PHILIPPINE LITERATURE:

A COMPILATION OF
SHORT STORIES
BAELS I-B
LIST OF SHORT STORIES

The Summer Solstice

GROUP I

Morning in Nagrebcan
GROUP II

Three Generations
GROUP III

The Wedding Dance

GROUP IV

The Beautiful Horse

GROUP V

The Transparent Sun

GROUP VI

Candles
GROUP VII

A Night in the Hills

GROUP VIII

The Sounds of Sunday

GROUP IX
 GROUP I
THE SUMMER
• NICK JOAQUIN•

AGUAM • DELA CRUZ

 ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Author’s name: Nicomedes Marquez Joaquin

A.K.A: “Quijano de Manila”

Born: May 4, 1917/Calle Herran, Paco Manila

Died: April 29, 2004/San Juan, Metro Manila

Parents: Atty. Leocadio Y. Joaquin (colonel during the Philippine

Revolution) and Salome Marquez (school teacher)

Educational Background:

Primary: Mapa High School in Intramuros

Secondary: Mapa High School in Intramuros (he stayed there until 3rd
Year)

College: St. Albert College in Hong Kong

Bits of Information Concerning Nick Joaquin’s Early Education and

Career:

At age 17, Joaquin had his first piece published in the literary
section of the Pre-World War II Tribune where he worked as
a proofreader. It was accepted by the writer and editor Serafin
Lanot.

After he won a nationwide essay competition to honor La

Naval de Manila, sponsored by the Dominican Order, the
University of Santo Tomas awarded him an Honorary
Associate in Arts (A.A.). They also awarded him a
scholarship to St. Albert’s convent, the Dominican
monastery in Hong Kong.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

After returning to the Philippines, Joaquin joined the

Philippine Free Press, starting as a proofreader. Not long
after that, he attracted so much attention for his poems,
stories, and plays—as well as his journalism under the pen
name Quijano de Manila.

His journalism was both intellectual and provocative, an

unknown genre in the Philippines at that time, and he raised
the level or bar of reportage in the country; he set the standard
high.

Joaquin represented the Philippines at the International PEN

Congress in Tokyo in 1957 and was subsequently appointed
as a member of the Motion Pictures Commission under
Presidents Diosdado Macapagal and Ferdinand E. Marcos.

After being honored as National Artist, Joaquin used his

position to work for intellectual freedom in society.

He has been considered one of the most important Filipino

writers, along with Jose Rizal and Claro M. Recto. Unlike
Rizal and Recto, whose works were written in Spanish,
Joaquin’s major works were in English, despite being a
native Spanish speaker.

His awareness of the significance of the past to the present is

part of a concerted effort to preserve the spiritual tradition
and the orthodox faith of the Catholic past—which he
perceives as the sole solution to our modern ills.
 ABOUT THE STORY

Background Information and Summary of Summer Solstice

The Summer Solstice was written by Nicomedes Marquez

Joaquin, who is also known as Nick Joaquin, a Filipino
writer, historian, and journalist. He is well known for writing
short stories and novels in English language.

Summer Solstice is a story about women which all show and

convey superiority. From the story, there is called ritual
performed by women during Classical Period. The focus of
the story is about the power of women. In the Classical Era,
it shows that women control men. It shows the power of
women over men. The story was characterized by Doña
Lupeng Moreta, a married woman with three children, Rafael
or Don Paeng Moreta, the husband of Doña Lupeng, Guido,
the young cousin of Moretas who studied in Europe, Amada,
the family cook and Entoy’s wife, and Entoy, the family
driver.

The Tatarin, or otherwise known as the Tadtarin, was a three-

day festival that celebrated a ritual of fertility. This was done
only by women. Many men frowned upon the extravagant
dances and plays surrounding the ritual.

"Summer Solstice" is set during the three days of the St.

John’s Festival. Lupeng, a Filipino woman who feels closed
to her womanhood, is married to Paeng, who is no doubt
loyal to her. They have three small boys and live a somewhat
wealthy life as they have a carriage driver named Entoy and
a maid and cook named Amada. Guido is a cousin of Paeng
who comes back to the Philippines after studying in Europe.
 ABOUT THE STORY

The story starts when the family is enjoying the days of the
St. John’s Festival, until Guido makes suggestive comments
to Lupeng and even bending down to kiss her feet. This
makes her leave abruptly and have a discussion with her
husband the coming night. Lupeng secretly found herself
intrigued by the attention of Guido; she felt that he was
correct in saying that women should be ravished and men
should adore them. This causes her to participate in the last
night of the festival, which is the Tatarin ritual.

Paeng goes with her and tries to drag her back once the
dancing begun, but she runs from him to the women. He tries
to take her back but the women in the crowds beat him out,
leaving him helpless. As the two return home, Paeng says he
must whip his wife because he loves her and feels that she
needs to be put in her place. To this, she shouts and says she
wants to be adored, not respected and orders him to kiss her
feet.

Summary of the Plot

Exposition

The Moretas Family was enjoying the days of the St. John’s Festival.
Doña Lupeng, who was awake and feeling like fainting due to the
heat, heard a screaming sound directly penetrating into her ears. In
the dining room, the three boys were already dressed up in their
holiday suits, they were there at breakfast and came crowding around
her all at once.
 ABOUT THE STORY

Rising Action

The Summer Solstice is a short story written by Nick Joaquin. The

book tells the story of a ritual performed by women to call upon the
Gods to grant fertility. The ritual they perform is to dance around a
century-old Balete tree. The ritual was known as Tatarin and lasted
for three days during the Summer months. The last day of Tatarin is
the same day as St. John’s Day. The story is set on St. John’s Day in
the 1850’s in the Philippines. Entoy tells Doña Lupeng that Amada
has participated in the ritual. While they are onboard a carriage,
Doña Lupeng talks about why Amada still believes in the ritual. The
carriage comes to a halt and everyone watches a procession taking
place. Doña Lupeng mocks the arrogance of the men taking part in
the procession. When they arrive at a house, she discovers that
Guido, Don Paeng’s cousin, had taken part in both the procession
they have just witnessed and in the Tatarin ritual. Guido lifted Doña
Lupeng’s skirt whilst she was looking for her children. She then tells
Don Paeng about the incident and tells him that Guido had even
kissed her feet.

Climax

Don Paeng is disgusted that the woman has been shown adoration,
as he feels that love and respect are more befitting.

Falling Action

Doña Lupeng and Don Paeng go to witness the ritual, and the former,
that is, Doña Lupeng, joins in to the ceremony.
 ABOUT THE STORY

Resolution

Once home, Doña Lupeng makes Don Paeng tell her that he adores
her. He submits by kissing her feet.

Denouement

The Summer Solstice was classed as controversial, because of the

mix of Pagan ritual and Christian rites of passage.

The story takes place in the 1850’s, women were repressed and felt
shut in. In the story, Lupeng may seem to be happy in her routine
life, however, she also feels angry. You can notice this when she
states to the children: “Hush, hush, I implore you! Now, look: your
father has a headache, and so have I. So, be quiet this instant—or no
one goes to Grandfather.”

The Summer Solstice represented “stereotypical notions of

masculinity and femininity,” the difference between genders, and the
hierarchy that bound the two sexes.

The Summer Solstice is a pro-woman story. A tale of “triumphant

women,” because of Don Paeng’s submission to Doña Lupeng and
the portrayal of women’s reproductive role that made them “rulers
of men.” (Feminism Approach)
 ABOUT THE STORY

Analysis of Literary Elements

Conflict

The stereotypes of masculinity and feminine traits run rampant in the

story. Women are supposed to look after their husbands and children
while the husbands work and wait for their supper. Not only is this
seen in the story but in daily life as well, which makes the story
shocking to readers, since it is about women wanting to be free.
Lupeng shatters the concept of the suppressed woman when she
gains control of her husband, who kisses her feet at the end of story.
This makes it seem as though the internal conflict was that women
are the ones who want to be the rulers of men, as seen in the Tatarin
festival. Internal conflict confronts the leading character. It is
internal character in a way that Don Paeng is so sensitive to the
feelings of Doña Lupeng that he doesn’t comply with the love and
care that Doña Lupeng gives to him.

How is the conflict resolved?

It was resolved when Doña Lupeng joined in the Tadtarin, wherein

he realizes that she did the ritual, because Doña Lupeng wishes Don
Paeng to comply with her love and to adore her forever.

