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Douglas Candano: On Writing ‘Infinite Lives Infinite Deaths’

What Makes Douglas Candano a Unique Writer?

The Chinoy community is more than its stereotype; as much as we want to box people into a category, certain people, like Douglas Candano, go beyond the conventional.  He is professionally a research consultant who considers himself an “occasional fictionist” and a competitive eater who eats bowls of gyudon in record time. 

An uncommon combination and a creative assortment of professions make Douglas Candano’s stories in Infinite Lives, Infinite Deaths, unique or perhaps absurd in their own way while blending horror and folklore. 

Inside the book, you can read stories like aged prostitutes forced into a concentration camp, a young girl who mysteriously turned into a crone, and a Chinese stigmatic during the Spanish era. These are just some surreal stories in the book that can make you question: how can he think of such imaginative concepts?

CHiNOY TV then conducted an exclusive interview with Douglas Candano to discuss the writing process behind his stories and how his Chinoy heritage influences his storytelling. 

My background exposed me to some ways of delivering information that can be considered unconventional in fiction.”

“Writing Was Probably the Only Thing I Had”

For most writers, writing is an activity fueled by passion and dreams. This is undoubtedly true for Douglas, as he shared:

“Writing was probably the only thing I had going for me at Xavier. During high school, I was put on academic probation for four years, was on disciplinary warning status for three years, and graduated in the lowest decile of my batch. Despite the constant threat of being held back, flunking out, or being expelled, I was part of the school paper. I was also encouraged by my teachers to represent the school in regional and national essay writing competitions.” 

These writing competitions were pivotal for Douglas since winning contests enabled him to get into college where he eventually started writing fiction. This indeed showed his knack for writing as his parents also encouraged him to read a lot at a young age. 

In later years, his writing took a leap forward, “I started writing stories in college, where I was Associate Editor of Heights, the literary publication of ADMU, and was able to attend several national writers workshops.”

He then continued his craft into his professional years, earning him several national-level fiction awards, including the Philippines Free Press Literary Award and the Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Award for Literature. He also expanded his storytelling to include collaborations for film and theater. 

His achievements are indeed truly remarkable and surely, his Chinoy heritage somehow shaped his writing. This prompted me to ask: “How did your Chinoy background influence your narratives?” 

He candidly told me,”I think my Chinoy background led to the development of some of the stories and exposed me to some interesting aspects of Chinese culture.” 

Despite not having a typical Chinoy upbringing, growing up in a heavily Western-influenced blend of Filipino and Chinese cultural environments shaped how he crafts his stories, which eventually gave birth to his first book, Infinite Lives, Infinite Deaths. 

Douglas Candano Writer

On Writing Infinite Lives Infinite Deaths

Reading Infinite Lives, Infinite Deaths feels like nonfiction, as the narratives feel too real. The stories are set in a nightmarish version of Manila that feels much like ours. 

In my review, the horror elements of this book feel entirely different from other horror stories. A unique type of fright you rarely find in a horror story and a fear that made me ask: what if his stories are real? 

My curiosity was satisfied when Douglas answered, “My background exposed me to some ways of delivering information that can be considered unconventional in fiction. The best example of this would probably be the grant application assessment format used in Where Old Whores Go to Die.”

He also added that his background in social science influenced his writing, such as In A Reply to Query, by narrating a story as a report with notes and recordings. This unique way of narrating fiction makes Douglas Candano’s book stand out among other horror stories.

But there’s more to it than his social science background. His Chinoy upbringing also influences how he enriches Infinite Lives, Infinite Deaths with fiction interweaving our Filipino psyche and Chinoy culture.

Books of Douglas Candano

Chinoy Lore: A Mix of Filipino Psyche and Chinoy Culture 

The stories within the book also reflected so much of Chinoy history, like a story with a Chinese stigmatic during the 1603 Sangley Rebellion in Manila and kidnap-for-ransom gangs targeting the Chinoy community during the 80s and 90s.

I asked Douglas if he purposely included Chinoy history to enrich his narratives. He honestly answered, “Not really. I don’t see the inclusion of Chinoy history as a way to enrich narratives but as an integral element in their conceptualization.”

The interesting nature of Chinoy history helped Douglas conceptualize his plots, giving his narratives a unique flair in mixing history, folklore, and horror.  Aside from using historical events as a reference, Douglas also took inspiration from dreams and random thoughts, which gave his stories fascinating origins. 

He continued, “All the stories have their own interesting backstories. For example, The Life and Death of Hermes Uy came about after I randomly wondered how the 2D Mercury in the Mercury Drug Store logo would move in the real world if it somehow came to life. Conversely, A Visit to the Exhibition of the International Committee on Children’s Rights was based on a nightmare I had that involved visiting a mix of a school fair horror installation and the Body Worlds exhibit with some of my school friends.”

Mixing real-life events and the subconscious allowed Douglas to create his Chinoy lore. He writes fiction that reflects our Filipino psyche and the Chinoy Culture.

He recalled, “Looking back, I suspect that because of my atypical upbringing, some of my earlier stories were attempts to create my own Chinoy lore based on the more familiar and accessible myths of Western countries.” 

“Since there was never a Panciteria Valhalla, a Hermes Uy, or a Lazaro de Chino, it became important to situate these fabricated cultural artifacts within the context of the Chinoy community’s fascinating relationship with the cyclical dysfunction of Filipino society-at-large to enable a semblance of a community’s collective psyche (and trauma) to emerge.”

One could say Douglas’s writings reflect how Filipinos collectively interpret our culture. But Douglas also teaches us to be more courageous in experimenting with how we want people to see our art. 

Douglas Candano Manuscript

A Courageous Take on the Art of Writing 

Contrary to most fiction writers, Douglas doesn’t draw inspiration from horror, science fiction, or fantasy conventions.  So, his conceptualization process is distinctive because his fiction story involves “breaking down and synthesizing various conceptual elements.”

This allowed him to develop his style, so I asked if he would encourage other writers to experiment.

“Definitely, although I also think that this would depend on factors such as what kind of story is being written, the target audience of the story, and the potential effectiveness of the chosen experimental aspects in conveying the story,he answered. 

However, being experimental doesn’t guarantee writers success. It takes more courage than that, as you will also face rejection and criticism. He advised, “Although it might be tough, it would also be important to take rejection in stride and keep in mind that editors and judges have different parameters that guide their decisions and that it would be highly unlikely for a singular work to satisfy all of these as some may even be mutually exclusive.” 

Indeed, you can only satisfy some people’s artistic standards, but one thing you can do is stay true to what you want to convey, as Douglas does with his writings. 

The future generation of Chinoy creatives can also take Douglas Candano’s artistry as a guiding influence on how they can craft their stories. He added, “The craft-based aspects of writing and the reality of it not being particularly lucrative also brings about the need for programs and facilities for the literary arts to develop and sustain emerging Chinoy writers.”

With his contributions to modern Philippine literature, Douglas Candano teaches us to be courageous in developing our craft. Through courage, we can hone our true artistry and show what our hearts want to convey.

 

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