46

LIT 10
MIDTERM COVERAGE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Week Page

Module 4 Mindanao Literature in English

Lesson 1: Mindanao Short Stories 2 weeks 48-70

Lesson 2: Mindanao Epics and Ballads 2 weeks 71-78

Module 5 Mindanao Literary Poems

Lesson 1: Mindanao Local Poems 1 week 79-84

Module 6 Contemporary Literature of the Philippines

Lesson 1: Film Production about Mindanao 1 week 85 - 91

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 Module No. and Title Module 4: Mindanao Literature in English

Lesson No. and Title Lesson 1: Mindanao Short Stories

Learning Outcomes At the end of the lesson, the students are expected to:

• study kinship of people of Mindanao through short

stories;
• identify the values acquired from the readings through
getting its moral; and
• determine the best practices from the readings that can
be applied in real-life situations.

Time Frame 2 weeks

Welcome to the first lesson of Module 4, entitled “Mindanao Literature in

English”. In this lesson, you will be able to trace the lifestyle and values of people in
Mindanao as reflected in the stories through different activities prepared for you.

#1 Read the story below. Choose a character in the story aside from the narrator and
retell the story in the perspective of your chosen character. Use the first-person point of
view in retelling the story. Do not change the important events but you can be creative
in the perspective of your character. Elaborate the story in new ways based on
personality of this new narrator.
For example, you chose rooster. Retell the story as if you are the rooster.
The Maguindanao Tale of the Faithful Wife
(1) Once there lived in the Sultanate of Bandiamasir an aged man who had an only son.
They lived comfortably together until the time came for the boy to marry. He loved a
girl from the same town but before he could make any arrangements, his father fell ill
and was soon near death. He called his son to him and said “My son, never marry
a balo (widow) but a raga (young lady).”

(2) After his father died, the son made up his mind to find the meaning of his father’s
advice and forthwith married a raga. But he married two other women as well:
a balo and bituanem (divorce). As all three lived harmoniously together he kept
puzzling over the advice left to him by his father.

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(3) One day a new Sultan ascended the throne as the old one had died. This new Sultan
turned loose his magnificent rooster and then proclaimed that whoever touched it would
be killed.

(4) When the son heard of this decree, he was very glad because now he had a way of
testing his father’s advice. He caught the royal rooster and brought it home. Then he
called his three wives, showed them the rooster and said: “Kill the rooster and cook it
for my dinner.”

(5) The three women turned pale when they realized the meaning of what he said.
The balo and the bituanem immediately refused and hurriedly left the house, not
wanting to be implicated in the crime.

(6) The raga took the rooster, killed it and served it to her husband.

(7) Then he knew what his father meant by his dying words. Only the raga could be
faithful.

My own version of The Maguindanao Tale of the Faithful Wife

In the perspective of: _______________ (fill out the name of your chosen
character).

#2 Based from the story, what can you say about the bond between husband and wife?
Is it observable in reality?

_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

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#3 Share your “kwentong sari-sari store”.

Sari-sari store is the first hand witness of the life of the people in the locality and the
great partner in the changing culture of Filipino people.

©2001 by Copper Sturgeon

Read between the lines. Analyze each statement and extract a character trait that the
speaker possesses. Share whether such character trait is still observable in the modern
days and how it affects people in reality. Answer in no more than 4 sentences.

1. “What do you expect,” replied his mother; “the father is a Bagobo. Even
Tinang looks like a Bagobo now.”

2. “There!” the Señora said. “Didn’t I tell you what it would be like, huh? . . . that
you would be a slave to your husband and that you would work a baby eternally
strapped to you.

3. Tinay, I could not return because I found that my mother was very ill. That is
why I was not able to take you as a partner of life. Please respond to my missive
at once so that I know whether you still love me or not. I hope you did not love
anybody except myself. – Amado

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 LOVE IN THE CORNHUSKS by Aida L. Rivera

Tinang stopped before the Señora’s gate “Oh, the maid will come to cover the
and adjusted the baby’s cap. The dogs that orchids later.”
came to bark at the gate were strange dogs,
The Señora called from inside. “Tinang, let
big-mouthed animals with a sense of
me see your baby. Is it a boy?”
superiority. They stuck their heads through
the hogfence, lolling their tongues and “Yes, Ma,” Tito shouted from downstairs.
straining. Suddenly, from the gumamela “And the ears are huge!”
row, a little black mongrel emerged and
slithered through the fence with ease. It “What do you expect,” replied his mother;
came to her, head down and body “the father is a Bagobo. Even Tinang looks
quivering. like a Bagobo now.”
“Bantay. Ay, Bantay!” she exclaimed as the Tinang laughed and felt warmness for her
little dog laid its paws upon her shirt to sniff former mistress and the boy Tito. She sat
the baby on her arm. The baby was afraid self-consciously on the black narra sofa, for
and cried. The big animals barked with the first time a visitor. Her eyes clouded.
displeasure. The sight of the Señora’s flaccidly plump
Tito, the young master, had seen her and figure, swathed in a loose waist-less
was calling to his mother. “Ma, it’s Tinang. housedress that came down to her ankles,
Ma, Ma, it’s Tinang.” He came running and the faint scent of agua de
down to open the gate. colonia blended with kitchen spice, seemed
“Aba, you are so tall now, Tito.” to her the essence of the comfortable world,
and she sighed thinking of the long walk
He smiled his girl’s smile as he stood by, home through the mud, the baby’s legs
warding the dogs off. Tinang passed straddled to her waist, and Inggo, her
quickly up the veranda stairs lined with husband, waiting for her, his body stinking
ferns and many-colored bougainville. On of tuba and sweat, squatting on the floor,
landing, she paused to wipe her shoes clad only in his foul undergarments.
carefully. About her, the Señora’s white “Ano, Tinang, is it not a good thing to be
and lavender butterfly orchids fluttered married?” the Señora asked, pitying Tinang
delicately in the sunshine. She noticed because her dress gave way at the placket
though that the purple waling-waling that and pressed at her swollen breasts. It was,
had once been her task to shade from the as a matter of fact, a dress she had given
hot sun with banana leaves and to water Tinang a long time ago.
with mixture of charcoal and eggs and “It is hard, Señora, very hard. Better that I
water was not in bloom. were working here again.”
“Is no one covering the waling- “There!” the Señora said. “Didn’t I tell you
waling now?” Tinang asked. “It will die.” what it would be like, huh? . . . that you
would be a slave to your husband and that

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you would work a baby eternally strapped “Don’t forget the bundle of clothes and . . .
to you. Are you not pregnant again?” oh, Tinang, you better stop by the
drugstore. They asked me once whether
Tinang squirmed at the Señora’s directness
you were still with us. You have a letter
but admitted she was.
there and I was going to open it to see if
“Hala! You will have a dozen before long.” there was bad news but I thought you would
The Señora got up. “Come, I will give you be coming.”
some dresses and an old blanket that you
A letter! Tinang’s heart beat violently.
can cut into things for the baby.”
Somebody is dead; I know somebody is
They went into a cluttered room which
dead, she thought. She crossed herself and
looked like a huge closet and as the Señora
after thanking the Señora profusely, she
sorted out some clothes, Tinang asked,
hurried down. The dogs came forward and
“How is Señor?”
Tito had to restrain them. “Bring me some
“Ay, he is always losing his temper over the young corn next time, Tinang,” he called
tractor drivers. It is not the way it was when after her.
Amado was here. You remember what a
Tinang waited a while at the drugstore
good driver he was. The tractors were
which was also the post office of the barrio.
always kept in working condition. But now
Finally, the man turned to her: “Mrs., do
. . . I wonder why he left all of a sudden. He
you want medicine for your baby or for
said he would be gone for only two days . .
yourself?”
. .”
“No, I came for my letter. I was told I have
“I don’t know,” Tinang said. The baby
a letter.”
began to cry. Tinang shushed him with
irritation. “And what is your name, Mrs.?” He
drawled.
“Oy, Tinang, come to the kitchen; your
Bagobito is hungry.” “Constantina Tirol.”
The man pulled a box and slowly went
For the next hour, Tinang sat in the kitchen
through the pile of envelopes most of which
with an odd feeling; she watched the girl
were scribbled in pencil, “Tirol, Tirol,
who was now in possession of the kitchen
Tirol. . . .” He finally pulled out a letter and
work around with a handkerchief clutched I
handed it to her. She stared at the unfamiliar
one hand. She had lipstick on too, Tinang
scrawl. It was not from her sister and she
noted. the girl looked at her briefly but did
could think of no one else who could write
not smile. She set down a can of evaporated
to her.
milk for the baby and served her coffee and
cake. The Señora drank coffee with her and Santa Maria, she thought; maybe
lectured about keeping the baby’s stomach something has happened to my sister.
bound and training it to stay by itself so she “Do you want me to read it for you?”
could work. Finally, Tinang brought up,
haltingly, with phrases like “if it will not “No, no.” She hurried from the drugstore,
offend you” and “if you are not too busy” crushed that he should think her illiterate.
the purpose of her visit–which was to ask With the baby on one arm and the bundle of
Señora to be a madrina in baptism. The clothes on the other and the letter clutched
Señora readily assented and said she would in her hand she found herself walking
provide the baptismal clothes and the fee toward home.
for the priest. It was time to go. The rains had made a deep slough of the
“When are you coming again, Tinang?” the clay road and Tinang followed the prints
Señore asked as Tinang got the baby ready. left by the men and the carabaos that had

