Analysis Of Banyaga: A Song of War

1. About the author

Charlson Ong is a Filipino-Chinese writer and well-known fictionist who has

published collection of short stories. He is best known in his work Banyaga: A Song
of War (2006). He currently teaches at University of the Philippines Diliman.

One of Charlson Ong’s famous literary piece is “An Embarrassment of Riches”.

Compared to Banyaga: A Song of War, it talks about social issues and is quite
different from Banyaga. “An Embarrassment of Riches” tackles political viewpoint
and serves as parody to the events occurring in the Philippines through the author’s
utilization of an imaginary island Victorianas. On the other hand, Banyaga: A Song
of War falls on the current issues regarding illegal immigrants and family relations
which is bit far from the other one’s point.

3. Banyaga: A Song of War

A. Meaning according to plot

1. Symbolic
 Letter- A letter is the symbolism of the short story because it serves as the beginning of the
story’s flow and it holds every memory of Ernesto Yo’s early life.
2. Literal

 “Banyaga” is a song and this song indicates war.

3. Metaphorical

 Banyaga: A Song of War is an alarm clock which serves as an eye opener to the sleeping
and close minds of every readers who will read it.
B. The author’s relation with the characters

 Main Character : The author wants to show a vivid example of how hard it is to live in a
country as illegal immigrants just like the main character Ernesto Yo.
 Center of attention: The center of attention of the story is Ernesto Yo’s sufferings on his
past which he doesn’t want his nephews to experience.
 Environment: The chosen environment of the author is the poor country of Philippines
where he grew up and memorized every single detail of it.
 Atmosphere: The story’s mood was light and at first then anger followed and then pity.
 Other: The usage of Chinese names was depict in the story not only because it wanted to
give emphasis on illegal immigrants but also the author’s a hybrid of Chinese and Filipino.
4. Plot

Banyaga: A Song of War begins with Ernesto waiting for an apprentice that his
brother promised him on a letter. Upon receiving the letter, he remembered how he
experienced hardships from his past. He went on reminiscing the bitter memories
that yesterday left him. He suddenly feel anger towards what happened. While still
refreshing memories, 2 young men appeared to him. His nephew, Han Sun and far
relative Ah Tin. At first he didn’t want to accept Ah Tin because he only asked for
one apprentice. He even thought of trading Ah Tin to a custom house boy but in the
end, he pitied him and take the both of them though it’ll be hard for him.

5. History of the Author

Charlson Ong, resident fellow of the Institute of Creative writing and

fictionist/scriptwriter/singer extraordinaire, was born on July 6, 1960, He obtained an
AB in Psychology from UP. in 1977. He has joined several writer’s workshops locally
and globally and has acquired numerous grants and awards from his fictions. His
short stories range from parodies of well-loved Filipino texts to insightful treatments
of Chinese-Filipino culture.

6. Conflict

A. What problems does the short story present?

The problems are the following:

 Delayed arrival of Ernesto’s nephew

 Memory of being stucked at the customs House
 Having second thoughts of accepting Ah Tin or not.
B. Who has problems and what are they?

 Ernesto Yo has all the problems stated in Question A.

C. Conflicts in the Story:

 Man vs Man : Ernesto is dealing up with Martin to trade Ah Tin

 Man vs Society : Ernesto or Ah Bun was judged because of Uncle Yo Bien left him on the
Customs house way back.
 Man vs Himself : He, Ernesto, was afraid that Ah Tin might suffer the same as he had
before.
7. Atmosphere
 The atmosphere of the story is real, urban, actual, and conditional to the inhabitants or
people.
8. Characters

Main Characters:

 Ernesto Yo : He is a main character whose looking for an apprentice. He is a dye maker

and had gone through a lot of hardships at young age.
 Hap Sun : Ernesto Yo’s nephew and Lee Mo Fan’s son. The promised apprentice
requested by Ernesto.
 Ah Tin : Ernesto Yo’s far relative and Mei Lu’s son. The one that Ernesto doesn’t want to
accept but agreed upon later on.
Secondary Characters:

 Lee Mo Fan : The father of Hap Sun and Ernesto’s brother. He was a selfish man who only
wants money for himself.
 Yu Bien : Ernesto’s Yo’s uncle who maltreated and left him on the customs house from
the past.
 Margaret (Po Kim) : A Chinese lady whom Ernesto fell in love with but planned to be a
nun.
 Pue An : Ernesto’s first love.
 Martin : Customs house boy who refused to accept Ah Tin.
 Customs Men before : They are the ones who fostered Ernesto no matter how poor they
are when he’s still young.
9. Theme

 The short story took us to the shoes of Ernesto Yo who faced hardships from his past. It
also took us to the realization that above everything and everyone, Family will always be
the highest priority.
 The author indirectly told us to accept our family because it is the greatest gift that man
could ever have. He didn’t imply the theme directly because he didn’t want his story to
appear cliche’ and also puzzle or baffle the reader’s mind regarding the story’s theme.
10. Secondary Topic

 The secondary topic is about the survival of illegal immigrants on country.

