Gagamba
Publisher: Solidaridad Publishing House
Published: 1991
Place of publication: Manila, Philippines
Format: Paperback
Number of pages: 122
ISBN-13: 9789718845592
Copyright date: 1991
First sentence: On July 15, 1990, a killer earthquake—the strongest recorded in Philippine history—struck and for four minutes of apocalyptic turbulence, Central Luzon including Manila were submerged in a wave of panic.
Description: WHAT IS THE MEANING OF LIFE?

GAGAMBA, the cripple, sells sweepstakes tickets the whole day at the entrance to Camarin, the Ermita restaurant. He sees them all—the big men, politicians, journalists, generals, landlords, and the handsome call-girls who have made Camarin famous. In mid-July 1990, a killer earthquake struck and entombed all the beautiful people dining at the Camarin. Gagamba could have easily gotten killed—but he survived the earthquake, as do two other lucky people who were buried in the rubble.

As told by the Philippines' most widely translated author, this novel raises a fundamental question about life's meaning and suggests at the same time the only rational answer.