Lirio (story)
Lirio is a short story by Peter Solis Nery, written originally in the Hiligaynon language of the Philippines, and in the magical realism style.[1] It won first prize in the Hiligaynon Short Story category of the 1998 Palanca Awards for Literature[2] The story is also widely used in the teaching of regional literature of the Philippines.
Plot summary[edit]
The short story narrates the life of Lirio the Mute from her difficult birth to her magical transformation into a flower. Born to Rosa and Manuel, a couple who were granted a child only in their old age, Lirio was also strange in addition to being mute. She was fair-skinned “like a white lily” and was always followed by a swarm of butterflies. She was unschooled and only enjoyed gardening as her hobby. She fell in love with Noli, but he also left for a job in Japan. Soon after, she married Itik, a police sergeant who was also a jealous and terrible drunk who continually raped her throughout their marriage until one night when, pushed to her limit, Lirio fervently prayed to be turned into a lily.
Publication[edit]
Lirio has been published in Fantasia: The Palanca Award-winning Stories of Peter Solis Nery (DreamWings Publishing: 2000), and Stories in a Mellifluous Language: Hiligaynon Short Stories (CreateSpace: 2012).[3] It was translated into English by Celia F. Parcon,[4] and in the Filipino language by the author himself, among other translators. The English translation appears in the book Nothing’s Lost (KDP: 2020).[5] It is also included in the first and second editions of the DIWA Senior High School Series: Creative Writing textbook (DIWA Learning Systems, Inc.: 2017, and 2019).[6]
References[edit]
- ^ "Lirio – Peter Solis Nery". 14 July 2014.
- ^ Directory of Palanca Winners, at PalancaAwards.com.ph
- ^ Nery, Peter (10 December 2012). Stories in a Mellifluous Language: Hiligaynon Short Stories. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. ISBN 978-1481043076.
- ^ "LIRIO, in English translation – Peter Solis Nery". 14 June 2017.
- ^ Nothing's Lost: Stories by Peter Solis Nery. Independently published. 12 May 2020. ISBN 979-8637156863.
- ^ ISBN 978-971-46-0995-2