Characters

Awiyao
 The Husband stated in the short story. (Wedding dance)
 Humorous and physically fit.
 The lead male in the story who loves Lumnay, but left her because she didn’t produce children for him. The story takes place
the night of his new wedding to Madulimay.
 Amiyao-humorous and physically fit, as stated in the lines "How proud she had been of his humor. The muscles where taut
and firm, bronze and compact in their hold upon his skull---how frank his bright eyes were. She looked at his body the carved
out of the mountains five fields for her; his wide and supple torso heaved as if a slab of shining lumber were heaving; his
arms and legs flowed down in fluent muscle."

Lumnay

 The wife of Awiyao.

 The woman who was left by her husband (Awiyao) because she cannot bear a child.
 Beautiful, a good dancer, strong in planting beans, fast in cleaning jars, and a good housekeeper,
 Lumnay- beautiful, a good dancer, strong in planting beans, fast in cleaning jars, and a good housekeeper, as mentioned in
the line "He held her face between his hands and looked longingly at her beauty," and also in the line "One of the men will
see you dance well; he will like your dancing," as well as in the lines "I came to tell you that Madulimay, although I am
marrying her, can never become as good as you are. She is not as strong in planting beans, not as fast in cleaning water jars,
not as good keeping a house clean. You are one of the best wives in the whole village."

Madulimay

Awiyao's new wife.

If you truly love a person, you must let them be happy

Have you ever heard the saying “if you love someone, let them go”? The story of Lumnay and Awiyao wrestles with this
difficult issue. Despite how upsetting it is to Lumnay, she must let Awiyao go, not only because of their culture, but also
because it is clear that he will not be happy without a child.

Six Symbolic Elements

Gangsas

The gangsas are culturally important. The sound of the gangsas represents the man in the wedding ceremony. Like the
gangsas, they are strong and provide a beat to the dance, or a "beat to life".
Gangsas are kind of percussion instrument. It produces loud and strong sounds of beats. Its rhythm leads
“beats todance”. In the story, gangsa represents a man. A man who is physically and emotionally strong; and a man
wholeads and makes “beats to life”.

Dancing

Culturally, the dancing is a celebration of happiness. It is also a show of sexuality by the women. Because Lumnay has
not produced a child, she feels ashamed to dance and show herself to the other men, as she believes no one will look
at her.

The Fire

The fire or flames signify the burning intensity of both love and hate that Lumnay feels in the situation. When
Awiyao stirs the embers in Lumnay’s dark hut, he stirs up both of these feelings in her. Later, as Lumnay watches
the bonfire from afar, her physical distance from the fire reflects her emotional separation from the man she loves.
The fire signifies the burning intensity of both love and hate that Lumnay feels in the situation.
The Beads

The beads in the story symbolize the promise that Awiyao made to Lumnay. They are also very precious and are
worth 20 fields. The fact that Awiyao gives them to Lumnay shows that he cherishes her, and that he still believes
she has worth. Although Lumnay rejects the hut and field Awiayo offers her, she accepts the beads, suggesting her
desire to remain connected to Awiyao.
Beads are used to create accessories. In the story, “...they come from far-off times. My grandmother said theycome
from up North, from the slant-eyed people across the sea. You keep them, Lumnay. They are worth twentyfields.” In the story, beads
symbolize promise. “I’ll keep them because they stand for the love you have for me, I loveyou. I love you and have nothing to give
you.”

The Floor

A number of times the narrator draws the reader’s attention to the rattan floor as Lumnay pulls it apart. This is
symbolic of their marriage unraveling.
The floor has been called for a number of times in the story. It witnessed the painful separation of Lumnayand
Awiyao. There were moments in the story that Lumnay pulled apart the rattan flooring while crying in pain andwhen
she seemed to be really upset and broken. The floor symbolizes the unraveling or unweaving marriage of Awiyaoand Lumnay.

The Night

The night time setting symbolically adds to the darkness and isolation that Lumnay feels as she runs away from
the village. As she works her way up the dark mountain alone, she is unable to envision a path to the future. The
reader, too, is left in darkness with the unresolved ending.
The night time setting symbolically adds to the darkness and isolation that Lumnay feels as she runs awayfrom
the village.

A reflective reaction on an highlighted phrase on a story authored by Amador Daguio.

"Go out--go out and dance. If you really don't hate me for this separation, go out and dance. One of the men will see you dance well;
he will like your dancing; he will marry you. Who knows but that, with him, you will be luckier than you were with me."– taken from
the story Wedding Dance

Once again, I make this reflection in a speedier, yet precise way as I contain time for the other reflection articles. And I made
chose the line very carefully. First, I scan the whole paper in search of striking conversational lines. Second, after choosing the line, I
must think what it can do for real life. And finally, what lessons can be taken out of these lines.

I chose this line because it shows that Awiyao was giving the freedom to his wife in such a way that she must dance for other
man to lure unto her. It was written in a language that is in command form. It also depicts that Awiyao is not a good husband unto her
wife. It was appealing in a way that a man like Awiyao, although married, is giving a privilege to marry another man by dancing. Also,
such act is rare among modern society, considering there are many men who will never do such an act to their wives.

It gives us an insight that a man like Awiyao is actually giving freedom to the woman she loved to find a better husband than
him. In this case, as a person, I encountered several friends of mine that has the same thing. Like giving their girlfriends a chance to
find another man far better than themselves. For me, such a move will benefit both sides, inasmuch as the pain that a certain couple
have when they are still in a relationship. Another thing is that several of the men do such an act it’s because they want their woman
they cherish happier if they are with another person. Doing so will bring relief to the both sides, and there are lesser chances of
conflict between the two parties.

