In The Presence Of My Enemies by Gracia Burnham

[Lei_Shiyizu]

hey guys have you read this? if not I strongly recommend you to do so. not only is it true-to-life drama... it's everything... suspenseful, religious, honest, political, but most of all, inspirational.

I think it's the best non-fiction book I have ever read so far. guys grab a copy now!

[Sweetkay]

Does it say the truth about what happened? I mean, what is the main story about? Is it just another story about what it was like being a hostage of the Abu Sayyaf?

[Ada]

I have a copy although I haven't read it yet. All the feedback I've gotten is positive though. Hard to put down daw. As for sales, it sold 10,000 copies within the first week of its release. Made the publisher wonder if the AFP or the Abu Sayyaf are hoarding copies of the book.

[Lei_Shiyizu]

sweetkay: it was not just a simple story about what it's like being a hostage. at first Gracia tells about her childhood, about her growing up years. she tells a lot about herself maybe so when she finally gets to the kidnapping of the Abu Sayyaf you'll understand her more. she also tells how she and Martin became missionaries, and of course how they met each other and got married.

then of course she tells about the whole year of captivity. I think it was very truthful. hindi lang puro negative ang sinulat niya sa Abu sayyaf. maraming funny stuff din siya na kinwento. tapos most of all, honest siya in saying that there were times when she was really angry with God. kase nung una ang laki nung trust nila kay God na after 1 month or so makakawala na sila, but it turned out to be 2 months, then three, hanggang umabot na ng almost 1 year. tapos madaming revelations... like yung connection ng Abu Sayyaf with the government... although I guess hindi na yon revelation ngayon.

I really don't want to give it all here so I suggest you guys read it soon. i'm pretty certain you won't regret it.

ada: read mo na po! can't wait for your comments here.

[Sorsha]

I've read portions of the book when I was at Powerbooks. Touching story. I admire the husband's faith. I also like the photo of Gracia wearing an Igorot costume. Hehe.

[Saikee]

ah intersting. ill get a copy of this first thing tomorrow and then ill post my copy here

[Ikari]

You know Gracia Burnham is a big liar!

She put a lot of stuff in there that weren't true! I should know because a friend of mine was also an abductee and was included in that freaking book!

So for everybody reading this thread, DO NOT TAKE THAT BOOK SERIOUSLY. Better yet, DO NOT BUY THE BOOK AT ALL! It was made by an abductee who wants to make money out of her tragedy and at the expense of others!

[kartoonista]

What's the name of your friend and what's his/her story that doesn't check out in the book? And why doesn't he/she come out with a statement in the papers?

[BadGiRL]

couldn't put the book down. had to finish it in one seating. aside from what others said about it, there are amusing moments din that showed muslim or not, there are traits that are distinctly Filipino. Like, the abu sayyaf member saying excuse me to put out the fire in the hospital even there's a big gunfight outside.


some of the things burnham said in her book re: how bad this government is, aren't exactly surprising. finally, someone put them down in print.

pero mahal yung book!

[Saikee]

Originally posted by Ikari
You know Gracia Burnham is a big liar!

She put a lot of stuff in there that weren't true! I should know because a friend of mine was also an abductee and was included in that freaking book!

So for everybody reading this thread, DO NOT TAKE THAT BOOK SERIOUSLY. Better yet, DO NOT BUY THE BOOK AT ALL! It was made by an abductee who wants to make money out of her tragedy and at the expense of others!

You know, when ppl write an autobiography or a historical event or a similar thing, sometimes you have to "tweak" things so that it will appeal and sell. Sometimes tweaking involves bending things a little. The essence of the story and the events stays, yet the story has to have market value. it HAS to sell. The publisher ensures this. To write a 100% accurate account would be good and informative, yet it may not sell as well. This is also relevant to movies and such - the details aren't always accurate.

[Lei_Shiyizu]

Originally posted by Ikari
You know Gracia Burnham is a big liar!

She put a lot of stuff in there that weren't true! I should know because a friend of mine was also an abductee and was included in that freaking book!

So for everybody reading this thread, DO NOT TAKE THAT BOOK SERIOUSLY. Better yet, DO NOT BUY THE BOOK AT ALL! It was made by an abductee who wants to make money out of her tragedy and at the expense of others!

and who is your friend? baka naman may nasabi about her na totoo pero nakakahiya. I expected talaga na not everyone will like it, na meron talaga magre-react violently, lalo na yung mga masasagasaan 'coz Gracia laid it all out in the open.

well whatever. lahat yon, sa point of view ni Gracia. how she understood and analyzed things, being an American and a Christian. I believe in her, and I'm glad many people also did. if you don't, for whatever reason, fine. it's your discretion.

Saikee: I respect your opinion, and I believe it's true most of the time, but with Gracia's book I don't believe she "tweaked" things just so the book will sell. first of all, hindi siya mukhang-pera. if you read the book you'll see. and besides, kung mukhang pera siya eh di sana di na siya nag-tiyaga dito sa Pilipinas for several years para mag-missionary. sobrang walang pera don.

anyway I don't think I'm really in any place to convince everyone here of Gracia's intentions, but I believe in all that she said, and I'm glad most of those who have read the book also did. it's one of the few books that really inspired me, and I still hope it will continue to inspire other people.

[Ada]

Originally posted by Ikari
She put a lot of stuff in there that weren't true! I should know because a friend of mine was also an abductee and was included in that freaking book!

