GenreLitera

BY: ANGELICA COS

MARIA LABO

 They said Maria had a big scar on her face, which is why she was called “Maria Labo” and this story gives me a thrill which is about Maria an Aswang (Queen of the Vampires) each and everyone of us has a history  in every story behind. Before modern medicine and science, aswangs served to explain miscarrriages and other maladies, today aside from the entertainment value, Filipino mothers often tell their children aswang stories to keep them off the streets and keep them home at night. There’s still so many old beliefs about this where maybe they only use it to scare children but we don’t know that because there’s still in this world that cannot be explained by science but base on the history before there’s already people who eat human meat where they called cannibal or some other are those who have psychological problems and that’s where they get the history of Aswang, but we Filipino people had our own belief and legends about aswang and now known as Maria Labo. Beliefs and traditions are part of every culture, for filipinos like us it also serves as evidence that in some way or another, we still have similar point of views, these may reflect what kind of citizen the filipino is..,

JUAN OSONG

 or Juan Tamad (Filipino for “ Lazy John”) is a character in Philippine folklore noteworthy for extreme laziness. He is usually portrayed as a child, although in some interpretations, he is said to be a young man. And the story of Juan Osong is about laziness and a comedy one that would make you think that he is a moron in a way and will even make you stress about Juan’s pathetic mind but in our self it make us laugh the way his thinking about things. And we filipinos are all lazy in our own way, one of these is that we do our work if the deadline is already near or being easy go lucky person as filipino said “Bahala na”, laziness is not a good habit because things will be done in a hard way if we all put things aside and not minding in our surroundings that makes time passing by without accomplishing anything.

MY FATHER GOES TO COURT

 This implies the gap between the upper and lower classes in the society having social discrimination. It’s a story about a large family, despite having poor life they are still full of mischief and laughter. The children are all strong and healthy even though they often go hungry. In contrast to their rich neighbor’s children are thin and sickly although they are given plenty of good food, which their impoverished neighbors enjoy smelling over the fence. Consequently, the rich man brings a charge against the poor family for stealing the spirit and wealth of his family’s food by smelling it only. The absurd case goes to court, and the father of the poor family agrees to pay back the rich neighbors. The judge rules in the poor father’s favor, and the rich man is forced to depart with no other payment than the “spirit” of the money the poor father had collected from all his friends present in his hat. The family described in here was being a happy go lucky because despite the hardships they encounter in their everyday life, they can still laugh and enjoy their lives and can still survive the burdens caused by poverty , they didn’t took their poverty as weakness, while the rich man in the story was very selfish and does not want to socialize with the poor people in the community so he ended up being sick because he only cares about his wealth and money. Same thing happened to his children, they grew up thin, weak, and sad because they did not experienced and enjoyed the life of a typical kid like playing outside and hanging out with other kids while the poor family, despite the hardships and problems the kids still enjoying playing outside so they grew up strong and healthy. The poor family enjoyed their life to the fullest, because there’s a saying that happy people will live their life longer, laughter is the best medicine and money can’t buy everything..,

ORDER FOR MASKS

 This gift of beauty masks a sad curse. Three faces to wear one after the other for the three men in her life. A woman being a pretender who have different roles portraying throughout her  life. It presents the woman’s three masks which represent the three tasks in her life and the three faces that she has to wear for the three men in her life. The first role that is illustrated is that of a sister the woman towards her brother. As a sister, she tries to differentiate herself from her brother that is why she does things that are completely opposite with the things her brother does. The next role mentioned is that of a daughter the woman towards her father that she wants him to believe that she is the perfect or ideal daughter. And the next is a woman towards her lover that she does her best to satisfy and fulfill the needs and wants of her partner. In these three roles it can be said that the woman shapes her behavior, actions and personality  in accordance to the needs of the men. This in a way degrades or lowers the status of the woman as it reduces her whole being to mere instruments that satisfies and pleases men’s needs and wants. Each and every one of us has its own masks to wear and portray, we all pretends because were afraid that society will not accept for who we are but our life is not to impressed everyone,  we live in a free society and a free world we don’t need to please everybody to accept for who we are because that’s what life is just live your life the way you are.

MAGNIFICENCE

 In this story it’s about the life of a normal family that happens in real life, and this incident happened to the little girl one night while she was left alone with the man named Vicente that was trying to molest her that’s why he is holding the little girl on his lap. This is already a common issue nowadays that shows the happenings around the society and everyone should become aware of all the evil people wandering around engaging in illegal activities like prostitution, drugs, child trafficking and the effect of modern technology. This story also tells about an old saying or beliefs because after the mother saw what Vicente did to her daughter, she told the man to leave their house and immediately told the little girl to take off his clothes, take a bath and they will set the clothes on fire. As a parents we should be aware of the welfare of our children that they were supposed to be safe inside their home, as it has been said don’t trust a stranger. Children are the responsibility of the parents so they should be the one to give time and protection for their family and not letting other people build that connection that only lead to regrets and  danger because the world is changing so does people and society.

NEW YORKER IN TONDO

 It is a story about a girl named Kikay a filipino who used to live in tondo a squatter area in Manila and had a fortune to live in New York and fell in love with it, she acquires all the New Yorkish things-style, looks, language and manners. After several years of living in New York, she visited Tondo again and she no longer how to speak the Filipino language because of the so-called “a culturization”, her friends finds her different and weird they didn’t know who she was already. And Tony childhood sweetheart of Kikay who got secretly engaged with their other childhood friend, but near the end they had revealed their secret love and the two pairs end up in each other’s arms and Kikay is back to her old self. She is obviously ashamed of his origin, and this is true among Filipinos abroad. Let’s be proud of our country because whichever way we look at it , we will always be a filipino there’s no place like home and it runs in our blood. We should never forget who we are, we should always have a sense of self or it is easy to lose yourself for who we are.

MAY DAY EVE

 It’s about regrets, sadness and war between love.  This story is about Agueda and Don Badoy. There’s this old lady named Anastasia who told the girls about the story that they would be able to find their future husband by reciting an incantation in front of the mirror but if it gone wrong, they would see a devil. Agueda tried the incantation infront of the mirror then she saw Don Badoy, they had some confrontation and she ended up biting Don Badoy’s hand because he woudn’t let her go. At that moment, he fell in love with her but he would still make her pay for what she did. As time passed by Don Badoy realized that he ponders on love that had been wasted, they had shared a bitter and loveless marriage. He forgot his love to Agueda since that May day eve, he reminisced the time when he saw agueda in front of the mirror and when he fell madly inlove with her. That old love had been blinded by hatred, and it has now resurfaced but it’s too late because Agueda is dead. The past is where you learned the lesson, and the future is where you apply the lesson. Marriage should only be the result of love, and love is different from lust and that  it takes a certain level of maturity to differentiate between the two. An individual must be acquainted with a number of partners before they can recognize love from lust, because marriage is an issue to be seriously thought through before it takes place, and communication between a wife and a husband is vital to the success of such a union.