It has Irony as the Figurative Language: “She began noiselessly

quaking with laughter—the mute mirth jerking in her throat…” Next
is Metaphor: “She is the Tadtarin” Lastly, is the Hyperbole: “Their
teeth flashed white in their laughing faces, and their hot bodies
glowed crimson as the past…”
 ABOUT THE STORY

Characters

Doña Lupeng Moreta

long-married woman with three children.

Don Paeng Moreta

the highly moral husband of Doña Lupeng.

Guido

young cousin to the Moretas who studied in Spain.

Amada
the family cook and Entoy’s wife.
Entoy- the family driver

Guido is the sole Static Character; all others are Dynamic ones.

The story takes place in the 1850’s during Summer (Setting):

St. John’s Day

Tatarin Festival

Point of View

Third person omniscient was the point of view of the story, wherein
both reader and writer observe the thoughts of more than one
character. Summer Solstice is the longest day of the year. It shows
the tension between natures, as experienced by a woman.
 ABOUT THE STORY

Theme

Feminism: “Triumphant Women”

Main Theme

St. John’s and Tatarin Festivals—The St. John’s Festival is about

men and their fertility, which seems quite vulgar to Lupeng and
makes her start to realize how she wishes women could be seen in
the same way. The Tatarin Festival is the exact opposite, showcasing
or exhibiting women as leaders of fertility since they carry children.
This festival is the last trigger to make Lupeng feel as though she is
stronger than a man and, thus, deserves adoration.

BINARY OPPOSITIONS

Woman and Man

The story shows opposition about superiority: the superiority of

women over men. It conveys power to control, submitting one's self,
and considering yourself as a slave.

Saint John and Tadtarin

Saint John symbolizes superiority of men; whereas, Tadtarin

symbolizes superiority of women. The two events show opposition
in between—which party is more powerful, which is higher, which
is more important, which is the master and leader. And, the dominant
figures are not the males but females. Women were supreme and
men were slaves.

Sisters and Brothers

“All the sisters being virtuous, all the brothers are brave.”
 ABOUT THE STORY

Gentlemen and Cads and Lunatic

“A gentleman loves and respects woman. The cads and lunatics—

they adore the woman,” lines said by Don Paeng.

Husbands and Wives

Well, the tale as old as time, that is, all the same, wives being on
top.

SYMBOLISMS

Saint John

A fine, blonde, heroic St. John, very male, very arrogant: the Lord
of the Summer, indeed; the Lord of light and heat—erect and godly
virile above the prone and female earth—while the worshippers
danced and dust thickened, and the animals reared and roared, and
the merciless fire came raining down from the skies—the vast
outpouring of light that marks this climax of the solar year—raining
relentlessly upon field and river and town, in a winding road, and
upon the joyous throng of young men against whose uproar, a couple
of seminarians in muddy cassocks vainly intoned the hymn of the
noon God. The Saint simply symbolizes domination and superiority
of men.

Water (San Juan)

As a sign of Baptism: cleansing sins of humanity.

Bunch of Seedlings

It symbolizes woman as a source. From this line stated by Entoy,

“the grain would not grow, trees would bear no fruit.” Ergo, women
are the ones who take care of everything.
 ABOUT THE STORY

Amada

Most seen and emphasized thing in the story for symbolism is

Amada, the family cook and Entoy's wife. She was called as Tatarin.
It says there that Tatarin was a spirit which comes on woman's body.
It is said to be holy and mysterious. That once you have the Tatarin,
you should be pleased to accept it, cause if you don't, the grain would
not grow, trees would bear no fruit, the rivers would give no fish,
and animals would die. And, according to their belief, once you have
the Tatarin spirit, Entoy said, she is the wife of the river, she is the
wife of the crocodile, and she is the wife of the moon.

Young Girl

From the story, the cult of the Tadtarin is celebrated on three days:
the feast of the Saint John and the two preceding days. It says there
that on the first night, a young girl heads the procession. It shows
women should lead at early age. Woman should be the powerful one
as early or at young age.

Mature Woman

The celebration of the Tatarin, on the second night of the procession,

a mature woman headed it. It means that from a very young age and
while growing or in matured one, woman should still the higher one.

Very Old Woman and Resurrection

On the third and last night of procession, an old woman headed the
procession. It says there, a very old woman who dies and comes to
life again. You will see how powerful should a woman be.

Black Shawls

As a sign of being one. “—black shawls are flying around their

shoulders. They covered their heads with their black shawls and
began wailing softly, inhumanly—a hushed, animal keening.” When
the Tadtarin was in act of being dead, women covered their heads
with the black shawls as a sign of sympathy or being one.
 ABOUT THE STORY

Wand

The Tadtarin, a small old woman with white hair, walked with calm
and dignity in the midst of the female tumult with a wand in one
hand. A wand symbolizes the power of a woman: her superiority.

Moon

“The Lord of women,” “because, the tides of a woman, like the tides
of the sea, are tides of the moon,” from lines said by Guido. The old
woman who is called the Tadtarin praises the moon and lifted her
wand and bunch of seedlings on it.

Kissed the Feet

Guido, the young man, propping up his elbows, dragged himself

forward on the ground and solemnly kissed the tip of Doña Lupeng's
shoes. Kissing the feet of women shows respect, and submitting
man's self to woman.

The feasts, events, and happenings

show the differences of man and woman in terms of dominance:

which is higher, which is the one that leads, who is the master, who
is to be called or considered as king or queen. The story was all
about superiority. It shows conflict in the effort of resolving the
issue, that is, to know whose party is more powerful.

REFERENCES:

http://www.studymode.com/subjects/analysis-of-three-generation-
by-nick-joaquin-page1.html

http://www.scribd.com/doc/39739911/Analysis-of-the-Short-Story-
of-Nick-Joaquin

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Summer_Solstice

http://www.brighthubeducation.com/homework-help-
literature/121011-summer-solstice-by-nick-joaquin-analysis/
 GROUP II
MORNING IN
• M A N U E L E. A R G I L L A •

AMAR • MASUHUD •DULAP • PAMIL • RABESIS

 ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Manuel E. Argilla

He was born on January 17, 1911

An Ilokano writer in English, Patriot and Martyr

Known for his short story “How My Brother Leon Brought Home a
Wife” which won first prize in the Commonwealth Literary Contest
in 1940.

His birthplace was in Barrio Nagrebcan, Bauang, La Union.

That's why most of his works depicts scene in Nagrebcan
And even though he moved in to Manila, his bond with the peasant
folks of Ilocos remained strong

He graduated under the course of BS Education in 1933 at the

University of the Philippines

He became a member and later President of the U.P writer’s club and
Editor.

He married Lydia Villanueva, a talented writer in English, and they

lived in Ermita Manila.

He became a creative writing teacher at the University of Manila

and;

Later worked at the Bureau of Public Welfare as managing editor

until 1943 and;

Later appointed to the Board of Censors

Secretly organized a guerrilla intelligence unit against the Japanese

On August 5, 1944, he was captured and tortured and;

On the 30th he was executed by the Japanese army at Fort Santiago

His remains lie on Manila North Cemetery
 ABOUT THE STORY

Summary of the Plot

Exposition

It was just a usual start of the day on Nagrebcan where people start
doing their job, then how a very pleasant morning turned into a
horrible one just because of a misunderstanding. The innocent little
puppy is the object of the conflict between Baldo and Ambo, which
resulted into its violent death from the hand of their father, Tang
Ciaco.

Rising Action

After eating Ambo started playing with the 4 puppies, but after a
while he got bored and saw his brother playing with the black-
spotted puppy, and he wanted to take it from him. But Baldo refused,
which led them to fight. During their fight the puppy accidentally bit
Ambo and to their dismay Tang Ciaco saw what happened and
thought that the dog had gone mad.

Climax

Tang Ciaco went to the kitchen to get a piece of firewood, and he

threw an angry looked at Nana Elang. He then proceeded to beat the
black-spotted puppy until it died and afterward he turned his
attention to Baldo and also beats him, to which frightened Ambo, he
then tried to flee but his father caught up to him and beat him on the
back of his knees.
 ABOUT THE STORY

Falling Action

After the boys were beaten, Tang Ciaco picked up the dead puppy
and threw it away, into the cornfields. He then went inside the house
still cursing and ate breakfast and went off to work. Nana Elang knelt
down to her children, and she sucked the wound in Ambo’s hand.

Resolution

The mother of the puppies came back home and took care of her
remaining 4 babies. Baldo and Ambo then went to the cornfield to
search for the corpse of the puppy, after they found it, they buried it.
And above the resting place of the black-spotted puppy they rolled a
rock.

