Dead Stars

     Title: Dead Stars

     Author: Paz Marquez Benitez

     Author's Background: Paz Marquez Benitez On March 3, 1894, educator Paz Marquez-Benitez, who authored the first Filipino modern English-language short story "Dead Stars", was born in Lucena City, Quezon.

Benitez was among the first generation of Filipinos trained in the American education system which used English as the medium of instruction.She taught at the University of the Philippines’ English department from 1916 to 1951, acquiring a reputation as an outstanding teacher.

She became an influential figure to many Filipino writers in the English language , among them, Loreto Paras Sulit, Paz Latorena, Bienvenido Santos, Manuel Arguilla, S.P. Lopez and National Artist Francisco Arcellana, who later emphatically declared, “She was the mother of us all!”

In 1919, she founded "Woman's Home Journal", the first women's magazine in the country. In 1928, she compiled "Filipino Love Stories," reportedly the first anthology of Philippine stories in English by Filipinos, from the works of her students.

     Source: https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/articles/972/today-in-philippine-history-march-3-1894-paz-marquezbenitez-was-born-in-lucena-city-quezon

     Vocabulary: Melancholy - a feeling of pensive sadness, typically with no obvious cause.

                         Tranquil- free from disturbance; calm.

                         Azotea - a flat roof or platform on the top of a house or other building.

                        Perfevid - intense and impassioned.

                       Insipid – lacking flavour; weak or tasteless.

                       Monotonies – tedious sameness or repetitiousness.

                      Tumultuous – making an uproar or loud, confused noise.

                      Avidly - with great interest or enthusiasm.

                      Indolence – avoidance of activity or exertion; laziness.

                      Exuberant – full of energy, excitement, and cheerfulness.

                      Fastidious - very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail.

                      Austere - severe or strict in manner or attitude.

                     Desultory – lacking a plan, purpose, or enthusiasm.

                     Beckon - make a gesture with the hand, arm, or head to encourage or instruct someone to approach or follow.

                    Poignant - evoking a keen sense of sadness or regret.

                   Trodden – past participle of tread.

                      Saunter – it is to stroll at a leisurely pace.

                     Tantalizing - torment or tease (someone) with the sight or promise of something that is unobtainable.

                  Piquant - having a pleasantly sharp taste or appetizing flavour.

                  Tumult - a loud, confused noise, especially one caused by a large mass of people.

                 Gaily - in a cheerful or light-hearted way.

                 Sedate - calm, dignified, and unhurried.

                 Feeble - lacking physical strength, especially as a result of age or illness.

                 Aversion - a strong dislike or disinclination.

                Indignant - feeling or showing anger or annoyance at what is perceived as unfair treatment.

               Goad - provoke or annoy (someone) so as to stimulate an action or reaction.

               Exasperation - a feeling of intense irritation or annoyance.

               Capitulation - the action of ceasing to resist an opponent or demand.

               Lugubrious - looking or sounding sad and dismal.

     Vocabulary: Alfredo Salazar - The son of Don Julian, husband of Esperanza

                          Esperanza - Alfredo's fianceé 

                         Julia Salas -  Sister-in-law of Judge Del Valle

                         Don Julian - The father of Alfredo and Carmen

                         Carmen - Alfredo's sister

                      

                         Judge Del Valle - Brother-in-law of Julia Salas

                         Donna Adella - Sister of Julia Salas

                         Calixta - The messenger of Alfredo and Esperanza 

                         Dionisio - The husband of Donna.

                         Vicente - The husband of Carmen.

                         Brigida Samuy - the woman that Alfredo is looking for.

     Settings: Don Julian's house, Judge Del Valle's house, in Sta Cruz.

     Exposition: This would start when Alfredo hears the conversation of his family on why hasn't married his fianceé. And this would go on and introduce characters like Judge Del Villa and more.

     Rising Action: This would happen when Alfredo and Julia were having a conversation on Don Julian's coconut farm where Alfredo confesses about his feeling for Julia but he is engaged to Esperanza for 4 years so he was stuck with a big problem.

     Climax : This would happen when Alfredo and Esperanza are arguing about if they should cancel their wedding or not.

     Falling Action: Alfredo went to the town where Julia Lived for business, then Alfredo visited Julia and they had a conversation.

     Ending: Alfredo thought about whether it was what had she lost? Or was the loss his?.