52
gone before her to keep from sinking mud I think I am going beyond the limit of your
up to her knees. She was deep in the road leisure hours, so I close with best wishes to
before she became conscious of her shoes. you, my friends Gonding, Sefarin, Bondio,
In horror, she saw that they were coated etc.
with thick, black clay. Gingerly, she pulled
off one shoe after the other with the hand Yours forever,
still clutching to the letter. When she had
tied the shoes together with the laces and Amado
had slung them on an arm, the baby, the
bundle, and the letter were all smeared with
mud. P.S. My mother died last month.
There must be a place to put the baby down,
Address your letter:
she thought, desperate now about the letter.
She walked on until she spotted a corner of
Mr. Amado Galauran
a field where cornhusks were scattered
under a kamansi tree. She shoved together
Binalunan, Cotabato
a pile of husks with her foot and laid the
It was Tinang’s first love letter. A flush
baby down upon it. With a sigh, she drew
spread over her face and crept into her
the letter from the envelope. She stared at
body. She read the letter again. “It is not
the letter which was written in English.
easy to be far from our lover. . . . I imagine
your personal appearance coming forward.
My dearest Tinay,
. . . Someday, somehow I’ll be there to
fulfill our promise. . . .” Tinang was
Hello, how is life getting along? Are you
intoxicated. She pressed herself against the
still in good condition? As for myself, the
kamansi tree.
same as usual. But you’re far from my side.
It is not easy to be far from our lover.
My lover is true to me. He never meant to
desert me. Amado, she thought. Amado.
Tinay, do you still love me? I hope your
kind and generous heart will never fade.
And she cried, remembering the young girl
Someday or somehow I’ll be there again to
she was less than two years ago when she
fulfill our promise.
would take food to Señor in the field and
the laborers would eye her furtively. She
Many weeks and months have elapsed. Still
thought herself above them for she was
I remember our bygone days. Especially
always neat and clean in her hometown,
when I was suffering with the heat of the
before she went away to work, she had gone
tractor under the heat of the sun. I was
to school and had reached sixth grade. Her
always in despair until I imagine your
skin, too, was not as dark as those of the
personal appearance coming forward
girls who worked in the fields weeding
bearing the sweetest smile that enabled me
around the clumps of abaca. Her lower lip
to view the distant horizon.
jutted out disdainfully when the farm hands
spoke to her with many flattering words.
Tinay, I could not return because I found
She laughed when a Bagobo with two
that my mother was very ill. That is why I
hectares of land asked her to marry him. It
was not able to take you as a partner of life.
was only Amado, the tractor driver, who
Please respond to my missive at once so
could look at her and make her lower her
that I know whether you still love me or not.
eyes. He was very dark and wore filthy and
I hope you did not love anybody except
torn clothes on the farm but on Saturdays
myself.
when he came up to the house for his

53
week’s salary, his hair was slicked down She resisted but his arms were strong. He
and he would be dressed as well as Mr. embraced her roughly and awkwardly, and
Jacinto, the schoolteacher. Once he told her she trembled and gasped and clung to him.
he would study in the city night-schools and ...
take up mechanical engineering someday.
He had not said much more to her but one A little green snake slithered languidly into
afternoon when she was bidden to take the tall grass a few yards from the kamansi
some bolts and tools to him in the field, a tree. Tinang started violently and
great excitement came over her. The remembered her child. It lay motionless on
shadows moved fitfully in the bamboo the mat of husk. With a shriek she grabbed
groves she passed and the cool November it wildly and hugged it close. The baby
air edged into her nostrils sharply. He stood awoke from its sleep and cries lustily. Ave
unmoving beside the tractor with tools and Maria Santisima. Do not punish me, she
parts scattered on the ground around him. prayed, searching the baby’s skin for
His eyes were a black glow as he watched marks. Among the cornhusks, the letter fell
her draw near. When she held out the bolts, unnoticed.
he seized her wrist and said: “Come,”
pulling her to the screen of trees beyond.

One of the main reasons why people write literary pieces is to pass on ideas and values
from generation to generation. Ideas and values are embedded in the literary pieces to serve as
a warning, as a lesson, or as an example of what might happen to people if subjected in a certain
situation or conflict. And one can see the culture and values of a certain tribe through a literary
work. As a reader, knowing the moral of the story is a must. This is the point where you can
get and extract the value and teaching that the story is trying to convey to the common people.
And most of the people rely on stories to teach and learn values and behaviors that are
acceptable to the society.

Moral is a message being conveyed or a lesson to be learned from the story. It may be
determined by the hearer, reader, or viewer themselves or may be explicitly stated through
a maxim. A moral is a lesson in a story or real life.

In order for you to get the moral of the story, you should be able to answer the following
guide questions:
What is the evident principle in the story?
What values are being emphasized?
What character traits are encouraged?
Moral as a life lesson can be found also by looking at how characters act and detecting
what is repeated all throughout the story.
The moral of the story entitled Love in the Cornhusks teaches people about the
importance of priorities and acceptance in life. Tinang might not married her true love interest
in the story, however, she chose to accept her present life and prioritize her family. We might
regret our decisions in life but the important thing is how you learn to accept that things will
not always be the way how you plan it.

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#1 Let us check your knowledge in getting the moral of a story. Below is another Mindanao
short story. Read the story carefully.

The Dog Eaters

Leoncio P. Deriada

Mariana looked out of the window toward voice, calling from his store across the
the other side of Artiaga Street. A group of street. It was an ugly voice, and it
men had gathered around a low table in pronounced Victor's name in a triumphant
front of Sergio's sari-sari store. It was ten imitation of a dog's bark.
o'clock, Tuesday morning. Yet these men "Victor! Victor! Aw! Aw!"
did not find it too early to drink, and the canine growl floated across Artiaga
worse. They wanted her husband to be Street. Mariana glared at her husband as he
with them. Victor was now reaching for brushed her aside on his way to the
his shirt hooked on the wall between Nora window. She felt like clawing his face,
Aunor and Vilma Santos. Mariana turned biting his arms, ripping the smelly shirt off
to him, her eyes wild in repulsion and his back. "I'm coming," Victor answered,
anger. leaning out of the window. Mariana
"Those filthy men!" she snarled. "Whose opened her mouth for harsher invectives
dog did they slaughter today?" but a sharp cry from the bedroom arrested
Victor did not answer. He put on his shirt. her. It was her baby. She rushed to the
Presently, he crawled on the floor and table, pick a cold bottle of milk, and
searched for his slippers under the table. entered.
Mariana watched him strain his body In his rattan crib that looked like a rat's
toward the wall, among the rattan tools. He nest, the baby cried louder. Mariana shook
looked like a dog tracking the smell the crib vehemently. The baby - all mouth
hidden carrion. and all legs - thrust in awkward arms into
"My God, Victor, do you have to join them the air, blindly searching for accustomed
every time they stew somebody's pet?" nipple.
Victor found his slippers. He emerged The baby sucked the rubber nipple easily.
from under the table, smoothed his pants But Mariana's mind was outside the room
and unbutton his shirt. He was sweating. as she watched her husband lean out of the
He looked at his wife and smiled faintly, window to answer the invitation of the
the expression sarcastic, and in an attempt dog-eaters of Artiaga Street.
to be funny, "it's barbecue today." "Aren't you inviting your wife?" she spoke
"I'm not in the mood for jokes!" Mariana loud, the hostility in her voice unchecked
raised her voice. "It's time you stop going by the dirty plywood wall. "Perhaps
with those good-for-nothing scavengers." your friends have reserved the best morsel
for me. Which is the most delicious part of
Her words stung. For now she noted an a dog, ha, Victor? Its heart? Its liver? Its
angry glint in Victor's eyes. "They are brain? Blood? Bone? Ears? Tongue? Tail?
my friends, Mariana," he said. I wish to God you'd all die of
"You should have married one of them!" hydrophobia!"
she snapped back. Suddenly, she "Can you feed the baby and talk at the
straightened. She heard Sergio's raspy same time?" Victor said. She did not

55
expect him to answer and now that he had, insult, Mariana thought. The bastard! How
she felt angrier. The heat from the dare he turn his back on her?
unceilinged roof had become terrible and it “Punyeta!” she screeched and flung the
had all seeped into her head. She was bottle at her husband. Instinctively, Victor
ready for a fight. turned and parried the object with his arm.
The baby had gone back to sleep. Mariana The bottle fell to the floor but did not
dashed out of the room, her right hand break. It rolled noisily under the table
tight around the empty bottle. She had to where Victor moment had hunted for his
have a weapon. She came upon her rubber slippers.
husband opening the door to little porch. He looked at her, but there was no reaction
The porch was at the top of the stairs that in his face. Perhaps he thought it was all a
led out into Artiaga Street. joke. He opened the door and stepped out
"Why don't you do something instead of into the street.
drinking their stinking tuba and eating that Mariana ran to the door and banged it
filthy meat? Why don't you decent for a once, twice, thrice, all the while shrieking,
change?" “Go! Eat and drink until your tongue
Victor turned her off. It seemed he was hangs like a mad dog’s. Then I’ll call a
also ready for a fight. The glint in his eyes veterinarian.”
had become sinister. Loud after came across the street.
And what's so indecent about eating dog Mariana leaned out of the window and
meat?" His voice sounded canine, too, like shouted to the men gathered in front of
Sergio's. "The people of Artiaga Street Sergio’s store.
have been eating dog meat for as long as I “Why don’t you leave my husband alone?
can remember." You dogs!”
"No wonder their manners have gone to The men laughed louder, obscenely. Their
the dogs!" voices offended the ears just as the stench
"You married one of them." from the garbage dump at the Artiaga-
"Yes, to lead a dog's life!" Mabini junction offended the nostrils.
Victor stepped closer, breathing hard. There were five other men aside from the
Marina did not move. "What's eating chief drinker, Sergio. Downing a gallon of
you?" he demanded. tuba at ten o’clock in the morning with of
"What's eating me?" she yelled. "Dog's! Artiaga’s idle men was his idea of
I'm ready to say aw-aw, don't you know?" brotherhood. It was good for his store, he
Victor repaired his face, amused by this thought, though his wife languish behind
type of quarrel. Again, he tried to be the row of glass jars and open cartons of
funny. dried fish – the poor woman deep in
"Come, come, Mariana darling," he said, notebooks of unpaid bills the neighbors
smiling condescendingly. had accumulated these last two years.
Mariana was not amused. She was all set Mariana closed the window. The slight
to proceed with the fight. Now she tried to darkening of the room intensified the heat
be acidly ironic. on the roof and in her head. She pulled a
“Shall I slaughter Ramir for you? That pet stool and sat beside the sewing machine
of yours does nothing but bark at strangers under the huge pictures of Nora Aunor and
and dirty the doorstep. Perhaps you can Vilma Santos, under the altar-like alcove
invite your friends tonight. Let’s on the wall where a transistor radio was
celebrate.” enshrined like an idol.
“Leave Ramir alone,” Victor said, She felt tired. Once again, her eyes
seriously. surveyed the room with repulsion. She had
“That dog is enslaving me!” stayed in this rented house for two years,
Victor turned to the door. It was the final tried to paste pictures on the wall, hung up

