Abstract. This study explored how Filipino authors of children’s literature negotiate the inclusion of sensitive themes—such as grief, gender, mental health, and death—within a conservative and market-driven publishing environment. Guided by Bourdieu’s theory of cultural production, Foucault’s concept of discourse and power, and Stephens’ ideological framework of children’s literature, the study employs qualitative interviews with contemporary Filipino authors who engage with complex topics in their works. Findings reveal that writers navigate tensions between morality and marketability through creative negotiation, employing symbolism, child-centered narration, and developmental framing to make difficult subjects accessible and acceptable. Despite facing censorship, editorial intervention, and institutional constraints, these authors use their craft as a form of creative praxis—balancing ethical sensitivity with artistic agency. The study concludes that Filipino children’s authors act as cultural negotiators who expand the boundaries of representation and empathy, redefining the role of children’s literature as a transformative space for social awareness and inclusive storytelling in the Philippines.

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Keywords: children’s literature, negotiation, censorship, discourse, power

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Cite this article:

Armia, J. M., Notario, J. A., & Parungao-Callueng, E. S. (2025). Between morality and market: Authorial negotiation and the politics of writing sensitive themes in Philippine children’s literature. DALIN Journal, 3(1). Literature Educators Association of the Philippines, Inc. https://www.leapphil.org/_files/ugd/405de6_efd280929b804ec1ad27aade63c71d7e.pdf

Abstract. The use of language to promote gender equality is evident in 21st-century Filipino children’s literature, which increasingly explores social issues and unconventional family dynamics (Lee, 2016). While storybooks challenge traditional gender norms, queer-themed literature remains limited and tends to perpetuate stereotypes. To better understand these representational patterns, this study analyzed selected queer-themed Filipino children’s books using Walter Fisher’s Narrative Coherence and Judith Butler’s Gender Performativity. Findings show that the narratives portray queer experiences but also reflect stereotypes, such as presenting queerness through feminine expression and flamboyance. Meanwhile, narrative elements explore themes of acceptance and struggle, as well as the blend of human and fantastical traits to connect with child readers. Amid these, the findings still demonstrate children’s literature's potential to advance queer acceptance and understanding, fostering inclusivity through imaginative storytelling. With earlier works revealing gender disparity manifested in language use (Mante-Estacio et al., 2018; Wright, 2017), the study stresses that measures must be undertaken to counter discrimination through proper integration of gender sensitivity to storytelling, and in extension, language and instruction.

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Keywords. children’s literature, gender equality, queerness, queer culture

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Cite this article:

Alvarez, J. C. M. (2025). Elements of gender representation: Analyzing queerness through narrative coherence in selected Filipino children’s storybooks. DALIN Journal, 3(1). Literature Educators Association of the Philippines, Inc.

https://405de6d2-12eb-4892-a2d2-c636b254e947.usrfiles.com/ugd/405de6_7a81f1b1908d42fd9312031eb6d03d29.pdf

Abstract. This paper examined selected classic and contemporary sources from the 16th, 17th, 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries that Filipino teachers and students of Philippine literature in Spanish can consider in navigating the field. The discussions of the sources are framed in the light of two approaches: the nationalist and post-nationalist or transpacific approaches, with the former being the most prominent means of exploring the field to isolate the nation’s history before and after colonization, and the latter providing new means to understand the nation’s literary culture and history from the point of view of transculturality. As seen in previous scholarships, the nationalist and historical approach became the traditional approach to the field, characterized by the mere presentation of historical-literary facts. A new approach introduced in this paper is the post-nationalist or transpacific approach. This approach transcends the act of simply representing the nation because of its cross-cultural approach in understanding the shared experiences of former colonized countries and how they became instrumental in the transcultural shaping of Philippine literary production. Capitalizing on the descriptive-analytical research design, there were three specific themes that emerged from the examination of the selected sources in the light of the foregoing approaches. These themes centered on the reconstructions of the past, discourses on nation formation, and expansions of literary trends and horizons making readers see the framing of and movement from nationalism to transnationalism, opening avenues to see how Philippine literature in Spanish connects with post-nationalist and global South studies.