MOTHER’S BREAK

 Was there ever a perfect family? A family is something god has blessed to people. A mother’s love for her child is like nothing else in the world. It knows no law, no pity, it dares all things, and crushes down remorselessly all that stand in its path. Our mother is our light in darkness and keep her children safe and also who does all her best that were always in a good condition. And this poem tells all the mother’s hardwork having no time for herself but we should give them a break to rest from stress.

SONG OF THE TEARGASSED MAN

 Tear gassed is irritating to the eyes and can blinds temporarily with tears  and was often used on the anti-administration rallyists. In this poem it’s about a man who experienced to be tear gassed by the policeman, and that he’s encouraging and persuading somebody to join him from his struggle. He is one of those rallyists fighting for their freedom from the Marco’s regime. Hes showing the braveness to persuade his other fellow Filipino brothers to join the force and fight the administration of the Marco’s and if more people joined the rally, they will be able to make the Marco’s to step down from their position and soon they will have the freedom and peace that they needed from the start. People who are not in favor to the government or the people who wants to fight for their freedom and rights as a students, and member of the country, as a man always do anything just express it to the one’s concern.

GEYLUV

“The strength of a man is portrayed outwardly but the strength of a woman is deep within her. Man can endure physical pain than woman but I tell you, no one can endure the psychological and emotional pains than woman. She’s tougher than you think, she’s wiser than you realize and definitely she’s stronger that what you perceived she is.”

Indeed...

“Truly the culture and moral standards of our country are the things that compose us from deep within. Despise for those is despise for the self.”

Trust is firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something. A very beautiful word indeed, yet dangerous. Be careful to whom you give it because it’s either will make you or break you.

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Song of the Tear Gassed Man

By: Calvin Celso D. valencia

Devil’s Tool

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Geyluv

By: Calvin Celso D. Valencia

Love Knows No Gender

Finally a literary piece worth reading! It is only one of those few that gave full attention not on begging for praises by using fancy and complicated words but rather to the flow of its story and the level of understanding and fun the readers will feel. This piece, I believe, is one of the most unique piece that I have ever read. I have never read something like this, but I guess it is just me who is starting to take foot on the present generation‘s whole new world of literary taste. This follows the rule of the technique timeliness – although timelessness is in doubt. This story is very appealing to the youth but I don’t think it does for the “oldies”. I mean, it uses both English and Filipino language (and its newly formed words which are kind’a informal) and I don’t think they will find it an intelligent work. Aside from that, one of the dangers of using this kind of technique is that the words that the author will be using in his/her praises constructions may not be that effective to continuously deliver the message not just of one specific phrase but of the story as a whole. I’m afraid that the word he/she will be using might not contribute well to the wholeness of the story since it uses different languages that follows different rules when used. But to make it clear to you, the author of Geyluv did not fall into this trap (in the case for youths). Personally, he made me understand the story in a continuous manner since I didn’t have to pay so much effort and attention to the words used.

◎MAGNIFICENCE - Alfon’s story is artful and graceful in dealing with a disturbing subject. Indeed, the story is less about Vicente’s perversion than the Mother’s response to the threat against her child. While many ascribe a feminist reading to MAGNIFECENCE. I think the story can be reallt appreciated sans theory for its strong plot. Arresting imagery and sly foreshadowings and it’ll serve as a great imaginary influence for us to do good things to everyone.

◎MAY DAY EVE Life is always full of regret, for we always realize what we have done when it is gone. They both lived and loved with hate, resentment, regret. As the story ends, He realized how he wasted his time with Agueda, how he could have love her, so much more than he did. Fate is defined in dictionary as an inevitable and often adverse outcome, condition or end. The story is set under the assumption that Badoy and Agueda both believe in superstitions as well as fate. What they failed to realize is that fate is dictated by the people involved. It is not anything inevitable since love cannot be forced, only given or received. They failed to see that it was how they saw their relationship to begin with , that caused them to be the devil/witch in the mirror that night. Love is a splendid thing: it just happens, as most romantics say, that is how it had happened they both feel what’s missing and in turn grew to hate each other. What they never realized is that LOVE IS CONSTANTLY WORKED ON. LOVE IS EARNED AND GIVEN WILLINGLY LIKE IT IS FREE TO THE ONE WE LOVE. 😇

◎FOOTNOTE TO YOUTH We can safely conclude that Dodong is just like the worm that blindly crawled onto his foot. The worm is a note that is intended for dodong and for readers as well, not to go charging blindly into the fray. For what happened to the worm? To stress this blindness even further we can look at Dodongs reaction that he did not even bother to look where it fell, but thought of his age,Seventeen and he said to himself he was not young anymore. From the very beginning Dodong’s character is revealed as someone self-obssessed to the point that he doesn’t bother to look at the consequences of his actions. This is the footnote to youth: NOT TO CHARGE BLINDLY INTO ADULTHOOD.

◎ SONG OF A TEARGASSED MAN It creates for us a situation where we are made to see man. That could be a rally’s during the MARTIAL LAW. He speaks of his experience from being teargassed by the policeman. He’s encouraging somebody from his struggle. He maybe one of the rallyist fighting for the freedom from the Marcos regime. He has been tear gassed in return and for him his having the real taste of his fighting the one whom was responsible from their struggles. He pointed out to us that instead of hating the situation his facing in expressing the opposite feeling towards. If he’s not able to have money in the bank, no food on the table, no seat on the loveen, then this man was one of those in the poverty level of the Filipinos living during the marcos regime. There are taxes to be fade and what they got was all hardships.

◎NEW YORKER IN TONDO Love and love for the country until it wins. One should never forget to lookback at whete he came from. Love for one’s cheroshed traditions will always go beyond the love for worldly things and the lavish lifestyle. She learned that"there is really no place like home" So better love the place where you began. BE A PROUD FILIPINO !

◎ORDER FOR MASKS It applies real life situations of not just the female or the male, but the lives of all people. It offers a wide array of exploration through different points of view and opens new doors for equalith and unity. It is true that woman might be regarded as instruments back from the ancient times: but it can never remain as it is. Modernism mixes through the air that the present generation inhales and it is no doubt that as our way of living accelerates our way of thinking progresses. Nowadays, it is noot just the male groups who can lead political institutions. Its not just the male groups who can drive buses, work in construction sites, share ideas about religious views, prepare strategically on operations and a lot more jobs and treatments that we women can also do. The power lies equally in your hands. We just have to discover the fields we belong to.

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My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife

By: Calvin Celso D. Valencia

The Pains of a Lover

               This kind of story is existent in reality. I myself can testify that since I grew up in the countryside. As a child, I observed people in our town come and go looking to improve their stagnant lives. It is usual for parents to send their children to their relatives in the city so they can be of use. In the province, having children is like monopolizing manpower: the greater it is, the greater the work done. The parents are the ones who depend on their children. They want them to fulfil their broken dreams. Usually, the pride of the parents, especially of the father goes to the eldest. S/He is considered as the one who will bring the fortune to the family. I find it funny knowing that it is not only the family who watches over to their breadwinner but also the whole town. It can be infer that the pressure felt by them is no joke. They are forbidden to make failures and mistakes of any sort.

