward.)
Last but not least, perhaps I feel empathy for this novel because of what’s stated in its epilogue. I won’t share that here as it’s a punchline that should be saved for the reader—suffice it to say that it would help explain why I’m a, I mean, how one can become a misanthrope.
For its literary verve and well-considered philosophical observations, Gigantvm Penisivm is Highly Recommended.
*****
Eileen Tabios has released books of poetry, fiction, essays, art and experimental prose from publishers around the world. Recent releases include the novel The Balikbayan Artist; an art monograph Drawing Six Directions; a poetry collection Because I Love You, I Become War; an autobiography, The Inventor; and a flash fiction collection collaboration with harry k stammer, Getting To One. Other books include a first novel DoveLion: A Fairy Tale for Our Times (2021) which was translated by Danton Remoto into Filipino as KalapatingLeon for a 2024 release from UST Publishing (University of Santo Tomas). More information is at https://eileenrtabios.com
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