The summary of this reflection paper is that it only gives a simple, yet striking message to those who are in the relationship. If
they are broken up, accepting it is the best thing. Considering that a girl is happy with another person, a man must accept the fact,
appreciate the happiness to the girl that he loves, and also, to the benefit to all of those who are involved in a relationship.

A Quick Synopsis of "The Wedding Dance"

"The Wedding Dance" by Amador Daguio is a short story about a husband and wife, Awiyao and Lumnay, who had been married for
seven years. In spite of being in love with his wife, Awiyao feels the need to marry again in order to have a son. At his second marriage
celebration, Awiyao goes to check on Lumnay, knowing she is upset. Awiyao thought the answer to Lumnay's sorrow would be to have
her join the other women during the wedding dance. Lumnay was in fact at his wedding, but left. She could not stand the idea of her
husband marrying another woman because she could not give him children.

A Critical Analysis of Amador Daguio's Wedding Dance

There is indeed a lot to know and learn about culture. Knowing its definition alone is futile, for there is much about it, and even more
when brought out to the surface. Basically, culture affects every part of people’s lives. The ways they act, think, and perceive things
are grounded from certain cultures they grew up in. Indeed, to understand people is to know how their culture works, such as its
function in the society, and how it shapes their minds and beliefs. In Keywords, Raymond Williams points out that “culture” is one of
the two or three most complicated words in the English language, with a long, complex etymology.

Amador Daguio’s short story, Wedding Dance. The story itself stands up and shows how rich Filipino culture is. The tribe where the
main characters Lumnay and Awiyao belong in shows how simple, yet rich their way of living is. Their everyday life usually depends on
manual labor; men plant and plow the fields while women keep the house clean.

Basically they get their food from their surroundings. They don’t have extravagant houses, nor did they have fancy clothes and
jewelry. The tribe people live as one. They help one another and they take part in the promotion of common good for all. They are
bound together by their customized laws and traditions. Some would be amazed how strong their tradition’s foundation is. However,
their tradition being dominant is put into question; whether the tradition itself has done much good to serve its people, or it has gone
too far to take away its people’s consciousness and free will.

Looking at its title, Wedding Dance has something to do with tradition. In most Filipino ethnic festivities and celebrations like that of a
wedding, a dance is indispensable. It stands for a tradition being sacred and essential, something that should never be defied nor
questioned. The story revolves on how the characters’ tradition can be an instrument to the preservation of their culture and the
promotion of peace, but on the contrary, it also shows how this tradition can demolish the privilege that make one decide for his or
her own self, and how it can take away one’s rights to act according to his or her own freewill.

More often, women are greatly affected by the imposing rules of traditions. It is because traditions themselves are constructed by the
society, and as most people are aware of, the society is created and ruled by men. The Wedding Dance tells about the story of Awiyao
and Lumnay who were then happy couples. They had built a life of their own. Awiyao had been a good husband to her, and Lumnay
the best wife he could ever have. But such union needed to fall apart as the two were not blessed with a child, Lumnay being regarded
as incapabable of bearing a child.

In their tribe, to bear a child was a very important element in creating a family and establishing a better relationship between husband
and wife; but it is something which Awiyao and Lumnay would never achieve. According to their unwritten law, a husband may
divorce his wife and take another if the latter fails to bear a child. No matter how Awiyao loved Lumnay, he could not set aside the fact
that a man like him should have a child to carry his name and follow his footsteps. More importantly, if he would not have a child, the
other men in tribe would question his masculinity and would even mock him behind his back.

Such is pointed out here: “Lumnay, he said tenderly. “Lumnay, if I did this it is because of my need for a child. You know that life is not
worth living without a child. The men have mocked me behind my back. You know that. ” Because having a child was an obligation of a
married couple, Awiyao had no other options but to leave Lumnay for another woman, Madulimay. This shows how non-negotiable
traditions can be. As how Greenblatt explains it, “if people do something unacceptable, something counter to these ideals, then they
suffer the consequences: everything from stares, sarcasm, contempt, or laughter to legal sanctions like imprisonment.

The beliefs and values of a culture discourage people from going outside what is “appropriate” for that society; they are constrained
by society’s expectations. At the same time, a culture’s boundaries are enforced more positively as well. ” Lumnay tried her best to
bear a child. For seven years, she prayed and sacrificed many chickens to Kabunyan just to please the deity. Lumnay represented the
women in their tribe. She was a good wife for she did her house work impressively; but just because of her incapacity to bear a child,
all her good qualities as a woman were set aside.

Just like Awiyao, she was conformed to their tribe’s unwritten laws, but her situation was even worse compared to that of Awiyao;
that is, because she’s a woman. Lumnay’s depressing situation only proves how the society has put women behind men, and how the
law gives them more restrictions than freedom. Lumnay portrays a woman who is weak and subordinating; someone who gives in to a
man’s authority. She may have wanted to speak up and complain; to go to elders and tell them it was not right, “Suddenly she found
courage. She would go to the dance. She would go to the chief of the village, to the elders, to tell them it was not right.

