Analysis of the Short Story

“Huwag, Huwag Mong Kwentuhan si Wei-Fung” or “Don’t, Don’t Tell Stories to Wei
Fung is written by Ricardo “Ricky” Lee in 1969 where it won a Carlos Palanca Memorial
Award for Literature in the Filipino Category. The short story is about the dispute between
a father (Wei-Fung) and his son (Beng Hua). In the wake of them going to transfer to a new
house, they argue about their roots that is Chinese and that Wei Fu wants to preserve the
culture of what they have but Beng Hua argues that they must start anew. This is the
summary of the short story, how they have different viewpoints in an era where it wants to
stray away from the colonization of China in the Philippines.

The short story is a timeless. It is timeless even though it is clearly set after the
colonization of China. The way Ricky Lee translates a fictitious story that is told in
perspectives, one old and one anew is a testament to post-colonial literature. He wants us
to see the side of Wei-Fung, who doesn’t want to forget the past and still wants old
traditions to be done. On the other hand as ironic as it may be, his son, Beng Hua doesn’t
stand by him. The house is of in itself a representation of their old ways as Chinese. It had
become their safe haven.

Comparing It to Colonial and Post-Colonial Literature

COLONIAL LITERATURE POST-COLONIAL LITERATURE

Lagi ikinukwento ni Beng Hua noong 10
taong gulang pa lamang siya kay Wei-Fung
na pambatang pangarap niya makabalik sa
Tsina.
Nilutsay ang lahat-lahat na, Wei-Fung, ng
babaeng iyon, hanggang sa walang matira sa
akin kundi ang suot kong lumang pares ng
sinelas na ito – inagaw ni Wei-Fung ang
sinelas sa apoy at itinagong alaala.
Ang talagang kaugalian ng mga Intsik, ang
alam ko’y ang magsunog kung araw lamang
ng libing, pero ikaw –
Mga tira ng dati’y mga kasangkapang
ginagamit sa pagsusulat si Wei-Fung,
pagkatuyong mga panulat na ang iba’y
tanggal na ang hawakang kahoy at ang iba
nama’y baluktot na, ilang puno at halos
walang lamang bote ng itim na tintang
“Sapagka’t anumang bagay na luma at
napakinabangan, Papa, na ay dapat nang
itapon, ano k aba naman?” – Beng Hua
Nakita niya ang ilang batang lalaking
nangakauniporme ng puti at kaki.
“Bakit ba ang mga bata’y lagi nang nagiging
pinakamasaya kapag nakawawala sa
nananaklot na kamay ng tahanan?” – Wei-
Fung
“Papa, hindi pa rin ba maatim ng kalooban
mong umalis tayo sa bahay na ito?” – Beng
Hua
Intsik.
Putting telang kinasusulatan ng mgs “Ang pagsusulat mo noo’y hindi rin
pahatid-kataga sa mga namamatay. nakatulong.” – Beng Hua
Nagbibigay dati ng kendi habang “Bakit mo pa kinakailangang ipaghinanakit
nakikipaghalakhakan at nagkukwento sa kanya ang pagkakaasawa niya sa isang
tungkol sa malalayong baying Pilipina?” – Beng Hua
pinanggalingan niya.
“Kahit ba may pera tayo ngayon ay maari pa
nating ibalik ang lahat sa dati, magtindahan
ka ulit, magsulat?” – Beng Hua
“Halos wala ng namamatay na Intsik dito sa
Egualdad.” – Wei-Fung
“Kahit ikadukdok sa pagtulong sa mga
mahihirap na Pilipino ang mga kababayan
nati’y mananatili pa rin silang mga
nangakalubog sa dilaw na dugo?” – Wei-
Fung

Explanation of Colonial and Post-Colonial Literature

The two leads in the short story perfectly captures and distinguishes the colonial and post-
colonial literature. Colonial literature is written during colonization, using colonies as
setting. The story however It is written from the perspective of colonizers.

Concluding A Timeless Short Story