COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course aims to engage students in appreciation and critical study of 21st Century Literature from the
Philippines and the World encompassing their various dimensions, genres, elements, structures, contexts,
and traditions.
Study and appreciation of the literature of the region where the school is located in relation to the literature of
the other regions of the country.
INTRODUCTION TO 21ST CENTURY LITERATURE
 New literary works created within the last decade.
 Imaginative writing.
 Deals with current themes and reflects technological culture.
 Often breaks traditional writing.
 Traces artistic representation of shared and familiar experiences.
NOTE: On or about December 1910 human character changed, something major happened to literature on or
about December 2000.
PHILIPPINE LITERATURE
The Historical Background of the Philippine Literature
Introduction to the Study of Literature
Definition of Literature:
The word literature is derived from the Latin term ‘litera’ which means letter. It has been defined
differently by various writers.
Some loosely interpret literature as any printed matter written within a book, a magazine or a pamphlet.
Others define literature as a faithful reproduction of man’s manifold experiences blended into one harmonious
expression.

Because literature deals with ideas, thoughts and emotions of man, literature can be said to be the
story of man. Man’s loves, grief, thoughts, dreams and aspirations coached in beautiful language is literature.
In order to know the history of a nation’s spirit, one must read its literature. Hence it is, that to understand the
real spirit of a nation, one must “trace the little rills as they course along down the ages, broadening and
deepening into the great ocean of thought which men of the present source are presently exploring.”

Brother Azurin, said that “literature expresses the feelings of people to society, to the government, to
his surroundings, to his fellowmen and to his Divine Creator.” The expression of one’s feelings, according to
him, may be through love, sorrow, happiness, hatred, anger, pity, contempt, or revenge.

For Webster, literature is anything that is printed, as long as it is related to the ideas and feelings of
people, whether it is true, or just a product of one’s imagination.

In “Panitikang Pilipino” written by Atienza, Ramos, Salazar and Nazal, it says that “true literature is a
piece of written work which is undying. It expresses the feelings and emotions of people in response to his
everyday efforts to live, to be happy n his environment and, after struggles, to reach his Creator.”

Why We Need to Study Philippine Literature?

We can enumerate many reasons for studying literature. Here are but a few:

We study literature so that we can better appreciate our literary heritage. We cannot appreciate
something that we do not understand. Through a study of our literature, we can trace the rich heritage of ideas
handed down to us from our forefathers. Then we can understand ourselves better and take pride in being a
Filipino.

Like other races of the world, we need to understand that we have a great and noble tradition which
can serve as the means to assimilate other cultures.
 Through such a study, we will realize our literary limitations conditioned by certain historical factors and
we can take steps to overcome them. Above all, as Filipinos, who truly love and take pride in our own culture,
we have to manifest our deep concern for our own literature and this we can do by studying the literature of our
country.

Philippine Literature in English and Time Frames

It can be said that Philippine literature in English has achieved a stature that is, in a way, phenomenal
since the inception of English in our culture.

  Our written literature, which is about four hundred years old, is one of slow and evolutionary growth.
Our writers strove to express their sentiments while struggling with a foreign medium. The great mass of
literature in English that we have today is, indeed, a tribute to what our writers have achieved in the short span
of time. What they have written can compare with some of the best works in the world.

Much is still to be achieved. Our writers have yet to write their OPUS MAGNUMS. Meanwhile, history
and literature are slowly unfolding before us and we are as witnesses in the assembly lines to an evolving
literary life.

Time frames may not be necessary in a study of literature, but since literature and history are
inescapably related it has become facilitative to map up a system which will aid us in delineating certain time
boundaries.

These time boundaries are not exactly well-defined; very often, time frames blend into another in a
seeming continuum. For a systematic discussion of the traditions, customs, and feelings of our people that can
be traced in our literature, we shall adopt certain delimitations.

