Viva Villa: 'Have Come, Am Here'

LOVERS of Philippine literature rejoiced over the news that, finally, Nick Joaquin joined the world stage of writers with the publication of his works in the Penguin Classic Books imprint. His iconic novel, "The Woman Who Had Two Navels," has been published along with his play, "A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino," and his sheaf of stories, including "May Day Eve" and "The Summer Solstice."

National hero Jose Rizal's two novels, "Noli Me Tangere" and "El Filibusterismo," were also published to great interest, with the Noli now being required in Heritage classes and Asian-American literature classes, and thus have undergone many reprintings. "America Is in the Heart," the iconic semi-autobiographical novel of Carlos Bulosan, has also been issued as a Penguin Classic.