Book of the Week: Falling Into The Manhole

Growing up in slums of Pampanga, John Wigley was a child born with the natural talent of storytelling. The author grew up to be openly (and proudly) gay in his community. Not only was Wigley gay, an enigma in his community, it is revealed that he is illegitimate, a representation of the children who were born to American fathers and Filipina mothers. However, this did not stop him from earning a PhD in Literature; it was his determination and confidence that led him to make his mark on the big city of Manila and teach for 15 years at the University of Santo Tomas.

Falling Into The Manhole is a anthology of short stories narrated by the author himself. Wigley wrote his experiences in a diary long before they were published and public to his students (and fellow Filipinos). The vibrant tone of the narration serves as a remedy for the losses he experienced in the dog-eat-dog nature of his country.

“You need to get out of this stereotypical box and learn to articulate yourself. If you remain silent, somebody else will speak for you. If you remain afraid forever, you will be doing a great injustice to yourself.”

Wigley’s memoir is not a self-centered jargon that lists down the achievements of the author. Rather, it holds all the values one must gather in order to make it in the big world. His memoir will not just bring the reader to tears but to laughter as well. Wigley assures his readers that his life is not the worst case you could ever read about –there are other people who have experienced harder struggles in life.

Thank you to everybody dies; and Fandango for editing!