56
classic curtains that could not completely pair or a trio of puppies? She imagined
ward off the stink from the street. Instead herself as a dog, a spent bitch with hind
of cheering up the house, they made it legs spread out obscenely as her litter of
sadder, emphasizing the lack of the things three, or four, or five, fought for her tits
she had dreamed of having when she while the mongrel who was responsible for
eloped with Victor two years ago. all this misery flirted with the other dogs
Victor was quite attractive. When he was of the neighborhood.
teen-ager, he was a member of the A dog barked. Mariana was startled. It was
Gregory Body Building Club on Cortes Ramir. His chain clanked and she could
Street. He dropped out of freshmen year at picture the dog going up the stairs, his
Harvadian and instead developed his chest lethal fangs bared in terrible growl.
and biceps at the club. His was to be Mr. “Ay, ay, Mariana!” a familiar, nervous
Philippines, until one day, Gregory voice rose from the din. “Your dog! He’ll
cancelled his membership. Big Boss bite me. Shoo! Shoo!”
Gregory - who was not interested in girls It was Aling Elpidia, the fish and
but in club members with the proportions vegetable vendor.
of Mr. Philippines – had discovered that “Stay away from the beast, Aling Elpidia!”
Victor was dating a manicurist named Mariana shouted. She opened the door.
Fely. Aling Elpidia was in the little yard, her
Victor found work as a bouncer at Three hands nervously holding her basket close
Diamonds, a candlelit bar at the end of to her like a shield. Ramir was at the
Artiaga, near Jacinto Street. All the bottom of the stairs, straining at his chain,
hostesses there were Fely’s customers. barking at the old woman.
Mariana, who came from a better Mariana pulled the chain. The dog
neighborhood, was a third year resisted. But soon he relaxed and stopped
BSE student at Rizal Memorial Colleges. barking. He ran upstairs, encircled
They eloped during the second semester, Mariana once, and then sniffed her hands.
the very week Fey drowned in the pool “Come on up, Aling Elpidia. Don’t be
behind Three Diamonds. Just as Mariana afraid. I’m holding Ramir’s leash.”
grew heavy with a child, Victor lost his job The old woman rushed upstairs, still
at the bar. He quarreled with the manager. shielding herself with her basket of fish
An uncle working in a construction and vegetables.
company found him a new job. But he “Naku, Mariana. Why do you keep that
showed up only when the man did not crazy dog at the door? He’ll bite a kilo off
report for work. every visitor. The last time I was here I
almost had a heart attack.”
“That’s Victor’s idea of a house guard.
These last few days, not one of Come, sit down.”
the carpenters got sick. So Victor had to Aling Elpidia dragged a stool to the
stay home. window. “Why, I’m still trembling!” she
Mariana felt a stirring in her womb. She said. “Why must you close the window,
felt her belly with both hands. Her tight Mariana?”
faded dress could not quite conceal this Mariana opened the window. “Those
most unwanted pregnancy. The baby in horrible men across the street, I can’t stand
the crib in the other room was only eight their noise.”
months, and here she was - carrying “Where’s Victor?”
another child. She closed her eyes and “There!” Mariana said contemptuously.
pressed her belly hard. She felt the “With them.” The old woman looked out
uncomfortable swell, and in a moment, she of the window.
had ridiculous thought. What if she bore a “He is one of them!”

57
“One of what?” that held some five or six tin plates, and
“The dog-eaters of Artiaga Street!” set the bottle beside a plastic tumbler that
Mariana spat out the words, her eyes wild contained spoon and forks. She pulled a
in anger. stool from beneath the table and sat down.
Aling Elpidia sat down again. “What is so Soon Mariana was beside her.
terrible about that?” she asked. “Is it effective?” Mariana asked nervously.
Mariana looked at the old woman. For the “Very effective. Come on let me touch
first time she noticed that Aling Elpidia you.”
had been dying her hair. But the growth of Mariana stood directly in front of the old
hair this week had betrayed her. woman, her belly almost touching the
“Do you eat dog meat, Aling Elpidia?” vendor’s face. Aling Elpidia felt Mariana’s
Mariana asked. belly with both hands.
“It’s better than goat’s meat: And a dog is “Three months did you say, Mariana?”
definitely cleaner than a pig. With the “Three months and two weeks.”
price of pork and beef as high as Mount “Are you sure you don’t want this child?”
Apo – one would rather eat dog meat. Aling Elpidia asked one hand flat on
How’s the baby?” Mariana’s belly. “It feels so healthy.”
“Asleep” “I don’t want another child,” Mariana said.
Aling Elpidia picked up her basket from And to stress the finality of her decision,
the floor. “Here’s your day’s supply of she grabbed the bottle and stepped away
vegetables. I also brought some bangus. from the old woman. The bottle looked
Cook Victor a pot of sinigang and he’ll like atrophy in her hand.
forget the most delicious chunk of aw-aw “Well, it’s your decision,” Aling Elpidia
meat. Go, get a basket.” said airily. “The bottle is yours.”
Mariana went to the kitchen to get a basket “Is it bitter?”
as Aling Elpidia busied herself sorting out “Yes.”
the vegetables. Mariana squirmed. “How shall I take
“I hope you haven’t forgotten the green this?”
mangoes and – and that thing you “A spoonful before you sleeps in the
promised me,” Mariana said, laying her evening and another spoonful after
basket on the floor. breakfast.”
“I brought all of them,” assured the old “May I take it with a glass of milk or a
woman. She began transferring the bottle of coke?”
vegetables and fish into Mariana’s basket. “No. You must take it pure.”
Mariana helped her. “It’s not dangerous, is it, Aling Elpidia?”
“I haven’t told Victor anything,” Mariana “Don’t you worry. It is bitter but it is
said in a low, confidential tone. harmless. It will appear as an accident.
“He does not have to know,” Aling Elpidia Like falling down the stairs. Moreover,
said. there will be less pain and blood.”
The old woman produced from the bottom “Please come everyday. Things might go
of the basket a tall bottle filled with a dark wrong.”
liquid and some leaves and tiny, gnarled Aling Elpidia nodded and stood up. “I
roots. She held the bottle against the light. think I must go now,” she said. Then she
Mariana regarded it with interest and lowered her voice and asked, “Do you
horror. “I’m afraid, Aling Elpidia,” she have the money?”
whispered. “Yes, yes,” Mariana said. She went to the
“Nonsense. Go, take these vegetables to sewing machine and opened a drawer. She
the kitchen.” handed Aling Epidia some crumpled bills.
Mariana sped to the kitchen. Aling Elpidia The vendor counted the bills expertly, and
moved to the table, pushed the dish rack then dropped the little bundle into her

58
breast. She picked up her basket and would miss you.”
walked to the door. Suddenly she stopped. “You don’t have to complain,” Victor said
“Your dog, Mariana.” Her voice became roughly. “True, my work is not permanent
nervous again. but I think we have enough. We are not
Mariana held Ramir’s leash as the old starving, are we?”
woman hurried down the stairs. “You may “You call this enough?” her hands
start taking it tonight.” It was her last piece gesticulated madly. “You call this rat’s
of medical advice. Loud laughter rose nest, this hell of a neighborhood – enough?
from the store across the street. Mariana You call these tin plates, this plastic
stiffened. Her anger returned. Then her curtains – enough? This is not the type of
baby cried. life I expect. I should have continued
She hurried to the bedroom. The tall bottle school. You fooled me!”
looked grotesque on the table: tiny, “I thought you understood. I-“
gnarled roots seemed to twist like worms “No, no I didn’t understand. And still I
or miniature umbilical cords. With a don’t understand why you – you –“
shudder, she glanced at the bottle. The “Let’s not quarrel,” Victor said abruptly. I
sharp cry became louder. Mariana rushed don’t want to quarrel with you.”
inside and discovered that the baby had “But I want to quarrel with you!” Mariana
wetted its clothes. shouted.
She heard somebody coming up the stairs. “Be reasonable.”
It must be Victor. Ramir did not bark. “You are not reasonable. You never tried
“Mariana!” Victor called out. “Mariana!” to please me. You would rather be with
“Quiet!” she shouted back. “The baby’s your stinking friends and drink their dirty
going back to sleep.” wine and eat their dirty meat. Oh, how I
The house had become hotter. Mariana hate it, Victor!”
went out of the bedroom, ready to resume “What do you want me to do – stay here
the unfinished quarrel. Victor was now in and boil the baby’s milk?”
the room, sweating and red-eyed. He had “I wish you would!”
taken off his shirt and his muscular body “That’s your job. You’re a woman.”
glistened wit animal attractiveness. But “Oh, how are you admire yourself for
now Mariana was in a different type of being a man,” Mariana sneered in utter
heat. sarcasm. “You miserable-“
“I met that old witch Elpidia,” Victor said, “Don’t yell. You wake up the baby.”
“What did she bring you today?” “To hell with your baby!”
“The same things. Vegetables. Some fish.” “You are mad, Mariana.”
“Fish! Again?” “And so I’m mad. I’m mad because I don’t
“You are drunk!” eat dog meat. I’m mad because I want my
“I’m not drunk. Come Mariana dear. Let husband to make a man of himself, I’m
me hold you.” mad because – “
“Don’t touch me!” she screamed. “You “Stop it!”
stink!” “Punyeta!”
Victor moved back, offended. “I don’t “Relax, Mariana. You are excited. That’s
stink and I’m not drunk.” not good for you. I want my second baby
Mariana stepped closer to her husband. He healthy.”
smelled of cheap pomade, onions, and “There will be no second baby.”
vinegar. “What do you mean?”
“Do you have to be like this all the time? “You met Aling Elpidia on your way.”
Quarreling every day? Why don’t you get “And what did that witch do? Curse my
a steady job like any decent husband? You baby? Is a vampire?”
would be out the whole day, and perhaps, I “She came to help me.”

