TATA SELO

NI : ROGELIO R. SIKAT

PRESENTERS :
WENCILLE JOY JALAPADAN
HASANA ALAMADA
 BACKGROUND OF THE AUTHOR

⚫ prolific Filipino novelist, playwright and

short story writer.
⚫ born on June 26, 1940 at Barrio Alua,
San Isidro, Nueva Ecija.
⚫ died of cancer in 1997
⚫ best known for his classic masterpieces
particularly Impeng Negro.
⚫ "Sikat" as a pen name to reflect on his
Filipino identity as his real surname is
"Sicat".
⚫ former university professor and former
college dean of the University of the
Philippines' College of Arts and Letters.
 ACHIEVEMENTS AND OTHER WRITINGS
⚫ During his time at UST, Sikat served as a writer for the
university's official newspaper, The Varsitarian.
⚫ In 1962, Sikat's Impeng Negro won the prized Carlos
Palanca Award. Due to its monumental success, Impeng
Negro became Sikat's most notable work.
⚫ The short film entitled "Impen, the Negro" won the 1st
prize in the Short Feature Film Category in the 12th
Gawad CCP for alternative film and video.
⚫ 1n 1969, Sikat's Socio-cultural play "Moses" won the
Carlos Palanca Award.
⚫ He received several awards including the Manila Critics'
Circle National Book Award for translation, a year after
his death.
BACKGROUND OF THE LITERARY PIECE
Later, the mayor even exploited Tata Selo's
daughter Saling. Depressed though, there
is no justice that they can do. The rich
prevailed.
 VOCABULARY PRACTICE
⚫ Istaked - a stokade is a barrier formed from upright
wooden posts or stakes, especially as a defense against
attack or as a means of confining animals; a military
prison.
⚫ Ignited - to subject to fire or intense heat.
⚫ Cunt - an offensive word for a very unpleasant or stupid
person.
⚫ Sturdy - physically strong and solid or thick, and
therefore unlikely to break or be hurt.
⚫ Embargoed - an order to temporarily stop something,
especially trading or giving information.
⚫ Peasant - a poor farmer or low social status who owns a
small piece of land for cultivation.
⚫ Lilik - reaping tool with a curved blade with serrated
teeth; sickle.
⚫ Truncheon - a short, thick stick carried as a weapon
by a police officer.
⚫ Tungkod/Cane - a stick used as an aid in walking.
⚫ Khaki - a textile fabric of a dull brownish-yellow color,
in particular a strong cotton fabric used in military
clothing.
⚫ Pallet - a wooden flat-bladed instrument.
⚫ Glistening - shining with a sparkling light.
⚫ Mortgaged - a conveyance of an interest in real
property as security for the repayment of money
borrowed to buy the property.
⚫ Mob - a large crowd of people.
⚫ Patched - mend or strengthen by putting a piece
of material over a hole or weak point in it.
⚫ Incredulous - unable or unwilling to believe
something.
⚫ Brimmed - be full to the point of overflowing.
⚫ Sartin - an enamel-plated metal plate or drinking
cup.
⚫ Akimbo - with hands on the hips and elbows
turned outward.
 CHARACTERS
Tata Selo - an old farmer who was forcibly stopped
by Kabesang Tano from farming and the one who
killed Kabesang Tano.

Kabesang tano - owner of the land where Tata Selo

farms.

Alkalde - the Mayor of the Town of San Roque who

was one of those who talked to Tata Selo about the
old man's beheading of Kabesang Tano
Hepe (the chief) – was with the Mayor when they talked
to Tata Selo about the death case of Kabesang Tano.

Saling – the 17-year-old child and only daughter of Tata

Selo who works as a maid in Kabesang Tano's house.

Binata – he is the son of the richest proprietor in San

Roque. He is tall and white. He wears shade glasses and
standing with his arms akimbo while smoking cigarette.

