Aklan writer W. J. Manares explores pain, madness and humor in new poetry collection

Banga, Aklan- — Aklan writer W. J. Manares turns life’s rough edges into poetry in his latest collection, Don’t Try, I Told You I Was Ill, a work that combines raw emotion, playful wordplay and an unfiltered look at human vulnerability.
Published under Ukiyoto Publishing, the collection brings together poems that move between hurt and humor, silence and honesty, and the messy realities of everyday life.
The book’s description presents Manares’ poetry as a meeting point between pain and playfulness—verses that offer comfort while confronting difficult emotions and the parts of life that people often choose to hide.
Rather than presenting perfection, the collection embraces imperfection as part of being human. Its poems explore experiences of loneliness, emotional struggle and the search for a voice, while maintaining a whimsical and sometimes sardonic tone.
The book’s central message is reflected in its accompanying statement: people may describe someone as “broken,” but life can still feel vivid and real even amid disorder and uncertainty.

A prolific Aklanon writer

Manares, from Aklan, has built a prolific body of work, having authored more than 69 books and continuing to write.
He has been described since 1999 as the “sardonic yet whimsical author of the Philippines,” a characterization that captures the combination of humor, imagination and darker reflections evident in his writing.
Beyond poetry, Manares is also known for worldbuilding and storytelling, developing a literary body of work that places imagination alongside observations of human experience.
With Don’t Try, I Told You I Was Ill, Manares continues this approach through poetry that does not attempt to smooth out life’s imperfections.
The collection invites readers to confront uncomfortable realities while finding moments of humor and wonder in them—suggesting that even when life becomes complicated, there can still be something worth laughing about.
Don’t Try, I Told You I Was Ill is available through Ukiyoto Publishing.
Book: Don’t Try, I Told You I Was Ill
Author: W. J. Manares
Publisher: Ukiyoto Publishing
Available at: www.ukiyotophilippines.com⁠