11. Structure : Internal

 Introduction:
It all starts from Ernesto Yo waiting for his apprentice to come which happened
to be his nephew, his brother’s son. Then he remembered his former life because of the
letter Ah fan; his brother gave. While reminiscing, he saw two young boy approaching
him.
 Development/Climax:
He asked them who is the real nephew was and Ah Sun answered that he was.
Ernesto didn’t want to accept Ah Tin, and so, Ah Tin begged to him. Ernesto planned of
trading him to martin, a Custom house boy but Martin refused to accept the boy.
 Denouement:
Ernesto realized that it is wrong to give his other relative that easy. So, in the
end, he accepted them both.
Classify The Structure:

 We classified this story as free writing because the author just expressed what he wanted
to give emphasis and he gave personal reviews towards the current issues in society.
12. Tone of the Story

The author intend to give the story in a normal but formal way. The author’s purpose
is to convey a humane attitude regarding the story.

13. Center of Interest

The center of interest in the short story is about Family Relation.

14. Personal Value

What was the purpose of the Author?

 The purpose of the author is for us to see the essence of compact family bond and to be
good towards each people in the society.
What did the Author achieved?

 The author achieved on giving his reader’s lessons about the focus of his literary piece.
What does the short story offer the reader?

 It offered the reader a wide range of new perception about family and treats.
Point out the main values in the short story:

 The story is proposed ideologically because it looks forward to a greater sense wherein the
readers response must be, opening their eyes to do what is right where there will always be
the good not only of many but also of all.
nalysis of Banyaga:A Song of War By:
Charlson Ong
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1. Charlson Ong is a Filipino-Chinese. Hewas born on July 6, 1960. He currently teaches literature in
Unversity of the Philippines-Diliman. He was awarded because of his novel, “barrassment of Riches”. He
joined several workshops in the philippines and abroad.

2. He’s best known works are, Embarrassment of riches (2002), Banyaga: A song of war (2006), and Blue
Angel, White Shadow (2010)

3. Banyaga: A Song Of War

By: Charlson Ong

A. Meaning according the plot:

1.Symbolic : “Alarm clock”

2. Literal : “Time”

3. Metaphoric : “Call”

B. The authors relation with the main character(s):

1. The authors tells how ernesto faced struggels,pains and hardships in the past and the author tells also that
how difficult when you were outside the country.

2. Center of attraction is how ernesto became a strong man even he faced so many challenges in his life
especially in the past.

3. The environment: The philippines.

4. It shows sadness,anger, hardships ang also unequal treatment to people ang that was not they deserved to be
treat.

4. Plot:

•Ah-Fan send a apology letter to his cousin ernesto because the son of ah-fan, lee hap sun is not available
,that’s why he send his third son Ah-Bun to be the helper but ernesto saw that there is a three young boys, but
in the end he get his three nephew.

5. Action

• Remembered his experiences in the hand of his uncle, and he don’t want to happened it again to his three
nephews

6. Conflict
A. What problems does the short story present?

• Ernesto was doubting if he will not take his nephews from the custom house because they’re like him in
the past , suffering their

7. Atmosphere

• The atmosphere is real,urban,actual ang conditional to the inhabitants or people

8. Characters:

A.Ernesto- is the main character, he is the one who save his three nephews from the custom house.

B. Ah-Bun,Ah-Tin- the two nephew

C.Ah-Fan- the cousin of ernesto and who sent a letter

D. Others: yu bien,martin,custom mens

9. Theme:

A. It tell us that we should not let our family experience sufferings o be hurt even though you had a bad
experience in you past.

B. The author wants to tell us that family is one of the greates gift from God

C. We should love our family unconditionally because family will be our shield if we are facing some
challenges in life.

10. Secondary topics:

• Being an Illegal

11. Structure

A. Introduction

• Ah-Fan sent a letter to ernesto. And saying, he will send his third son to be the helper of ernesto but his
cousin wants money and saying dowhat ever you want into my son.

B. Climax

• Ernesto need one helper but there is three young boys standing in the custom house. He was just staring at
them and wondering which is his nephew

C. Denouement

• He get his three nephews from the custom house he didn’t want to repeat the past again

12. Tone of the short story :

 • Merciful

13. Center of interest of the short story:

• If ernesto get his nephews from the custom mens.

14. Personal Value :

A. The author was the real narrator in the story, he just want to tell us the importance of it.

B. The author achieve that he touches the heart of the readers and tell to the readers that family is very
important in our life.

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This entry was posted in Uncategorized on September 17, 2016.
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