Analysis of Literary Elements

Characters

Baldo

10-year-old boy
Elder of the two siblings
Small for his age
Compactly built and;
Has bony legs
Wears a hand-me-down cotton undershirt.

Ambo

7-year-old boy
Younger of the two siblings.
Almost as tall as his brother and;
Has a husky legs
Wears a stained cotton shirt, with its pockets torn and flipped down.
 ABOUT THE STORY

Tang Ciaco

Father of Baldo and Ambo

Husband of Nana Elang
A big gaunt man,
Has thick bony wrists and;
Stoop shoulders
Wears a short-sleeved shirt that revealed his sinewy arms, which
showed his blood-vessels that looked like roots and;
A short pants that revealed his bony-kneed, hard-muscled legs
covered with black hair

Nana Elang

Mother of Baldo and Ambo

The wife of Tang Ciaco
A thin wispy woman,
With bony hands and arms
Scanty, straight graying hair tied up in a tight knot
Has dry cheekbones and yellowish-brown skin
Wears a gray-checkered shirt and a single wide-sleeved cotton
blouse that ends in her flat chest and;
A Skirt with purple bands

Theme

The theme of the story describes how Tang Ciaco abuses his sons
and wife. It also shows domestic violence and animal abuse,
murder per se, because Tang Ciaco kept hitting the black-spotted
puppy until it died, which is against the law.

Mood

Reading the story, one might think that all is gonna go well,
especially after reading the first part of it. But it’s not. We the
readers felt pity, anger, stressed, and traumatized. One of us while
reading the story felt pain, it was heavy on her heart to even
continue reading for it brought flashbacks, flashbacks that are
similar to what Baldo and Ambo felt.
 ABOUT THE STORY

Conflict

The conflict of the story is it is Man vs. Man, because Baldo and
Ambo fought over the black-spotted dog. And due to them fighting
over it, Tang Ciaco struck his sons.

Foreshadowing

It says in the story that “Nana Elang ran to the door way and stood
there silently.” and “Nana Elang came down, but she hesitated.”
She knows what’s gonna happen to her is she interferes.
GROUP
THREE
III
• NICK KOAQUIN•

NACES • ATTANG •FRANCISCO • PORRAS • YONGOT

 ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nicomedes "Nick" Márquez Joaquín

Born on May 4, 1917 in Paco, Manila – April 9, 2004 in San Juan,

Metro Manila

Filipino writer and journalist best known for his short stories and
novels in the English language

Pen name: Quijano de Manila

Ranked and titled as The National Artist of the Philippines for

literature

Before becoming one of the leading practitioners of Philippine Literature in

English, he was a seminarian in Hong Kong - who later realized that he could
better serve God and humanity by being a writer. This is reflected in the
content and style of his works, as he emphasizes the need to restore national
consciousness through important elements in Catholic Spanish Heritage.

In his self-confessed mission as a writer, he is a sort of "cultural apostle",

whose purpose is to revive interest in Philippine national life through
literature – and provide the necessary drive and inspiration for a fuller
comprehension of their cultural background.

His awareness of the significance of the past to the present is part of a

concerted effort to preserve the spiritual tradition and the orthodox faith of
the Catholic past – which he perceives as the only solution to our modern
ills.

Some of his major works included:

Prose and Poems – an interesting collection of his writings
The Woman Who Had Two Navels – a novel that won him the first
f
Stonehill Annual Fellowship or a Filipino novel in English.

Years passed, he then turned to journalistic writing and became one

of the editors of the weekly magazine, The Leader.

“The identity of the Filipino today is of a person asking what is his identity.”
 ABOUT THE STORY

Summary of the Plot

One breakfast morning, set in Manzon’s residence, the story first

started with Celo Manzon and his wife, Sofia Manzon, conversing
about their son’s shunning of his law degree for a vocation into
becoming a priest. Chitong, their son, first opened up the idea to his
mother about a month ago but was advised to think things through
before telling it to his father. The night prior, Chitong confirmed his
plan to his mother, then Sofia spoke to her husband. Celo affirmed,
saying, that it is a career just like others.

After putting the subject into rest, Sofia related that she got a call
from Nena, Celo's youngest sister, telling her that she called because
of their father's well-being. She narrated that his father's state is
becoming worse since 'that' day. And that last night, he was found
lying on the floor, tangled up in blankets, breathing heavily and
crying. In the effort of Nena to get her father to bed, she summoned
her cousin, Paulo, who, in the end just got a plate broken on his
forehead. While hearing this, Celo had a flashback of experiencing
firsthand violence from his father back when he was a little boy. It
was a memory of his father whipping him as he screams, "Not in the
face, father! Do not hit me in the face, father!".

Sofia, who had no idea of her husband's reaction, then encouraged

Celo to visit his father. Celo was adamant at first, but after much
convincing from his wife, eventually gave in. He then told her to
have Chitong ready the car later in the afternoon as both of them
would come to visit.

It was still early, only half-past seven in the morning when Celo went
to the Dominican Church. He knew he would find Chitong there. He
did not know why he wanted to, but he went in. He found his son
kneeling, near the altar, saying his rosary, in the only candle-lit side-
chapel of the Virgin. Celo knelt himself and tried to compose his
mind to prayer, when all of a sudden, he felt excruciating bitterness
towards his son. He envied him for being able to submit himself fully
to his God.
 ABOUT THE STORY

He then thought of how unhappy his childhood was. He thought of

his siblings and how they had not found his father's absolute
dominion over them as oppressive. He thought of how his father was
never without two or three concubines and how they were only with
his father because of his money. He thought of the many times he
wept for his mother and the fact that he can never escape: that he is
his father's son. He buried his face in his hands. Bitterness leaped
into active anger. He, once again, heard that mocking little voice he
usually hears tormenting his thoughts, confusing him. Celo rose.
And just as he did, his son looked around, and their eyes met.
Chitong slowly approached his father, but Celo turned away and
walked rapidly out of the church, leaving his son, confused,
embarrassed, and sad.

Later that afternoon, Celo and Chitong mostly sat silently on their
way to their destination. Then, Celo broke the silence by bringing
out the subject that was told to him by his wife that morning. He
expressed assurance to Chitong that he’s alright with him taking the
priesthood. He also shared that his mother wanted him to be a priest
but abandoned the idea when his mother died. "I am this man's old
desire he has washed alive." thought Chitong.

It was already in the evening when Celo and his son arrived. Nena
was nervously waiting for them by the entrance. Heavy, angry
breathing, punctuated with coughs and oaths were heard as soon as
they got inside the house. Nena then narrated that their father hasn't
eaten for days, screams at anyone who enters his room, and always
tries to get up but fails. She then looked to her brother with pleading
eyes and said, "He keeps asking for the girl, Celo." But Celo refused
to meet her eyes.

As Celo and Chitong entered the sick man's room, the old man fell
silent and intently watched his intruders. The intruders, being aware
of the old man's gaze, suddenly felt intimidated. Celo tried getting a
word from his father but only remained silent. He then tried to feed
his very reluctant father in which after much pleadings, at last, gave
up. Celo then was to go back home while Chitong was to stay,
leaving the car with Chitong.
 ABOUT THE STORY

Chitong settled himself on the floor in his grandfather's room and

began reading. He noticed his grandfather, who, on the other side,
was awake and restless. Chitong checks upon the sick man from
time to time until the old man sought and clung unto his arms. With
eyes closed, the sick man started calling every woman he had ever
loved. He shouted for them as in the days of his strength. He said
beautiful phrases of adoration. He commanded them to come nigh,
but no one came. The sick man became furious. He tried to rise and
fell back, moaning and beating on the bed with his hands until the
man got exhausted. Chitong tried praying for his grandfather, but to
no avail, only felt empty and ridiculous. His grandson, who has
already had enough, left the room, thinking of one person, 'that' girl.

Chitong then asked for the whereabouts of 'that' girl from his aunt,
Nena, who was frightened when she learned what Chitong had
proposed to do. Nena tried to reason out to her nephew that his father
might know, only to be retorted back with "Then let him! But I am
going to bring the girl back. The man needs her."