Let her be the first woman to complain, to denounce the unwritten rule that a man may take a woman. ” but at the end, she realized
she did not have the courage to do so. The gleaming brightness of the bonfire, their tradition, and her fears commanded her to stop.
“The blaze reached out to her like a spreading radiance. She did not have the courage to break into the wedding feast.” Daguio had
written a great love story with a great sense of ethnicity. Since he himself grew up in the Mountain Province, he had seen through his
very eyes the Ifugao culture.
The story Wedding Dance more specifically shows how personal love and interest are defeated by culture. Lumnay’s actions and
words make the readers feel pity for her and for those whose deep attachment to their tradition makes them a prisoner of it. There is
much sympathy in the character of Lumnay. Daguio made sure to point out the prevailing power of culture, that its superiority
dominated nature. “What was it that made a man wish for a child? What was it in life, in the work in the field, in the planting and
harvest, in the silence of the night, in the communing with

husband and wife, in the whole life of the tribe itself that made man wish for the laughter and speech of a child? Why did the
unwritten law demand, anyway, that a man, to be a man, must have a child to come after him? ” Daguio illustrated the possible ill
effect of the influence of a tradition. He was able to stir the hearts of his readers on the unfortunate situation of Lumnay brought
about by their prevailing culture. Such portrayal showed how culture would always find its way to triumph, and how it maintained
beliefs and traditions that evolved in the society.

The plot technique that Daguio used in his story is quite impressive. His deviation from the traditional plot structure is a different, yet
interesting way of creating a style of his own. Unlike the usual flow of a story where it starts with the introduction until it reaches the
problem, Daguio in the beginning of the story already revealed the conflict. What is more interesting about his technique is it (the
story) still allows a sense of suspense despite the fact that the conflict is already introduced in the beginning.

Furthermore, the setting itself fits the story perfectly. There can’t be more realistic or valid story of a culture than this of which the
setting really illustrates such, and the author witnessed such. The use of ethnic objects to stand for something makes the story more
realistic and representational. For instance, the sound of the gong, far yet sonorous, spreads throughout the tribe, reaching Lumnay in
the deepest corner of her home. The gong sounds triumphant; it is culture that calls for her adherence, inviting her to come, to accept
what is about to happen.

In addition, the dance, which Lumnay refused to take part in, represents their tradition, for somehow Lumnay felt like denouncing it.
Lumnay’s idea of standing against their tradition gives the very impression that culture did not completely prevail on her. If it did,
Lumnay wouldn’t even think of standing up against their tribe law, denouncing it for its being unreasonable. In this, Daguio may have
shown how imperative and overbearing culture is, and how it seeks to promote order and peace in the society, but it doesn’t prove
that it always triumphs.

Even Awiyao at one part of the story questioned the urgency of their culture, thinking who or what could have made such notion of
the necessity of having a child. It may have shown, through Lumnay’s portrayal, Daguio’s attempt to uncover women subordination
and oppression in the society in general. Women’s roles such that of Lumnay’s are often stressed as those concerning with being
modest, tender, and submissive. As the story progresses, he gives Lumnay a voice; that of which stands for a woman finding her own
way out of the box where she is kept and locked in.

Daguio celebrates the innate strength of a woman who can actually stand for what she believes in, and who can fight for what is right.
However, such attempt fails as Lumnay’s portrayal is inadequate and blurred. There’s not so much description of Lumnay that can
actually put her in the right limelight. His descriptions of Lumnay are vague; they just show how good she is as a wife – a general
image that the society created as an important role of a woman. Furthermore, her strengths are not brought out the surface.

In fact, the last part of the story confirms how feeble she is; for she has still chosen to heed what is expected of her. Lumnay’s backing
out from her judgment only proves that the culture, dominated by men still has taken her a prisoner. Another character that
contributes to Daguio’s misrepresentation of women is Maludimay. The reader might not even consider her for she is just mentioned
once; but in fact, she has a big role to play. Maludimay is just presented as another Ifugao woman whose only hope is to give her
husband a child, just like Lumnay’s.

The story does not really focus on how Lumnay is treated unfairly and fights against it, but rather how she is mistreated by such
tradition, and how she permits it in doing such. Daguio only gives the readers a false and a shattering hope of women liberation. So
much is made of male authors’ difficulties writing good female characters. Since 1983 in Showalter’s time, there have emerged male
critics who self-identified themselves as feminists. Since then, debates on the “possibility” of men’s relation with feminism have
become a recurring issue in the realm of gender studies.

In an early version of Men in Feminism, Stephen Heath writes, “Men’s relation to feminism is an impossible one. ” As Heath puts it,
“the point after all is that this is a matter for women, that it is their voices and actions that must determine the change and
 redefinition. Women are the subjects of feminism, its initiators, its makers, its force . . . Men are the objects, agents of the structure to
be transformed, carriers of the patriarchal mode; and my desire to be a subject there too in feminism–to be a feminist–is then only
the last feint in the long history of their colonization.

” Heath made a point that men who enter the discourse of feminism may attempt to colonize it. Furthermore, men who try to be
feminists cannot take away from them the patriarchal moves that women denounce. In Out of Bounds: Male Writers and Gender(ed)
Criticism, Laura Claridge and Elizabeth Langland offer a central insight of patriarchy that one has to consider – it is a gender-
complicated term that initially defines a male writer’s resistance to and defiance of an ideology as “feminist”.

That is, their unexamined assumption was that antipatriarchal activity would necessarily encompass feminism. In other words,
criticisms offered by men are inevitably patriarchal, and that they will always carry with them no matter how they work their way out
of a constricting male language. To add further, Claridge and Langland mentioned, “Although many male writers are interested in a
space or possibility for expression coded as “feminine,” they are not necessarily interested in particular women and their plights – or
even the general plight of the generic “woman”.

A male writer may simply need the space of what he or his culture terms the feminine in which to express himself more fully because
he experiences the patriarchal construction of his masculinity as a constriction. ” Daguio failed to liberate Lumnay from her tribe’s
gender bondage because, in the first place, he himself belonged to, and a member of the patriarch. Although he had been a witness of
such tradition, he would never be able to effectively portray Lumnay as a victim because he was not a woman; and therefore wouldn’t
realize how it felt to be a woman, resulting to his one-sided portrayal of Lumnay.