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My Father Goes to the Court

By: Calvin Celso D. Valencia

“Once Whole but Now in Pieces”

               This story is a thing of intelligence and humour. A result of imagination that brings practical lessons. One of which is taking responsibility to the decisions we are making. The rich man in the story that is characterized by being selfish, proud, rude and boastful. An egocentric man that has based all his decisions on making his family be of wealth. Who has done nothing but to keep his possessions be his stand to live superior to others. But at the time when everything is going south for him for some reasons he do not understand, he did nothing but blame it to others even through illogical and nonsensical basis because for him, it can never be his fault for all he did is for his family’s best and that he missed out nothing. For him, the best thing to do is to look for someone to blame.

Soledad

By: Calvin Celso D. Valencia

“Love for Death”

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

 The beauty of this literary piece lies behind the technique used and the relevance of its theme- it is realistic and timeless.  These serve as its primary structure that lifts the poem up and be recognized. It depicts the corrupted definition of love – the earthly. It is the nature of love to be true, timely and constructive. Otherwise, it is not love.

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Footnote to Youth

by: Calvin Celso Valencia

“The Confused Soul”

Footnote to Youth belongs to the group of those literary pieces that offer their full attention to reality - to something true. True in a sense that even though we got the worlds of our own on a personal and intimate level, still we have to go back to the place called reality – the place where all of our thoughts and ideas, feelings and emotions are shared. The so-called sanity place where, as a social being, you have to meet the standards of human living. The place where living means to satisfy others’ opinions and perceptions of you. This mediocre world that will try to invade and corrupt your precious private worlds which you hold dear. It took a lot from us way too much. We should not let it take away the only thing that’s left in us. That precious fragile world that we are tightly holding on to.

But enough of idealism (got too deep right there huh?). After all, we have to live by our means. We do have this battle to fight. A fight with a fixed set of rules established by those who have gone through it. You have to follow, otherwise you will suffer. And like I said, we should not let the battle of this world get into our precious little worlds. The only way to protect it is to fight. And to fight where damage is minimal is to travel the road that all the signs are pointing to.

A Footnote to Youth is a story of a young man who fell in love at such a young age (just like everybody else). But unlike everybody (or not?), he took the road he thought will lead him to the place where he would love to stay forever. He entered the point-of-no-return without thinking much about it. To cut it short, he got married and had his own family at an early age without his parents did their very best to discourage him on what he was craving to do. Mainly because they, too were guilty of the same crime. But so much for “untimely love” as the main lesson of the story.

One perspective that many (and still counting…) overlook is the part where the story illustrates how conclusive and impulsive youths are. Primarily because at teenage, changes of all sorts occur. These changes result to some psychological effects. And one of these is the difficulties in recognizing the distinction between emotions and thoughts that usually lead to poor decision-making. In the case of Dodong, I can say that he had not prepared himself maybe because no one has warned him with regards to what was coming in his way. His supposed mentors (his parents), for some unknown reasons, didn’t do much on their part of the equation.

ORDER FOR MASKS

-It is about the different role of the women. It presents the womans three masks that represents her three tasks in her life. As a sister, she’s opposite to her brother, if her brother is a devil, she was a saint. The next role is as a daughter, she show to her father that she can be the woman her father expecting her to be. The last is the mask that describe her as a mother and wife when she gets older.

HOW MY BROTHER LEON BROUGHT HOME A WIFE

-In the story revealed that Leon’s father was the one who made an ingenious way to find out if Maria is really worth to live in a rural place and become Leon’s wife. And Maris managed to overcome the tests because she want to show Leon’s father that she deserved and she’s worthy to live in a rural place.

-No matter what it could be, how difficult the problem is, if you really love someone, you are willing to take risks for that person.

MAGNIFICENCE

-Trust is like an eraser it gets smaller and smaller after every mistake, Trust is like paper once it’s crumpled it cant be perfect again.If you want to be trusted, be honest, and if you want to be honest, be true. The story Magnifence is about a family who trusted someone at the end was betrayed by a person. It is a common experience of everybody that after having trusted by someone, you will lose his/her trust when the time they betrayed you.

MAYDAY EVE

-We must not put our lives in the conviction of fortune tellers and superstitious beliefs because I believe that half of our fate depends on what we are doing and how we value those things. Because some beliefs is not yet proven and it may lead our lives into something that we are not supposed to be in.

A MOTHER’S BREAK

-As I observed to my mother, motherhood is a 24/7 job. No matter where we are my mother cant seem to get a break. For her a break is seeing us hgappy and content not only with food but also having quality time with us. She may forget what it is to do things for herself as a break from taking care of us and doing household things, but for her being with us is the most important break. All mother’s deserved a break.

NEW YORKER IN TONDO

-New Yorker In Tondo portrays some people likely forget their identities once they move overseas. And this is true among some Filipino’s abroad although I cant really blame them because I don’t know there new environment that there in.

MY FATHER GOES TO COURT

-The story depicts the typical Filipino family. It has the characteristics of being simple, poor, hardworking, happy and has strong family ties. In the story, the rich family and the poor family having conflict with each other. The rich man was very selfish and does not want to socialize with the poor people in the community so he ended up being sick because he only cares for his wealth and money. The poor family enjoyed their life to the fullest. I think the story shows the gap between the upper and lower classes in the society.

SONG OF THE TEARGASSED MAN

-It is more about socio political worldview because the author describes his experience regarding the tear-gas issue which is very famous when it comes to rally. People who are not in favor to the government or the people who wants to fight their freedom and rights as a students, a member of the country, as a man always do anything just to express it to the ones concern.

GEYLUV

-Is about homosexuality. It is a romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between same sex or gender. Homosexuality is one of the most sensitive social issues nowadays. Many gay and lesbians people are in committed same-sex relationships. And we should understand and respect them.

SOLEDAD

SOLEDAD BY: ANGELA MANALANG GLORIA Soledad is successful in telling people that some mistakes, errors and sins deserve forgiveness, but, not all. Sin separates man from God. She deserves clemency and sympathy rather than judgements from her townsmen. The story shows that every people deserves forgiveness and second chance for they are only people like us, they were prone to commit sins but we should not judge them for we don’t know what they feel and they suffer. The story is very successful in explaining to the people the true essence of forgiveness because nowadays esopecially in the Philippines, there are lots of crimes involving drugs. They were killed for they are drug users and drug pushers. The government and the people of the Philippines must realize that they deserve forgiveness and must be put in instead of killing them, for they are also human, they deserve forgiveness and sympathy.