     Symbolism: The dead stars symbolized his feelings for Julia after not seeing each other for a while his feelings towards Julia faded.

     Theme: The theme of this story would be forbidden love because he is already engaged to his fianceé yet he has feelings for another woman which he cannot pursue.

     Lesson: Make sure that you are 100 percent sure of the choices you make in life if u just go with what you think is right your heart might beg to differ.

                         

                                   

                          

                          

        

                         

                          

     

                     

                

      

                 

                 

         

                  

                   

                  

                  

                    

                        

                     

                     

                        

                      

                           

                       

                          

                               

                               

     

Visitation Of The Gods

     Title: Visitation Of The Gods

     Author: Gilda Cordero- Fernando

     Author's Background: Gilda Cordero-Fernando is a multiawarded writer, publisher and cultural icon from the Philippines. She was born in Manila, has a B.A. from St. Theresa’s College-Manila, and an M.A. from the Ateneo de Manila University.

She started off as a writer and was awarded the Palanca Award for Literature several times. She has also written and illustrated children’s books.Her short stories are collected in The Butcher, The Baker and The Candlestick Maker (1962) and A Wilderness of Sweets (1973).

 Source: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3370901.Gilda_Cordero_Fernando

     Vocabulary: 

            Barring - fasten (something, especially a door or window) with a bar or bars.

            Ravished - seize and carry off (someone) by force.

            Transoms - the flat surface forming the stern of a boat.

            Assiduous -  showing great care and perseverance

            Languorous -   refers to a certain kind of mood everyone gets in sometimes — when you'd rather lie around thinking than doing work or having fun.

             Dishabille - the state of being only partly or scantily clothed.

             Riotous - marked by or involving public disorder.

             Jowl - the lower part of a person's or animal's cheek, especially when it is fleshy or drooping.

             Aplomb - self-confidence or assurance, especially when in a demanding situation.

            Farce – a comic dramatic work using buffoonery and horseplay and typically including crude characterization and ludicrously improbable situations.

     Characters - Ms Noel - English Instructor

                           Mr Sawit New English Instructor

                           Mr Alva - Superintendent

                           Mr Obles - Pugad Lawin's Principal

                           Ms Obles - Wife of Mr Obles

                           Mrs Divinagracia - HE Instructor 

                           Mr Buenaflor - Industrial arts Instuctor

                           Mr de Dios - Physics Instructor

                           Mr Baz - National Language Instructor

                           Ms Santos - PE Instructor

                           Mr del Rosario - Military Tactics

                           Leon - Student 

     Settings: Pugad Lawin High School

     Expositions: This started when the principal received a letter from a sleepy janitor that there will be the visitation of the superintendent and the supervisors which also introduced other characters such as Ms. Noel and Ms. Divinagracia.

     Rising Action:  This started when the Teachers and students had been divided into 4 groups and each do a specific task to please the "gods"

     Climax: This would be when Ms. Noel and Mr. Sawit had a conversation about his visitation saying that is was farce or a funny play. A visitation announced a month in advance defeats the purpose. It gave them the time to prepare everything and to hide anything that is wrong with the school.

     Falling Action:  While Ms. Neol was cleaning she met a student by the name of Leon whose dream was to one day become lawyer and if she left who would guide him.

     Ending: After breakfast the next morning. the supervisors packed their belongings and were soon ready. Mr. Beunaflor fetched the camera and they all posed on the sunny steps for a souvenir photo: the superintendent with Mr. and Mrs. Obles on either side of him and the minor gods in descending order on the Home Economics stairs. Miss Noel was late - but she ran to take her place with pride and humility on the lowest rung of the school's hierarchy.

     Symbolisms: The "hierarchy" represents the position of certain teachers or staffs. The second symbolism is The "Gods" this title was given to the superintendent and supervisors and the school had to prepare "offerings" to please them.

    Theme: The theme of the story is that they spend so much time in covering up their problems instead of fixing them.

     Lesson: We should not procrastinate and leave broken thing. Fix things that need fixing and not just cover it up to impress someone.