Amang – He is a young peasant, a son of farmers like

Tata Selo. He sneaks into the prison to see Tata Selo and
talk to him.
 At first, the group of people in the municipal yard was small, but
when the sun rose, and the news spread that Kabesang Tano had
been hacked and killed, the yard of the government house was filled.
People were crowding, pushing, everyone trying to get close to the
istaked.

"Is it true, Tata Selo?"

"He took my farm back so I kill him."

Tata Selo is inside the istaked. Holding tight to the railing. There was
a sour bang on the forehead. Tears welled up in the dim and always
seemed to have a clear eye. His gray clothes were faded, his elbow
and shoulder blade were patched. His cunt, made of a sturdy bag of
salt, was stained with dried mud. He was in front of him and talking
to a peasant, his admirer, who was one of those who got through to
the police who were suppressing the mob.
"It's unbelievable, Tata Selo," his admiring man's voice shook, "I really
can't believe it."

Tata Selo caressed his finger and the blood on his forehead dried up. In
front of him, not far from the istaked, the police are harassing people
who want to see him. The sunlight was hot hitting them, there was no
wind blowing and on their heads floated the swaying dust.

"Why would he take back the farm?" Tata Selo asked. “Did I cheat on
him for the shares? Have I pushed him yet? He is the owner of the land
and I am just with him. Isn’t it that many are angry with me because I
don’t want to give away even a single grain when I harvest? ”

Tata Selo still did not leave in front of the istaked. He was still holding
on to the railing. He was looking outside but he was not looking at
anyone.
"You shouldn't have kill Kabesa," said the young son of the richest
landowner in San Roque, who seemed to be a dynamic town leader
standing among the many people at the istaked. He was tall, white,
wearing colored glasses, and relaxed while smoking.

"He's retrieving my farm," Tata Selo complained. "Where else would

I go if I had nothing left?"

The rich young man nodded. “That is not justified for you to kill the
Kabesa. He owns the land you farm. If he wants to evict you, he can
evict you at any time. ”
Tata Selo's face almost came out of the railing.

"You don't understand me," he said, looking up and trying to smile

at the young man who threw away the cigarette and then stomped
hard.
“Do you know that land used to belong to us? It was only mortgaged
when my wife fell ill, Kabesa was only embargoed. My dream is to get
that land back, that's why I don't give a single penny when I harvest.
If I can't get it back, at least I can farm. I'm begging Kabesa for me. ‘If
you could,‘ Besa ’’, I said, ‘if you could, please don’t send me away. I
can still farm, ‘Besa. It’s true that I’m old, but I’m still strong. ’But‘ Oh!
He stabbed me with a cane, Look at the shot in my forehead, look at
me. ”

The young man picked up a cigarette. It ignited and then turned his
back from Tata Sell and approached a policeman.

"How did it happen, Tata Selo?"

Holding on to the railing, Tata Selo turned around. He saw a young

peasant approaching the istaked. Tata Selo smiled. Here is a peasant,
son-peasant who believes in him. The child's wide -brimmed hat was
raised.
It was glistening, the arms and legs were snake -like. It has a lilik
attached.

"He took me on my back, Amang," explained Tata Selo. “There was a

conflict. I was kicked out of my farm, it was said that there is another
farmer. When I begged, I was beaten. Ay! I was beaten with a stick,
Amang, I beg because if I lose my farm, where else will I go? ”
"You have nowhere to go, Tata Selo."

Tears crawled down Tata Selo's cheeks. The child looked at him silently.
"Is he dead?"

Tata Selo's fists whitened as he gripped the railing. He knelt on the

shoulder.
"How about Saling?" the child asked again. It refers to Tata Selo's
seventeen child who was orphaned by their mother.
Amang once helped Kabesang Tano and just went home to Tata Selo.

"How about Saling?"

Tata Selo's grip on the railing tightened. Tata Selo has not yet spoken
to the mayor. It was about eleven o'clock when he arrived, with the
chief of police. They came from the house of Kabesa. The horn of the
jeep in which the two were riding reached out to disperse the people
who had not yet left.

The jeep stopped not far from the istaked.

“Is he dead? Where is the tool?"

