Ninotchka Rosca
Ninotchka Rosca is a prominent Filipino author and political activist known for her incisive writings that often critique political systems and societal issues in the Philippines. Early in her career, she adopted the pen name "Ninotchka" from a character in a Greta Garbo film, reflecting her radical views as a militant liberal while studying at the University of the Philippines. Rosca's work gained attention for its strong criticism of the political passivity among the educated elite, particularly during the authoritarian rule of President Ferdinand Marcos. Her activism led to her arrest and detention after Marcos declared martial law, an experience that informed her writing, including her collection "The Monsoon Collection."
After going into political self-exile, Rosca moved to the United States, where she continued to focus on Filipino issues, serving as the U.S. representative for GABRIELA, an organization advocating for overseas Filipino workers. Throughout her career, she has published several notable novels and essays, including "State of War" and "Twice Blessed," the latter winning the American Book Award. Her recent work, "Stories of a Bitter Country," explores the lives of ordinary Filipinos facing challenges and hardships amidst corruption. Rosca’s contributions to literature and activism highlight her commitment to social justice and the empowerment of marginalized voices.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Ninotchka Rosca
Writer
- Born: 1946
- Birthplace: Manila, Philippines
Author Profile
Writer. Early in her career, she adopted a pen name based on a film character of a Russian radical that appeared in an American movie featuring Greta Garbo. Rosca thought of herself as a militant liberal among the students at the University of the Philippines. As an associate editor of a student publication called Graphic Magazine. Her columns after 1968 reinforced her image as a controversial figure. Her initial works of fiction criticized the political passivity of the educated elite. Rosca maintained her relationship with former classmates who joined the New People’s Army contrary to the rule-by-decree of President Ferdinand Marcos. In 1973, shortly after Marcos declared martial law, she was arrested and detained for several months in Camp Crame Detention Center. She used this experience there to provide realistic detail for nine stories about parallels between military detention and a nation run under rules of “constitutional authoritarianism.” The Monsoon Collection (1983) was published in Australia in order to safeguard its author
Rosca found her role as a nationalist difficult when loyalty was defined as adhering to Marcos’ rule. By 1977, Rosca had gone into political self-exile among relatives connected with the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where she taught. Later she moved to New York City to be closer to opportunities within the publishing industry, despite her misgivings that several American presidents had sponsored Marcos’ rise to power on the premise that he was anti-Communist. After his forced flight from the Philippines in February, 1986, she returned briefly to Manila and later, with Endgame (1987), contributed to reportage on Marcos’ final days.
Although Rosca remained in the United States, her focus on the Philippines did not falter. She became the US representative of GABRIELA, an organization named after Gabriela Silang, an eighteenth century warrior who continued the revolt against Spain after her husband’s death. GABRIELA in America protects overseas workers from various kinds of abuse. She has also maintained a column of commentary in Filipinas, a popular magazine on the West Coast. Since the late 1980s Rosca has written novels describing the militant role of youth organizations in the Philippines, most notably State of War (1988) and Twice Blessed (1992), the latter of which won the American Book Award in 1993. Stories of a Bitter Country (2019), Rosca's collection of short stories, tells the incredible stories of ordinary people living amongst corruption and experiencing grief, tragedy, and hope.
Bibliography
Casper, Leonard. In Burning Ambush: Essays 1985–1990. New Day, 1991.
Casper, Leonard. Sunsurfers Seen from Afar: Critical Essays 1991–1996. Anvil, 1996.
Domini, John. "Exile and Detention." New York Times, 1 Jan. 1984. www.nytimes.com/1984/01/01/books/exile-and-detention.html. Accessed 25 Apr. 2023.
"Ninotchka Rosca." Women's Media Center, womensmediacenter.com/profile/ninotchka-rosca. Accessed 25 Apr. 2023.
Rosca, Ninotchka. State of War. Norton, 1988.
"Rosca, Ninotchka." AAWW, aaww.org/postauthor/ninotchka-rosca/. Accessed 25 Apr. 2023.