It took Chitong almost an hour to find the girl, but it only took a few
words for Chitong to make the girl come. The girl was not very
pretty. She was very young, but had that attractive maturity and
simplicity his grandfather fell for. The girl could've chosen one of
her youthful lovers but preferred a sexagenarian in whose arms she
had become a woman. Chitong remembered how they had to drive
the girl away when his grandfather fell sick. He recalled how his
father's exquisite brutality inflicted no fear and shame on the girl.
She had refused to leave. She was whipped with a belt, pursued out
of the room and down the stairs, slamming the door in her face. She
kicked and screamed only to have some police dragged her away.

Upon seeing Chitong and the girl's visage, Nena was quick to inform
them that Celo came back. He couldn't get any bus home. The girl
was to retreat, but Chitong stopped her saying not to be afraid.

Celo was standing in the sala when they entered. He flushed darkly
when he saw the girl. He had a sudden, delicious craving to unloose
his belt and whip her again, to make her suffer, to tear her flesh into
shreds, to mutilate that supple, defiant, sweet, animal body of hers.
Chitong tried to reason out to his father that his grandfather needs
the girl but this only enraged Celo even more. They argued. Chitong
stood his ground. They were almost standing face to face then
suddenly Celo, with clenched fist, hit his son square in the face. His
son fell and cried, "Not in the face, father! Not in the face!".
 ABOUT THE STORY

Celo then realized that he had never hurt his son before. The action
was only out of impulse. He had not wanted to hurt him, neither the
girl nor his father. It was himself, but it was his son who received the
blow which blow was a confession of his whole life. He stood silent,
watching his son's flesh darken and wounded where his fist had
fallen. They stood staring at each other, as if petrified, and the girl
forgotten, slipped swiftly away from them and into the old man's
room, locking the door behind her.

The clock strikes ten. Nena sat in a corner, crying. A late cock could
be heard crowing. And from the next room came the voices of lovers:
the old man's voice, tired and broken; the girl's sharp, taut, and
passionate.

"No," she was saying, "I shall never leave you again. I am not going
away again. No one shall take me away from you again."

Analysis of Literary Elements

Theme

The theme of the story is definitely of love and faith. It revolves

around the lives of three Manzon men belonging from three different
generations. In this story, we will learn how love and faith for
yourself and family can courageously conquer all – be it from the
fear and pride in the present to the hatred and misery of the past.

Mood

Readers will definitely find themselves sitting at the edge of their

seat as they immerse their selves in this story. Depicted in this story
are current issues (adultery, physical, emotional and mental abuse)
some individuals and families are struggling with. Therefore,
relevant. Readers would sympathize. It is relatable.
 ABOUT THE STORY

Main Characters

Celo (elder) Manzon

son of the old Monzon, father of Chitong Monzon. He lived a life
holding a grudge on his father. He blames him for having
experienced an unhappy childhood.

Chitong Manzon
son of Celo and Sofia Monzon, grandson of the old Monzon. He
took up a law degree but shunned it in the hopes of becoming a priest.

Supporting Characters

Sofia Manzon
wife to Celo, and a mother to Chitong Monzon. She was the one who
convinced her husband to visit his father.

Nena Manzon
aunt of Chitong, youngest sister of Celo Monzon. Out of all the
Monzon siblings, she was the only one who stood by her father’s
side nursing him.

The old Manzon

father of Celo Monzon. He was an oppressive and controlling father
to his children. He was the cause of Celo’s unhappy childhood.

Paulo
cousin of Celo and Nena Monzon.

Flashback & Foreshadowing

Celo Manzon had his first flashback when his wife related to her how
Paulo, his cousin, was trying to get the old Manzon back to his bed
only to end up with a plate broken on his forehead. A memory of him
as a little boy flashed into his sight. His father, the old Manzon, was
whipping him as he cried “Not in the face, father! Do not hit me in
the face, father!”.

This was a foreshadowing, as it was eventually realized when

Chitong, Celo’s son, cried the same lines when he was hit by his
father during their heated quarrel about the young lover of the old
Manzon.
 ABOUT THE STORY

Irony

Celo found his father’s way of governing his family as oppressive

and controlling. The irony here is, subconsciously, as Celo strive not
to emulate his father’s example of fatherhood, little did he realize
that his son is living intimidated of him. Perhaps, Chitong lived his
life always seeking for approval from his father. And when he chose
to do the forbidden by bringing the girl to his grandfather, the author
said, “It was the first time in his life he had made a decision.”

Conflict

Initially, one would think that the conflict of the story is either
between Celo and his son or father. But as readers would go on with
the story, they would realize that the real conflict in the story is
within Celo himself. Celo had a long held grudge on his father. He
blames him for his unhappy childhood. His father’s selfish actions
were what he despised.

As years passed, Celo was finally out of his father’s grip and had a
family of his own, but he still lived in the shadows of the past. Celo
had the choice, whether to let go and leave it all behind but, no, he
chose to keep it. This was first realized in the event where Celo was
reflecting of his childhood inside the chapel where his son prayed,
then a mocking voice came telling him how he could never be at
peace. His father found peace in his sensual and lustful desires. His
son found peace in his vocation and calling. As for Celo, it’s too late.
Celo was never a lover of purity but he forced himself to be clean as
a way of rebelling against his father. He asked the voice what if he
gives up, would he find peace? But the voice only answered that he
would just be as miserable in his surrender to his body than he has
been in his struggle against it.

Celo imprisoned himself in his own anger that when the moment
came for him to release, he saw his self in his son and struck a blow
to his son’s face which blow was a confession of his whole life.

“It is only when we truly forgive someone healing starts”

 GROUP IV
THE WEDDING
• A M A D O R T. D A G U I O •

DAMSID • GULDAM • MOLANO • REYES • TARROZA

 ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Amador T. Daguio

Born on January 8, 1912 in Laoag, Ilocos Norte, Philippines

He was a poet, novelist and a teacher during the pre-war. He was best known
for his fictions and poems. He had published two volumes of poetry, “Bataan
Harvest” and “The Flaming Lyre”. He served as chief editor for the
Philippine House of Representatives before he died in 1966.

He graduated with honors in 1924 at the Lubuagan Elementary School as

valedictorian. For his high school studies, he moved to Pasig to attend Rizal
High School while residing with his uncle at Fort William McKinley. In
1932, he graduated from UP as one of the top ten honor graduates. In 1952,
he obtained his M.A in English at Stanford University as a Fulbright scholar
and in 1954, he obtained his Law degree from Romualdez Law College in
Leyte.

He also taught at Zamboanga Normal School (WMSU) where he met his

wife Estela Fermin Daguio.

Some of his notable works are the Wedding Dance, The Flaming Lyre, Man
of Earth, Hudhud Hi Aliguyon and The Woman Who Looked Out the
Window.

He died April 26, 1966 from liver cancer at the age of 55.
 ABOUT THE STORY

Background Information and Summary of Wedding Dance

"The Wedding Dance" is a power house of raw emotion contained in

such a short story. As the reader is drawn into the story of love versus
cultural reality with Awiyao leaving Lumnay for another woman to "give
him a child", it jars with our contemporary view of the world.

The story was written in the year 1952, about the same time he was
writing for his thesis (study and translation of Hudhud hi Aliguyon –
Ifugao Harvest Song) for his Master of Arts in English degree at Stanford
University in California.

Explanation: The story was gained from the author’s life among the
Igorots in Northern Luzon. The triumph of the culture and tradition over
personal love was emphasized in this story which let the readers see the
way of life and culture of the people in the Northern Luzon. In this story,
it is emphasized as the practice of divorce due to a childless marriage.
Marriage in their culture was seen more or less a contract between a man
and a woman for the purpose of producing a child. If after 7 days of the
harvest and there is still no child, divorced is acted upon the situation and
the man is going to seek another spouse.

Summary of the Plot

Exposition

“The story begins in the mountain at night when Awiyao went to the
house where Lumnay is, because he didn’t see Lumnay at his wedding
ceremony.”

Explanation: Awiyao has just been remarried and he went to check up on

Lumnay, knowing that she would be upset, because he didn’t see her at
his wedding ceremony.
 ABOUT THE STORY

Conflict

“Awiyao needs to remarry because Lumnay cannot bear a child. Awiyao

married Madulimay that night and Lumnay was upset because they need
to go through that.”

Explanation: Even though Awiyao is still in love with Lumnay, Awiyao

feels that he needs to get married again in order to have a son. He left
Lumnay because she couldn’t bear a child and he has now married
Madulimay, in the hopes of having a son. Lumnay was upset because she
truly loves Awiyao and she didn’t want to be separated from him.

