Katrina Tuvera: An author whose weapon is her words

    Katrina Tuvera is a nationally and internationally recognized expert with experience in reading, writing projects, transcribing highly technical language into understandable and reader-friendly text, and providing editorial services for a broad range of subjects.

Over the course of the past decade, she has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in literature, writing, and art history before switching into an international development communications specialist role in 2013.

She is able to handle deadlines efficiently and well and has a comprehensive understanding of USAID branding guidelines, international development terminology, and USAID branding guidelines.

As a writer and consultant for two Philippine senators, additional knowledge of the legislative and policymaking processes can be gathered from her experiences as a writer and adviser.

    Her awards consist of National Book Award, Philippines Graphic Award for Literature, and Carlos Palanca Memorial Award that have all been bestowed upon her work.

 

WORKS

The two of her most famous and prominent works are “The Jupiter Effect” (2006) and “Testament and Other Stories” (2002). The Jupiter Effect is a novel by Katrina Tuvera, which explores power, history, and creating your own identity in the Philippines. 

Taking place in the Marcos regime, the book captures the human cost and ill effects of dictatorship. With the help of the characters, Tuvera illustrates how personal relationships are forged at the time.

 

"The Jupiter Effect" as told through the story of Kiko and Gaby, who have grown up under martial law, the novel focuses on their political initiations while living under the Marcos regime.

It raises questions about Filipino complicity in the dictatorship of Marcos and depicts the many compromises that still exist in the current state of Philippine politics.

The novel is divided into two parts. The first chapter presents the circumstances that mold the experiences of Gaby and Kiko Contreras, their insights into the political climate in which they live, and their observations of the world around them.

In the second chapter, we learn how years later, the same children become deeply involved in the same issues they were unaware of as children.

This novel focuses on the Contreras family, but it also introduces a number of other characters who undoubtedly play a significant role in understanding the key issues of the time, knowing the leaders of the time, and objectively seeing the president whose actions have earned him the loyalty of some and the contempt of many.

A deep part of Tuvera's work is rooted in the political history of the Philippines. It was during the Marcos era that the country was marked by corruption, human rights violations, and the concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a few.

There are many historical realities presented in “The Jupiter Effect” which makes the reader confront the uncomfortable truths about how political power works in this century and how it will continue to do so, especially to those who are directly involved in it. 

In addition to being a novel, it's also a commentary on how history gets written and remembered. “The Jupiter Effect” is more than a political novel, it's about how societies and individuals cope with history.

Another one of her well-known works is “Testament and Other Stories”, demonstrating that there are many themes explored, such as: poverty and corruption. In each story, Tuvera captures the characters' inner lives, exposing the complexity of their emotions and decisions with her prose.

This collection examines the complexities that drive people's motivations and relationships. Tuvera writes with subtlety, irony, often darkness, and sorrow, creating characters who are uncomfortably real, who make us confront our humanity with questions that can be frightening.

 It is one thing for her to accomplish a rare universality and depth, and another thing for her to offer a clear insight into Pinoy culture and the human psyche. It is impossible not to be moved by her stories when reading them.

 A number of other stories in the book attempt to explore relationships. The way she is able to convey the raw emotions of her characters makes each story resonate on a personal level, enabling the reader to empathize with them.

While “Testament and Other Stories” is rooted in personal and emotional experiences, it also offers pointed political views. In Tuvera's stories, she frequently explores the tensions that are present in Philippine society, particularly the differences between social classes and the effects of political regimes that have lasted for many decades.

Using characters who are able to navigate the difficult social landscapes, Tuvera reveals the harsh realities that are part of everyday Filipino lives and the struggle they face. No matter whether either her stories are told from the perspective of those who are privileged or those who are struggling to survive, they provide readers with a glimpse into the difficult choices people must make

 

 

SOURCES:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1831953.Testament_and_Other_Stories

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9591291-the-jupiter-effect

https://www.academia.edu/11967534/The_Jupiter_Effect

https://www.macdowell.org/artists/katrina-tuvera