It is the last weeks of World War II in the Pacific. Food is scarce, ordinary Filipinos are forced to scavenge or starve, and many have gone into hiding: in caves in the mountains; deep in the jungles, or simply underground into cellars and basements amongst the ruins of Manila.
‘When the Elephants Dance’ is a fascinating and powerful first novel from Filipino-American author Tess Uriza Holthe, inspired by the stories of her father’s experiences during the Second World War.
It is a treasure trove of tales from a disparate group of neighbours gathered together for safety in the basement of a house on the outskirts of Manila in the final days of World War II. Over their heads, war is being waged amongst the clouds between the Americans and the Japanese for possession of the Philippines, during which the Filipinos would pay a huge toll in homes and human life.
The title comes from the saying, ‘when the elephants dance, the chickens must be careful,’ and the image is clear: the Filipinos must run for cover from the carelessly trampling feet of the international powers of Japan and the United States.
‘When the Elephants Dance’ is a tapestry of Filipino history and language, woven together with myths and local culture. It is a study of war and human nature in all its shades: love and respect, intolerance and hatred, selfishness and selflessness. It is a nonjudgmental acknowledgement that where some find courage, others find only terror. Yet, somehow, amongst all the horrors and degradations of war, there remains a tiny teaspoon hope, a little magic, and a way to survive.
For me, it bore a strong resemblance to Anne Frank’s Diary (the remarkable story of Jews hiding from the Nazis in a factory attic in Amsterdam) as sundry victims of war attempt to survive the holocaust raging through Manila, and their struggle to maintain a semblance of humanity and morality under unimaginable pressure. It is a challenging, often horrific tale of war and yet, at the same time, a tale of man overcoming extremities against all odds.
This is a brilliant, often distressing book that will give you an entirely new perspective on the Philippines, its history and its people.
*As published in Newsflash, the magazine for the ADBSA.