59
Mariana went to the table and snatched the she saw. The bottle was broken into
bottle. She held high in Victor’s face. “See countless splinters and the dark liquid
this, Victor?” she taunted him. Victor was stained the dry gravel street. Bits of leaves
not interested. “You don’t want me to and roots stuck to the dust. Presently, a
drink tuba, and here you are with a bottle dog came along and sniffed the wet ground
of sioktong.” suspiciously, then left with his tail between
“How dull you are!” her lips twisted in his legs.
derision. “See those leaves? See those Mariana screamed again in horror and
roots? They are very potent, Victor.” frustration. In the glare of the late morning
“I don’t understand.” sun she had a momentary image of the
“One spoonful in the morning and one men – now faceless and voiceless – in
spoonful in the evening. It’s bitter, Victor, front of the store across the street. This
but I will bear it.” time they did not laugh, but they watched
Like a retarded, Victor stared at his wife. her from certain blankness. She turned to
Then the truth dawned upon him and her husband and flung herself at him,
exclaimed in horror, “What? What? My raising her arms, her fingers poised like
baby!” claws. She scratched his face and pounded
Mariana faced her husband squarely. his chest with her fists.
“Yes! And I’m not afraid!” she jeered. “Damn you! Damn you!” she shrieked in
“You won’t do it.” fury.
“I’m not afraid.” Victor caught her arms and shook her.
“Give me that bottle.” “Stop it, Mariana!” he mumbled under his
“No!” breath.
“What kind of woman are you?” “Let me go! You are hurting me!”
“And what kind of man are you?” “Behave you woman!” Victor shook her
“It’s my baby!” harder.
“It’s mine. I have the right to dispose of it, Mariana spat on his face. Then she bit on
I don’t want another child.” the right arm. She spat again, for she had a
“Why, Mariana, why?” quick taste of salt and dirt.
“Because you cannot afford it! What Victor released her. She moved back, her
would you feed your another child, ha, uncontrollable rage shaking her. “You
Victor? Tuba milk? Dog meat for rice?” threw it away! You destroy it! I paid forty
“We shall manage, Mariana. Everything pesos for it and it’s not your money!”
will be all right.” “Forty pesos,” Victor murmured. “That is
“Sure, sure, everything will be all right – a lot of milk.”
for you. I don’t believe in that anymore.” Mariana caught her breath. She allowed
“Give me that bottle!” dryly and said, “What do you want me to
“No!” do now – cut children’s dresses?”
They grappled for a moment. Mariana “You are unnatural. You don’t act like a
fought like an untamed animal. At last mother, you want to kill your own child.”
Victor took hold the bottle. He pushed his “It’s my own child.”
wife against the wall and ran to the “It’s murder!”
window, his right hand holding the bottle “Nobody will know.”
above his head. “I will know. You will know. And God –
And like a man possessed, he hurled the and God – will know!”
bottle out f the window. The crash of the “Ahhh!” Mariana sneered sontemptuously.
glass against the gravel on the road “Now who’s talking? When was the last
rendered Mariana speechless. But she time you went to church, ha Victor? That
recovered. She dashed to the window and was the time the Legion of Mary brought
gave out almost inhuman scream at what us to Fatima Church to be married and you

60
fought with the priest in the confessional. kitchen knife of a shelf above the sink.
And now here you are mentioning God’s Kicking the scattered tin plates on the
name to me.” floor, she crossed the main room to the
“Please, please, Mariana,” Victor was porch.
begging now. “That’s our child!” Downstairs, Ramir was barking at some
“I told you I didn’t want another child. object in the street. Noticing Mariana’s
You broke that bottle but I’ll look for other presence, he stopped barking. Mariana
means. I’ll starve myself. I’ll jump out of stared at the dog. The dog stared back, and
the window. I’ll fall down the stairs.” Mariana noticed the change in the animal’s
“Mariana!” eyes. They became fiery, dangerous. My
“You cannot afford to buy pills or hire a God, Mariana thought. This creature
doctor.” knew! Ramir’s ears stood. The hair on the
“I want a child.” back of its neck stood, too. Then he bared
“You men can talk because you don’t have his fangs viscously and growled.
to bear the children. You coward!” Mariana dropped the knife. She did not
Victor raised his hand to strike her. know how to use it at this moment. She
Mariana offered her face, daring him to was beginning to be afraid.
complete his own humiliation. Victor Slowly, she climbed up the stairs. He
dropped his hand. He was lost, totally moved softly but menacingly. Like a
unmanned. hunter sizing up his quarry. His yellowing
A bit of his male vanity stirred inside him. fangs dropped with saliva.
He raised his hand again, but Mariana was Meanwhile, Mariana was untying the
quick with the nearest weapon. She seized chain on the top of the stairs.
a stool with both hands, and with the And the dog rushed into the roaring attack.
strength all her arms could muster, throws Quicker than she thought she was, Mariana
the stool at him. Victor caught the object slipped the end of the chain under the
with his strong shoulder. The stool makeshift railing of the stairway and
dropped to the floor as Mariana made pulled the leash with all her might. As she
ready with another weapon, a vase of had expected, the dog hurtled into the
plastic flowers. space between the broken banisters and
“Go away from me! Get out! Get out!” fell. The weight of the animal pulled her to
Victor went out of the room. Mariana was her knees, but she was prepared for that,
left panting, giving vent to her anger by too. She braced herself against the rails of
pulling down the plastic curtains and the the porch, and now, the dog was dangling
printed cover of the sewing machine. She below her. A crowd had now gathered in
stooped to the table and with a furious front of the house to witness the
sweep of her hand, cleared it of dish rack, unexpected execution. But Mariana neither
tin plates, spoons, and forks. Then she saw their faces nor heard their voices.
went to the kitchen and tossed the basket Ramir gave a final yelp and stopped
of vegetables and fish out of the kitchen kicking the air.
window. A trio of dogs rushed in from Mariana laughed deliriously. She watches
nowhere and fought over the fish strewn in the hanging animal and addressed it in
the muddy space under the sink. triumph: “I’ll slit your throat and drink
Then Ramir barked. your blood and cut you to pieces and stew
“Shut up, you miserable dog!” you and eat you! Damn you Victor. Damn
Ramir continued barking. this child. Damn everything. I’ll cook you,
Mariana paused. Ramir, she taught. Ramir. I’ll cook you and eat you and eat
Victor’s dog. A cruel thought crossed her you and eat you!”
mind and stayed there. Now she knew She released the chain and the canine
exactly what to do. She reached for the big carcass dropped with a thud on the ground

61
below. and stared blankly at the rusty rooftops in
Mariana sat on the topmost step of the front of her. And for the first in all her life
stairs; she put her hands between her legs on the Artiaga Street, Mariana cried.

Share your opinions. Give complete sentences in answering the question.

1. What lesson can the story bring to young people who chose to engage in early marriage
and parenting?

2. What part of the story mirrors the real and common happening in the life of the people
who are in relationship in your municipality?

3. What lesson can you get from Mariana and Victor in terms of handling their
responsibilities?

4. In reality, what do you think of the people who eat dogs?

62
 5. If you happened to witness and heard of this animal cruelty in your locality, what
actions are done in your community to prevent such activity?

6. What message do you want to give to people in your locality who do not think of
animal rights and welfare?

#2 Read the story carefully and answer the questions that follow.
Nanking Store
©1999 by Macario D. Tiu
I was only three years old then, but I have During their first year of marriage, Linda
vivid memories of Peter and Linda’s often brought me to their house in Bajada.
wedding. What I remember most was She and Peter would pick me up after
jumping and romping on their pristine nursery school from our store in their car.
matrimonial bed after the wedding. I She would tell Mother it was her way of
would learn later that it was to ensure that easing her loneliness, as all her relatives
their first-born would be a boy. I was and friends were in Cebu, her hometown.
chosen to do the honors because I was Sometimes I stayed overnight with them.
robust and fat.
I liked going there because she pampered
I also remember that I got violently sick me, feeding me fresh fruits as well as
after drinking endless bottles of soft preserved Chinese fruits like dikiam,
drinks. I threw up everything that I had champoy and kiamoy. Peter was fun too,
eaten, staining Linda’s shimmering satin making me ride piggyback. He was very
wedding gown. Practically the entire strong and did not complain about my
Chinese community of the city was weight.
present. There was so much food that
some Bisayan children from the squatter’s Tua Poy, that’s what she fondly called me.
area were allowed to enter the compound It meant Fatso. I called her Achi, and
to eat in a shed near the kitchen. Peter, Ahiya. They were a happy couple. I
would see them chase each other among
the furniture and into the rooms. There

63
was much laughter in the house. It was this Bajada at night like Peter did. I wished
happy image that played in my mind about Mother would ask the question, but she did
Peter and Linda for a long time. not.
I was six years old when I sensed that However, at the New Canton Barbershop I
something had gone wrong with their learned the real reason. One night, Mother
marriage. Linda left the Bajada house and told me to fetch Father because it was past
moved into the upstairs portions of eight o’clock and he hadn’t had his dinner.
Nanking Store which was right across As a family we ate early. Like most
from Father’s grocery store in Santa Ana. Chinese, we would close the store by five
The Bajada residence was the wedding gift and go up to the second floor to eat supper.
of Peter’s parents to the couple. It was
therefore strange that Linda would choose The New Canton Barbershop served as the
to live in Santa Ana while Peter would recreation center of our block. At night the
stay in Bajada, a distance of some three sidewalk was brightly lighted, serving as
kilometers. the extension of the barbershop’s waiting
room. People congregated there to play
In Santa Ana where the Chinese stores Chinese chess, to read the Orient News or
were concentrated, the buildings used to be just talk. It was a very informal place.
uniformly two storeys high. The first floor Father and the other elderly males would
was the store; the second floor was the go there in shorts and sando shirts.
residence. In time some Chinese grew
prosperous and moved out to establish He was playing chess when I got there. He
little enclaves in different parts of the city sat on a stool with one leg raised on the
and in the suburbs. We remained in Santa stool.
Ana. “Mama says you should go home and eat,”
One late afternoon, after school, I caught I said.
Linda at home talking with Mother. Father looked at me and I immediately
“Hoa, Tua Poya. You’ve grown very tall!” noticed that he had had a drink. The focus
Linda greeted me, ruffling my hair. of his eyes was not straight.