Keywords. Filipiniana, Literary History, Nation-formation, Philippine literature in Spanish, Transnationalism

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Cite this article:

Ledesma, J. R. C. M. (2025). Reading Philippine literature in Spanish from the nationalist, post-nationalist, and transpacific approaches. DALIN Journal, 3(1). Literature Educators Association of the Philippines, Inc.

https://www.leapphil.org/_files/ugd/405de6_5938401753d54031b1e2b2e2c74fbc28.pdf 

Abstract. War bequeaths wounds, with trauma being one of the major and long-term consequences. Wilfrido D. Nolledo’s But for the Lovers (1970) presents a clear depiction of psychological trauma experienced by three characters in their labyrinthine reality during and after the Second World War in the Philippines. Employing a qualitative literary analysis and utilizing Dominick LaCapra’s Theory of Writing Trauma, this paper explores the explicit and implicit portrayals presented in Hildalgo, Jonas Winters, and Maria LaCapra’s theory, which indicates that trauma has vast effects on an individual, influencing their recall of previous events and impacting their personality as observed in narratives. Results reveal that the multi-faceted depictions of trauma across the three characters connect a storyline throughout the novel, stressing the diversity of trauma’s influence on the human psyche. Hidalgo displays emotional detachment and stoicism as defense mechanisms, Jonas Winters’ encounters of imprisonment and torture establish mental distress that led to a loss of religious faith, and Maria’s experiences of abuse and suicide attempts echo complex trauma resulting in attachment issues. The author’s non-linear prose structure and techniques also underline the disjointed nature of each character’s traumatic memory. Nolledo’s novel is a poignant remnant of the brutal Second World War in the Philippines, echoing the profound loss, enduring memories, and resilience of the people throughout, and shaping the psyche of those who lived after it. Although these events may fade with time, their influence on people’s lives remains a significant part of the trauma narratives we tell to ourselves and to others. This study, therefore, underscores the vital role of literature in processing collective historical trauma and preventing national amnesia. By articulating the unspeakable, Nolledo’s work facilitates a cultural “working-through” of a painful past, ensuring that the psychological landscape of a nation scarred by conflict is not erased. Its exploration of trauma, memory, and resilience can serve as a valuable framework for literature teaching, allowing students to understand how narrative form mirrors psychological experience. Likewise, it offers a model for creative writers on how fragmented storytelling and interior characterization can represent the aftermath of war and the complexity of human suffering.

Keywords. implicit trauma, explicit trauma, Wilfrido Nolledo, Second World War, Philippine Literature

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Cite this article:

Javier, W. B., & Villaspin, A. Y. (2025). Navigating trauma through narrative: An analysis of explicit and implicit depictions in Wilfrido Nolledo’s But for the lovers. DALIN Journal, 3(1). Literature Educators Association of the Philippines, Inc. https://www.leapphil.org/_files/ugd/405de6_b0bafbb2ea514fa8a539fd5cb0e0a80d.pdf

Abstract. The film Orphan, released in 2009, was directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, written by David Leslie Johnson, produced by Joel Silver and Susan Downey, and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. It depicts a psychological horror story that revolves around Esther, a newly adopted child with disturbing behavioral patterns. This article explored how Esther’s character relates to two psychological concepts: the Electra complex and psychopathic traits, as outlined in Hare’s Psychopathy Checklist-Revised  (PCL-R). A qualitative-descriptive method was used to analyze some of the key scenes to identify Esther’s behaviors corresponding to sexual conflict, rivalry with her mother, manipulative tactics, and violent acts. This article does not aim to portray Esther as a psychopath, but the PCL-R model was used to facilitate the systematic observation of the characteristics of psychopathy in a fictional environment. The results indicate that the behaviors of Esther, including her fixation on the adoptive father, positioning against the mother, casting of the manipulative charm, impulsive violence, and lack of remorse, constitute both the Electra complex and several psychopathic traits at the same time. These findings suggest that psychoanalytic theory and psychopathy studies coexist within the domain of film analysis; they also make clear that the unresolved psychosexual conflicts and the presence of antisocial personality traits can be reflected through the cinematic representations. The research results have significant implications for the field, indicating the analytical power that arises from the interplay between Freudian psychoanalysis and PCL-R models in understanding the intricacies of child-villain characters in psychological horror movies.

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Keywords. Psychological horror, Electra complex, Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R), film analysis

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Cite this article:

Velasco, et. al. (2025). Unraveling Esther: Electra Complex and Psychopathy in Orphan (2009). DALIN Journal, 3(1). Literature Educators Association of the Philippines, Inc. https://www.leapphil.org/_files/ugd/405de6_36eed94c2b3d40cb9878e13cc4ab10b4.pdf