Sweaty people crowded and pushed. The fat mayor raised both hands
to calm the commotion. The big male chief pushed.
"Where was it hit?"
"In the mouth." The mayor put his right palm in his mouth, pulled it
out and stroked it hard up to the right full ear. "The tooth fell out."

The people were upset. Screaming, crowding, squeezing, pushing. The

police held a truncheon. The mayor decided to release Tata Selo and
bring him to his office. Two policemen took Tata Selo from the istaked.

"That will put you in jail, Tata Selo," said the mayor after Tata Selo
entered. Tata Selo sat in the chair in front of the table. Tata Selo's hand
trembled as he placed it on the mirrored table.
"How did that happen?" wrinkled and angry question of the mayor. It
took a long time for Tata Selo to answer.
"He took my farm back, President," said Tata Selo. “I don't want to
leave there. That land used to be ours, ours, it was just mortgaged and
embargoed— “
"I know that," the irritated mayor muttered and shook his head.
Tata Selo swallowed. When he looked at the president again, tears
welled up in his dim eyes and he always seemed to have a clear eye.
"I, President, am still strong," said Tata Selo. “I can still farm. Is it
reasonable to fire me? I am still strong, President, I am still strong. ”

"Where did you cut Kabesa?"

It took a long time for Tata Selo to answer.

“I was in a canal when Kabesa arrived. I'm putting up a dam. I know
the kabesa is watching me, so I improved my work, so that he would
know that I was still really strong, that I could still farm. Suddenly, he
called me and when I approached, he said that I could leave my famr
because the farmer has been changed.
‘Why,‘ Besa? ’I asked. He said that I should leave. ‘Why,‘ Besa? ’I asked
again,‘ I’m still strong, a ’He approached me. I even begged him, but I
was… Ay! He beat me with his cane."
"That's why you chopped him," said the observant chief.

Quiet in the mayor's office. All eyes — some scribes even entered
there — were focused on Tata Selo. Tata Selo bent down and moved
his seemingly wet finger over the dirty cunt. Upon stepping on the
polished floor, his muddy, dusty and ginger feet were
uncomfortable.

"Your daughter, was in Kabesa's place?" curiosity of the mayor.

Tata Selo did not answer.
"He is asking you," said the chief.
Tata Selo swallowed.
"Saling went home, President."
"When?"
"Yesterday morning."
"Isn't she works there?"
"It's been three months."
Tata Selo's face slowly rose. She was in tears as she bowed.
"She's sick."

At twelve o'clock — signaled by a series of bells ringing in the church

just across from the town hall — the mayor left for lunch. Tata Selo
was left behind, along with the chief and two policemen.

"You killed the Kabesa," said the big chief. It approached Tata Selo
crouched down and not yet moving in the chair.
"He's retrieving my farm." Tata Selo's justification. The chief was
descended from Tata Selo. On the floor Tata Selo almost grunted.
"He beaten me with a cane," Tata Selo's most rational was looking up,
crying and listening.
The chief made Tata Selo to stand. The chief hit Tata Selo in the
stomach. On the floor he knelt
Tata Selo, clinging to the chief's khaki uniform.
“He hit me with a cane… Ay! He beaten me with a cane of cane… ”

At the door of the office, two policemen looked on pitifully.

"It's Kabesa who recommended Tsip, eh," said one when Tata Selo
looked like a dress that had fallen off the hanger when the boss
abused him again.

The sun rose red the next day. In the municipal yard was scattered
the paper left over from the previous day. The dust has not died
yet, so when that month comes it should be raining. If the wind is
blowing, there is a small whirlwind scattering papers on top.

"Maybe you'll be taken to the capital, Selo," said the newly bathed
and newly dressed mayor to the old man inside the istaked. "I think
you'll be imprisoned there."
There was no pallet inside the istaked and Tata Selo stumbled on the
dirty concrete floor. All around him was dripping water. Her black and
aching legs were stretched out and his seemingly boneless hands
were erect. Leaning, he leaned against the steel matting that was the
rear wall of the staked. Near his hand, the sartin of dark coffee and a
bowl of rice would not move. It has flies on it.

