Re-Evaluating Lualhati Bautista: Prose and Criticism in Philippine Literature

This study re-evaluated Lualhati Bautista’s Dekada '70 through a hauntological and spectral lens, examining its psychological and social dimensions, historical consciousness, and educational impact. Using a qualitative case study approach, it involved semi-structured interviews with purposively selected readers, literature educators, and English and Literature graduates. Findings revealed that Dekada '70 captures the lasting trauma of Martial Law, depicting both personal and collective suffering. The novel illustrates how political oppression leaves deep scars across generations, disrupting family dynamics and shaping historical memory. Applying a hauntological and spectral approach, this study showed how Dekada '70 functions as a literary ghost, preserving the unhealed wounds of Martial Law and resurfacing them in contemporary discourse. Unlike conventional critiques, this perspective highlights how Bautista’s work resists historical erasure, compelling readers to confront unresolved grief, political displacement, and the lingering presence of the past and its present times. The study also emphasized the novel’s role in education, where respondents recognized its ability to foster historical awareness, critical thinking, and empathy. Dekada '70 counteracts historical revisionism by encouraging students to analyze political narratives and understand the enduring consequences of authoritarian rule. Additionally, it promotes inclusivity and social awareness by engaging students with themes of justice, oppression, and trauma. This study contributes to Philippine literary discourse by showing how Dekada '70 embodies historical hauntings, with unresolved traumas shaping contemporary identity and consciousness. The findings highlight the importance of politically and historically significant literature in education, empowering students with a deeper, more critical understanding of history.