At that age, the show of affection made me “I have eaten. Go home. Tell Mother I’ll
feel awkward and I sidled up to Mother. follow in a short while,” he said.
Linda gave me two Mandarin oranges. I I stayed on and watched the game although
stayed at the table in the same room, eating I did not understand a thing.
an orange and pretending not to listen to
their conversation. “I said go home,” Father said, glowering at
me.
I noticed that Linda’s eyes were sad, not
the eyes that I remembered. Her eyes used I did not budge.
to be full of light and laughter. Now her “This is how children behave now. You
eyes were somber even when her voice tell them to do something and they won’t
sounded casual and happy. obey,” he complained to his opponent.
“I got bored in Bajada,” Linda said. “I Turning to me, he said, “Go home.”
thought I’d help Peter at the store.” “Check,” his opponent said.
That was how she explained why she had “Hoakonga!” Father cried, “I turn around
moved to Santa Ana. I wanted to know if and you cheat me.”
she could not do that by going to the store
in the morning and returning home to His opponent laughed aloud, showing
toothless gums.
64
Father studied the chessboard. “Hoakonga! It was Peter who broke the silence by
You’ve defeated me four times in a row!” greeting Father. He also greeted some
people, and suddenly they were alive
“Seven times.” again. The chess pieces made scraping
“What? You’re a big cheat and you know noises on the board, the newspapers
that. Certainly five times, no more!” rustled, and people began to talk.

It elicited another round of laughter from “Hoa, Tua Poya, you’ve grown very tall!”
the toothless man. Several people in the he said, ruffling my hair.
adjoining tables joined in the laughter. I smiled shyly at him. He exchanged a few
Father reset the chess pieces to start words with Father and then, ruffling my
another game. hair once more, he went away. It struck me
“You beat me in chess, but I have six that he was not the Peter I knew, vigorous
children. All boys. Can you beat that?” he and alert. This Peter looked tired, and his
announced. shoulders sagged.

Father’s laughter was very loud. When he I followed him with my eyes. Down the
had had a drink he was very talkative. road I noted that his car was parked in
front of Nanking Store. But he did not get
“See this?” he hooked his arm around my into his car; instead he went inside the
waist and drew me to his side. “This is my store. It was one of those nights when he
youngest. Can you beat this?” would sleep in the store.
The men laughed. They laughed very hard. “A bad stock,” the toothless man said,
I did not know what was funny, but it must shaking his head. “Ah Kong has no bones.
be because of the incongruous sight of the But Peter is a bad stock. A pity. After four
two of us. He was very thin and I was very years, still no son. Not even a daughter.”
fat.
“It’s the woman, not Peter,” said a man
“Well, I have I seven children!” the from a neighboring table. “I heard they
toothless man said. tried everything. She even had regular
“Ah, four daughters. Not counted,” Father massage by a Bisayan medicine woman.”
said. “It’s sad. It’s very sad,” the toothless man
“Ah Kong! Ah Kong!” somebody said. said. “His parents want him to junk her,
but he loves her.”
The laughter was deafening. Ah Kong
lived several blocks away. He had ten When Father and I got home, I went to my
children, all daughters, and his wife was First Brother’s room.
pregnant again. “Why do they say that Ah Kong has no
They laughed at their communal joke, but bones?” I asked my brother.
the laughter slowly died down until there “Where did you learn that?” my brother
was absolute silence. It was a very curious asked.
thing. Father saw Peter coming around the
corner and he suddenly stopped laughing. “At the barbershop.”
The toothless man turned, saw Peter, and “Don’t listen in on adult talk,” he said.
he stopped laughing, too. Anybody who “It’s bad manners.”
saw Peter became instantly quiet so that by
the time he was near the barbershop the “Well, what does it mean?”
group was absolutely silent.
“It means Ah Kong cannot produce a son.”

65
“And what is a bad stock?” Instead he put his energies into Nanking
Store. His father had retired and had given
My brother told me to go to sleep, but I him full authority. Under his management,
persisted. Nanking Store expanded, eating up two
“It means you cannot produce any adjacent doors. It was rumored he had
children. It’s like a seed, see? It won’t bought a large chunk of Santa Ana and
grow. Why do you ask?” he said. was diversifying into manufacturing and
mining.
“They say Peter is a bad stock.”
Once, I met him in the street and I smiled
“Well, that’s what’s going to happen to at him but he did not return my greeting.
him if he won’t produce a child. But it’s He did not ruffle my hair. He had become
not really Peter’s problem. It is Linda’s a very different man. His mouth was set
problem. She had an appendectomy when very hard. He looked like he was angry at
she was still single. It could have affected something.
her.”
The changes in Linda occurred over a
Somehow I felt responsible for their period of time. At first, she seemed to be
having no children. I worried that I could in equal command with Peter in Nanking
be the cause. I hoped nobody remembered Store. She had her own desk and
that I jumped on their matrimonial bed to sometimes acted as cashier. Later she
give them good luck. I failed to give them began to serve customers directly as if she
a son. I failed to give them even a were one of the salesgirls.
daughter. But nobody really blamed me for
it. Everybody agreed it was Linda’s Then her personal maid was fired. Gossip
problem. blamed this on Peter’s parents. She lived
pretty much like the three stay-in salesgirls
That was why Linda had moved in to and the young mestizo driver who cooked
Santa Ana. their own meals and washed their own
But the problem was more complicated clothes.
than this. First Brother explained it all to Members of the community whose
me patiently. Peter’s father was the sole opinions mattered began to sympathize
survivor of the Zhin family. He had a with her because her in-laws were
brother but he died when still young. The becoming hostile towards her openly. The
family name was therefore in danger of mother-in-law made it known to
dying out. It was the worst thing that could everybody she was unhappy with her. She
happen to a Chinese family, for the began to scold Linda in public. “That
bloodline to vanish from the world. Who worthless, barren woman,” she would spit
would pay respects to the ancestors? It was out. Linda became a very jittery person.
unthinkable. Peter was the family’s only One time, she served tea to her mother-in-
hope to carry on the family name, and he law and the cup slid off the saucer. It gave
still remained childless. the mother-in-law a perfect excuse to slap
But while everybody agreed that it was Linda in the face in public.
Linda’s fault, some people also doubted Peter did not help her when it was a matter
Peter’s virility. At the New Canton between his parents and herself. I think at
Barbershop it was the subject of drunken that time he still loved Linda, but he
bantering. He was aware that people were always deferred to the wishes of his
talking behind his back. From a very parents. When it was that he stopped
gregarious man, he became withdrawn and loving her I would not know. But he had
no longer socialized. learned to go to night spots and the talk

66
began that he was dating a Bisayan bar As for his parents, they acted as if nothing
girl. First Brother saw this woman and had had happened. Perhaps they knew about
nothing but contempt for her. the scandal, but pretended not to know.
They were caught in a dilemma. On one
“A bad woman,” First brother told me one hand, it should make them happy that
night about this woman. “All make-up. I Peter finally produced a son. On the other
don’t know what he sees in her.” hand, they did not relish the idea of having
It seemed that Peter did not even try to a half-breed for a grandson, the old
hide his affair because he would generation Chinese being conscious of
occasionally bring the girl to a very racial purity. What was certain though was
expensive restaurant in Matina. Matina that they remained unkind to Linda.
was somewhat far from Santa Ana, but the So there came a time when nobody was
rich and mobile young generation Chinese paying any attention anymore to Linda, not
no longer confined themselves to Santa even Peter. Our neighbors began to accept
Ana. Many of them saw Peter with the her fate. It was natural for her to get
woman. As if to lend credence to the scolded by her mother-in-law in public. It
rumor, the occasional night visits he made was natural that she should stay with the
at Nanking Store stopped. I would not see salesgirls and the driver. She no longer
his car parked there at night again. visited with Mother. She rarely went out,
One day, Peter brought First Brother to a and when she did, she wore a scarf over
house in a subdivision in Mandug where her head, as if she were ashamed for
he proudly showed him a baby boy. It was people to see her. Once in the street I
now an open secret that he kept his woman greeted her–she looked at me with panic in
there and visited her frequently. First her eyes, mumbled something, drew her
Brother told me about it after swearing me scarf down to cover her face, and hurriedly
to secrecy, the way Peter had sworn him to walked away.
secrecy. First Brother had told me once that Linda’s
“Well, that settles the question. Peter is no degradation was rather a strange case. She
bad stock after all. It had been Linda all was an educated girl, and although her
along,” First Brother said. family was not rich, it was not poor either.
Why she allowed herself to be treated that
It turned out Peter showed his baby boy to way was something that baffled people.
several other people and made them swear She was not that submissive before. Once,
to keep it a secret. In no time at all I was witness to how she stood her ground.
everybody in the community knew he had Her mother-in-law had ordered her to
finally produced a son. People talked about remove a painting of an eagle from a
the scandal in whispers. A son by a living room wall of their Bajada house,
Bisayan woman? And a bad woman at saying it was bad feng shui. With great
that? But they no longer joked about his courtesy, Linda refused, saying it was
being a bad stock. beautiful. But the mother-in-law won in
All in all people were happy for Peter. the end. She nagged Peter about it, and he
Once again his prestige rose. Peter basked removed the painting.
in this renewed respect. He regained his When the Bisayan woman gave Peter a
old self; he now walked with his shoulders second son, it no longer created a stir in
straight, and looked openly into people’s the community. What created a minor stir
eyes. He also began to socialize at New was that late one night, when the New
Canton Barbershop. And whenever we Canton Barbershop was about to close and
met, he would ruffle my hair. there were only a few people left, Peter

