Lualhati Bautista’s Dekada ’70 is a seminal Filipino novel that chronicles the life of a middle-class family, the Bartolomes, during the Martial Law era in the Philippines, acting as both a political narrative and a journey of feminist awakening. Narrated by Amanda Bartolome, the story follows her transformation from a submissive housewife to a politically conscious woman, reflecting the nation’s turbulence through her five sons. The narrative captures the impact of the dictatorship on ordinary Filipinos, including themes of political repression, societal change, and personal liberation.
A victim of police corruption and "salvaging" (extrajudicial killing), highlighting the era's human rights abuses. The youngest, witnessing the family's transformation. Key Themes and Literary Significance lualhati bautista dekada 70 pdf 359
Why Filipinos Should Read: ‘Dekada ‘70’ by Lualhati Bautista Lualhati Bautista’s Dekada ’70 is a seminal Filipino
: Scanned versions of the original Tagalog novel can be found on Scribd . Example from the novel (translated from Filipino): A