Rising Action

“Awiyao somehow wants to comfort Lumnay and insist her to join the
dancers in his wedding. But things got complicated when they started
talking and Lumnay doesn’t want any other man in her life. Even though
he loves Lumnay he needs to remarry to be able to have a child. Someone
should follow the footstep of Awiyao.”

Explanation: While the villagers are still celebrating the wedding,

Awiyao excuses himself and went to see Lumnay and comforted her.
Awiyao thought the answer to Lumnay's sorrow would be to have her
join the other women during the wedding dance. That’s when Lumnay
said that she doesn’t want this to happened but Awiyao did this because
he must follow their tradition and it pains him to see that Lumnay was
clinging unto him wishing that he should stay with him.

Climax

“The fellowmen of Awiyao was looking for him and he needs to leave
Lumnay because the tribe might notice he is not around, and so he left
Lumnay and Lumnay ran into the hills.”

Explanation: Awiyao finally re-joins the tribe because they were looking
for the groom and as he left the house Lumnay runs into the hills with
her heart broken. Because she didn’t think that Awiyao could do this.
 ABOUT THE STORY

Falling Action

“On the other side of the mountain, Lumnay sat overlooking the
blazing fire and dancing women on the wedding of her beloved ex-
husband. She reminisces their memories together, it flashbacks how
they started everything.”

Explanation: Lumnay feels that she wasn’t enough to Awiyao just

because she couldn't bear a child. And with that she felt a sense of
desperation for love, isolation and worthlessness.

Resolution

“Awiyao went back to the wedding ceremony without Lumnay,

while Lumnay was on the hills, she felt that the fate is unfair.”

Explanation: Lumnay was in fact at his wedding, but she left. She
couldn’t stand the idea of her husband marrying another woman
because she could not give him children. But the readers were left
hanging of what happened to Lumnay or if Awiyao after his wedding
was able to have a child with Madulimay.

Analysis of Literary Elements

Characters

Awiyao – lead male in the story, husband of Lumnay, strong and

humorous man, left Lumnay because she can’t bear a child

Lumnay – first wife of Awiyao, a good wife and also a good dancer,
still loves his husband despite the fact that he left her and married
another woman.

Madulimay – second wife of Awiyao, with whom he hopes to have

children.
 ABOUT THE STORY

Setting

Somewhere in the mountains of the Philippines, maybe in the

mountains of Luzon such as Kalinga, Cordillera province. (In the
actual story, the specific place was not mentioned.)

There was no exact time, but this happened during night a long time
ago.

The weather condition of the short story is fine.

Mood and Theme

The mood of the story is sad, somehow tragic.

The theme in the story is about letting go of someone you really love,
even though it breaks your heart so much. The story of Lumnay and
Awiyao settles with this kind of theme. Despite how sad and
upsetting the happenings to Lumnay, she must let Awiyao go, not
only because of their cultures and tradition, but also because it is
clear that he will not be happy without a child.
 GROUP V

THE
HORSE
• PAUL DIZON•

ABDUA • ABERA • HADJARUDDIN • HASIL • JALAS •PAKAM

 ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Paul Dizon

was born in Santa Rita, Pampanga in 1915. His teachers, parents, and he
himself decided that he was 'hopeless case" as far as schooling was
concerned. He could not make the grade in biology, history, algebra, and
English composition. He worked as a carpenter’s apprentice, amateur
plumber, newsboy, busboy, dishwasher, waiter, pharmacy clerk and
short story write.

After the war he worked on the editorial staff of the Sunday Times
Magazine. He then joined the Sunday Post Magazine. He was a writer
in the public relations department of the Philippine National Red Cross
before he became news editor of the United Sates Information Service
in Manila. Dizon then traveled widely in America and Europe.

Paul Dizon is a Filipino short story writer and poet. Some of his
acclaimed stories include “Twilight of a Poet” and “The Beautiful
Horse”. Considered as one of the important influences in the Philippine
Literature, Paul Dizon wrote the beautiful horse in the 1940s. It was first
published in the evening News Saturday magazine on August 1947.
 ABOUT THE STORY

Summary of the Plot

Exposition

In the barrio of Pulong-Masle, Mang Estong the father of Victa and

Marcos who brought the beautiful white horse. She had long and
slender legs a silky mane and a flowing tail. Father did not exactly
bring the beautiful white horse home, she followed him.

Explanation:

One day in the barrio of Pulong Masle a beautiful white horse

followed a man named Mang Estong to his house. And on the way
the essence of the horse caught the attention of the people in that
barrio for its beauty. However, this horse seems not fit for pulling a
rig but only was good for the track.

Rising Action

When the beautiful white horse followed Mang Estong home and the
people of Pulong-masle thought that he stole it because he doesn't
have enough money to buy such a beautiful white horse.

Explanation:
It started when the white horse followed the married man to his home
and the people of Pulong Masle presumed that he stole it. Then his
children felt angry for those accusations and at the same time felt
lonely because didn’t notice them.
 ABOUT THE STORY

Climax

When Marcos and, Victa believe and accept that the beautiful horse
is their Aunt Barang.

Explanation:

Father Estong keeps on insisting his family that the horse is cousin
Barang. Until such time Victa and Marcos was convinced that the
horse is indeed, cousin Barang. The family of Estong sees it in their
own eyes that it looks and moves like Barang and there’s a saying,
“To see is to believe.” And in the end father Estong made them
believed in him.

Falling Action

There are two men who came to the house and they claim that they
own the beautiful horse, they call it Minda Mora.

Explanation:

The circus men rushed to her, they hugged the horse and kissed her
on the face as if she were their sister. Father Estong could not believe
that Barang would turn out to be a circus lady.

Resolution

Father Estong decided to return the horse to the circus men. Estong
did not believe that Barang would turn out to be a circus lady.

Explanation:

Father Estong returned the horse for the sake that it has already an
owner and to avoid arguments with the two men. I don’t see some
conflict between the two men and Estong, they just apologized for
the disturbance or trouble of the horse to Estong and they give thanks
to Estong for keeping the horse. The two men went back to the circus
and the horse surprisingly turned out to be a circus lady.
 ABOUT THE STORY

Analysis of Literary Elements

Characters

Horse - it had long and slender legs, a silky mane and a flowing tail.
Who followed Mang Estong.

Estong – dynamic (kind of character) the good father in the story

who turns out to be strangers

Victa - dynamic (kind of character) the sister of Marcos, she was

angry with her father, but at the end she believed in their father.
Marcos- dynamic (kind of character), A good son of Estong.
Mother - flat (kind of character) She did not believe what Estong
says about the beautiful horse

Barang - The cousin of the mother in the story and she already passed
away, they believe that she is the horse

Conflict

The mother and Estong had a fight because he wants them to believe
that the beautiful horse is Barang. But it is said in the story that
Barang was already dead.

Explanation:
When Estong brought the beautiful horse home and introduce it as
the reincarnation of Barang, it causes trouble to his wife because she
used to be jealous of Barang because from the start she knew that her
husband liked Barang and they don’t believe that the horse is the
reincarnation of Barang.
 ABOUT THE STORY

Foreshadowing

One day my father brought home a beautiful horse. She was the most
beautiful white horse anyone in our barrio of Pulong-Masle had ever
laid eyes on.

Explanation:
She was not like the other horse in the barrio. The horse was only for
track. She followed him. When the father continues on his way, the
horse too would come along. She had a grand way of walking, proud
and confident

Flashback

The father said that the horse is the reincarnation of cousin Barang.
He remembered her by the looks and movements of the horse.

Explanation:
The beautiful horse reminds him of Barang. Also he believes the
souls of the dead coming back to life in another form. The father had
been very fond of aunt Barang.

Theme

Accept what matter comes into you. No matter it’s good or bad.
Because, when you have the acceptance in yourself you are doing
the good thing in life, no matter how bad the situation is. You are
just not doing the good things, but you are being honest and helping
yourself or you are also helping the others.
GROUP VI
THE

SUN
• L I N D A T. C A S P E R •

MANUEL • CACHO •DACULA • TABIFRANCA • LEDESMA

 ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Linda T. Casper

Born as Belinda Ty in Malabon, Philippines in 1931.

She spent the World War II years with her grandmother while
her father worked in the Philippine National Railways, and her mother
in the Bureau of Public Schools.

Her grandmother told her innumerable stories about the Filipino's

struggle for independence, that later became the topics of her novels.

Linda Ty Casper graduated valedictorian in the University of the

Philippines and later earned her Master’s Degree in Harvard
University International Law.