67
dropped by with his eldest son whom he happened through our domestic helper
carried piggyback. First Brother was there. who got her story from the stay-in
He said everybody pretended the boy did salesgirls. That was how the entire
not exist. community learned the details of the
confrontation.
Then Peter died in a car accident in the
Buhangin Diversion Road. He was According to them, Linda ran upstairs to
returning from Mandug and a truck avoid talking to her mother-in-law. But the
rammed his car, killing him instantly. I older woman followed and started berating
cried when I heard about it, remembering her and calling her names. Linda kept her
how he had been good to me. composure. She did not even retaliate
when the older woman slapped her. But
At the wake, Linda took her place two when the mother-in-law grabbed Linda’s
rows behind her mother-in-law who hair, intending to drag her down the stairs,
completely ignored her. People passed by Linda kicked her in the shin. The old
her and expressed their condolences very woman went wild and flayed at Linda.
quickly, as if they were afraid of being Linda at first fought back defensively, but
seen doing so by the mother-in-law. At the as the older woman kept on, she finally
burial, Linda stood stoically throughout slapped her mother-in-law hard in the face.
the ceremony, and when Peter was finally Stunned, the older woman retreated,
interred, she swooned. shouting threats at her. She never showed
A few weeks after Peter’s burial, we her face in Santa Ana again.
learned that Linda’s mother-in-law wanted While some conservative parties in the
her out of Nanking Store. She offered community did not approve of Linda’s
Linda a tempting amount of money. actions, many others cheered her secretly.
People thought it was a vicious thing to They were sad, though, that the mother-in-
do, but none could help her. It was a law, otherwise a good woman, would
purely family affair. However, a month or become a cruel woman out of desperation
two passed and Linda was still in Nanking to protect and perpetuate the family name.
Store. In fact, Linda was now taking over
Peter’s work. Since the enmity had become violent, the
break was now total and absolute. This
I was happy to see that she had begun to family quarrel provided an interesting
stir herself to life. It was ironic that she diversion in the entire community; we
would do so only after her husband’s followed each and every twist of its
death. But at the same time, we feared for development like a TV soap opera. When
her. Her mother-in-law’s hostility was the in-laws hired a lawyer, Linda also
implacable. She blamed Linda for hired her own lawyer. It was going to be
everything. She knew about the scandal all an ugly fight over property.
along, and she never forgave Linda for
making Peter the laughing stock of the Meanwhile, Linda’s transformation
community, forcing him into the arms of a fascinated the entire community. She had
Bisayan girl of an unsavory reputation and removed her scarf and made herself visible
producing half-breed bastard sons. in the community again. I was glad that
every time I saw her she was getting back
We waited keenly for the showdown that to her old self. Indeed it was only then that
was coming. A flurry of emissaries went to I noticed how beautiful she was. She had
Nanking Store but Linda stood pat on her well-shaped lips that needed no lipstick.
decision to stay. Then one morning, her Her eyes sparkled. Color had returned to
mother-in-law herself came in her flashy her cheeks, accentuating her fine
Mercedes. We learned about what actually complexion. Blooming, the women said,

68
seeming to thrive on the fight to remain in “Naughty, naughty,” the young men teased
Nanking Store. The young men sat up him, some of whom turned unfriendly.
whenever she passed by. But they would Unused to attention, the driver went on
shake their heads, and say “What a pity, leave to visit his parents in Iligan City.
she’s barren.”
One night, I arrived home to find Linda
Then without warning the in-laws talking with Mother.
suddenly moved to Manila, bringing with
them the two bastard sons. They made it “Hoa, Tua Poya! You’re so tall!” she
known to everybody that it was to show greeted me. “Here are some oranges. I
their contempt for Linda. It was said that know you like them.”
the other woman received a handsome I said my thanks. How heavy with child
amount so she would never disturb them she was!
again.
“How old are you now?”
We all thought that was that. For several
months an uneasy peace settled down in “Twelve,” I said.
Nanking Store as the struggle shifted to the “Hmm, you’re a man already. I should
courts. People pursued other interests. start calling you Napoleon, huh? Well,
Then to the utter horror of the community, Napoleon, I’ve come here to say goodbye
they realized Linda was pregnant. to your mother, and to you, too.”
Like most people, I thought at first that she She smiled; it was the smile I remembered
was just getting fat. But everyday it was when I was still very young, the smile of
getting obvious that her body was my childhood.
growing. People had mixed reactions.
When she could not bear a child she was a “Tomorrow, I’m going to Iligan to fetch
disgrace. Now that she was pregnant, she Oliver. Then we’ll proceed to Cebu to visit
was still a disgrace. But she did not care my parents. Would you like to go with
about what people thought or said about me?”
her. Wearing a pair of elastic pants that
I looked at Mother. She was teary eyed.
highlighted her swollen belly, she walked
Linda stood up and ruffled my hair.
all over Santa Ana. She dropped by every
store on our block and chatted with the “So tall,” she said.
storeowners, as if to make sure that
everybody knew she was pregnant. That was two years ago. We have not
heard from Linda again. Nanking Store
There was no other suspect for her remains closed. The store sign has streaked
condition but the driver. Nobody had ever into pastel colors like a stale wedding
paid him any attention before, and now cake. First Brother says it is best for Linda
they watched him closely. He was a shy to stay away. As for me, I am happy for
mestizo about Peter’s age. A very her but I keep wondering if she had given
dependable fellow, yes. And good-looking, birth to a boy.
they now grudgingly admitted.

69
Share your opinions. Give complete sentences in answering the question.

1. What can you say about the familial bond between in-laws? Is disagreement between a
wife/husband and parent-in-law common in your locality?

2. What part of the story mirrors the real and common happening in the life of the people
in your municipality?

3. What is the moral of the story? How can you apply the values in your life?

-C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S-

You have finished the lesson in this module!

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Module No. and Title Module 4: Mindanao Literature in English

Lesson No. and Title Lesson 2: Mindanao Epics and Ballads

Learning Outcomes At the end of the lesson, the students are expected to:
• analyze known Mindanao epics and ballads;
• identify the values acquired from the readings through
summarizing; and
• determine the best practices from the readings that can be
applied in real-life situations.

Time Frame 2 weeks

For this lesson in module 4, you will be engaging yourself to more Mindanao literary
pieces specifically literary genres such as epics and ballads. These literary genres deal with
adventures and journey of a notable person. You will be knowing more of the cultures and
values of Mindanao people captured in the writings.

#1 Epic Vs. Ballad – Compare and contrast epic and ballad. Discuss its similarity and
difference in no more than three sentences.
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
#2 Recall a ballad. Extract a stanza/line that you like the most and discuss its message.
____________________
(title)
______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_____________________________
Message:
_________________________________________________________________________

71
#3 Recall one epic that you have encountered in your literature classes before. What makes
you remember the story?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Interpret the following lines. What do you think is the motive of the characters uttering such
lines?
1. “By this tree I shall know your fate from the time you depart from here, for if you live,
it will live; but if you die, it will die also.”

2. "No, let us seek my son. Even though we must enter the harbor where the Spaniards
are, let us continue our search."

3. “I will go and the land shall be avenged.”

4. "You, my friends, decide whether or not I shall give the hand of my daughter to
Bantugan in marriage."

72
 Buyangyang (Water Strider)
(A Ballad from Butuan)

Buyayang buyayang buyayang sa tubig

(Strider, water strider on the water) Minsay isang tatay payapang nag bungkal
akoy nanakayan walay katig katig (Once a father tilled the land peacefully)
(I go sailing with nothing, no outrigger) katabang ni nanay sa lupang gi mahal
Walay bugsay bugsay bukton ray (helping mother tend the land they loved)
pangkaykay naay munting paslit na nais mag aral
(Not a paddle, but my arms just flapping) (once a little child dreamed of going to school)
pagdunggo sa baybay nagakapaykapay digmaan at sakit hinooy umiral
(And crazily, I’m flailing once I get to shore) (but instead war and sickness were the rule)
Sa yutang gisaad katin aw sa tubig
(In this promised Land how clear the water) halina't magmasid mag magunawan
dayo ug lumad kalinaw ang ibig (come, look and understand)
(clearly we want peace, native, or stranger) kuyog at kuliglig panay ang tagisan
apan isang araw punlo ay umulan (the beetles and the crickets make so much
(But one day the dark clouds rained bullets) noise)
nawasak nahan na munting kabuhayan may sa himpapawid sa radyot lathalan
(Life and livelihood were all broken and lost) (it’s broadcast all over the radio and news)
may sa himpapawid, may sa himpapawid
Didto sa mindanao duna kami balay (it’s broadcast all over, it’s broadcast all over)
(Here in Mindanao, we used to have a house) may sa himpapawid sa radiot lathalan
ang kanhi nga lagkaw ni nanay ug tatay (it’s broadcast all over the radio and news)
(what used to be the house of our ancestors) ngunit di marinig ang tinig ng bayan
sila gapanguhag huway ug bagakay (but they can’t hear the people’s voice)
(they were gatherers of rattan and bamboo)
arun pabayluag mga isdang gagmay
(to trade for little fishes from the sea)

Shortened version:
Di na mogaud
Buyayang buyayang Tukon lang kanunay
Buyayang sa tubig Diin mikadahik
Ako manakayan wa bay katigkatig Sa bugan ni Nene
Buyayang buyayang is a folk song or ballad from Butuan, Northern Mindanao. Butuan
is named after “batuan”, a sour fruit which is commonly used in their local dishes. A ballad
from this place talks about a water strider that has a difficulty as it makes its way across the
surface of the water. This piece is about peace.

73
 Bantugan
Summary

There is a kingdom called Bumbaran. There lived King Madali and Prince Bantugan.
Bantugan was famous for his might and prowess, which attracted many women. This made
the king envious.
He banned the people from talking to the prince or they will be punished. Bantugan left
the palace and ended up in the Kingdom of the Land of Two Seas. Bantugan fell ill and died
at the kingdom gates. The king of the land and Princess were shocked at his dead body.
Nobody in the land knew of the prince.
He held a forum with the wise men to deal with Bantugan’s corpse until a parrot came
and told them of his identity. The loro was tasked to tell Madali of his brother’s demise,
which he did.
Upon knowing of his death of his brother, King Madali was saddened. He hurriedly
flew to the heavens to return Bantugan’s spirit. Madali return with the soul and Princess
Datimbang met with Madali carrying his body. They returned the soul into Bantugan’s body
and revived him. All rejoiced, including King Madali.
Meanwhile, King Miskoyaw heard of Bantugan’s death and invaded the kingdom of
Bumbaran. Bantugan fought but he was weakened since he was recently revived. He was
imprisoned. Eventually, his strength returned and defeated King Miskoyaw and his men.
The kingdom was saved and they continued their celebration. The envy of King Madali was
now gone.
Bantugan traveled to many lands and met many princesses, which he all married. He
returned to King Madali, who welcomed him with joy. Bantugan lived longly and
peacefully.

