The Heart of Need and Other Stories by Augusto Antonio A. Aguila

Part of the power of this first book by Tots Aguila derives from a sharp eye for the multifarious details that make up the Metro Manila sprawl, from its seedy boarding houses and its shadowy bars, to its tree-sheltered campuses; and a keen ear, attuned to its multiple accents, chiefly those of the ordinary folk... a plain- looking, lonely bachelor... an overworked teacher trapped by a hopeless love... a macho dancer, unaware that the sickness in his stomach is self-disgust... a bright high school boy preyed upon by someone he trusts... a disillusioned academic... There is restlessness, a raw edginess to these stories. But despite the bleakness of some of its scenes, here is a fresh young voice, raised in affirmation of life. - Cristina Pantoja Hidalgo