FOOTNOTE TO YOUTH BY: JOSE GARCIA VILLA In the first part of the story Dodong was preoccupied of his thought that he wanted to marry with Teang. Though he was only seventeen years old and too young to get married.Dodong thought to himself he would tell his father about Teang when he got home. The primary reason why Dodong wants to marry Teang is beacause he thought he was already a man beacause he was already seventeen years old.And also because he loves Teang, she was desirable to him and she made him dream even during the day. The story says that his mother removed the dishes when they were through and wash them. Dodong wanted to help her but he was tired and felt lazy. He only wished as he looked at her that he had a sister who could help he mother in doing all the housework. He doesn’t do anything in order to help her mother in housework though he was working in field. I can say that his action shows that he was a thoughtful son but he was not able to help her mother because of her work outside the house. Aside from the obvious feeling that his father shows when he says the statement “Must you marry, Dodong?” he was also showing his feeling that he is contrary to Dodong’s decision of marrying Teang at the very young age. It also shows that he was worry about Dodong decisions because he knows how hard to build his own family especially with his age. His father’s reaction shows that he was concern about his son. For me, the life is not responsible in fulfilling all the youth’s dream. We are the one who dictates our life. Youth’s must be responsible in molding and creating the life that they wanted to have. Life is not responsible in dictating youth’s life and in correcting it. We must be sure in all our decisons in life for it will dictates if we will be able to fulfill our dreams or not. It means that the youth must prosper and be triumphant if it wilk happen there will be life. If the Love became successful there will be life. It just simply says that if the youth continues to love and continues to dream and fulfilling it they will have the life, the life that they wanted to have. If I will be in Dodong’s place I will let Blas marry Tona it is because I believe that if this situation did not not work to me it doesn’t mean that it will not be successful also to my son and he will also suffers the problems that I face in life. I will just let them know that I’m here for them. I will be guiding them properly in order for them not to suffer what I suffer. In the present time, there are lots of young parents for they want to build their family at the young age. It’s a lesson to us youth to be responsible in our decisions and just enjoy our lives as young.

MY FATHER GOES TO COURT :CARLOS BULOSAN It’s just showing that there are poor families but they are living with happiness and they are united while there are rich families whose living their life with selfishness and greediness and they don’t want to share even the smell of their food. In the present time, there are poor families especially in the Philippines who are living their life with laughter, caring and loving. They are united and they never leave each other. While there are rich families who are basically have all their money and everything that can make their life happy but they never was because they are not united and they are not contented on what they have. It’s better to have a poor family with full of love than to have a rich family with no love.

HOW MY BROTHER LEON BROUGHT HOME A WIFE BY: MANUEL ARGUILLA The story is basically showing the readers the essence of true love. Leon and Maria shiws that they love each other very much especially Maria and her attitude, her looks, how she talks and the way she handle the situation that riding a bull and passed through Waig. They show how they love each other. In present time, there are many people engaging themselves to love but they don’t really love each other. They just simply involve themselves in love while they don’t have the experience of facing their problems together and when the problem comes they think to separate from each other it results to breakup. The story can help the readers to think first before engaging in these situation. And the story is a graet example of a good love because Leon introduce his wife to his parent, nowadays people don’t think to introduce their loveone in their family.

ORDER FOR MASKS BY: VIRGIE MORENO The story wants to show the readers that we must be able to blend with other people. And we must be flexible in dealing with others despite of our individual differences. The three mask refers to the desire of the woman to show her loveone’s her pleasant face while talking to them. Just like in the present time, I can relate it in our Filipino attitude of pleasantly welcoming other people that we met in our life. We don’t care if we are related to them or not. These is the attitude of the Filipinos that other people in the whole world should do.

MAGNIFICENCE BY: ESTRELLA ALFRON The story goes in describing the mother and Vicente as contrastive. The story opens with Vicente being described as “so gentle, so kind, has a soft voice and manner slow”. And the mother as barely absent as the mother completely revealed : a “tall woman” who spoke in a voice “ very low, very heavy” and with an “awful timbre”. Vicente always giving pencils to the two children but favored more tha girl one. But as the story goes you will know that Vicente has a plan to the little girl and the mother is very brave to rescue her daughter from Vicente’s plan. These story wants to show that you must not entrust your children to other people, you must be vigilant for maybe their good attitude comes bad plans against your family especially against your children. In these present time, here in the Philippines there are lots of abuses children. As parents, they must give attention in knowing the people around their children and protect them from harms around them.

NEW YORKER IN TONDO: MARCELINO AGANA JR. This story simply wants to show to the readers that going and living in other country is not bad and also acquiring their way of life but we should not forget our way of living here in the country. It’s not because you’re from other country and feel like theme we should not forget how we live here and never to judge anyone just because of his/her disposition in life. In our present time, there are so many Filipino people who are just came from other country and when they go back here they think that they are different and rich though they are not. They don’t even recognize the people that somehow in the past helped them.

MAY DAY EVE BY: NICK JOAQUIN The story focuses in showing that life is full of regret, and there are lovers who believes in false believes. Life is always full of regret, for we always realize what we have when it is gone. For Badoy and Agueda Montiya, they both lived and loved with hate, and regret. As the story ends, Badoy realized how he wasted his time with Agueda, how he could have loved her, so much more than he did. He realized that he became the devil in Agueda’s life, as she became the witch in his. In the end, they both blamed the superstition of May Day Eve. While the Fate is defined as an inevitable. The story is set under the assumption that Badoy and Agueda both believe in superstition, as well as fate. They believed that for they saw each other in the mirror that fated night that they are bound to be with each other. What they failed to realize is that fate is based on the true believes of the people to each other. It is not anything inevitable, since love cannot be forced, only given or received. Regret comes to Badoy in the end, when he realized what he had lost. Yet they can say that May Day Eve is blessing for the both of them. For they both loved each other, even though they failed to realize it. In real life we must also realize that fate or believing in some sayings here in the Philipines is not bad but we must also think first before entrusting our life to that belief. We must think first before having decisions in our life for maybe we will regret in the end.

MOTHER'S BREAK BY: MERLINDA BOBIS The story goes in showing the love of our mothers for us. They don’t even think about their own self, they just want to make sure that her family is in good condition. The story also shows what are daily mother routine and household chores. And shows the non stop responsibilities of our mother, and how busiest our mother was. Today, our mother are still caring and loving us. They are very hands on in daily household chores. The only difference in present time is that the mother are not just mother at home but also mother at work. They are also working for their family and helping their husband to earn money.

SONG FOR THE TEARGASSED MAN BY: CIRILO BAUTISTA The author describes here his experience regarding the tear-gas issue which is very famous when it comes to rally. People who are not in favor to the government or the people who wants to fight their freedom and rights as a students, member of the country. Political view in away that tear gas is usually used during war. The story wants to open our eyes in real life with riots and fighting for our own rights. In the Philippines, during the martial law era, tear gas was often used on the anti-administration rallyists. They used teargass to fight against the policemen and army because the people don’t want the type of administration the Philippines during that time has faced.

MISSTEP OF A FOOT: THE YOUTH

(An essay about Footnote to Youth by Jose Garcia Villa)

 As the youth, we tend to come into adulthood searching for ways of building successful relationships with members of opposite sex. But the truth is, youth, from the word itself should be considered as “young” (pretending to be adult), whom just so triumphant of their feelings and emotions that causes sudden actions and unexpected events on their lives. They thought that love will take care of everything that stands in their way– but actually, they’re playing with a dangerous philosophy. 

