| In the Claws of Brightness | |
| Author: | Edgardo M. Reyes |
| Country: | Philippines |
| Language: | Tagalog |
| Genre: | Fiction |
| Publisher: | Liwayway Publishing, Inc. |
| Pages: | 147 |
| Publisher2: | De La Salle University Press |
| Pub Date: | November 13, 1967–January 15, 1968 (serialized) |
| Title Orig: | Sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag |
In the Claws of Brightness (Filipino: Sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag), is a 1986 Tagalog language novel written by Filipino author Edgardo M. Reyes, originally serialized in the weekly Liwayway magazine from 1967 to 1968.[1] The title In the Claws of Brightness is a literal word-for-word translation of the Tagalog title, which as a phrase effectively makes little sense in English. A more practical English translation would be At the Verge of Dawn. The story became the basis for the award-winning Filipino film, Manila in the Claws of Light.
Julio, a poor fisherman, goes to Manila to search for his betrothed named Ligaya. Sometime before Julio's trip, Ligaya had left with a lady named Mrs. Cruz in order to study and work in the city. Now in Manila, Julio becomes a victim to some of the city's scums. Julio experiences abuses while working in a construction site. He eventually loses his job and desperately looks for a decent place where he can sleep. Slowly, Julio develops a cynical demeanor as he gradually loses hope of ever finding Ligaya.
All this is put on hold, however, when Julio finally reunites Ligaya, and learns from her that she is a victim of sex trafficking. Julio and Ligaya plan to escape.[2]
The 1975 adaptation of the book entitled Manila in the Claws of Light was directed by award-winning director Lino Brocka. The script was written by Clodualdo del Mundo, Jr. Jose Capino, writing for Criterion, noted that the film was met with "charges of anti-Chinese racism from reviewers."[3]
The book had been translated into Japanese by Motoe Terami-Wada. The novel, retitled as had become a bestselling book in Japan.[4]