More importantly, since he belonged to the discriminating group, he would not be able to portray any female character properly.
Cultural practices have given an enormous impact on gender roles. They influence how men and women think about themselves
within their gender roles. For instance, men are expected to be independent, assertive, and competitive; women are expected to be
more passive, sensitive, and supportive like Lumnay who is bound to do her duties and responsibilities in the tribe imposed by what
they call “the elders”, the lawgiver, and the male leaders of their tribe.

Women are forced to behave in the way the society considers appropriate. It is therefore a struggle for women to be fully liberated;
and to do such, the society itself must do it. But there have been ways to make others aware of women’s depriving situation. In fact,
literature has done quite well, if not best, to reveal the issues concerning women. However, only female writers can do best in
discussing issues that their gender group experiences, for there’s no better way of making these issues known than doing it
themselves, for they are the inferior and the oppressed.

Essential Questions for "The Wedding Dance"

1. What are the expectations for men in Awiyao’s culture? What about for women?

For men, to have a child from their own blood and flesh is the expectation for men in Awiyao’s culture. Achild who will
represent their image as a man and who will save his name to survive in the tribe.

For women, to bear a child in their womb is the expectation for women in Awiyao’s culture. A child whowill symbolize
their essence and fruitfulness as a woman. Those who claim that she could give her husband a childare counted in honor
to dance.

2. Is it true that love conquers all? When might this be untrue?

My opinion is, Yes! Love truly conquers all. Love makes human existence. Love of God for you and me. HisLove for
humanity conquers,even if it costs the life of His beloved son, Jesus Christ. It is love that conquers. Itconquers every
decision you make. In the situation of Awiyao and Lumnay, for me, it is love...why Awiyao had to make such decision of
leaving and breaking Lumnay’s heart; and why Lumnay had decided not to go on the wedding celebration, but instead to
just walk up on the mountains.

1. How important is having children to you? How important is it in your family? What about in your culture?
2. What is your legacy?

The Wedding Dance (The How’s, What if’s and If ever’s)

1. How do you think expectations of society affect the life of married couples?
 —> The society expects married couples to do many things. Building a happy family, taking care of their children and
making their marriage last are some of the society’s expectations. Some of them do not succeed because they prioritize
other things. These expectations make them responsible for their actions. It makes every married couple to do their best
to make their family have a stronger relationship and bond.

2. What if you belong to Awiyao and Lumnay’s tribe, will you also follow the same practice?

—> If I belong to Awiyao and Lumnay’s tribe, I will not follow the same practice. I will fight for the person I love. I will never
let go of my husband just because of that tradition. I will do everything just to make him stay with me. I will prove to him
that I love him that much to let him go.

3. For Females: Do you also believe that between a man and a woman, the latter is expected to do more sacrifices?

—> I do not believe that a woman is expected to do more sacrifices than a man because it depends on the situation.
There are many circumstances that may happen to a married couple’s life. There are some men who also do sacrifices
because there are wives who are demanding. Married couples should have a fair treatment with each other. They should
consider their partners’ feelings to make their relationship lasts.

4. How are men and women portrayed in the story? Their roles? Their rights?

—> The man and the woman in the story need to build a family. They need to have a child for them to stay together. They
need to follow their tribe’s tradition. They did not have the chance to fight for their rights to love one another. They
sacrificed their feelings just to meet their tribe’s expectation.

What dominant characteristic of each is shown by Awiyao/Lumnay’s character in the story?

—> The dominant characteristic of Awiyao shown in the story is that, he is willing to sacrifice his love for Lumnay just to
follow the tribe’s tradition. He did not fight for Lumnay. For Lumnay, the dominant characteristic is that, she is strong
enough to let go of his husband. It hurts but she did it for their tribe. Both of them do not have the chance to fight for their
feelings.

5. If ever you are Awiyao or Lumnay, how will you prove your love for your wife or husband?

—> If I were Lumnay, I will fight for Awiyao to prove that I love him. Even though it means that I will sacrifice everything, I
will do it just to make him stay with me. I will never let him find another woman. I will ask him to wait until we had a child. I
will promise to him that even if we did not have a child, we will be the happiest couple because I will do everything to
make him happy.

6. How do you live to the expectations of society? Do you consider “society’s expectation” important?

—> I take the society’s expectation as a responsibility. I know as a girl and as a teenager, they expect me to do
household chores because now I am a grown up and I can help in the house by doing little things. They also expect me to
be independent because I will be turning on the legal age. Yes, I consider society’s expectation important because by this,
I will know what I should do and act, but sometimes I do not follow what they expect me. Life is just short so I do what I
want sometimes and what makes me happy.

7. What will you choose: dignity or love? Explain your answer.

—> If I were to choose between dignity and love, I will choose love. Love because it can bring happiness to my life no
matter how hard the circumstances will be. It can make me the strongest person in the world. For me, as long as love is
there, no one or thing can stop me. I will never hold back when it comes to love.

In relationship, it is important for each partner to draw boundaries for making compromise. Everyone requires little distance and a
sense of self-respect for their own individual growth. A relationship based on the cost of one partner dignity becomes enduring for
each other directly or indirectly.

Hence, do not compromise your dignity to keep the relationship going. If you bend over backward just to please your partner, you will
keep your dignity at stake and make yourself vulnerable to lose your own individuality.

Dignity is about being worthy of honor and respect for yourself. To have dignity is to have high self-esteem and at the same time
honor the other person also. It is a self-expression to carry oneself with respectful manner and a core of everyone’s aspirations.