These time frames are:

Time Frames of Philippine Literature in English

  Different opinions prevail regarding the stages that mark the development of Philippine literature in
English. Let us take the following time frames for purpose of discussion:

 The Period of Re-orientation 1898-1910

 Period of Imitation 1910-1925
 Period of Self-Discovery: 1925-1941
 Japanese Period: 1941-1945
 The Rebirth of Freedom: 1946-1970
 Period of Activism: 1970-1972
 Period of the New Society: 1972-1981
 Period of the Third Republic: 1981-1985
 Contemporary Period: 1986

Literature and History

Literature and history are closely interrelated. In discovering the history of a race, the feelings,
aspirations, customs and traditions of a people are sure to be included . . . and these feelings, aspirations,
customs and traditions that are written is literature. History can also be written and this too, is literature.
Events that can be written down are part of true literature. Literature, therefore, is part of history.

Literature and history, however, also have differences. Literature may be figments of the imagination or
events devoid of truth that have been written down, while history is made up of events that really happened.
 Literary Compositions that Influenced the World among them are:
1. The Bible or the Sacred Writings
2. Koran
3. The Iliad and the Odyssey
4. The Mahabharata
5. Canterbury Tales
6. Uncle Tom’s Cabin
7. The Divine Comedy
8. El Cid Campeador
9. The Song of Roland
10. The Book of the Dead
11. The Book of the Days
12. One Thousand and One Nights or The Arabian Nights

General Types of Literature

Literature can generally be divided into two types; prose and poetry.

Prose consists of those written within the common flow of conversation in sentences and paragraphs,
while poetry refers to those expressions in verse, with measure and rhyme, line and stanza and has a more
melodious tone.

I. Prose
There are many types
Definition Examples Authors
of prose.

A long narrative divided into Without Seeing the

a. Novels Stevan Javellana
chapters and events are taken from Dawn
true-to-life stories.

This is a narrative involving one or The Laughter of my

b. Short Story Carlos Bulosan
more characters, one plot and one Father
single impression.

This is presented on a stage, is

c. Plays Thirteen Plays Wilfredo M. Guerrero
divided into acts and each act has
many scenes.

d. Legends These are fictitious narratives, The Bikol Legend Pio Duran
usually about origins.

These are also fictitious and they

deal with animals and inanimate
The Monkey and the
e. Fables things that speak and act like people
Turtle
and their purpose is to enlighten the
minds of children to events that can
mold their ways and attitudes.

These are merely products of the

writer’s imagination and the main
f. Anecdotes
aim is to bring out lessons to the The Moth and the Lamp
reader.

This expresses the viewpoint or

opinion of the writer about a
g. Essays particular problem or event. The
best example of this is the Editorial
page of a newspaper.
h. Biography Cayetano Arellano Socorro O. Albert
This deals with the life of a person
 which may be about himself, his
autobiography or that of others.

This is a report of everyday events

i. News in society, government, science and
industry, and accidents, happening
nationally or not.

This is a formal treatment of a

subject and is intended to be
j. Oration
spoken in public. It appeals to the
intellect, to the will or to the
emotions of the audience.

II. Poetry

There are three types of poetry and these are the following:

a. Narrative Poetry - this form describes important events in life either real or imaginary.

Types Description Examples Authors

The Harvest Song of
This is an extended narrative
1. Epic Aliguyon translated in Amador T. Daguio
about heroic exploits often
English
under supernatural control.

This is a narrative which is

Bayani ng Bukid/Heroes
2. Metrical Tale written in verse and can be Al Perez
of the Field
classified either as a ballad
or a metrical romance.

Of the narrative poems, this

is considered the shortest
and simplest. It has a simple
structure and tells of a single
incident. There are also
3. Ballads variations of these: love
ballads, war ballads, and sea
ballads, humorous, moral,
and historical or mythical
ballads. In the early time, this
referred to a song
accompanying a dance.

b. Lyric Poetry - this refers to that kind of poetry meant to be sung to the accompaniment of a lyre, but now,
this applies to any type of poetry that expresses emotions and feelings of the poet.They are usually
short, simple and easy to understand.

Types Description Examples Authors

These are short poems

1) Folksongs intended to be sung. The
Chit-chirit-chit
(Awiting Bayan) common theme is love,
despair, grief, doubt, joy,
hope and sorrow. 

This is a lyric poem of 14

lines dealing with an emotion,
2) Sonnets Santa Buds Alfonso P. Santos
a feeling, or an idea. These
are two types: the Italian and
the Shakespearean.
3) Elegy The Lover’s Death Ricaredo Demetillo
This is a lyric poem which
 expresses feelings of grief
and melancholy, and whose
theme is death.