A narrative that is most often told and retold from generation to generation is the hero
tale or what is mostly known as epic. The story focuses on the journey of a legendary hero who
are admired by many people because of its looks, abilities, and fighting skills as well as mental
alertness. Epic is a long narrative poem that is basically based on oral tradition which shares
beliefs, customs, ideals, and life values of people. Philippine epics open ways for people to see
certain ethnic groups and regional heroes. Bantugan is a Maranao epic. And since epic is
originally a long narrative poem, most of the people reads and knows the story of a regional
hero through its summary.
A summary is a shortened version of the story or the gist of the story. Remember these
things in making a summary:
1. Always base the summary on the original story or literary piece.
2. Since summary is a shortened version, keep your summary short.
3. Make use of your own words in retelling the story.
4. Refer to the main ideas and core message of the original piece.
5. Read with “who, what, when, where, why and how questions” in mind. Know the answers
of these questions when reading the original piece.
6. Never put your own ideas and opinions about issues tackled in the original piece. Stick to
what is happening in the story.

Source: Writing a Summary homepage.smc.edu/reading_lab/

74
Read the epic below. Apply your learning about making a good summary through answering
the story board prepared below the epic.

Note: There are questions break in every important event in the story for you to take a pause and predict
what will happen next. But you are not required to write your answers to the question.

Indarapatra at Sulayman
(Maranao Epic)

A very long time ago, the large island of monster was a dreadful bird also, having
Mindanao was completely covered with seven heads and the power to see in all
water, and the sea extended over all the directions at the same time. Mt. Gurayn
lowlands so that nothing could be seen but was its home and like the others it wrought
mountains. There were many people living havoc in its region.
in the country, and all the highlands were
dotted with villages and settlements. For
many years the people prospered, living in Take A Break!
peace and contentment.
Of the four monsters, which do you think is the most
difficult to fight with?

Suddenly there appeared in the land four

horrible monsters which, in a short time, So great was the death and destruction
had devoured every human being they caused by these terrible animals that at
could find. length the news spread even to the most
distant lands, and all nations were grieved
to hear of the sad fate of Mindanao.
Kurita, a terrible creature with many
limbs, lived partly on land and partly in the
sea, but its favorite haunt was the Now far across the sea in the land of the
mountain where the rattan grew; and here golden sunset was a city so great that to
it brought utter destruction on every living look at its many people would injure the
thing. The second monster, Tarabusaw, eyes of man. When tidings of these great
an ugly creature in the form of a man, disasters reached this distant city, the heart
lived on Mt. Matutun, and far and wide of the king Indarapatra was filled with
from that place he devoured the people, compassion, and he called his
laying waste the land. The third, an brother, Sulayman, begging him to save
enormous bird called Pah, was so large the land of Mindanao from the monsters.
that when on the wing it covered the sun
and brought darkness to the earth. Its egg Sulayman listened to the story, and as he
was as large as a house. Mt. Bita was its heard he was moved with pity.
haunt, and there the only people who
escaped its voracity were those who hid in
caves in the mountains. The fourth

75
“I will go,” said he, zeal and enthusiasm Tarabusaw threatened to devour the man,
adding to his strength, “and the land shall and Sulayman declared that he would kill
be avenged.” the monster. At that the animal broke large
branches off the trees and began striking at
King Indarapatra, proud of his brother’s Sulayman who, in turn, fought back. For a
courage, gave him a ring and a sword as he long time the battle continued until at last
wished him success and safety. Then he the monster fell exhausted to the ground
placed a young sapling by his window and and then Sulayman killed him with his
said to Sulayman: sword.

“By this tree I shall know your fate from

the time you depart from here, for if you Take A Break!

live, it will live; but if you die, it will die Sulayman defeated the monsters easily! Do you think
also.” he will defeat the next two monsters with ease?

Take A Break! The next place visited by Sulayman

What do you think will happen to Sulayman?
was Mt. Bita. Here havoc was present
everywhere, and though he passed by
many homes, not a single soul was left. As
he walked along, growing sadder at each
So Sulayman departed for Mindanao, and
moment, a sudden darkness which startled
he neither walked nor used a boat, but he
him fell over the land. As he looked
went through the air and landed on the
toward the sky he beheld a great bird
mountain where the rattan grew. There he
descending upon him. Immediately he
stood on the summit and gazed about on
struck at it, cutting off its wing with his
all sides. He looked on the land and the
sword, and the bird fell dead at his feet;
villages, but he could see no living thing.
but the wing fell on Sulayman, and he was
And he was very sorrowful and cried out:
crushed.

“Alas, how pitiful and dreadful is this

Now at this very time King Indarapatra
devastation!”
was sitting at his window, and looking out
he saw the little tree wither and dry up.
No sooner had Sulayman uttered these
words than the whole mountain began to
“Alas!” he cried, “my brother is dead”;
move, and then shook. Suddenly out of the
and he wept bitterly.
ground came the horrible creature, Kurita.
It sprang at the man and sank its claws into
his flesh. But Sulayman, knowing at once Then although he was very sad, he was
that this was the scourge of the land, drew filled with a desire for revenge, and
his sword and cut the Kurita to pieces. putting on his sword and belt he started for
Mindanao in search of
Encouraged by his first success, Sulayman
went on to Mt. Matutun where conditions Take A Break!
his brother.
were even worse. As he stood on the If you were King Indarapatra, would you take
heights viewing the great devastation there revenge too?

was a noise in the forest and a movement

in the trees. With a loud yell, forth leaped
Tarabusaw. For a moment they looked at
each other, neither showing any fear. Then
76
He, too, traveled through the air with great he greeted her, she drew near and talked
speed until he came to the mountain where with him while he ate the rice.
the rattan grew. There he looked about,
awed at the great destruction, and when he
Take A Break!
saw the bones of Kurita he knew that his
brother had been there and gone. He went What do you think of the woman? Is she a friend or
enemy?
on till he came to Matutun, and when he
saw the bones of Tarabusaw he knew that
this, too, was the work of Sulayman.
Of all the people in the land, the old
woman told him, only a very few were still
Still searching for his brother, he arrived at alive, and they hid in a cave in the ground
Mt. Bita where the dead bird lay on the from whence they never ventured. As for
ground, and as he lifted the severed wing herself and her old husband, she went on,
he beheld the bones of Sulayman with his they had hidden in a hollow tree, and this
sword by his side. His grief now so they had never dared leave until after
overwhelmed Indarapatra that he wept for Sulayman killed the voracious bird, Pah.
some time. Upon looking up he beheld a
small jar of water by his side. This he
At Indarapatra’s earnest request, the old
knew had been sent from heaven, and he
woman led him to the cave where he found
poured the water over the bones, and
the headman with his family and some of
Sulayman came to life again. They greeted
his people. They all gathered about the
each other and talked long together.
stranger, asking many questions, for this
Sulayman declared that he had not been
was the first they had heard about the
dead but asleep, and their hearts were full
death of the monsters. When they found
of joy.
what Indarapatra had done for them, they
were filled with gratitude, and to show
After some time Sulayman returned to his their appreciation the headman gave his
distant home, but Indarapatra continued daughter to him in marriage, and she
his journey to Mt. Gurayn where he killed proved to be the beautiful girl whom
the dreadful bird with the seven heads. Indarapatra had seen at the mouth of the
After these monsters had all been cave.
destroyed and peace and safety had been
restored to the land, Indarapatra began
Then the people all came out of their
searching everywhere to see if some of the
hiding-place and returned to their homes
people might not be hidden in the earth
where they lived in peace and happiness.
still alive.
And the sea withdrew from the land and
gave the lowlands to the people
One day during his search he caught sight
of a beautiful woman at a distance. When
he hastened toward her she disappeared
through a hole in the ground where she
was standing. Disappointed and tired, he
sat down on a rock to rest, when, looking
about, he saw near him a pot of uncooked
rice with a big fire on the ground in front
of it. This revived him and he proceeded to
cook the rice. As he did so, however, he
heard someone laugh near by, and turning
he beheld an old woman watching him. As
77
Story board of the Heroes. Summarize the epic Indarapatra and Sulayman by choosing six
important events in the story. Write the details of events in each box from beginning to the end of
the journey. Each box should not contain more than 5 sentences.

Start

Finish

-C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S-

You have finished the lesson in this module!

78
 Module No. and Title Module 5: Mindanao Literary Poems

Lesson No. and Title Lesson 1: Mindanao Local Poems

Learning Outcomes At the end of the lesson, the students are expected to:
• read and analyze Mindanao literary poems through
imagery;
• identify the values acquired from the readings; and
• determine the best practices from the readings that
can be applied in real-life situations.
Time Frame 1 week

Module 5 will let you explore the richness and creativity of literary poems in Mindanao. In
this module, your senses will be activated as you read and savor each line of the poem through
different activities prepared just for you. You already know the meaning of the poem and its
different literary types. This time you are going to perform tasks that will let you further appreciate
poems.

Analyze the lines of the poem My Neighbor by Ricaredo Demetillo below by evaluating the
sensory language used. Choose the sense that represents the sensory language used in the poem.
Write your answer in column B.

SIGHT HEAR SMELL TOUCH TASTE

A B

Now all the urchins shy, the cold tall gate

That guards the ripe fruits from their

slings

So know how each lush flower-bed is

sprayed by hoses in the sun

And guess when roses scent the air

Or drop their petals on the grass

Where my boys tumble in the sun

79
 EXPLAIN

What is the importance of sensory images that the poet uses in writing a poem?