Nobody respects a person who has no dignity. If you lack dignity, you will make yourself vulnerable to misuse and abuse. That is why
you must always maintain a certain level of self-respect otherwise people are ready to use you for their own benefits. Living with
dignity is a key to happiness. It is nothing to do with your social positions and financial status. You only need to believe in yourself,
being aware of your worthiness and who you are as a person is more than enough to keep your head high.

For Filipino People Dignity is Important

For Filipino People Dignity is Important

In the Philippines, Filipino people moral and values are important but Filipino dignity is also more important to every individual. For
Filipino people, the only things they have in their life is dignity that no one can take place to them. For Filipino people, dignity is the
way we inherit to our grandparent how we value our rights and what is right. Dignity to Filipino people is important because it shows
self-respect as a human being. If you have respect to yourself and to other you value your dignity.

What is Dignity?
Dignity is the right of a human being to be treated right and with respect. It is like good moral, right ethics, and having a good conduct.
Dignity is very important for every person or individual because it builds respect, gratitude, and values inside of it.

All people has its own dignity, it is on how you value or carry the dignity on yourself. Dignity is something that we honor and respect to
other so that it will treat you equal and the same on how you treat people around you. Every person has the right to live their life in
their own way even if you’re young, your old, your rich, and your poor it is in your hand how you manage your life with dignity. People
who treat each other with dignity can have a helping hand and true friend in people around them.

Dignity is very important in our life it gives us the right on how we treat people and on how we give respect to people. It also shows
how we live our life depends on how we value the dignity we have. Dignity is the way we respect a person and it’s right. It is the value
of every person on how they have dignity in their self.

The importance of having dignity is not only for Filipino people but for all people around the world because dignity is something that
we have in a human being to be treated with respect, to be love, and to fight what is right.

How Important Dignity to the Life of Filipino

In the Philippines, the Family is the most important source of happiness in every Filipino. However, for Filipino dignity is also important
in our life. It is how we treat people and how people treat us. Filipino people give respect to every individual around them they now
that treating people with respect is their right and it is the way they also show how they value their dignity.

Every Filipino especially those people live in the middle class and who live in poverty has a deeper meaning of dignity. Sometimes
these people are the most trustful person and most down to earth person. They live with self-respect and believe that they are worthy
as a person. They are not greed and corrupt person. What is important to them is they live with dignity and they live in the right way
and they hurt no one.

Filipino values and dignity is the one that is an important method of the way of living it shows how Filipino introduce their self to other
countries. Filipino wants them to respect and treat them right the way they treat people around them. This is how important dignity
to every Filipino people showing respect, good morals, and right conduct. Filipino with dignity is their every life of living, which make
them act the right way, live harmoniously, know their worth as a person, and appreciate them on what they do.

Filipino believe that dignity is the only things that can give to their children and grandchildren that no one can take away. They teach
their children how important to have dignity and how they value dignity in their life. Even in our death, our dignity can take away from
us.

Dignity in every person, individual, and in every family is very important. It cannot take away and it has always existed in the everyday
life of a person. It also earned not ask a person to give you. What you do to a person is what you earned, if you do good it will be back
to you the same thing, if you bad you also earned it. There is a saying that ” Do unto others as you would have them do to you”.

For Filipino people, their goal is to teach children how important to have dignity because dignity is how we respect yourself, how you
treat people with love, and how the values of good moral can help you to become a better person. Having a positive outlook in life can
help your dignity to boost more to have more confident on what you want in life and in what you do. This thing is very important to
know Filipino children so that their mindset would become positive in everything they do.

Filipino people believe that what in everything they do, even if it is work related and even if they sacrifice just to make sure that their
family has a food to eat or they can give a better future for their family it is enclosed with dignity.

Loss of Dignity What It Will Cause

Lossing a dignity to a person can cause the death of dishonor. Because living without dignity is worse than death. Living without
dignity is like losing away all the important in your life because dignity is self-respect if you lose your dignity you lose your self-respect
that causes your life to become miserable.

Those people who is rude, who are not afraid of doing wrong to others are those people who lost their dignity. And in this society,
there are a lot of people who lost their soul and starving on doing what is not right to the eyes of our Almighty God.

When you feel you lose your dignity it is very painful, disgrace, shame, and emotional knowing that you lose one of the important as a
human being. You feel very mad and very angry with someone or something sometimes you lose your temper and even your dignity
may at risk to lose. Some people may commit crime because of too much anger and too much disrespectful to someone that is the
time they lost their dignity to their self. Lack of self-esteem may also be caused to lose the dignity of the people. Also, too much pride
will kill the dignity in yourself.

Some Cause why we Lose our Dignity

 Jealousy
 Anger
 Too much pride
 Lack of self-respect
 Give up easily
 Lack of self-esteem
 Too much pain can cause the loss of dignity
 Lack of faith in GOD
 Immorality
 Too much hatred
 Too much evil deeds

The Character of Filipino People with Regards to their Dignity

Dignity is cannot force us to sell it or force us to take away from it or we cannot force someone to give it to someone. Respect and
dignity come together and it includes a good ethics, a good moral, and attitude towards people around you. Dignity is having decent
work, living in this world that you cannot hurt someone, and be content on what you have in life. It does not only focus on what you
become in life but what you have in life. Because when you have dignity in your self you can look straight in the eyes of the people and
you can face them without a fear. Because you know that you have respect to your self and other have also respect to you.

Filipino has a great respect for each individual. They honor their dignity and pride in the right way and value all the thing they learned
in their grandparents. They make sacrifices just to put in the mind of their great-grandchildren how important dignity is in their life.
Not to be ashamed of what they are doing what is right and fight for what is right. That’s how Filipino people attitude. Having the right
attitude towards challenges in life is the Filipino outlook to become optimistic that tomorrow will be much better than yesterday.
Filipino people that are living in the urban area are more dignified in expressing their rights, they are more exposed to what is
life bringing to them even if they struggle in life they can still smile and make their life happy without materials things in this world can
give to them. Because they know that the most important things that they have is not materials things it the dignity that they have
and cannot take away to them no matter what happens.