In 1956, she married Leonard Casper, a professor emeritus of Boston

College who is also a critic of Philippine Literature. They have two
daughters and reside in Massachusetts.

Works

The Transparent Sun (short stories), Peso Books, 1963

The Peninsulares (historical novel), Bookmark 1964

The Secret Runner (short stories), Florentino/National Book, 1974a

The Three-Cornered Sun (historical novel), New Day, 1974 • Dread

Empire (novella), Hong Kong, Heinemann, 1980

Hazards of Distance (novella), New Day, 1981 • Fortress in the Plaza

(novella), New Day, 1985
 ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Awaiting Trespass (novella), London, Readers International, 1985

Wings of Stone (novella), London, Readers International, 1986

Ten Thousand Seeds (historical novel), Ateneo, 1987 • A Small Party
in a Garden (novella), New Day, 1988 • Common Continent (short
stories), Ateneo, 1991

Kulasyon: Uninterrupted Vigils (collected first chapters), Giraffe,

1995

DreamEden (historical novel) Ateneo 1996 and University of

Washington Press 1997

A River, One-Woman Deep: Stories (novella and short stories),

Philippine American Literary House (PALH), 2017.

Awards

Djerassi, 1984

Filipino-American Women Network Award for Literature, 1985 •

Massachusetts Artists Foundation, 1988

Wheatland, 1990

UNESCO/P.E.N. Short Story, 1993 • SEA Write Award, Bangkok,

1993 • Bellagio, 1994
 ABOUT THE STORY

Summary of the Plot

Exposition

“That woman is back”, Zenaida said, and swung away from the
window that looked across to the governor’s office in the provincial
capital; severely closed the door of her room then locked it. Her
husband – Don Julio, asked if what is it and saw Sepa through the
window standing in front of their gate.

Explanation

Don Julio wondered why Zenaida acted that way, the old man could
no longer understand youth or Zenaida. He asked his wife if what is
it, “That woman”, she replied. Curiously, Don Julio lifted himself
above the windowsill and saw his cousin – Sepa, standing in front of
their gate, trying to balanced herself over to gravel driveway.

Rising Action

“Don’t call her ‘that woman’”, Don Julio said to Zenaida, “She is
your cousin, not mine” Zenaida responded. “Return the necklace”,
Don Julio demanded, “What necklace” – Zenaida.

Explanation

Zenaida firmly denied that she doesn’t know about the necklace that
pawned by Sepa, and rejected all Don Julio offered in exchanged for
the necklace.

Climax

Sepa told her cousin – Don Julio, she came because she wants to
redeem the necklace, already. She cried, because of too much regret.
It should never be pawn in the first place, since it has eminent
sentimental value to her.
 ABOUT THE STORY

Explanation

The necklace means so much to Sepa, it somehow represents her

mother. She didn’t inherit her mother features, that’s why she wanted
at least the gold filigree necklace; with glass pendant, crucifix inlaid
with green bits of mirror.

Falling Action

Don Julio reminisced the past; how good Don Macario and his wife
– Sepa’s parents, treated him back then, and how he ended up feeling
indebted to Sepa and became her protector even she is couple years
older than him. Predominately, for the most part, what the necklace
means to Sepa, that it should indeed be returned to her.

Explanation

Sepa’s older sister still inherited the necklace, even Sepa asked for
that certain necklace only among all jewelries her mother had, but
Don Julio promised back then to get it for her. Don Julio used his
first big money to buy the necklace from Sepa’s older sister and gave
it to Sepa on his and Gloria’s wedding day.

Resolution

Don Julio walked over to Zenaida’s room – door locked. While

rattling, he shouted and demanded her to return the necklace,
already; but she remained silent in her room. Defeated, with
crumbling voice, Don Julio told his wife – Zenaida, that someone is
there to see her. He walked over to his own room and waited Zenaida
to face his cousin - Sepa.

Explanation

He cannot convince his wife – Zenaida to return the necklace. He

cannot also just turn his back to Sepa, he felt his deformity when he
saw Sepa cried and reminisced the past. In defeat, he ended up
deciding to let Zenaida face Sepa by herself.
 ABOUT THE STORY

Analysis of Literary Elements

Internal Conflict

Don Julio is torn between his wife – Zenaida, and cousin – Sepa. He
feels helpless in convincing Zenaida to return the necklace to Sepa.

Explanation

Don Julio understands where Sepa is coming from; why she wanted
to redeem the necklace so much. He doesn’t want to turn his back to
Sepa; because of his debt of honor in the past, but his wife – Zenaida
is a young, hard-headed, and firm to what she wants. Zenaida didn’t
had a life like Sepa had back then, that’s why her husband – Don
Julio is spoiling her as much as he can.

Situational Irony

Don Julio walk over to his own room, across the hall, and waited his
wife – Zenaida to face Sepa.

Explanation

As a reader, I expect that Don Julio must have the upper hand
in making decision, because Zenaida acts unreasonable and childish;
and she doesn’t know what the necklace means to Sepa. In fact,
necklace was only pawed not sold.

Verbal Irony

Don Julio told Zenaida that someone is there to see her.

Explanation

He did that, in defeat, because Zenaida had no plan to return the

necklace to Sepa. He offered Zenaida, what he can offer in
exchanged for the necklace, and convinced her as much as he can,
but she remained firm. So, in the end, he decided to let Zenaida to
face his cousin – Sepa.
 ABOUT THE STORY

Dramatic Irony

For Don Julio, Probably, he thinks that Sepa wants to redeem the
necklace because she just wants to own it until the very end.

Explanation

But for Sepa, she has deep reason behind it. For her, the necklace
represents her mother. She didn’t inherit her features, that’s why she
wants at least the necklace for herself, instead. But now, the very
reason why she wanted to redeem the necklace is because of her
granddaughter – Antonia. Antonia inherited her great-grandmother
features, that’s why Sepa wants her granddaughter to have the
necklace.

Characters

DON JULIO
Wealthy old man
Husband of Zenaida • Cousin of Sepa
ZENAIDA
White skinned mestiza
3rd young succulent wife of Don Julio
SEPA
Cousin of Don Julio
Daughter of Don Macario
FEDERICO
Gloria and Don Julio’s first born son.
DON MACARIO
Father of Sepa
Uncle of Don Julio
A wealthy man
ANTONIA
Sepa’s granddaughter.
GLORIA
Don Julio’s 1 t wife.
DON ESTEBAN
Don Julio’s friend.
 ABOUT THE STORY

Foreshadowing

“Esteban had said, a debt of honor binds a man more strictly because
it is the measure of his life”.

Explanation

By this line stated from Don Esteban, who is indebted to Don Julio.
We can have sensed or predict that this story is about paying debt of
honor.

Flashback

“Don Julio sat back to recall. Once, his slingshot had raised a welt
as large as a hen’s egg on Sepa’s forehead but Sepa refused to name
him and thus condemn him to flogging, undressed before all the
servants”.

Explanation

Because of the favor Sepa did to him back then, Don Julio really felt
indebted and became her protector and promised to get the necklace
for her, and decided to let Zenaida to face Sepa.

Mood

FRUSTRATED

Sepa as the main character of the story, wants to redeem her pawned
necklace from Don Julio but his young wife Zenaida refused to give
it back.

Theme

The theme of the story is about a woman who wants to redeem a

necklace. It’s not just an old ordinary necklace, but for Sepa, she
always had the desire for that necklace as a recompense for the
beauty she did not inherit. Don Julio promised Sepa that he would
get the necklace for her, and that promise is what Sepa is holding to.
 GROUP VII

• D E L F I N E. F R E S N O S A •

BENEDICTOS • PERALTA • ABANG • ALBANI • DEL ROSARIO • WAHID

 ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Delfin E. Fresnosa

He was born in Gubat, Sorsogon in 1961.

He finished his secondary education in 1937.

He completed his M.A degree in English at Far Eastern University.

He taught in Manila City Schools, National Teachers College and

University of the East.

He considers the city as without a conscience and without a soul.

To him, the people of lowly origin are the real people.

Many of his fifty short stories give vivid insights into Philippine life and
customs.
 ABOUT THE STORY

Summary of the Plot

Exposition

An old man got off from the carretela bus with the rest of the passengers.
He lived his whole life in the dim seclusion of a hole where he worked.
He reached the gate of Cementerio del Note and bought few candles from
a haggard little girl. He was passing among the tombs of the wealthy and
honored dead.

Rising Action

He walked between the graves and he could not locate the exact spot he
was looking for. Could it be that he entirely had forgotten every trace?
of her who had once lived in this world?