 A short story entitled Footnote to Youth by Jose Garcia Villa is about a young man named Dodong, whom experienced a teenage marriage (one of the most common problems of the youth today). The main character had faced marriage struggles during his family life and responsibility. At first, Dodong was so insolent and impatient, having a strong desire to engage into marriage with Teang, his beloved. He asked for his father’s permission without any hesitations or self- consciousness. He felt too much triumphant about his feelings and emotions. Thus, he didn’t know what kind of life- changing commitment he’s trying to set in. We should understand that young people are still searching for answers to a bunch of life enrichment questions, told or untold. The adult ones may have the values firmly entrenched and defined regarding moral issues, but youth are still in the throes of searching for their values. 

How a seventeen year old Dodong could decline about being young and insisted that he is already a grown man, if he does not even thought about his parent’s sake? If he doesn’t even care to help his pitiful mother doing chores but instead, letting her do all the housework as if he didn’t notice her struggling? He is actually being ignorant and childish, but he’s not aware about it. And c'mon let’s admit it, not just Dodong, but as well as the young you and me; we always thought that we can stand on our own, but we actually can’t.

 Marriage– it is so demanding. It calls for knowledge, combined with effort, maturity and patience in order to achieve the rewards it offers. When Dodong’s father asked him, “Must you marry Teang?” is like telling him that “you are not yet capable of marrying anybody, but you chose to live with misery.” Dodong didn’t realized it at that time, being so absorbed with all his excitement. He did not even bother to compel with his father’s strange feeling as the result of his sudden decision. So imagine how much our parent’s loves and cares for us, their children. That sometimes they would come up with such breath- taking decisions of their lives thinking only about our sake and own happiness. But sad to say, that because of so much love that is so unconditional, some parents are able to make wrong moves or decisions that results to a more complicated life. But is it their fault? Not really, because we used to resent, blame and pressure them about anything that they’re declining to us– not knowing that it’s only for their children’s best. At the end of the day, we will always run back to them, telling, “I should’ve listened to you." 

 So what happened? After marrying, he struggled. Dodong regretted all what he had done earlier. He was so embarrassed to his parents and realized how foolish he was and finally contradicted his own thoughts nine months earlier when he decided to enter marriage. Somehow, he felt so ashamed of his youthful paternity, feeling the guilt of having something he should not yet have; having done something he shouldn’t did. On the other hand, Teang, the wife of Dodong realized how hard it is being a young parent. She became shapeless and thin, tired of all the housework she’s doing each and every day of her family life. Even though she loves Dodong, she cried sometimes wishing she had not married. Therefore, the both party had been so regretful about the life they’re in. As a tagalog saying goes, "Nasa huli ang pagsisisi." 

Dodong as "whom life had made ugly” only proves that life is not easy as it should be. We should not be so clever in every decision- making that we do in our lives. They say, don’t you ever make a decision when you’re either too happy or so angry. From the story, we should reflect from Dodong’s experiences and put ourselves in the shoes of every character in this short story in order to comprehend and clearly understand what message the author wanted us to convey. 

Sometimes, we suddenly became so tired and weary about all the difficulties we’re facing in our everyday lives. We tend to make drama and just ask ourselves a very cliche question “WHY?”— Why do I have to face this kind of problem? Why do I have this kind of life?. Just like what Dodong asked himself about “why life did not fulfill all of Youth’s dream?” Maybe, the question was not to be answered, but tend to question him back: “why did you decline having a Youth’s dream when you have the chance?” According to the story, “It must be so to make youth, Youth.” 

From the story is a phrase "Youth must triumph… Now. Love must triumph… Now. Afterwards… It will be life.”— have a meaningful impact to what Dodong had experienced when he’s on the same age and situation with his son, Blas, when he also asked the same question and permission to him. Dodong realized that both Youth and Love had also triumphed with Blas, thus, will be the coming of a real life, he thought. BUT, it is truly unacceptable. Why? Because it is not really what we so called REAL LIFE if we let somebody live in the life of mistaken thought; the life full of suffering, and to eliminate suffering is to eliminate desire because the cause of all suffering is the toleration of our desires. And to eliminate desire is to know the true nature of things and persons. Therefore, if I were Dodong, I will NOT ALLOW Blas to engage with another mistake again and again that is truly miserable.

***

Footnote to Youth by Jose Garcia Villa

(Analysis and Reflection by Joriette Gayle B. Valentino)

Footnote to the Parents:

The incompetent way that the adults (specifically the parents) have allowed young people to drift towards marriage is truly devastating. They take to the sidelines as the young people move closer and closer to their life commitment. With tear- filled eyes, parents watch their precious young people float down the aisle to make solemn commitments to each other in the presence of God. They even give hearty send- offs that often involve vast sums of money. However, they never realized that they made no serious attempts to enlighten the couple about the life- changing commitment they are making. They put full efforts and spend hundreds and thousands of money for a wedding ceremony that actually ends in a couple of hours, but they leave the outcome of the marriage to chance. Parents, as the adult ones may have the values firmly entrenched and defined regarding moral issues, but young adults are still in the throes of searching for their values. Furthermore, it is one of the objectives of parenthood to train and instill proper dating and moral values. But logic, preaching, and moralizing carries little weight with young people and may turn them off. The best ways to teach during this critical period is through modeling appropriate behavior and providing teenagers with opportunities to grow. Therefore our dear parents, we should end such a foolish way of allowing young people to enter early marriage instead, lead them to open the possibility that more good may be accomplished by giving them the opportunity to receive the vital pros and cons than by keeping them ignorant. Young people are still searching for answers, help them find those and pray that the Almighty God will guide them during the decision- making process.

Footnote to the Young People:

Dating is more complicated now than ever before. Every couple must make complicated decisions dependent on many factors. On every side, we can encounter couples suffering from heartache, hurt and disappointments. As the youth, we tend to come into adulthood searching for ways of building successful relationships with members of opposite sex. But the truth is, youth are still young (pretending to be adult), whom just so triumphant of their feelings and emotions that causes sudden actions and unexpected events on their lives. As the lyrics from Apo Hiking Society’s “Batang- bata Ka Pa” goes: Batang-bata ka pa at marami ka pang kailangang malaman at intindihin sa mundo. Yan ang totoo. Nagkakamali ka kung akala mo na ang buhay ay isang mumunting paraiso lamang. Yeah right, and if you feel that “our love will take care of everything that stands in our way”, you are playing with a dangerous thought. Girls and boys (instead of ladies and gentlemen), let’s convey to this common phrase “Mind over Matter”. Think first before doing an unsure and sudden actions or decisions to avoid superficial that might arise. We’ve known and seen a lot of the same experiences in this current generation. As the youth, we should be more aware enough of our deeds and thoughts. And if you’re still thinking about marrying at an early age, you should know that marriage is so demanding. It calls for knowledge, combined with effort, maturity and patience in order to achieve the rewards it offers. Also, it requires guidance and support, which means that we must consult our parents and respect their decisions and opinions because they only know what’s best for us, their children. They say, “Aral muna bago landi”.

WOULD YOU RATHER JOIN RALLY OR JUST PARTY?

(Based from the “Song of the Tear- Gassed Man” by Cirilio F. Bautista)

 Tear gas—a gas that makes people unable to see by causing their eyes to be filled with tears and that is used especially by the police or military to separate large groups of people. During the martial law era, tear gas was often used on the anti-administration rallyists.