For Filipino people, when it comes to family it is their most precious things they have in this world and also the dignity that they have
could not fade away. When it comes to their family every victory they have will be shared to them that’s how they value the family
they have. Teach the younger ones to value family and the importance of dignity. Show them the purpose of living on doing what is
right and feel them the love that they deserve.

Filipino community has a very close relationship with each other. They will help each other and fight for each other when they know
that one of them is in trouble or feel humiliated. They are very sensitive when it comes to full down their dignity and attack their self-
esteem. Anything that they know and feel that their hurt about personality or humanity can change their behavior and ready to fight
for their self.

Doing little things for others can occupy the biggest part of the heart of Filipino who really did helping their fellow Filipino. Their
dignity can prove how Filipino has a big heart to help their neighbor and fellow citizens especially those Filipino who live abroad. They
really take care of each other and helping each other needs. They value the dignity of being a Filipino in other countries where they
live.

1. Nowadays, what is your ideal wedding? How do you view marriage?

Marriage is a heavy decision that can change your life forever. It is a lifetime commitment with God as the center and
encompasses deeper promises and obligations. To be honest, I’m not that sweet and I’m shy to show my love and affection to others.
I also noticed that I change my mind so fast so I don’t really have that too detailed ideal wedding. As of now, I can say that my ideal
wedding is to be married to the one I love and the rest will be history.

2. If you were Awiyao, would you also give up your marriage just to follow a certain tradition?

No, because when you love a person you will never think of leaving him/her whatever may be the reason. I know it’s hard for
Awiyao because he’s torn between the one he loves and following their tradition but choosing the latter will definitely not give him
the happiness and contentment he can feel with Lumnay. I believe that traditions can be disobeyed but neglecting your love will just
lead you to lifetime misery.
3. If you were Lumnay, would you also follow the tradition?

No, because following the tradition will just hurt the both of them. Traditions are important for other people but happiness is
way more important for me. What can following to traditions do to you? Making you a good citizen or individual perhaps? But if you
will look deeper where the happiness on it if it will crashes your heart into pieces?

4. Do you also believe that having a child makes a family complete?

Family has different meanings for each one of us. In my own perspective, it’s not the child/children that make/s your family
complete, it’s your love and respect toward each other. Although having a child with the one you love feels so good but we need to
consider such situations like what Lumnay has. There are so many ways to make your family complete but above all, Love wins.

The How’s, What If’s and If ever’s:

1. How do you think expectations of society affect the life of married couples?

Expectations can somehow affect the life of married couples because we’re not living in this world just for ourselves. People’s
expectations can really somehow dictate the actions of other people. But it still depends on the couple if they will take these
expectations as the center of their marriage and that will surely destroy whatever they have.

2. What if you belong to Awiyao and Lumnay’s tribe, will you also follow the same practice?

No, because there are some circumstances that we need to disobey traditions especially if you think that you’re not doing
anything wrong. True love can only be felt once. Traditions are traditions but happiness is everything.

3. For Females: Do you also believe that between a man and a woman, the latter is expected to do more sacrifices?

Yes, because hardships and sacrifices of women can be seen mostly by everyone. Starting from bearing a child for 9 months and
then giving birth, it is not easy with a possibility that a woman can die because of this. Having monthly period with cramps sometimes
also shows how hard it is to be a girl.

4. How are men and women portrayed in the story/ Their roles? Their rights? What dominant characteristic of each is shown by
Awiyao/Lumnay’s character in the story?

Men in the story should follow the tradition of marrying a woman then having a child. If the wife fails to carry a child the man
must marry another woman. The story shows how obedient Awiyao is to their tradition to the point that he is willing to let Lumnay go
while Lumnay on the other side kept all her sadness to herself. The situation depicts how the two protagonists sacrificed for the sake
of their tribe’s tradition.

5. If ever you are Awiyao or Lumnay, how will you prove your love for your wife or husband?

If I were any of the two protagonists, I will fight for my love in a right way. I will be ready to face the consequences of
disobeying our tradition as long I'm with the one I love. It may not be easy at first but I believe in the saying love conquers all.

6. How do you live to the expectations of society? Do you consider “society’s expectation” important?

Society’s expectation somehow affects my actions. I don’t want to hear any bad thing or hurtful comments from others that’s
why sometimes I consider their expectations to my decisions in life. At the same time I also don’t want to hurt other people’s feeling
that’s why I’m being considerate to whatever they want me to do. I’m the type of person who is very much conscious on what others
may think and say about me based on my actions and way of speaking.

7. What will you choose: dignity or love? Explain your answer.

 I chose love because it is only a four-letter word but it conveys a powerful meaning. This word is like a combination of different
nouns such as courage, respect and even dignity. Once you love a person there’s no doubt that you will do anything and you will give
everything for that person.

‘’Thanks to Amador T. Daguio, the author of the "Wedding Dance" that he give much emphasis on the wedding dance where it is the
highlight of the story which speaks about the reality of marriage between man and woman. It is a reality that man needs to have a
child to prove that his a true man. I can also say that man is superior at the story which is mostly present nowadays. Culture may also
influence the mind of man just like Awiyao who married another woman who is Madulimay inorder to have a child because in their
culture man cannot be called man if he doesn't have any child. Though Awiyao is not inlove with Madulimay, he still continued to marry
her. The story doesn't care about the feelings of a woman rather cares for the good of man. Unequal treatment is portrayed. Now I
realized as a woman that I have the right to fight for what I thought is good. Women who will be reading this will be motivated enough
to do what is best for them. They will not be anymore coward towards men.’’

