"Worship the Body" by Alvin Yapan

Penguin Random House SEA is excited to announce the English release of Worship the Body, the 2005 NCCA Prize-winning novel by multi-awarded Filipino author and filmmaker Alvin Yapan, translated to English by Randy Bustamante. Released in the Philippines this Manila International Book Fair 2024, this compelling novel delves into themes of gender politics, secrecy, and intimacy within the modern Filipino social fabric.

Originally published as Sambahin ang Katawan, Yapan's novel explores the complex lives of Jaime, a furniture workshop owner, and Jun, a waiter whose fateful encounter sparks a series of relationships that challenge societal norms. As their lives intertwine with Ria and Maya, the women in their lives, the story unveils a rich narrative of joy, power dynamics, and the exploration of identity and hidden truths.

This English edition brings Yapan's exploration of Filipino culture and the universal themes of desire, identity, and the complexities of intimate relationships to a broader audience. Translated by Randy Bustamante, Worship the Body continues Yapan’s tradition of blending Filipino folklore with contemporary issues, creating a work that is both deeply personal and universally resonant.

Alvin Yapan is both an author and a filmmaker. A fellow at the 2022 Writers Immersion and Cultural Exchange (WrICE) of Sing Lit Station (SLS) and Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University. His first novel in the vernacular, Ang Sandali ng mga Mata (A Time of the Eye, 2006), and his collection of short stories, Sangkatauhan Sangkahayupan (Humanity Bestiary, 2017), both received the Philippine National Book Award. His filmography includes Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa (The Dance of Two Left Feet, 2011), and Ang Panggagahasa kay Fe (The Rapture of Fe, 2009), recognized as best digital feature films of the year in the Philippines and at the Cairo International Film Festival, respectively. He finds time to produce and direct films in the middle of his teaching commitments at the Department of Filipino, Ateneo de Manila University.