The author of the song conveys about the socio-political worldview describing his experiences regarding the tear-gas issue which is very common and notorious when it comes to political rallies. Political rally is an event organizing a solid media presence ranging from compelling individuals to civic leaders, nonprofit voices, and large crowds of people chanting, carrying signs, and listening to speeches, who are not in favor to the system of the government and wants to fight their rights and freedom as the citizen of a state. We’ve all seen pictures and even videos of various political rallies. At a successful rally, you can witness the energy and excitement even through the television screen. But what sort of impact do these rallies really have in the long term? Does people have a moral obligation to be in a rally? Are they a cause of political and policy change, or are they an effect of the same?

Political rallies are like outdoor music festivals, but without the food stands and the craft tents. And the only thing worse than standing outside in the blistering sun listening to crappy jam bands is standing outside in the blistering sun listening to pandering public servants. Worse than attending a campaign speech is to be among the masses at a political protest march. There are many ways to express your support for an issue, and there’s many choices that don’t involve joining hands with sweaty people you even don’t know. Plus, political marches are rarely effective.

 If going to big, crowded, disorganized, pointless, overlong, ineffective political rallies is your thing, then put yourself together and think about it first. But if you’re uncomfortable, don’t be afraid to admit it. Don’t be ashamed to tell your politically-active friends you simply don’t want to join them. And when they tell you what an amazing time they had at the rally, don’t feel bad; they’re probably lying. But if you really want social change, if you really pine for social justice, if you want the best people in office and if you really want the issues-of-the-day to bend in your favor, you’re in luck. There’s a much more powerful option than standing around a public park bored-- it’s the suffrage. All we have to do is vote wisely so that at the end of the day, you won’t find yourself struggling and regretting; and do you want know what’s great about the polling places? They’re never crowded, unlike political rallies.

TRUE FILIPINO SPIRIT

(My Father Goes To Court by Carlos Bulosan)

The author wrote this story based from folklore in the Philippines and it has an underlying social commentary. It was said that this work is a protest against the economic progress of his time. This story shows a culture, traits and way of Filipinos.

Filipinos—we don’t usually wear much burden on our shoulders. Well, we have a lot of it but we always cope with every situation by not taking it so hard. In every problem, just like poverty, even if they don’t get to eat much for the day, they are still happy (smiling and laughing together) and the family’s still intact. Just like in the story, the narrator’s family is poor, and yet, because they are not so sensitive, they get to play outside, enjoy the environment and often laughs making them to alive and healthy. While in the rich family’s case, they are abundant in food with a comfortable lifestyle but are still not contented (physically and socially) with what they have and thus blamed others, like what they did to the poor family; which in the real world, not all, but most of the rich people tend to step down on the poor because they perceive themselves more powerful than the poor.

This story favors the Filipino context about the underprivileged families over the affluent ones. Basically, the author used a reverse psychology to show the issue the other way around. It is supported on the last part of the story where the judge of the court immediately dismissed the case after the father gave back the “spirit of wealth” through jingling of the coins in his straw hat. While we all know that it is not really the true situation of our system in the present generation—as the poor has no fair fight against the rich ones.

In the part where the judge asked the father where his lawyer was, and replied him that he doesn’t need one; it is seen as the turning point of justice in the Philippines. The law’s supposedly give justice to each and every citizen of the country, but is it really the case? Sad to say, the law itself takes poor individuals for granted. Yes, the poor ones can’t afford hiring the best lawyers, so the rich takes advantage of them. From the story, the judge didn’t care to give him a lawyer where in the real world, if you don’t have any lawyer, you’ll lose the case.

YOUTH ARE IN DANGER, LOVE AS THE CONQUEROR

(How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife by Manuel E. Arguilla)

It is always a pleasure and pride of the parents in the sending their children at school. Providing all the necessary materials and rendering their full support in order to motivate their children go on to their success. The story "How My Brother Leon Brought Home a wife" shows how important the guidance of the parents and the determinations of their son/daughter in education.

The failure of success can be found in the part of Leon when he was sent to school but he did not do well as a student. Instead, he engage in a relationship and brought home a girl, who is said to be his wife. The thought is that it really happens in the real life situation of today’s youth.

The future that parents want to have for their son/daughter was lost and it seem to impossible to achieve because of a new responsibility that they have. Too much sacrifices were given by the parents in order for their child to have a good future but the result was a bad ending. Well to avoid it, we simply should just have to priority our studies. This will serve as a greatest achievement to our parents if we do it well.

Although, love matters can't be avoided but see-to-it that studies and love can be balanced. This is basically a realization that we should not rush things. And we should believe that love can wait. As one of the verse in the bible says: “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” - First Corinthians 12:4-8

The story tells us that not everything we desire will come true for there are lots of temptations that may block our way and hinder us to the path where we should be. Some people especially the youth of today’s generation have destroyed their future engaging in a relationship at the wrong time and place. Upon reading the story, it’s really a pity for the parents of Leon who expected too much from him but were disappointed and got nothing to do but to accept the present situation. They said, “Youth is the hope of our nation”, but as we observe nowadays, its value has been slowly ruin and turns into disappointments. We as youth of our country must be responsible and be the model of our generation today because our success, is also the success of our native land in which will also serve as an instrument of inspiration for the next generation.

DISGUISE: WOMAN’S VALOR

(Order for Masks by Virignia Moreno)

We live in a world where flexibility is inevitable. Soon enough to consider that ordering for masks has been developed as a natural process for us. Every one of us can relate to the poem. Simply because everyone also wears different masks, admit it or not. Having different facades for various persons into different occasions. We have one for being the "daughter", the "student", the "friend“, the “lover” and every other thing in our life that requires one. 

The way that the poem was rendered, the poet (Virgnia Moreno) must be a feminist. The main theme of her poem is about women in the society—the roles that the woman has to portray throughout her life. It depicts the woman's three masks which represents the three tasks in her life and the three faces she has to wear for the three men in her life. The woman shapes her behavior, actions and personality in accordance to the needs of the men. This, in a way, degrades or lowers the status of the woman as it reduces her whole being to mere instrument that satisfies and pleases men's needs and wants. Thus, the poet wanted us to imagine the roles that women play in our everyday life and what they do to satisfy other’s (especially man) needs and wants.

When she played the role of a sister, she felt anger that is why she doesn’t want to be like him. When she was playing the role of a daughter, her mood is so calm or somewhat pure to match the things that her father wants her to be– pure, innocent and chaste, leading him to believe that she is the perfect daughter. When she is portraying the role of a lover, her mood is a mixture of hatred, love, passion and disgust because her lover had raised his hand on her that left a mark so that’s where the hatred and disgust comes from yet she is still in love and pure of passion with that man because she still wants to be beautiful and presentable in his presence.

Moreno’s poetry applies to real life situations of not just the female or the male, but the lives of all people. It offers a wide array of exploration through different points of view and opens new doors for equality and unity. Yes, it is true that women might be regarded as instruments back from the ancient times until this day; but it can never remain as it is. Women have boundless skills to make themselves in service not just of men but by the entire population. They are able to gain the admiration, especially of the men in their lives, because of their flexibility and dexterity. Women are absolutely intense when it comes to caring, supporting, and loving. Therefore, women must be loved, protected and given importance by each and everyone in the society.

