THE Embassy of Israel in the Philippines recently launched the first Hebrew book translated into Filipino: Bigla, May Kumatok sa Pinto (Suddenly, a Knock on the Door) by revered Israeli author Etgar Keret.
The book is known for its English version as a collection of short stories by Keret—a leading voice in Israeli literature and cinema, according to the embassy. His five best-selling story collections have been translated into 46 languages.
During the book launch on April 26, Keret expressed his hopes that Filipino readers will be able to relate more to the short stories, now that they are translated in their local language. He also encouraged the Filipino caregivers working in Israel to read the book.
“This is another milestone that demonstrates the strong relations between Israel and the Philippines. This book is one of the many areas of cooperation between our countries in literature, culture and [the] arts,” Ambassador Rafael Harpaz said. “We hope….many Filipinos—especially the young generation—will get a copy and read [it as] a product of good friendship.”
The Filipino translation of Bigla…was done by U Z. Eliserio of the University of the Philippines’s College of Arts and Literature.
“During this pandemic, and with many of us staying at home, books have been a great source of entertainment, comfort, and escape. Keret’s stories provide these,” Head of National Bookstore and Anvil Publishing Alexandra Ramos-Padilla said in a video message.
Anvil is the official publisher and distributor of the book. It is available in National Bookstore branches, as well as online shopping platforms, for only P395.