Subversivo, Inc.

With the death of his father, Sylvestre Carreon plans to rebel against everything his name stands for. He wants out of politics. Except that the incumbent President of the Philippines is hell-bent in crucifying him being the scion of the wealthiest political dynasty in the Republic. Sylvestre's only hope is to hide under the mantle of immunity--by becoming the next President. Burdened with a name synonymous with the words "traditional politician," Sylvestre needs to relaunch the Carreon brand if he wants to win. And bury a secret his family has been hiding his entire life.

Once the most expensive whore in the history of Philippine advertising, Matias Fabula is now nothing but a washed-up metalhead who self-medicates with Valium chased by Jack Daniel's to silence the voices he is hearing. Voices that could keep his independent agency alive by helping him secure another client. When the agency lands its biggest account to date in the name of Sylvestre Carreon, Matias is faced with a dilemma he thought he would never have to face in all his years of making challenger brands become market leaders.

As the election nears, Kristin Rustia, the head of the Communist Party, believes that one of the longest insurgency in the world should be brought to an end. That is, by starting a bloody revolution unlike the farce that is EDSA. But first she needs some funding so she can arm her comrades and surround the city from the countryside. Thankfully, revolutionary taxes are due from the presidential candidates. She can't wait to collect from the biggest spender of them all, Sylvestre Carreon. And settle an issue that made her the insurgent that she is.

Subversivo, Inc. is a literary novel with an unexpected but welcome element of speculative fiction. Presenting a unique view of contemporary Philippine society, it is truly worthy of the Grand Prize in the 63rd Palanca Awards for Literature.