Imagery is one of the significant elements of the poem. To achieve the vivid projection of
image that the poet is trying to form, poets use language that appeals to the senses – sense of sight
(visual), hearing (auditory), smell, touch (tactile), and taste. Generally, poets use sensory
experiences to describe their impressions about something and create vivid pictures that will help
readers understand what the poem means.

Example lines:

Golden petals of daffodils (sight)

Scorching heat of the sun (touch)

Patter of the feet (sound)

Aromatic scent of coffee (smell)

Sweet strawberry (taste)

Source: Hovland et al. (1997). Elements of Literature Introductory Course.
Orlando Florida: Holt, Rinehart, & Winston, Inc.

80
 The poem below is written by a Dabawenyo writer. The poet uses sensory experiences to
clearly project the message of the poem – ways to kill cockroach.

Unsaon Pagpatay sa Ok-ok

Poetry by Errol Merquita | November 6, 2016

Pag- andam og tsinelas,

kanang baga, kanang malaparo.
Pag-andam og tirongan,
kanang talinis, kanang taas.
Pag-andam og silhig ug sako,
kanang dako, kanang lapad.
Tuktoka sa iyang panimalay.
Kon makit-an nimong
gakamang-kamang ang mga ok-ok
sa Boulevard, hinay-hinayag duol.
Unya kalit walupa
sa baga nga tsinelas.
Ug makaikyas unya musukol
ang inahak, kuhaa ang tirongan.
Tusoka sa lungag kay tingali
misuksok sa Brgy. 23-C.
Tusoka gyud hangtod madunggan
nimong napislat ang iyang lawas.
Unya kuha dayon kag silhig.
Hiposa, tapoka, isulod sa sako
panaghoy murag daw sawaay.
Inig kadlawon ilabay sa kasagbotan
Ug aron mahimangnoan ang tanan
butangi og pasidaan,
ok-ok ako huwag ninyong tularan.
Sayon ra patyon
ang mga gagmayng ok-ok.
Perog kung dinagko

81
 na Insekto na gani,
Ayaw sa patya,
kay istudyohan pa.

The line Kon makit-an nimong gakamang-kamang ang mga ok-ok appeals to your sense of
sight (visual).
The line Tusoka gyud hangtod madunggan nimong napislat ang iyang lawas appeals to
your sense of hearing (auditory)
The line Unya kuha dayon kag silhig. Hiposa, tapoka, isulod sa sako appeals to your sense
of touch (tactile).
The use of these sensory languages help the readers create a clear scenario and feelings that
the poem is trying to convey.

After knowing the importance of sensory languages in dealing with poems. Analyze the
poem and identify sensory language and senses used.

Adidas sa Badjao
Poetry by Jovanie Garay | May 20, 2018

adidas sa badjao

perming galakaw-lakaw

gikan silas Dabaw

hangtud Oriental ang panaw

nahimong negosyante

makahangyo ka permi

gikan dosentos baynte

hangtud sa wan pepti

???

adidas sa badjao

ang halin ipamahaw

usahay lugaw-lugaw

aron gutom mahanaw

82
 kung imong tan-awon

nanginabuhi intawon

isug natong mga igsuon

hagit sa kinabuhi gapadayon

???

adidas sa badjao

lig-on ilakaw-lakaw

bisan asa pa imong panaw

diha ilalom sa adlaw

pagkanindot suoton

dili gikan sa halangdon

sayon ra pod sukdon

sa tiil nga mga kubalon

???

mga adidas sa badjao

amping mos inyong panaw

ug kung mubalik mos Dabaw

patilawa kos inyong lugaw

dinhi pud sa Davao Oriental

duna mi daghang bahal

maghinay-hinay ta’g tagay

ug sa kinabuhi maglipay-lipay

83
Use the organizer below in answering the task.

Poetic Line Sense

E.g Golden petals of daffodil Sight

Congratulations for finishing this module!

How about a TV break?

84
 Module No. and Title Module 6: Contemporary Literature of the Philippines

Lesson No. and Title Lesson 1: Film Production about Mindanao

Learning Outcomes At the end of the lesson, the students are expected to:
• identify the culture of the settlers of Mindanao;
• determine the significance of Mindanao literary
pieces in our daily lives; and
• appreciate the culture of the Mindanao through
motion pictures.
Time Frame 1 week

Mindanao is tagged as the Land of Promise because of its abundant natural resources and
biodiversity. But despite its richness, Mindanao also has its dark sides just like any other islands
and places. There are many conflicts everywhere from insurgents, drugs, corruption, poverty to
religious conflicts, political dynasties, and such . But despite these, Mindanawan remains strong all
this time. There are marks of progress everywhere.
Literature helps boost the confidence of Mindanawan people. Through literary works,
people slowly discover amazing and unique culture of ethnic groups in Mindanao. And for some
good reason, ethnic groups and cultures are presented in films and motion picture productions. This

module will let you see works of film with Mindanao as its center piece
Recall a movie that involves a reflection of the culture of Mindanao people. How are the
following Mindanao people usually portrayed in the movies?

1. Soldiers –
2. Common people –
3. Tribe leaders –
4. Muslim –
5. Christian –

85
 In films, local people and tribes are presented reflecting what people generally know of the
culture. Some might include biases and prejudices. Some lack deeper knowledge about the ethnic
group and culture. How can you describe the biases and prejudices of people towards Mindanao
and its settlers? Answer in no 4-5 sentences each part of the paragraph.

Introduction

Body

Conclusion

86
 ESSAY RUBRIC

Traits 4 3 2 1
There is one clear, There is one clear, There is one topic. The topic and main
well-focused topic. well-focused topic. Main ideas are ideas are not clear.
Main ideas are Main ideas are clear somewhat clear.
clear and are well but are not well
Focus and Detail
supported by supported by detailed
detailed and information.
accurate
information
The introduction is The introduction The introduction There is no clear
inviting, states the states the main topic states the main topic. introduction,
main topic, and and provides an A conclusion is structure or
provides an overview of the included. conclusion.
overview of the paper. A conclusion
Organization paper. Information is included.
is relevant and
presented in a
logical order. The
conclusion is
strong
The author’s The author’s purpose The author’s purpose The author’s
purpose of writing of writing is of writing is purpose of writing is
is very clear, and somewhat clear, and somewhat clear, and unclear.
there is strong there is some there is evidence of
evidence of evidence of attention attention to audience.
Voice attention to to audience. The The author’s
audience. The author’s knowledge knowledge and/or
author’s extensive and/or experience experience with the
knowledge and/or with the topic is/are topic is/are limited.
experience with the evident.
topic is/are evident.
The author uses The author uses vivid The author uses The writer uses a
vivid words and words and phrases. words that limited vocabulary
phrases. The The choice and communicate clearly, Jargon or clichés
choice and placement of words but the writing lacks may be present and
Word Choice
placement of words is inaccurate at times variety. detract from the
seems accurate, and/or seems meaning.
natural, and not overdone.
forced.
All sentences are Most sentences are Most sentences are Sentences sound
well constructed well constructed and well constructed, but awkward, are
and have varied have varied structure they have similar distractingly
structure and and length. The structure and/or repetitive, or are
Sentence length. The author author makes a few length. The author difficult to
Structure, makes no errors in errors in grammar, makes several errors understand. The
Grammar, grammar, mechanics, and/or in grammar, author makes
Mechanics, and mechanics, and/or spelling, but they do mechanics, and/or numerous errors in
Spelling spelling. not interfere with spelling that interfere grammar,
understanding. with understanding. mechanics, and/or
spelling that
interfere with
understanding

Reviewer’s
Comments

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 Contemporary literature of the Philippines is not only limited to writing and publication of
local writers’ prose and poems but is also expanded to producing of films that represents certain
culture and people. Here are some of the movies produced about Mindanao that you may watch:

This movie entitled Capt. Rassul Alih: Hindi Sa’yo ang Mindanao was aired on 1993.

Tu Pug Imatuy (The Right to Kill) was directed by Arbi Barbarona, who came from Davao
City. The film was awarded as Best Film at the Quezon City Cinema filmfest in 2017. The story
line was based from real and true events that happened in the highlands in between Bukidnon and
Davao, where the 2014 Matigsalug’s ancestral domain is located. NPA (New People’s Army)
continued to place themselves in Lumad’s territory while AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines)
determined to pursue them in guerilla war in the jungle and forest – landscapes that unfortunately
destructed because of mining and logging.

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 The story reveals the tragic happening in the family of Dawin and Obunay. Their youngest
child died. Dawin and his two surviving children were arrested by military men. Military men
assume Dawin knows the hide out of the rebels and they forced him to tell them the direction. Along
the way, Odunay, his wife, was caught also by the men. They stripped off the clothes of the two in
the witness of the beautiful waterfall. As they reached the military-claimed rebel territory, which
turns to be a Lumad classroom, parents and teacher were also arrested as they were accused of being
a communist front. At night, Obunay manages to free herself and the rest of them. As the two of
them tried to escape, they are immediately caught again by the soldiers who were able to wake up
at the moment. This event leads to the killing of Dawin. The rebels had a gunfight with the soldiers.
Obunay escaped. But one soldier pursues her and Obunay lead them to holes intended for trapping
and killing wild boars. While the credits role in the final frame of the film, the real Obunay appeared
in a documentary footage and recounted the story that happened in 2014 ending the film powerfully.

Mindanao is a 2019 film directed by Brillante Mendoza. It talks about the story of a woman
who cares for her daughter battling against brain cancer while her husband was deployed as military
medic. The story was juxtaposed with the Maranao Folklore Indarapatra and Sulayman. It uses the
dying kid and myth to emphasize a warp of conflict and violence in Filipino society.

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After knowing some of films produced with Mindanao as its center piece, you get to know things
happening in reality.

Think of becoming a film director and answer the questions below:

1. If you are going to be a director of a movie about Mindanao, what ethnic group are you
going to choose as a subject and why?

2. What unexplored and unknown culture of the chosen ethnic group you want to present and
emphasize in the film?

3. What prejudices and biases towards the chosen ethnic group you want to eliminate using the
film?

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 Literature is indeed a mirror of a culture. As a literate Filipino, how are you going to use
literature as a platform to change and improve what global people think of Filipino people in
general?

Midterm is done !
It is time for you to take a break!

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