In the Claws of Brightness
{{short description|1986 novel by Edgardo M. Reyes}}
{{Infobox book
| name = In the Claws of Brightness
| image = Sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag ni Edgardo Reyes Tagalog Bookcover.jpg
| caption = 1986 cover art for Edgardo M. Reyes's Sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag
| author = Edgardo M. Reyes
| country = Philippines
| language = Tagalog
| genre = Fiction
| media_type =
| publisher = Liwayway Publishing, Inc.
| release_date =
| pages = 147
| isbn =
| publisher2 = De La Salle University Press
| pub_date = November 13, 1967–January 15, 1968 (serialized)
| title_orig = Sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag
}}
File:Sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag ni Edgardo Reyes Japanese Bookcover.jpg book cover for Edgardo M. Reyes's Sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag.]]
In the Claws of Brightness (Filipino: Sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag), is a 1986 Tagalog language novel written by Filipino author Edgardo M. Reyes, originally serialized in the weekly Liwayway magazine from 1967 to 1968.{{Cite book |last= |first= |title=Sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag |publisher=De La Salle University Press |year=1986 |editor-last=Mangahas |editor-first=Rogelio |edition=2nd |location=Manila |pages=xxxiii |language=tl |chapter=Introduksiyon |trans-chapter=Introduction}} The title In the Claws of Brightness is a literal word-for-word translation of the Tagalog title, which as a phrase effectively makes little sense in English. A more practical English translation would be At the Verge of Dawn. The story became the basis for the award-winning Filipino film, Manila in the Claws of Light.
Summary
Julio, a poor fisherman, goes to Manila to search for his betrothed named Ligaya. Sometime before Julio's trip, Ligaya had left with a lady named Mrs. Cruz in order to study and work in the city. Now in Manila, Julio becomes a victim to some of the city's scums. Julio experiences abuses while working in a construction site. He eventually loses his job and desperately looks for a decent place where he can sleep. Slowly, Julio develops a cynical demeanor as he gradually loses hope of ever finding Ligaya.
All this is put on hold, however, when Julio finally reunites Ligaya, and learns from her that she is a victim of sex trafficking. Julio and Ligaya plan to escape.{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110717032558/http://www.kabayancentral.com/book/others/mb5846173.html "Sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag" by Edgardo M. Reyes]}} (Tagalog), kabayancentral.com
Film adaptation
The 1975 adaptation of the book entitled Manila in the Claws of Light was directed by award-winning director Lino Brocka. The script was written by Clodualdo del Mundo, Jr. Jose Capino, writing for Criterion, noted that the film was met with "charges of anti-Chinese racism from reviewers."{{cite web|url=https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/5741-manila-in-the-claws-of-light-a-proletarian-inferno|title=Manila in the Claws of Light: A Proletarian Inferno|last=Capino|first=Jose|work=Criterion|date=2018-06-12|accessdate=2020-12-09}}
Translation
The book had been translated into Japanese by Motoe Terami-Wada. The novel, retitled as {{nihongo|Manila: Hikaru Tsume|マニラ : 光る爪}} had become a bestselling book in Japan.[http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2501747.Sa_Mga_Kuko_ng_Liwanag "Sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag" by Edgardo M. Reyes] (Tagalog), goodreads.com
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://books.google.com/books?id=PPGiIU34k0EC&dq=Satanas+sa+lupa%3A+nobela+ni+Celso+Al.+Carunungan&pg=PA287 Excerpt of Sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag by Edgardo M. Reyes] from Panitikan sa Pilipinas (Literature in the Philippines)] (Tagalog) at books.google.com
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Category:Tagalog-language novels
Category:Philippine novels adapted into films
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