Diwata

Barbara Jane Reyes’ choice to title her book Diwata feels absolutely appropriate as Diwata is “muse” in the Tagalog language of the Philippines as well as the name of a mythical Philippine nymph. The mythical Diwata is a benevolent being who acts as guardian of nature, influencing the Filipino people just as Reyes herself is influenced by her peoples’ mythology. She writes of events that affect her in her life through the context of Filipino myths and the culture in which she has grown. She contrasts the biblical stories of the Book of Genesis with the creation myths of the Tagalog language, indicating a feeling of cross cultural identification. Her writing is laden with mythical references such as mermaids and talisman just as readily as it incorporates love, body and the implicit persona of the self.

I was mesmerized by the line describing “how the sky refuses to give light to you” because I feel this incorporates Reyes’ struggles and culture in one brief line—the sky, nature, is personified to have the ability to withhold just as Diwata has the potential to influence people through nature. It also serves as a metaphor, turmoil in nature reflecting the turmoil Reyes experiences in her personal life.

It does not feel as if Reyes’ culture has defined her, but rather that she has marked her culture as an aspect of her person that she uses to qualify the world. She assumes the cultural persona of her people yet remains true to her personal idea of her own identity. This allows for a rounded demonstration of the Filipino people, for Diwata as legend has the potential to remain static as mere cultural mythology, but when contextualized with Reyes’ vivid images and emotions it becomes demonstrable to what has shaped Reyes as a person and poet.