This is a poem of a noble

feeling, expressed with
4) Ode dignity, with no definite
number of syllables or
definite number of lines in a
stanza.

This is a song praising God

5) Psalms (Dalit) or the Virgin Mary and
containing a philosophy of
life.

These have measures of

twelve syllables
6) Awit (Song) (dodecasyllabic) and slowly
Florante and Laura Franciso Balagtas
sung to the accompaniment
of a guitar or banduria.

These have measures of

7) Corridos (Kuridos) Ibong Adarna
eight syllables (octosyllabic)
and recited to a martial beat.

c. Dramatic Poetry

Types Description

The word comedy comes from the Greek

term “komos” meaning festivity or revelry.
i. Comedy This form usually is light and written with
the purpose of amusing, and usually has a
happy ending.

This is usually used in musical plays with

the opera. Today, this is related to tragedy
ii. Melodrama just as the farce is to comedy. It arouses
immediate and intense emotion and is
usually sad but there is a happy ending for
the principal character.

This involves the hero struggling mightily

iii. Tragedy against dynamic forces; he meets death or
ruin without success and satisfaction
obtained by the protagonist in a comedy.

This is an exaggerated comedy. It seeks to

arouse mirth by laughable lines; situations
iv. Farce are too ridiculous to be true; the characters
seem to be caricatures and the motives
undignified and absurd.

This form is either purely comic or tragic

v. Social Poems and it pictures the life of today. It may aim
to bring about changes in the social
conditions.
 LITERATURE AND ITS STANDARDS

Literature is a combination of words (simple or complicated) such as when a particular reader reacts
either in sadness, hatred, happiness or loneliness. For example: “I love you” or “I hate you” is already
a form of literary gem that any individual will react when you read the said statements (Asuncion,
2015).
It is a product of life and about life. A good piece of literature presents a slice of life, and makes the
reader capture truth and beauty ( Ryes, 2011 )
Literature appeals to man’s needs-spiritual, intellectual, emotional, and creative. Like other forms of
art, literature entertains and gives pleasures: it fires man’s imagination and arouses his noble
emotions. (Ang, 2012, p.1, Garcia, et al., 19993, pp.1-3)
Literature is literally “acquaintance with letters”. The word literature has a different meaning
depending on who uses it and in what context it is being used. It could be applied broadly to mean
any symbolic record encompassing everything from images and sculptures to letters (Marcos,
Bantados and Vldez, 2012.)

Standards of Literature

a. Universality

A fictional work that is ageless and sensible. It is relevant, it appeals to all, anytime and
anywhere because it deals with an array of the perception of each individual as well as orientation
toward fundamentals truths and universal conditions.

b. Suggestiveness

Literature should carry many associations that lead beyond the sentence meaning. Underlying
suggestions usually say an enormous amount of emotional power, often because it is not directly
mentioned but hinted at through associations that can often be more powerful. The reader is led to
establish that the author is suggesting and this captures the reader’s imagination by thinking about
what they are reading, thus engaging them more into the story.

c. Style

It is unique way in which an author sees life, form of his or her ideas and expresses them.
Boundless works are marked as much by their unforgettable materials as by their idiosyncratic style.
An example of this is the picture of a proud father that rides a bicycle together with his two children.

d. Spiritual Value

A literary work must raise the soul within us by carrying our values into the realm of the physical
world. It should present values required for us to reflect and eventually inspire us to become a better
individual.

e. Permanence

Great literary work tolerates and can be read again as each reading gives fresh delights and
new insights. It should not be transient or merely a passing hype of the audience. It should be long
lasting. Example: the image of this boy and his first arcade game.

f. Intellectual Beauty

Each literary piece must stimulate thought. These should enrich our mental life by making us
understand about the fundamental truths towards life and human nature. An example of this is the
image on the right of a child enjoying an electronic machine.
g. Artistry

The literature should be well-written and appeal to our creative sides with beautifully crafted
phrases and sentences. Words from literary pieces are often meaningful and can become prominent
phrases.

Six Qualities of Poetry Writing

a. The Idea - the heart of the poem or point of message.

b. The Organization - the internal structure.
c. The Voice - the evidence of the writer behind the message.
d. The Word Choice - the vocabulary of terminology used.
e. The Fluency - the rhythm and flow, how it plays to the ear.
f. The Form - the mechanical structure and technical correctness.

