I just finished reading The Quiet Ones by Glenn Diaz. It won the Palanca Grand Prize back in 2017, and I purchased it because I wanted a well-written Filipino novel that I could sink my teeth into while on lockdown. I was not disappointed
The plot revolved around Alvin, a twenty-something call center agent who worked for an American telco in the heart of Makati. Set mostly in 2008, it was filled with pop culture references from that era. I graduated from university in 2008, so the setting was relevant for me. Coincidentally, the skyscraper where Alvin and his call center officemates worked was also where my first job was located. It felt like a blast from the past, albeit with different characters who could have been my friends, classmates, and contemporaries.
I enjoyed this book because the plot became interesting when Alvin and his friends on the floor wired money from their rich telco client to a dummy account which funded their own respective accounts. It was a clandestine operation which was so illegal yet interesting given how cunning and discreet they were. While I will never do this for the life of me, I still found it engaging because of the colorful backstories of each character which later motivated them to take part in the crime. The result was a satirical, hilarious, and oftentimes relatable drama which is a result of globalization, outsourcing, and robotic call center culture.
I worked in a BPO myself, so this book resonated with me. I empathize with the characters, and I feel sad that several of our countrymen have to endure hours of irate phone calls just to escape poverty. However, I also feel renewed respect for these Filipinos who choose to work as outsourced employees in order to provide for their families. It would be better though if clandestine money wiring would only be within the confines of this novel.
I believe that this novel is required reading for BPO workers and aspirants alike. It is a slice of life take on the BPO industry and the motivations of Filipinos in entering this lucrative industry. It could either be a cautionary tale, or a fairy tale. The choice is yours.
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