Climax

It was starting to rain others were hurrying to towards the gate but the
old man walked slowly and did not seemed to feel the rain. He stumbled
into the slippery street where the crowd was swaying to and fro and
vehicles were beginning to move. A step brought him at the rear of a
moving, shrilly-braying car; then another hasty, frightened jump and he
was sliding in a puddle. A very heavy weight seemed to press his breast
and in a moment he had lost consciousness.

Falling Action

Those memory of the past flashed into his mind. Did it happen just
yesterday when he buried his wife? The candles died convulsively one
after the other and the darkness swallowed him up.

Resolution

Suddenly, a very heavy weight seemed to press his breasts, and in a

moment he had lost consciousness. A middle-aged woman wearing a
black dress was attending to him and tell her chauffeur to drive quickly
to the hospital. (He saw confused faces peering down at him. he heard
voices and, in another moment, he was lifted and deposited in the rear
seat of an automobile.)
 ABOUT THE STORY

Analysis of Literary Elements

Characters and Characterization

Old man
a shoe repairer or a cobbler.

Young Lady
selling vegetables and fruits along the street.

The Boy
a young man who used to bought him coffee and bread in a
nearby Chinese store and cooked the scant meals.

The Young Lady’s Aunt

a very stern woman, who maltreated her own niece.

The haggard little girl

who ran in and out among the crowd shouting that she was
selling candles.

Setting

Carretela bus
Cementerio del Norte
Hole (house of the old man)

Theme

The theme of the story describe how the old man met his wife when they
were younger and how their friendship started.

Mood

The mood of the story is that when the girl ran toward ls the people to
sell her product, but most of them repulsed her and she would slink back,
dragging her bakya into more hidden corners because she was afraid
of policeman.
 ABOUT THE STORY

Conflict

“When the old man wended his way carefully between graves and the
people, but he could not locate the exact spot he was looking for. He
thought it might be a little right, but he was not sure. So he wandered
again. Ended up nothing.

Foreshadowing

It says in the story that “Beyond these few scattered lights he saw
nothing but the blackness of the night seemingly ready to eat up
whatever pretenses people might still be concocting”. “Even death does
not level all”. But into his vision crept those massive darkness
crouching mysteriously around those lighted spaces, darkness waiting
to pounce as it did to candles. Slowly he snatched his straining gaze
from those lights, but he still saw the darkness, now advancing steadily
and stealthily up to his very presence. People die but love and memory
will remain forever, just like a candle it lit steady and time passing by
it slowly melts unnoticed and dies, But
the wick and wax of the candle will remain.
 GROUP VIII

IN THE
• PAZ MARQUEZ–BENITEZ•

LEQUIGAN • LAGARTO • DELIS • THORMIZ • SAWADJAAN

 ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Paz Marquez Benitez

Born on March 3,1894 at Lucena Tayabas

Captaincy General of the Philippines.

Died on November 10, 1983 at Manila, Philippines at the age of 88-89

She was a Filipina short-story writer, educator and editor. Her career as
a woman educator as well as her contributions as a writer are seen as an
important step within the advancement of woman in professional
careers as well as in the development of Philippine Literature.

During her career as a writer, she developed fictional short stories

criticizing American Imperialism. Paz is most known by her fictional
short story Dead Stars (1915) and her only other known published work
is Night in the Hills (1925). Even though she had only two published
works her writing would be regarded as the first steps of Philippine
Literature moving in the mainstream.

Born in a prominent Marquez family of Quezon city province. She was

among the first generation of Filipino people trained in American
education system which is use English as a medium of instruction.
Graduated at Tayabas National High School and college at UP, took BA
degree in 1912.

2 years after her graduation, she married UP college Dean Francisco

Benitez with whom she had four children.

Together with her husband they established of educational magazines,

schools, and her contributions to the development of creative short story
writing courses with in the Philippines, is believed to have inspired
generations of Filipino writers.
 ABOUT THE STORY

Summary of the Plot

Exposition

In the first part of the story, it introduced that Gerardo is a salesman

in a jewelry store. The story describes him when he was eating his
supper and also told a dream from his childhood where he wants to
the forest (hills).

Explanation

Gerardo is a simple citizen in intramuros who sales jewelries. that

night he cannot get over about his dream, a dream from his childhood
where he wants to go to the forest. However, things that he thinks
are not always as they appear to be.

Rising Action

It is the point where Gerardo had a conversation to his wife about

going to a forest with Ambo but she opposed to Gerardo’s wish.

Explanation

The reason why she did not allow Gerardo to go because it would
only be providing inconvenience for himself for nothing if the
purpose was not for the business.

Climax

The peak of the story is, his wife passed away meaning he can now
go to the forest with Ambo and experienced nature in the forest
(hills).

Explanation

Because of this tragic Gerardo is finally in the forest, and he

experiences things that he has never thought the forest has.
 ABOUT THE STORY

Falling Action

It is the point where he realized that this perception he has to nature

was not what he was expecting, as beautiful and calm his dream back
when he was just a child. He realized that he had this hard time of
going through his stay in the forest, worried of what could happen to
him when he was sleeping on his uncomfortable twig mattress.

Explanation

During his staying in the forest, he come to his realization that the
nature was not it seems to be specially those strange sounds that are
caused by tree worms. then he hears water form a far all in all, he
feels that he will never understand the forest.

Resolution

He just went home, feeling saddened and disappointed about his stay
in the forest.

Explanation

Sometimes the dream that you expect in reality is not what it appears
to be, not all dreams are true but somehow sometimes it can also be
real.

Analysis of Literary Elements

Setting

Place – In Intramuros Manila, Philippines

Time – A long time ago
Weather conditions – Fine
Social conditions – Gerardo has a nice job
Mood or Atmosphere – Light
 ABOUT THE STORY

Characters

Gerardo Luna – he dreams to going to a forest in his childhood

Gerardo’s wife – She advised that Gerardo should look at the

business side of his trip with Ambo, Antagonist, flat, static

Ambo – An orchid gather who invented Gerardo to go to a forest

Sotera / Tere – Gerardo’s older sibling.

Perigina – Gerardo’s fiancée, flat, static

Vocabulary

Azotea – flat roof

Carreton – A cart with firewood being pulled by horse

Kaingin – Employing a technique of clearing land by slashing and

burning under bush and frees and plowing the ashes under for
fertilizer.

Camisa De Chino – An undershirt

Misa De Gallo – An event in the Philippines during Christmas

season.

Mood

The mood is the atmosphere of the story which is very light and the
tone of the author’s attitude towards the topic is very expressive and
idealistic.

Theme

Everything is full of unknown variables or surprises that you will not

expect.
 ABOUT THE STORY

Conflict

The conflict here is internal, that of Man vs. Himself. Gerardo has
always dreamed of going to the forest and he has kept within himself.

Explanation

The reason why the conflict is internal because you don’t want other
to know about your dreams, knowing that other will opposed you to
go.

Irony

The literary device used in this story are symbolism and irony.

Explanation

Because Gerardo’s dream of going to the forest symbolizes the

freedom he has always longed for. Meanwhile his dream is ironic
because the forest is not what he thinks it is.

Flashback

First part of the story where Gerardo Luna couldn’t get over a dream
from his childhood where he wants to go to a forest (hills).

Moral Lesson

It’s ok to explore new things, gain new experiences but you have to
read yourself for unimaginable and always expect the unexpected.
 GROUP IX

THE SOUNDS OF

• KERIMA POLOTAN–TUVERA•

ISMAEL • KHADIL •MAGALLANO • RIVERA • GARCIA

 ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kerima Polotan-Tuvera

Born in Jolo, Sulu on December 16, 19 died on August 19, 2011

A Filipino fiction writer, essayist, and journalist

She was christened Putli Kerima (Putli means princess)

Her father was an army colonel, and her mother taught home
economics

Because of her father’s frequent transfers in assignment, she lived in

various places and studied in the public schools of Pangasinan, Tarlac,
Laguna, Nueva Ecija, and Rizal

She graduated from Far eastern University Girls' High School

In 1944, she enrolled in the University of the Philippines School of

Nursing.

