Enrique El Negro (Filipino Edition) by Carla M. Pacis

Enrique El Negro (Filipino Edition) Reviews

• 
  Sandi

  We just finished reading this book together as a family read aloud for homeschool. At the end of the book I discussed the book with my boys and asked what they thought. They gave the book 1-2 stars. I give the book 3 stars (because I think I am probably overly generous with my star ratings). They felt the book was lacking. They wanted more story and adventure. Enrique has a lonesome life and doesn't really interact or have any meaningful relationships with another human the whole book.
  
  My boys really liked how the book opened, and they liked the backstory the author painted of Enrique's life on the islands before he became a slave. The part of Enrique living in Portugal for 6 years they thought was weird because it was 6 years of his life but was just one chapter and not much happened during the time in Portugal. They wished he would have had more adventures in Portugal. They also liked the interaction with pirates and they think that should have gone into more details. They enjoyed when Magellan landed again on the islands and they thought more detail and story should have been told to highlight each island. And they said the battle scene of Magellan dying was super quick and uninteresting, when it could have been very exciting.
  
  They made sure I promised to come back here to goodreads and change my rating from 3 stars to 2 stars.
  
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  (Review of first read by myself) I read this book in preparation to read it together with my sons for homeschooling next year for Philippines History. My plan is to use this book as a read aloud for my 10 and 8 year old sons (I think this book might be too much for my 6 year old son to follow along with.)
  
  Although this book is historical fiction, and the ethnicity (and even existence) of a slave named "Enrique El Negro" is controversial, I do think this is an interesting story that helps gives a picture of what, how and why Magellan landed in the Philippines. So as far as using this book to help illustrate and bring understanding to my boys about Magellan and Lapu Lapu - I think this book is good and meets that purpose.
  
  But as far as a work of literature, I think this book is a bit lacking. The language seemed overly simplified and straightforward. The level of language used in writing this book made it seemed as though it would be geared towards middle elementary school aged children. And yet, the back of the book itself claims it is for junior high and high schoolers.
  
  As far as the content of the book itself, it is pretty mild and appropriate for the upper grade school child throughout most of the book. There is one scene that I think was unnecessary, which is found in one of the last chapters of the book, where they describe topless Philippine tribal woman dancing seductively around the Spanish crew, along with descriptions of the eager and excited response of the Spanish men. I think that scene was unnecessary for the book being aimed toward children. Additionally, there is death mentioned in the last couple chapters of the book, but it is to be expected in order to tell the story of Magellan and Lapu Lapu. But I do think the author did a good job at keeping the descriptions of the death appropriate the for the book.
  
  All in all, the story that the book tells wins out over the lack of literature beauty, and we will be using it next year for homeschooling.
• 
  Juri Granz

  I remember reading this back in 4th grade for English class and enjoying it. Rereading it again as a high schooler with a big, special interest in Philippine history, specifically the pre-colonial Philippine era and its culture, I greatly appreciate the historical references, the old/ancient names of the placee like Homonhon, Limasawa, Sugbu, etc. I even like how she included the epic with Datu Sumanga and Bugbung Humasanun, which can be found in William Scott's Barangay: Sixteenth Century Philippine Culture and Society. It's also one of the sources she sited at the end of the book. It's a really cool and interesting concept to see her theorize on who Enrique is and then use that imagination of hers to create his story and adventures with Magalhaes as they travel the world. This book can be a good introduction to young kids to learn about the Philippines and its history. I would rate the historical aspect of the book a 4.5/5 stars!
  
  Storywise, however, I find the writing quite lacking and a bit too straightforward. Then again, it can be easier for kids to understand. I also wanted to see Enrique have more voyaging adventures in Portugal with Magalhaes. The way he was written was okay.
  
  I think the author did a good job in making me understand Enrique's point of view as to why he trusted Magalhaes so quickly—he lost his entire family and was brought to a slave trade. To him, Magalhaes was the only family figure he could look up to, and it was out of his need for survival and familial love. It was nice, though, to see his thoughts of Magalhaes and the Spaniards change during the Battle of Mactan. Instead of helping Magalhaes, he turned to help his people. Of course, he still felt grief. Magalhaes was family to him. But what's important is that in the end, he realizes what kind of person Magalhaes really is.
  
  The ending with Magalhaes getting killed and Rajah Humabon getting revenge on the Spanisrds wasn't very satisfying, though. It felt so rushed when Humabon's warriors suddenly attacked with nobody surviving the ambush.
  I'd rate the writing and story of this book a 3/5.
  
  My overall rating of this book is a 4/5. Beautiful historical references, yet the writing and story is lacking quite a bit.
• 
  John Warren

  Ay kasakiman paano nito nagagawang maging halimaw ang mga tao! At saan man sila naroon dito sa malawak na mundo, anumang pagyayabang ang ipakita nila, pare-pareho lang sila!

  Dinala ako ng librong ito sa isang paglalakbay, ang pinakaunang paglibot ng tao sa mundo ni Enrique El Negro at lubos akong nasiyahan. Natutuwa ako dahil parang nasaksihan ko na rin ang isang punto sa kasaysayan ng mundo. Sana mas maayos lang ang pagkakasulat pero kahit ganun di ko masasabing hindi ko nagustuhan ang librong ito.
• 
  Brigette Lee

  It was very interesting to see the telling of Enrique's journey from his own land to around the world. However, it really wasn't as great as the synopsis sounds, we really just experience Enrique's adventure in a handful of places so the status of first to travel around the world wasn't actually that adventurous. It was more of a ride through history through the eyes of a Filipino from that time. The main character was just okay, he seemed more like a vessel for us to experience Magellan's journey to spice island
• 
  Niel

  beutiful