When fiction is stranger than truth

MANILA, Philippines - Uno magazine’s April issue, its latest, is its Fiction issue, one that’s been in the works since the new editorial team took over last year. But unlike your average magazine’s Fiction issue, this doesn’t showcase short stories and excerpts from promising young writers and books about to be published. They’ve taken the term literally, curating an issue that purports to be from an alternate Philippines, one where Pepe Smith became the first Filipino in space, where the Eraserheads completed one more album after “Carbon Stereoxide,” and where Mike De Leon completed his version of Jose Rizal with Aga Muhlach in the role. Basically, every article in the issue, save one, is a work of fiction. Guest-edited by Sarge Lacuesta, contributors include Gemino H. Abad, Myrene Academia, Butch Dalisay, Lourd De Veyra, Tad Ermitano, Robin Hemley, Armi Millare, Aldus Santos, Menchu Aquino Sarmiento, Charlene Sawit, Yvette Tan, Mihk Vergara, and Krip Yuson, with guest illustrator Arnold Arre.