In 1945, she shifted to Arellano University where she attended the

writing classes of Teodoro M. Locsin and edited the first number of
the Arellano Literary Review

Some of her stories have been published under the pseudonym of

“Patricia S. Torres”

She worked with Your Magazine, This Week, and the Junior Red
Cross Magazine

In 1949, she married newsman Juan Capiendo Tuvera, with whom she
had 10 children

Karima Polotan-Tuvera adopted postmodernism approach in some of

her short stories including The Sounds of Sunday.
 ABOUT THE AUTHOR

She employs minimalism, faction, and reader involvement

throughout her short stories and manipulates these writing
techniques to create the necessary thematic impact and relevance to
her readers

Kerima Polota-Tuvera spent her life documenting the Philippine

experience through the age in her fiction

She devoted her talents in capturing the very essence and pulse of the
Filipino way of life in the context of cultural heritage and legacy with
history and philosophy

Summary of the Plot

Exposition

It was her day for meeting old friends. Emma Gorrez had ventured
out twice before this, to school and to Martinez Kiosk, but she had
met no one she knew. Even the woman behind the books at the kiosk
did not remember her. Emma had lingered longer than she should,
five, ten minutes longer, although there had been nothing of
interest to hold her to this spot where she had bumped into Doming
several years ago. That time, he had stood at the rack, thumbing
through a book; when their looks had met, he bowed slightly. He
bowed too in their room two weeks ago, one night after a wearying
fight.

He would hear no more from her and he had cut short their argument
with one vicious swing of his fist against the bedroom wall. No tears,
none, except the audible panting of their selves, like two runners
come to the end of a race. He had bowed, holding his head. This was
how married people fought; she had thought like complete strangers,
with anger pulsing between them. That day in the kiosk, wondering
where he was and what he did while she stood there three hundred
kilometers away, she thought then that if he returned,

If she should see him suddenly looming in the doorway, if he strode

in, scowling or not, loving her or not, she would run to him and it
would not matter that they would hurt each other terribly but only the
rain fell outside the kiosk entrance.
 ABOUT THE STORY

Rising Action

“This is not what we want,” she said. He replied with a groan. He

did not like arguing +over an unrealized peril. But when she was
insistent, when she talked with yearning of returning to Tayug, then
he replied, in monosyllables at first, hoping to discourage her, but
finally in long, passionate statements full of his desire to conquer this
city which had humiliated him twice. “We want the things that will
last,” she said. “The money lasts. You like the money, don’t you?’
he asked. “I don’t deserve that,” she said.

“Em Em,” he said, in a voice approximating the old tenderness. “You

are the child not I. You see ghosts where there are none.” “You can’t
go on plotting and tricking forever, buying respectability for Big
Man in Quality.” He knew what she was talking of, “It was a test of
skill,” he recalled. “I like pitting myself against a real foe,” he
laughed.

Climax

For a long time afterwards, Emma would not allow Doming to touch
her. Emma would not spend the new sum but Doming brought it all
to her, again and again and again, until she finally took it. “We’re all
in fragments,” she said to Doming another time. “And I want both of
us whole. Complete.” He had pulled desk drawers open, searching
heatedly for something she did not guess until he threw it at her the
dark-green, compact bankbook filled with deposits. It was as if he
had said something obscene and she knew then that she would have
to leave him.

“I am all here!” Doming announced, thumping himself on the chest.

“All here!” She shook her head. “No, you’re not, you were easier to
love before. Do you remember yourself then, Doming?” she asked.
“You were a good man,” she said simply. “We could live in Tayug
quietly and modestly,” she said. “You would not have to arrange
people’s lives for them.” “You and your airs!” he snarled.
“Everyone’s doing it but you’re better than everyone. There’s never
any doubt in your mind about yourself, is there, Emma? You say a
thing is so, and it is so, because Emma says it is so. How can you
bear to live with someone like me, Em? I don’t want to go to
heaven…”
 ABOUT THE STORY

At the bus station where they had gone three mornings afterwards,
they stood uncomfortably until the familiar 812 pulled in and began
to load up. “Will you write?” he asked. She nodded. “You don’t have
to go, Em. None of this has to happen,” he said. But the children
were scrambling up the vehicle and they waited for their mother who
turned swiftly on her heels and climbed up. She had touched Doming
quickly on the and cheek and said something that the bus, starting all
at once, had drowned. When they pulled away, she held her grief-
washed face above her son’s heads.

Falling Action

She felt it again. Sitting with Rene Rividad one Saturday at a table
in De Luxe. The beverage came, strong and steaming. She was doing
just that one afternoon when Rene Rividad walked in and took the
chair across her. She did not ask but she knew, instinctively, what he
was there for. Emma and Mr. Rividad were comfortable, making
small talk. Doming had stopped writing. The money came regularly,
twice a month. In the beginning, there had been notes, three or four
times, saying hello and asking if the kids were well. But they had
stopped. The money orders were reaching her now with nothing
more than a clerk’s letter, typed neatly and sparingly: Dear Mrs.
Gorrez please acknowledge enclosed sum.

It was two Saturdays when they met again and Emma could not tell
if it was by design or not. Like that earlier Saturday, Rividad walked
in and Emma’s heart lifted at sight of him. “They had
everything when they started, Rene. Youth, good looks, courage.
Where did all that go?” Mr. Rividad smoked quietly. “You
remember saying once, The sounds of Sunday joy’…? “He nodded,
smiling suddenly. “Yes, but there are other days in the week. And
the other sounds.” “Norma will be here soon,” she said. “I am not
waiting for Norma this time,” Mr. Rividad said quietly. It was not
Norma he waited for on all the subsequent days that he and Emma
Gorrez met in the restaurant.
 ABOUT THE STORY

Resolution

She took a long, circuitous route, looking in on every store on

Tanedo, crossing over to Luna Street for a leisurely-paced walk
beneath the trees. But as soon as the sun was gone, her feet took her
to De Luxe. With a will all their own, they bore her, despite herself,
to where Mr. Rividad was waiting. One day, she sat longer than she
intended. When she reached the lighted door of the restaurant, she
saw him at the table, a sad, hurt, puzzled look on his face. “You are
here.” Would you have wanted me to go?” “No,” she said. “May I
wait for you here on Saturday?” “Dear Emma,” he said suddenly.
“Don’t Emma.”

He had never called her that before. “I would like to wait for you,”
he continued softly, “here and in all places you can possibly think of,
for all the hour’s life will allow me.” “Don’t do this to me, Rene,”
she begged. “Are you afraid?” “This is catastrophe,” she said. “Are
you afraid?” he insisted. She nodded dumbly “Let me give you
strength,” he said. “And Norma?” she said aloud. “Am I to be like
Norma, after all? She asked unhappily “You are not Norma,” he said,
“there is a difference,” Difference?” she asked. “A big difference,”
he said. “You are Emma. And I love you.”

They sat in silence, the cups between them. Perhaps, I could love
him, she thought. The jukebox in the corner began to sing softly.
Perhaps, I love him already, she thought. The joys of Sunday seemed
far away now. The licit sounds of happiness had slid past her. She
had loved Domingo Gorrez with everything that she had been
but they had been careless, and one paid for carelessness like this
sipping coffee in exile, vulnerable and tremulous because, in this
wayward inn, someone had said a warm and tender thing.

Analysis of Literary Elements

Theme

The main theme of the story is the search for identity, yearning of
happiness and pleasure. Wherein social injustice and oppression
were also highlighted throughout the story/
 ABOUT THE STORY

Characters

Emma Gorrez- a typical wife who worries about her husband

Domingo Gorrez- the husband who has been led a stray because of
power and position
Rene Rividad- also a vital character but is only important during the
latter part of the story
Norma Rividad- the unfaithful materialistic wife of Rene Rividad

Setting

Martinez Kiosk, Tayug, De Luxe, City

Plot

The Sounds of Sunday is a story of a marriage coming apart because

of a husband’s desire for power and the wife’s desire for love

Conflict

Domingo was not the man that Emma knew when they were still in
Tayug and he was blinded by money and corruption. So she tried to
go back to Tayug hoping that her husband would miss her and follow
her

Irony

The irony of the story is that Emma was paired to a greedy man who
only care about money and Rene was paired to a woman who sleeps
with different man everyday

Mood

The author wants the readers to reflect and make critical discernment
on how the bigger picture-Philippine society in general-can ruin
families and their dreams.

Flashback

In the story, there were a series of flashbacks in which Emma thought

of her first meeting with Doming at the Kiosk. Then she also thought
about the days where she and Doming were still happy and
contended with their simple life in Tayug
 PHILIPPINE LITERATURE:
A COMPILATION OF
SHORT STORIES
COMPILED AND EDITED BY NACES AND MASUHUD