Literary Development History

Our conventional inheritance can be drawn with the philosophies of early Greece and Rome which
have a boundless inspiration on our law, government, science, and mathematics. Likewise, the art and
literature of these early beliefs are considered typical chefs-d’oeuvre. “The Golden Age” is the ironic history of
Greek from 461-431 BC and produced brilliant art, literature, and architecture.
The Romans adopted many elements of Greek art and literature after conquering Greece between 168
and 146 B.C. The Romans are also credited with developing the roots of modern law and ambitious
engineering projects. The Roman Empire, spreading throughout parts of Europe, the Middle East, and
Northern Africa, influenced cultures throughout the western world that can still be felt today.
The earliest Greek literature was uttered, recited, or oral. The greatest mutual forms were myths and
fables. Oral literature grew up with epic, poems, and long stories in poetic form. Added form of poetry is the
lyric poetry, uttered personal views and moods. The playwrights wrote classic tragedies and comedies during
the Golden Age of Greece, Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle were among the great philosophers that time.
Greek literature significantly inclined Roman writers. The Golden Age of Latin literature lasted from 81
B.C. -17A.D. In the first part of this era, Cicero conquered the literary world with his speeches, philosophical
works and letters. The second half of the era, is dubbed, “Age of Augustus” in honor of the Emperor Augustus.
This period gave birth to the poems of Virgil and Ovid which came out to be one of the Roman’s greatest
literatures.
For more than 600 years in England, the Anglo-Saxon became the basis of English culture. The
language spoken of the Anglo-Saxons eventually developed the Old English. By 597 AD, upon the dawn of
Christianity to England, monasteries became the important centers of social, literary, intellectual, and became
the important centers of social, literary, intellectual, and artistic life. The monks served as the chronicles during
this period in literary history.
As Germans endured in England, the first Anglo Saxon literature in oral form struggled to survive. The
Anglo-Saxon poetry that survived were riddles, heroic epics, and elegiac lyrics. Anglo-Saxon prose such as the
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle and Bede’s Ecclesiastic History of the English people also survived.
The feudalism system of the most European countries spanned the Medieval period between the years
1000 AD and 1500 AD in which the unifying force in the society was the Roman Catholic Church. The feudal
system was weakened upon the growth of towns and monarchies through the intellectual and political force of
the Roman Catholic Church.
The downfall of the Roman Empire is recorded in the European history during the Medieval Period. It
constituted a transition of the Middle Ages in Europe by the Imperial Rome and the modern world. For almost a
millennium, a new system was established after the fall of the Greek civilization and the Roman Empire.
 Most of the medieval literature which were in oral form included ballads, narrative songs and romances
( i.e, adventure tales of chivalrous knights ) because there were only few people that could read in the Middle
Ages.
Religion, loyalty, love, heroism and feudalism reflected in the medieval literature which includes poetry,
plays, and some important prose works.
The prehistoric language also known as Indo-European rooted from the English language – the first
language spoken by the Anglo-Saxons and later referred to as Old English. Angles, Saxons and Jutes came
from the Germanic languages. Invading Norse people borrowed the Old English and marked their own
language.
In 1066 AD, the French language exerted a strong influence in Britain, therein referred to as Middle
English and by 1485 A.D as Modern English.
The Renaissance began in Italy and eventually spread in Western Europe in 1300 A.D. – the period of
the revival or rebirth- marked by great accomplishments in science, literature and arts. The accomplishment of
Ancient Greece and Rome greatly influenced the Renaissance period. The harsh authority of government and
church demoralized the writers, scholars and artists which led to subversive content.
Many classical art forms like drama were rediscovered during the Renaissance and William
Shakespeare became the popular dramatist (up to this date, he is still popular). Renaissance also developed
the lyric and epic poetry which includes sonnet and pastoral poetry.
This period also marked the distinction between religion and life. The question of disciplined living was chiefly
underscored by Shakespeare and Montaigne.
Also in this period, the epic poetry in the tradition of Homer and Vigil flourished. The novels “Don
21ST CENTURY LITERATURE FROM THE PHILIPPINES AND THE WORLD WEEK 3 LECTURE
Quixote” as well as the political works “The Prince” and “Utopia” were the prime pieces of prose.