"Maybe you will be given forever," the mayor continued. It lit a cigar
and approached the istaked. The mayor's shoes were shiny.
"Kill me too, President." Tata Selo was hoarse and barely audible. I
killed Kabesa. Kill me too. ”

The mayor was afraid to touch the dusty railing. He did not touch the
railing but he rubbed his palms and he looked to see if there was dust
on it. When he looked at Tata Selo, he saw that it was even tilted.
Some people come to the municipality. That’s just less than yesterday.
They entered the municipal yard, but were followed by police. Few
farmers in the new bunch come and look at Tata Selo. Most are from
Poblacion. Until then, everyone was wondering, in disbelief, the news
that Kabesa would be buried in the afternoon was so widespread.
Surprised and incredulous they looked at Tata Selo who seemed to be
an unusual animal to be portrayed.

The sun, like yesterday, was hot again. At about two o'clock, Tata
Selo's child arrived. Seeing the fallen father, he was held tightly to the
railing and wept loudly.
The mayor found out that Saling had arrived and summoned her to
his office.
Soon Tata Selo was fed. Two policemen supported Tata Selo. He was
almost beaten by two policemen.
Arriving at the opening of the office, it seemed that Tata Selo had a
walk for a while. He saw the woman sitting in front of the president's
desk.
The father and daughter embraced seeing each other.
"You shouldn't have come Saling," said Tata Selo on his knees. "You're
sick, Saling, you're sick!"

Tata Selo's daughter looked stupid while hugging his father. Her shiny
hair was loose, the dress she was wearing looked like the one she had
been wearing the day before. His flushed face was hard. He shifted
his gaze from the seated mayor to the staring policemen.

"Go home, Saling" asked Tata Selo. “Let it go… let it go. Go home,
child. No, don't say anymore… ”
Tata Selo kept shaking. The mayor put him back on the istaked. When
he returned to the istaked, people watched him again.
"It was blown up last night," said a farmer. "Wrapped in a wet sack,
not obvious."
"The child, she seems to have arrived?"
"She was with mayor."
In one corner of the istaked two policemen sat Tata Selo. Tata Selo
collapsed after sitting down. But when he heard the istaked iron
door being stolen again, he scratched like the railing. Hold on tight
and while you're on your knees for a while it seems like you're going
to bite. The police called him but he was hoarse and the police were
far away. His right hand was exposed on the railing, his face falling to
the concrete floor. He lay on his back for a long time before he heard
someone seem to be waking him up.

“Tata Selo… Tata Selo…”

Tata Selo's face rose. The tears in her eyes made it clear who was
calling him. It was the boy who visited him yesterday.
The boy held Tata Selo's hand that reached out to him.

"Saling is with the President, father" said Tata Selo. "Send her home,
go home."
His face fell to the floor again. The child hesitated for a moment,
then became frightened and hesitant to follow.

It will be four o'clock in the afternoon. The sun was shining, but it
was still hot. There is a piece left on the istaked, on the steel matting
wall, but Tata Selo is not there. He was in the heat, clinging to the
railing in front of the istaked. He was looking outside, with his dim
and seemingly always-clear eyes hitting the red sunlight. Outside the
istaked, leaning against the railing was the child he had instructed
earlier. The boy said that he did not want to be allowed into the
mayor's office but Tata Selo did not listen to him, who is now saying
no recovery.

While clinging to the railing and looking outside, he says everything

has been taken from them, everything is! Everything has been taken
from them…
THE END.
 THEME: SYMBOLISM:
• Stance of the sin Tungkod - a stick used as an aid
committed in walking.
• Love for family - A symbol of being powerful.

SETTING: – prison(istaked), municipal, and farm

MORAL: – Many knocks on the door of justice, but

the thing is, the world is crucial and even
justice has requirements. We are living in
the painful truth wherein WEALTH is the
reason to survive in the unfair society of
rich and poor.
THANK YOU!