This book offers a gallery of portraits of colorful characters, fictional and otherwise, from Rizal heroine Maria Clara to president’s mistress Dovie Beams, from tidying expert Marie Kondo to kasambahay Eudocia Tomas Pulido, plus women warriors, tiger mothers, lifestyle gurus, bestselling authors, misbehaving presidents, an outlier country called the Philippines, and a serial killer or two. (Language/ Criticism)

1. Philippine essays (English) ? History and criticism. 2. Rizal, Jose A. ? 1861-1896. Noli Me Tangere ? Women ? Characters. 3. Women in literature ? Characters and characteristics ? Literary collections.