‘’ "The Wedding Dance" by Amador Daguio is somehow about the reality of the obstacles encountered in a married life. Marrying
someone you love is a dream anybody could long for. Engaging, accepting, and entrusting one's self in this status is a lifetime
commitment. Therefore, it is not right for a man to leave his wife and find another one because of the reason that they cannot bear a
child. If you really love someone, you would venture to fight and sacrifice everything for him/her to conquer all.’’

“"The Wedding Dance".It made me realize that true love does not always have the happy ending,but rather it makes you feel empty
and break your heart into pieces.Sometimes, you need to sacrifice and give up everything just to make your love one happy.Even how
painful it is,you need to accept the truth because true love is niether selfish nor greedy.True love always gives a way and have the
power to make all things right.”

“I like the thought that the writer gave emphasis to the abandonment of men to women. In this sense, I am sure that readers will
appreciate more the women and their sacrifices as being inferior in their society. The realization, that if a woman cannot produce a
baby, she will be considered useless provoked me for its being unfair and disgusting. The story also portrayed how culture affects
wedding and the bitter truth about inequality of the sexes which led women to suffer. It hurts knowing that their husbands chose their
pride instead of their loved one just to be treated according to their wants in their society. Anyway, I’m still thankful that I was born in
this new generation, everything is fair and I believe that God created women to be loved and to be respected not be slaved.”

“The Wedding Dance.The story was good as well as to the writer because he gave emphasis to the abandonment of men to the women
which is really happening in some places. And the only reason why he have to abandon his wife is that he will be inferior to other men.
When i read the story it was stated there that women only produce a child. I realized that not all individual follow their heart instead
they follow what is their brain even if they will sacrifice their own happiness. We also to have to accept what would be the decision of
others.”

“Amador T. Daguio in that story shows to us an example of a Filipino culture: the story narrates about a patriarchal society- wherein
men dominate. For me, i can say that the story was sad in the sense that the two lovers were being departed because of their culture &
tradition even if they love each other. At the same time the story was also unfair to us-girls in the sense that men could leave us
anytime if his needs were not met. Like what happen to Lumnay in the story, Awiyao her husband leaves her because they could not
bear a child. So, based on that, the only job of female in that story is to produce an offspring & if she can't do that her husband could
leave her because it is against/does not base on their culture. Because base on their culture, if men cannot have a child he could be
inferior to other men & for that reason we-women were being abandon!

Generally, in that story Amador T. Daguio is trying to tell us that one culture could affect one's feeling, decission and LIVING.”

From whom was the mood emphasizing?

The author seems to emphasize, to the readers, the mood that is somewhat dark, as stated in the first paragraph’s line “After some
moments during which he seemed to wait, he talked to the listening darkness.” This short story’s introduction already tells each
reader of the story’s “darkness” in terms of the major characters’ true love for each other that cannot be realized due to their tribe’s
custom. In this regard, many symbols are utilized in order to make such “darkness” manifest itself in a deeper and more meaningful
manner.

Is it not that the bamboo symbolizes that Awiyao was the one barren after all and the bean plants for Lumnay's ability to produce
children?

Question: What is the symbolism of the bean pods in the ending? "Lumnay's fingers moved a long,long time among the growing bean
pods."

For me, the bamboo, as mentioned in the lines below, symbolizes freedom because it goes up and down when the rattan, which
keeps it in place, is moved. This bamboo seems to represent Awiyao who should be "freed" in order to get married to another woman
so as to have a child. However, his conscience is somewhat bothering him because Lumnay has declared that she still loves him, and
vice versa.
“Lumnay looked down and unconsciously started to pull at the rattan that kept the split bamboo flooring in place. She tugged at the
rattan flooring. Each time she did this the split bamboo went up and came down with a slight rattle.”

Furthermore, the lines below indicate that Awiyao is not barren since he is eager to try out the second time, with another wife.

“If I do not try a second time,” he explained, “it means I’ll die. Nobody will get the fields I have carved out of the mountains; nobody
will come after me. If you fail–if you fail this second time–” she said thoughtfully. The voice was a shudder. “No–no, I don’t want you
to fail.”

On the other hand, the line “Tonight, all the women who counted, who once danced in her honor, were dancing now in honor of
another whose only claim was that perhaps she could give her husband a child” manifests the second attempt of Awiyao with
Madulimay who can perhaps give him a child.

Regarding the bean plants, as mentioned in the part quoted below, seems to stand for the great possibility of Awiyao’s success of
having a child with his new wife.

“The mountain clearing was cold in the freezing moonlight. The wind began to stir the leaves of the bean plants. Lumnay looked for a
big rock on which to sit down. The bean plants now surrounded her, and she was lost among them. A few more weeks, a few more
months, a few more harvests—what did it matter? She would be holding the bean flowers, soft in the texture, silken almost, but moist
where the dew got into them, silver to look at, silver on the light blue, blooming whiteness, when the morning comes. The stretching
of the bean pods full length from the hearts of the wilting petals would go on.”

Lastly, the line “Lumnay’s fingers moved a long, long time among the growing bean pods” seemingly tells us that Lumnay has finally
approved of her husband’s marriage to another woman, despite the pain that she feels, because she loves him.

1. what do the following symbolize: beans, beads, flooring of the house, stream and house?

