* AmericansHateTingle: Despite the awards it won, many Filipino readers considered the book more of a guide for foreigners about Philippine society and due to the use of pretentious words, it's difficult for an average Filipino to appreciate the book.
* {{Anvilicious}}: Yes, Filipino society had been under three colonizers for decades and suffered under corrupt governments which is why most of the people are still under the poverty line. As if Filipinos don't need to know that...
* BrokenBase: Some readers find the story very hard to follow due to how disjointed and scattered the prose is and all the snippets, passages from Cripin's works, poetry, memoirs are considered a distraction. Others find very thought-provoking particularly on how it called out on the negative side of Filipino society.