COME BACK HOME! AND BE GRATEFUL TO WHERE YOU CAME FROM!

(Based from the story “New Yorker in Tondo” by Marcelino Agana, Jr.)

The environment we grow up in is an important factor in our upbringing and in the success that we one day will achieve. The saddest thing to see is how quick some of the people forget where they came from to a point that they feel ashamed to talk about their past and how they arrived to where they are now. This goes beyond sad because such stories can serve as a very valuable tool to encourage other people who have also embarked on a journey to pursue a better future. It’s really sickening whenever people who have been came  to greener pastures and then act all differently, even all snooty and stuck up when they come back to their own country.

The story gave a realization to some Filipinos abroad who changed their attitude towards their own country, the Philippines. This play is good for those Filipinos who look down upon their own country just because they have been to another. The story has a great impact to the Filipinos. The lesson that the author wanted us to convey is to never forget where we came from because will keep us grounded and in touch with reality. We should embrace our life and to those relatives or friends who’ve helped us to recognize what and who we really are.

Don't be ashamed of your family and cultural roots—our world is so diverse that no nationality is better than another. Not having had the best parents, the ideal childhood or the most prestigious academic education is not a reason to feel embarrassed about your life. You are at a better place now than you were yesterday, this is what counts. Do not let other people define who you are because of where you came from. No one has had a perfect family nor had the perfect cultural and educational experiences. 

We should have tremendous respect and admiration for those people who are authentic, people who happily acknowledge their family and cultural roots, and who never forget where they came from. We, as the citizens of the Philippines, must be proud to be a Filipino. Pinoy ako, pinoy tayo!

MARRIAGE: HAPPY OR UNHAPPY?

(Based from the story “May Day Eve” by Nick Joaquin)

You fall in love for the first time in your life. You expect it to be everything like they say it is in the movies. You want it to be passionate, romantic and full of joy! But to your dismay, it ends up seeming less than perfect. So, what will you do?

All happy marriages resemble each other but each couple is unhappy in its own way. The causes of unhappiness in marriage are often unique for each couple. It takes a lot of effort to build a happy marriage but it takes only little indiscretion to make the marriage unhappy. The causes of an unhappy marriage often stem from incompatibility. But then compatibility is something you have to work towards. So the most important thing required for a happy marriage is the willingness and determination to make it work. Compatibility is not a ready-made thing. You have to work on it continuously.

In Nick Joaquin’s “May Day Eve” is a story about Agueda and Badoy’s bitter marriage which all began on a May night. Agueda and Badoy are two, completely diverse people. Both of them perceived their marriage to be a taste of hell. Instead of admitting that they saw their spouses in the mirror, they claimed that it was the witch/devil they saw for that was probably how each of them was to each other during their life together. Perhaps this was because the premise of their love was based only on raging passion and nothing more. Love cannot be based on passion alone. Love is a splendid thing: it just happens, as most romantics say. That is how it had happened for Badoy and Agueda. But as the honeymoon stage ended, they both felt what was missing, and in turn grew to hate each other. What they never realized is that love is constantly worked on. Love is earned, and given willingly like it is free to the one we love. Their contrasting attributes perhaps were what brought them together. But it could also have been the root of the bitterness that concluded their time together.

Fate is defined in the dictionary as an inevitable and often adverse outcome, condition, or end. The story is set under the assumption that Badoy and Agueda both believe in superstition, as well as fate. They believed that for they saw each other in the mirror that fated night that they are bound to be with each other. What they failed to realize is that fate is dictated by the people involved. It is not anything inevitable, since love cannot be forced, only given or received. Badoy and Agueda fell into the trap of the May Day Eve, wherein they saw it as fate, only to be duped in the end by the circumstance of their relationship. However, they failed to see that it was how they saw their relationship to begin with, that caused them to be the devil/witch in their mirror that night.

Remember, you’re unhappy in your relationship because you choose to remain unhappy. It’s because you choose to wipe your tears secretly and brush your misery under the carpet. You need to understand that you’re not a failure just because your relationship is ending or going nowhere. It just means both of you haven’t been able to understand each other, or are incompatible with each other. And the best part here is that you have a choice, an option to seek happiness and live a happy life, or tie yourself down to a rock that you know will eventually sink to the bottom and drag you with it. Settling in an unhappy relationship may seem like the easy thing to do. But unless you fix it or decide to walk out soon, you’ll always live in regret. And one day, it may be too late to turn back time however much you want to, just like the said story.

 Yes, life’s full of regret, for we always realize what we have when it’s gone. For Badoy and Agueda Montiya, they both lived and loved with hate, resentment, regret. As the story ends, Badoy realized how he wasted his time with Agueda, how he could have loved her, so much more than he did. He realized that he became the devil in Agueda's life, as she became the witch in his. In the end, they both blamed the superstition of May Day Eve. Regret comes to Badoy in the end, when he realized what he had lost. However, in the way he chose to see Agueda, he loved her in the end. The realization may have come too late. It is a pity that he had to regret the life he had with Agueda, as she did with him. Yet the May Day Eve can be seen as a blessing for the both of them. For they both loved each other, even though they failed to realize it.

THE SILENT MONSTER

(Magnificence by Estrella Alfon)

Many people question how an adult could possibly allow themselves to offend a young, vulnerable child through forceful, sexual acts. Moreover, society often perceives the child molester as a 'monster' or a person who is greatly sickened both mentally and emotionally. Without surprise, the stigma of 'child molester' on an adult can remain with them for a lifetime despite the fact that he/she may have chosen to transform their ways.

Magnificence of Estrella Alfon is a touching psychological and moralistic story. Psychologically, Vicente wasn't able to suppress his burning dark desire for the child releasing it into a nice way. Instead, succumbing to his Id's impulses, he secretly molested the little girl. His action was morally wrong for he shouldn't have done this. He should have fought for it so as not to ruin his relationship with the girl and her family as well as his. He listened to his Id's urge; thus putting himself in the problem. Morally though, Vicente is considered immoral but the mother can also be blamed. She relied and trusted so much the man without knowing his background. Although the man is described as gentle, slow in manner and helpful but these characteristic don't guarantee a true personality.

The children get abused usually at the age when they even do not know what is happening to them. Child does not have the consciousness about the good touch and bad touch. The children with more than five to seven years old, their family environment or their communication gap with their parents do not allow them to disclose this type of event in front of their parents. The suppression of such kind of traumatic experiences, later on, suffers in their entire lifetimes with scars from the indecent sexual experiences with their adult offenders. Even though child molestation is a devastating problem and issue for all of those involved, there are ways to prevent child molestation. It is strongly encouraged that adults create avenues for children to speak openly about fears they may have of being sexually abused or to discuss encounters they may have already experienced as a victim of child molestation.