1. For me, the beans symbolize Lumnay’s approval of Awiyao’s marriage to Madulimay, inspite of the pain which she feels, because of her true love
for him. Meanwhile, the beads seem to stand for Awiyao’s continuing love for Lumnay because even if he will marry another woman, he did not get
back such beads which were originally from his grandmother. In my opinion, the bamboo flooring of the house seems to represent freedom (the
freedom of Awiyao to marry another woman) since the bamboo goes up and down when the rattan, that is there to keep it in place, is moved. On the
other hand, the stream, which is mentioned in the part “When she came to the mountain stream she crossed it carefully. Nobody held her hand, and
the stream water was very cold” is somewhat an indication of her being so lonely and alone, perhaps for the rest of her life. Lastly, the house that is
dark and illuminated only by fire, can mean that despite the merriment of the people for Awiyao’s and Madulimay’s wedding, both Awiyao and
Lumnay are not happy.

2. whose love is greater: awiyao's or lumnay's? explain.

2. Awiyao and Lumnay still love each other, as mentioned in the story, but I think it is Lumnay’s love that is greater because of the bigger amount of
sacrifice that she is making; she is left alone whilst Awiyao has someone with him who can give him a child.

3. is the story still relevant today? explain.

3. With the modernization and high technology today, I can easily say that this story is not relevant anymore. However, looking at it in a deeper
perspective and in another manner, I believe that it is still relevant, especially that the overall focus here are unconditional love, sacrifice, and
selflessness which many people still experience and do so as to make their respective loved ones happy even if they themselves will be left sad.

4. if you were lumnay, would you have released your husband? justify..

4. If I were Lumnay, I would have also released my husband because of our tribe’s tradition. More so, I would not want to continue living with a man
if we cannot follow the tribe’s rules, and he would have eventually regretted the decision of not marrying another woman for this reason.

Whose love is greater? Awiyao's or Lumnay's? Why?

and what does the flooring of the house symbolizes?

Awiyao and Lumnay still love each other, as mentioned in the story, but I think it is Lumnay’s love that is greater because of the bigger amount of
sacrifice that she is making; she is left alone whilst Awiyao has someone with him who can give him a child. On the other hand, the flooring of the
house seems to symbolize freedom because it goes up and down when the rattan, which keeps it in place, is moved. This bamboo kind of represents
Awiyao who should be "freed" in order to get married to another woman so as to have a child. However, his conscience is somewhat bothering him
because Lumnay has declared that she still loves him, and vice versa.

What are the moral lesson of the story of the wedding dance?

I believe that the greatest lesson one can learn from such story is that unconditional or true love is shown by sacrificing for the
beloved, for him or her to be happy. Here, Lumnay shows that her love for Awiyao is unselfish because she lets him go. There was
some hesitation at first, but in the end, Lumnay gives up her own feelings and desires in order for her former husband to fulfill his
longing to have a child. More so, this is their tribe's custom.

if you were lumnay would you let your husband married another woman?

If I were Awiyao, I would leave Lumnay because this is the best thing to do considering the tribe's tradition and my desire to have a
child. In this case, my love for Lumnay is still there and I know that she loves me back. We just can't live together anymore, and this
setup is for the greater good of everyone.

objectives to this short story wedding dance

1. To be able to present to the class a classic example of the wonders of Philippine Literature. This story's author, Amador Daguio, has been and will
always be amongst our country's best writers.

2. To be able to give a good example of unconditional love.

3. To be able to show a wonderful glimpse of our country's culture.

1. Why did Awiyao have to marry another woman?

Awiyao had to marry another woman because his first wife, Lumnay, was not able to give him a child. In their tribe's tradition and culture, having a
child to follow after the husband's name was a must.

2. What was the significance of the wedding dance in the story?

The wedding dance in the story is not only a symbol but the center or the focus because this dance seals the wedding, the marriage of Awiyao, in this
case, to Madulimay.

3. What was Awiyao's purpose of going back to his and Lumnay's house?

Awiyao went back to his and Lumnay's house to personally invite her to go to his wedding dance.

4. Why did Lumnay finally agree to her husband's marriage to Madulimay?

Although she was hesitant at first, Lumnay finally agreed to her husband's marriage to Madulimay because of her true and unconditional love for
him.

Why the wedding dance is one of the classic example of wonders of Philippine Literature?

Because it shows the culture or tradition in a certain place in the Philippines.

1.Why is it important for him to have a child?

2.What is the "unwritten" law of the tribe?
3.How does a man express his intention to marry someone from the tribe?
4.She thought of seven harvests that had passed, what figure of speech is this?
1. It is important for him to have a child because aside from it being the tribe's rule, he wants a child to follow after his family name.

2. In my opinion, the "unwritten" law of the tribe is that even if it is a must to follow the tradition, perhaps it can allow a couple to go against it if the
reasons are valid. This is just my opinion as a reader.

3. Although this has not been mentioned directly, a man expresses his intention to marry someone from the tribe by courting her the natural way, by
stating his intentions.

4. The figure of speech in "She thought of seven harvests that had passed" can be Imagery or Symbolism.

1. analyze how the author builds up suspense.

2. analyze the conflict in the story. bring out details which emphasize the conflict.

3. the story takes place among non-Christian tribe, might the story also takes place among christians?

4. Locate the basic illusions of the story.

5. explain the symbolism of the last sentence.

1. The author builds up suspense through the use of symbols.

2. This story's conflict is Man vs. Society. The lead characters have to follow their tribe’s custom.

3. I don't think this story can take place among Christians.

4. One of the basic illusions, in my opinion, can be found in the line "After some moments during which he seemed to wait, he talked to the listening
darkness" wherein there seems to be a "distracting" meaning of the phrase "listening darkness."

5. "Lumnay's fingers moved a long, long time among the growing bean pods." This last sentence seemingly tells us that Lumnay has finally approved
of her husband’s marriage to another woman, despite the pain that she feels, because she loves him.