Why hasn't your friend come out in the open to expose Gracia if she is indeed the liar that your friend says she is? I'm sure the AFP would love to hear what he/she has to say.

So for everybody reading this thread, DO NOT TAKE THAT BOOK SERIOUSLY. Better yet, DO NOT BUY THE BOOK AT ALL! It was made by an abductee who wants to make money out of her tragedy and at the expense of others!

I echo Lei_Shiyizu's post before mine. If Gracia is out to get rich, why'd she become a missionary? I wouldn't be surprised if the book's earnings went to New Tribes Mission, Gracia's ministry here in the Philippines.

Also, you know what they say about how when an event occurs, no two observers will ever have exactly the same account of what happened?

I really have to start reading this book. Later na talaga.

[Saikee]

Originally posted by Lei_Shiyizu
Saikee: I respect your opinion, and I believe it's true most of the time, but with Gracia's book I don't believe she "tweaked" things just so the book will sell. first of all, hindi siya mukhang-pera. if you read the book you'll see. and besides, kung mukhang pera siya eh di sana di na siya nag-tiyaga dito sa Pilipinas for several years para mag-missionary. sobrang walang pera don.

anyway I don't think I'm really in any place to convince everyone here of Gracia's intentions, but I believe in all that she said, and I'm glad most of those who have read the book also did. it's one of the few books that really inspired me, and I still hope it will continue to inspire other people.

hey don't get me wrong. I never said Gracia tweaked the book on her own. I'm sure she laid out the truth (as how she saw it, in her own perspective, like you said). But as I mentioned, the PUBLISHERS tweaked it.

if you read her welcome notes, she clearly mentioned "revising and revising". that is "tweaking". and she mismo said "I'm sorry if I left anyone out." (its somewhere along those lines) Do you see what I mean?

Writers, and many other artists sometimes get frustrated with the people and the system they work with. They come up with a draft, and more often than not it gets creamed. They revise, change, etc. to what, suit themselves? hardly. to suit the market? definitely. that's the reality we live in. and artists more often than not get quite frustrated.

[Lei_Shiyizu]

Originally posted by Saikee
hey don't get me wrong. I never said Gracia tweaked the book on her own. I'm sure she laid out the truth (as how she saw it, in her own perspective, like you said). But as I mentioned, the PUBLISHERS tweaked it.

if you read her welcome notes, she clearly mentioned "revising and revising". that is "tweaking". and she mismo said "I'm sorry if I left anyone out." (its somewhere along those lines) Do you see what I mean?

Writers, and many other artists sometimes get frustrated with the people and the system they work with. They come up with a draft, and more often than not it gets creamed. They revise, change, etc. to what, suit themselves? hardly. to suit the market? definitely. that's the reality we live in. and artists more often than not get quite frustrated.

I respect your opinion.

to those who haven't read it yet, read it now!

[darkest_angel]

Has any of you read Gracia Burnham's "In the presence of my enemies"? She was one of Abu Sayyaf's hostages who was freed by Filipino soldiers.
I haven't read the book yet but I find it interesting.

[C.I.C.C.I]

I read the book a few months book ....very insightful and very intriguing.....especially the alleged "pay-off" of some military official.....

[annielise]

Anybody read this book by Gracia Burnham about the horrors of being kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf and their year of terror in the Philippine jungle? This is one of my favorite books. Her writing style is uncannily simple and utterly honest, I couldn't help but be touched. I bought her book in the US, I just don't know how it fared here in Manila.

Just an anecdote. Last january 2nd, we stopped at a KFC joint at a gas station in Bulacan en route to Manila after an overnight stay in Subic. The KFC branch was full, and very busy. As we finished our lunch, my mom nudged me and pointed to a caucasian lady and said, "She looks like that hostage of the Abu sayyaf." Gracia being one of my favorite authors, I'd know her face from a mile away and I told my mom. "That is her! That's Gracia Burnham!". Then, I told my brother and my whole family. it was also uncanny that my bro brought his copy of Gracia's book. He went out and got it from the car, and said that he wants to have it autographed by Gracia but was too chicken to do it. So I bid for time (she was with this Chinese family). I was a few paces in front of her and she was already looking at me, finished with her meal. I swooped down on a chair and asked her, "Ma'am, are you Gracia Burnham?". She enthusiastically replied, "yes i am!". Then I took out the copy of her book I was hiding behind my bag and I asked her, "Can i have your autograph?". She was very surprised and she was smiling, and said, "Oh my, how were you able to come up with that here?". Then I told her it was in the car (too bad for my bro, Gracia autographed his book with my name!). We chatted a bit, told her I'm from Arizona and she told me she knows some people from our town of Chandler. My family was watching all this and my dad motioned that they want to have their pics taken with her. I told her that, and so she said we can have it outside the restaurant. Funny, a lot of people started looking at us, I don't know if they recognized gracia or if it was because we escorted her out of KFC for a round of pictures!!!

Back to the book...how did you find it?

[ac_brown]

i liked gracia's honesty in telling how she felt and did at those times, but i honestly didn't admire her. her husband who got killed was the one who got my respect. he literally kept her going through their entire ordeal.

about the book, it was a bit cheesy for me, peppered with lotsa verses from the bible, but that's what i think i should expect from a middle-aged American woman who is passionate about her beliefs, and there's nothing wrong with that. so there.