     

    

                             

             

             

                                          

                                           

    

How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife

     Title: How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife

     Author: Manuel Arguilla

     Author's Background: Manuel E. Arguilla was born on June 17, 1911 in Nagrebcan, Bauang, La Union to parents Crisanto Arguilla, a farmer, and Margarita Estabillo, a potter.Their mediocre living was not a hindrance for Manuel to attain his dreams especially in literature.He finished his elementary school in his hometown and his high school in San Fernando where he became the editor-in-chief of his school's newsletter, the La Union Tab. He was also an athlete where he became champion in swimming events he joined.He entered the University of the Philippines where he joined the UP Writers Club and later became the president and the editor of the UP Literary Apprentce. He finished Education in 1933. He married Lydia Villanueva, a fellow artist and writer and lived in Ermita, Manila.

    Source: http://ilocanopride.blogspot.com/2008/02/manuel-e.html

     Vocabulary: cud - partly digested food returned from the first stomach of ruminants to the mouth for further chewing.

                     Surmise - suppose that something is true without having evidence to confirm it.

                     Yonder - at some distance in the direction indicated; over there.

                     Yoke - a wooden crosspiece that is fastened over the necks of two animals and attached to the plough or cart that they are to pull.

     Characters: Baldo - The younger brother of leon and the narrator.

                          Leon/Noel- Older brother of Baldo.

                          Maria - Wife of Leon.

                          Labang - The bull who brought Leon and his wife home.

     Settings: Their home in Nagrebcan.

     Exposition: At the beginning of the story where they described Leon/Noel and his Wife Maria and describing the bull called Labang. And it described the areas that they went to on their way back home in Nagrebcan.

     Rising Action: This was when Maria was worried that Leon's father would not accept her.

     Climax: After they've arrived at home baldo's father calls him and had a conversation about their trip and about Maria and Labang.

     Falling Action: The father gave a task to Baldo to take care of Labang while he would talk to Leon and maria.

     Ending: Baldo leaves his father's room to take care of Labang while his father talks to Leon and Maria.

     Symbolism: Their journey symbolizes the hardships that a married couple have to go through when a parent might not accept him/her.

     Theme: We have to endure the journey and make sacrifices in order to be successful in life be patient don't rush things always take your time.

     Lesson:  Once you start something you should be committed to see it through until the end. And you should surpass the obstacles that come your way.

     

     

     

                      

                     

     

Footnote To Youth

     Title: Footnote To Youth

     Author: Jose Garcia Villa

    Author's Background: Jose Villa Garcia (August 5, 1908 – February 7, 1997) was a Filipino poet, writer, and critic. He used the pen name “Doveglion,” which was a combination of the words “dove,” “eagle,” and “lion” and was what he believed was his true persona. His notable works include The Anchored Angel, The Emperor’s New Sonnet, and Footnote to Youth.

               Source: http://ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/culture-profile/national-artists-of-the-philippines/jose-garcia-villa/ 

     Vocabulary: Furrows - a long, narrow trench made in the ground by a plough, especially for planting seeds or irrigation.

                        Prod - poke with a finger, foot, or pointed object.

                       Virility - (in a man) the quality of having strength, energy, and a strong sex drive; manliness.

                       Begrimed - blacken with ingrained dirt.

                       Callused - (of a part of the body) having an area of hardened skin.

                       Beckoned - make a gesture with the hand, arm, or head to encourage or instruct someone to approach or follow.

                       Tremulous - shaking or quivering slightly.

                      Querulous -  complaining in a rather petulant or whining manner.

     Characters: Dodong - A teenager who wants to get married at the age of 17

                          Teang - Dodong's Wife

                          Dodong's parents -  they thought that it was too early for him to get married.

                          Blas - Dodong's first born son

                         Lucio - Another suitor older than Dodong by 9 years

                         Tona - Blas' wife

     Settings: In their home

     Exposition: At the beginning of the story where they introduced Dodong and him doing farm work while he had heavy news to tell his father and his parent's and his wife were described.

     Rising Action: Dodong finally built up the courage to tell his parents that he wanted to get married at the age of 17.

     Climax: Blas was 18 and he went home tireless and unable to sleep then Blas gave a certain news to his father that he wanted to get married at the age of 18 they went outside and had a talk.

     Falling Action: Dodong agreed on Blas' request to marry Tona but he was worried that the things that happen to Dodong's youthful days would happen to his son.

     Ending: Dodong felt sad because he was worried that what happened to him would happen to his son..

     Symbolism: The birth of his first born son was a symbol that he left his youth thinking that he knew everything about youth and that he could get married he then realized his mistake of not enjoying his youth.

     Theme: People that give up their youth to get married at an early age.

     Lesson: Enjoy being young do not rush things to not think too ahead of your future and focus on your present life.