One of the dilemma of this present generation is that the child sexual abuse is considered as a taboo behavior and many families avoid reporting the child abuse cases in spite of their full knowledge about the event. Child sexual abuse can be one of the major causes of later on abnormal sexual behavior in adulthood or it can also be the factor for psychological conflicts and can lead towards the serious mental disturbance. Instead of hiding or concealing the fact, people or families should report the child abuse cases as soon as possible. The in time reporting of the child sexual abuse cases will help in taking the solution focused measures. The organizations working for the human rights, women rights, children rights will be able to take action against the offenders and can also provide shelter as well as mental comfort to the victim.

This sexual crime must be actively approached in order to prevent children's lives from being destroyed. Adults must be cautious of all other adults no matter whom they are or where they are from. Victims of child molestation can be any race, come from any social class, and even be male or female. All in all, it is one a 'silent monster', and it will continue to be until children find the courage to speak out against their adult offenders along with adults discovering the strength to address the situation proactively no matter how much pain may surface before a resolution is provided. Still, there is the opportunity to bring justice to those that choose to destroy the dignity of all those aggrieved---one being the precious, young children of the world who have the right to have their innocence and childhood protected.

HOMO-ACCEPTANCE

(GeyLuv by Honorio Bartolome de Dios) 

Are we born the way we are? Or are we molded and shaped by environmental factors and our upbringing?

Societal attitudes toward homosexuality vary in different cultures, as do attitudes toward sexual desire, activity and relationships in general. All cultures have their own values regarding appropriate and inappropriate sexuality; some sanction same-sex love and sexuality, while others may disapprove of such activities in part. But, don’t you even feel or thought about taking a completely different look at Homosexuality?

Over and over, we can hear the same statement from Gays: "Why would anyone want to choose to be Gay on purpose?" This statement is followed by other reasons such as: "It is such a lonely life!" or "Who would choose to live outside of society and be so hated?" ‘Cause basically, it’s not a choice. When people are born a certain way through no choice of their own -- such as race, or looks, or handicaps -- should they be penalized by society? Is that fair? No. For example, an innocent child of six years of age has his puppy love "crushes" which are based on the same kinds of little immature feelings that all children feel at that age. They are directed toward the same sex, but the child has no way of understanding the "WHY" of the situation.

It is time to rethink this entire issue. People should be aware of each and everyone’s differences. They need someone to talk to. Someone who will understand what they are going through. They need to tell their parents that they are gay. They do not know how to do this, well, the counselors can help them explain things to their parents. They can help the parents cope with this painful and stress-filled fact. They can encourage them to avoid irresponsible behavior. Imagine a gay person is so alone in the world that they need help in just getting through every day in a normal manner. They already have problems, believe me. The other guys in school have already noticed that they are different. They are reviled and harassed. Some of them are even thrown out of the house. Most are rejected by home and school. All of them have emotional problems. It is also said that the suicide rate for homosexual male teens is the highest rate of all suicides. The whole world is against them. Where can they go?

It is time for us to accept that these people deserve to live a life of acceptance in society just like everyone else. They are a part of the human race, just like everyone else. They are different from the "norm," but so are people of different races and creeds different from each other. So are people who are blind, or have other handicaps, different from the "norm." It's time to practice what we preach! At least give these people a chance to live their lives without hostility.

Gay people do live on the same planet with the rest of us. Instead of pretending that they don't exist, let's give them some mainstream guidelines just like we give all of our other children. God created all of us equal in His eyes. We need to live under the same rules and regulations, and isn't that what God teaches, and all parents, and all of society really want to happen?

MOM, I LOVE YOU SO MUCH

(A Mother’s Break by Merlinda C. Bobis)

Mother is always deserved for everything. If our mothers does everything for us then it’s our responsibility to do everything for her. She keeps a very important place in our life. Without mother our life is black & white.

If it weren’t for your mom, you wouldn’t be breathing right now. If nothing else, you should thank her for that. Mothers are the emotional backbones of the family. They provide the holding place for everyone’s feelings and do their best to keep us from being hurt. Who would kiss your boo-boos to make it all better if she weren’t around? Mothers have the magic touch (and kiss) to help us heal our wounds, physical and emotional. Truly, our mothers worked hard and made sacrifices, so our lives would be better. There are not a lot of people willing to do that, so let her know you appreciate it. Mothers are forgiving—so forgive her in return. Perhaps nothing will be as valuable a gift to both of you as forgiveness. Open your heart and drop your resentments. Now that’s love. When you want to climb the tallest mountain, your mother will make your lunch for you. She is the one who will support your dreams when no one else will. She will also remind you to wear clean underwear. Her boundaries made you a better person. You may not have liked some of her decisions, especially when you wanted to party with your friends, but she did keep you out of trouble. Look at some of your friends without a mom who has cared that much. A mother’s ears and eyes hear and see everything. They also have a computer-like memory for all the good (and some of the bad) that came your way. It’s nice to have someone with whom you can reminisce about your whole life. Mom taught you to be a functioning adult. That was her job, and without that, making it through the modern world would be very hard. Your mom may have forced you to do your homework, but now you see how important it was. A mother’s smile, when it is directed toward you, makes your day a whole lot better. All she needs is to know that she has helped you to be and feel your best. Say thank you. 

BY: ANGELICA COS

                      In the beginning of the story Dodong’s mind preoccupied with the thoughts of telling on to his father about marrying Teang and he said to himself that he was not young anymore. He wanted to marry Teang because of being a good girl and having the thought of wild dreams about himself and his girl how desirable she was to him, she made him dream even during the day and the thought that he was no longer a boy, he was growing into a man, Dodong felt insolent and big at the thought of it although he was by nature low in statue, thinking himself a grown up man he felt like he could do anything.

Dodong pities his mother for doing all the housework alone, he wanted to help her carry the dishes out after their dinner but he was tired and felt lazy, he wished as he looked at her that he had a sister who could help his mother in the housework. After Dodong tells his father that he wants to marry Teang , his father replies with the question, “Must you marry, Dodong?” that implies he was still very young and if he was ready to face the responsibility and settling in life. While Teang was in labor, Dodong was outside the hut thinking the process of childbirth was really painful for his wife and in a few moments he would be a father, he whispered the word with awe, and with strangeness. He was young, he realized now, contradicting himself of nine months comfortable... “Your son,”people would soon  be telling him, all of a sudden he felt terribly embarrassed as he looked at his parents. Somehow he was ashamed to his mother of his youthful paternity, It made him feel guilty as if he had taken something no properly his, he felt guilty and untrue, he wanted to turn back, to go back the yard, he wanted  somebody to punish him. After having several children, Teang feels about her marriage to Dodong as full of guilt and regrets, she cried sometimes wishing she had not married. She did not tell Dodong this, not wishing him to dislike her, yet she wished she had not married not even Dodong, whom she loved. Dodong is described as “whom life had made ugly” that means full of struggles, not having stable life, full of problems and not enough financial status, not even having good family guidance. Dodong ask himself one night is that why life did not fulfill all of Youth’s dreams, it is because everything happens for a reason life is not fair going through tough times that’s how life it is, ups and down we can make our own choices but we can’not choose our own consequences in life and the more you know who you are, and what you want, the less you let things upset you because our thoughts control our actions and our actions control our destiny, if youth had just learn how to wait for the right time and for the right place then things will be alright, dreams will be achieved at a good cause and patience.