Dekada '70 is a multi-award-winning historical fiction novel by Lualhati Bautista, originally published in 1983. It chronicles the life of the middle-class Bartolome family during the repressive era of Martial Law in the Philippines under Ferdinand Marcos.
While "pdf 359" likely refers to a specific page or digital document identifier in online repositories like Scribd or Academia.edu, the core guide to the work is as follows: Plot & Setting
Historical Context: The story is set in the 1970s, a decade marked by the declaration of Martial Law (1972), widespread human rights violations, and the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus.
The Bartolome Family: The narrative follows Amanda Bartolome and her husband Julian as they raise five sons—Jules, Gani, Jason, Emmanuel, and Bingo—each of whom responds differently to the political turmoil.
Central Conflict: The family is "caught in the crossfire" between the government and pro-democracy movements. The plot traces Amanda's transformation from a submissive housewife into a politically aware and empowered woman. Key Characters
Amanda Bartolome: The matriarch and narrator. Her journey toward finding her own voice outside of her roles as wife and mother is the heart of the novel. lualhati bautista dekada 70 pdf 359
Julian Bartolome: The dominant patriarch who initially struggles to accept Amanda's growing independence. The Five Sons:
Jules: The eldest, who becomes a revolutionary activist and joins the communist insurgency.
Isagani (Gani): Joins the US Navy, representing a different path of escaping or working within existing systems.
Jason: Tragically killed by corrupt police, serving as a catalyst for the family's direct experience with state violence.
Emmanuel (Em): An aspiring writer who uses his art to express political dissent. Dekada '70 is a multi-award-winning historical fiction novel
Benjamin (Bingo): The youngest, who observes the unfolding chaos through innocent eyes. Core Themes
Exploring Lualhati Bautista's 'Dekada '70': Themes and ... - Prezi
It sounds like you’re referring to a specific PDF copy of Lualhati Bautista’s Dekada ’70 (perhaps page 359 or a line-numbered edition). While I don’t have access to that exact PDF, I can offer an interesting literary feature from the novel that you can verify using your copy (including near page 359, depending on edition).
The story revolves around Amanda Bartolome and her husband, Julian, and their five sons: Jules, Isagani, Emmanuel, Jason, and Benjamin (Bingo). The narrative begins in 1970, just before the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus, and concludes in the late 1970s.
As the political situation in the Philippines deteriorates, the family serves as a microcosm of Filipino society. The father, Julian, remains largely apolitical and traditional, focused on providing for the family. However, the five sons represent different segments of the youth population: one becomes a communist rebel (Jules), another joins the military (Isagani), and others are exposed to the injustices of the regime in different ways. the radicalization of the youth
The central conflict is not just the external political turmoil, but the internal shift within Amanda. She begins as a submissive housewife defined solely by her domestic duties but gradually awakens to the harsh realities of the dictatorship. She eventually realizes that her personal struggles as a woman are inextricably linked to the national struggle for freedom.
Why are users specifically searching for a PDF of Dekada ’70? Several reasons:
Dekada '70 is a seminal work of Philippine literature that chronicles the life of the Bartolome family during the Martial Law era under the Ferdinand Marcos regime. Through the lens of a typical middle-class family, author Lualhati Bautista explores the erosion of civil liberties, the radicalization of the youth, and the political awakening of the Filipino woman. The novel is widely regarded as a primary text for understanding the social and political climate of the Philippines in the 1970s.
The novel follows the Magtanggol family during the 1970s. The patriarch, Julian (Diko), is a conservative, government-fearing clerk. The mother, Amanda (the protagonist), begins as a traditional ilaw ng tahanan (light of the home) who believes that government is always right. They have five sons: Jules, Gamaliel, Isagani, Emmanuel, and Bingo.
As the decade unfolds under Ferdinand Marcos’s Proclamation No. 1081 (Martial Law, declared September 21, 1972), each son is consumed by the conflict:
The novel is Amanda’s diary. Through her first-person narration, we witness a woman’s transformation from passive obedience to active defiance.