PHILIPPINE HISTORY AND LITERATURE (Reading and Revolution)

Although literature is often thought of as ephemeral and transient, it can be also remind us of the
horrors of the past, and bring with it sensory experiences through rhyme, rhythm, and image. It is a more
tactile, evocative medium than newspaper articles, or history books, and keeps the past alive for the present
readers.
In this unit, we will be reading literature about important events in the Philippines. These events have
and a significant impact on our nation and merit remembrance and reflection.
Defining Literature
Literature, in its broadest sense, is any written work. Etymologically, the term derives from
Latin litaritura/litteratura “writing formed with letters,” although some definitions include spoken or sung
texts. More restrictively, it is writing that possesses literary merit.
Literature can be classified according to whether it is fiction or non-fiction and whether it is poetry or
prose. It can be further distinguished according to major forms such as the novel, short story or drama,
and works are often categorized according to historical periods or their adherence to certain aesthetic
features or expectations (genre).
Definitions of literature have varied over time.  In Western Europe prior to the eighteenth century,
literature as a term indicated all books and writing. A more restricted sense of the term emerged during
the Romantic period, in which it began to demarcate “imaginative” literature.
 Contemporary debates over what constitutes literature can be seen as returning to the older, more
inclusive notion of what constitutes literature. Cultural studies, for instance, takes as its subject of
analysis both popular and minority genres, in addition to canonical works.
Major Forms of Literature
Prose Poetry
 Prose is a form of language that possesses ordinary Literary work in which the expression of feelings and
syntax and natural speech rather than rhythmic ideas is given intensity by the use of distinctive style
structure; in which regard, along with its measurement and rhythm; poems collectively or as a genre of
in sentences rather than lines, it differs from poetry. literature.

INTRODUCTION TO PHILIPPINE LITERATURE

Philippine literature withstood time and periods and has evolved through generations.  For every period
that passed, different genres appeared, and these literary works rooted from all regions reflecting their culture,
society and lifestyle.
The early stages of Filipino Literature consist of the Pre-Spanish period, the Spanish period and the
Propaganda and Revolutionary Periods. In the Pre-Spanish period, literature was in oral form as technology of
printing wasn’t available yet. Works such as epics, legends, folklore, salawikain, bugtong, sawikain, songs
such as the Oyayi or Hele are passed on from generations to generations and they are still well-known up to
this day as they are being taught in schools. Philippine Literature changed during the Spanish Period. It was
centered on Christian faith. Pre-Spanish literary types continued to develop; however, there was a gradual shift
of interest from nature and natural phenomena to the lives of the saints, hymns, miracles and invocations
based on the teachings of the Catholic Church. The works during this time are imitative of the Spanish theme,
forms, and traditions.
The corrido, awit, dalit, cenaculo, moro-moro, duplo and karagatan, and zarzuela are reflective of the
said characteristics. Religious matters were in prose as novenas and prayer books, biographies of the saints,
tales and novels. The Filipinos were able to retain their native traditions and poems in the field of poetry
reflected as lyrical folksongs and riddles. Some examples of songs are Bahay Kubo, kundiman, and
tapat. Francisco Baltazar also was popular during this time because of his “Florante at Laura”. Events such as
the exposure of the Filipinos to Europe’s liberal idealism, the opening of the Suez Canal, the Spanish
Revolution in 1868, and the martyrdom of Gomburza led to Filipino nationalism.
This gave birth to two movements during this time – the Propaganda movement and the Revolutionary
movement. The Propaganda movement was reformatory in objective and its members are college students
mostly based in Spain. The primary propagandists were Jose Rizal, Marcelo H. del Pilar, and Graciano Lopez-
Jaena. The exposure of the evils of the Spanish rule in the Philippines was because of Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere
and El Filibusterismo and has paved the way to a revolution against Spain. Del Pilar’s essays and editorials
in Diariong Tagalog which he founded with Lopez-Jaena’s articles in La Solidaridad which he was an editor
reflected nationalism.
The Revolutionary movement took over as the propagandists failed to get many reforms. This was of
course more violent, and it demands complete independence from Spain. The Katipunan was founded by
Andres Bonifacio who was inspired by Rizal’s novels. The articles written in tagalog (which was a form of
revolution) was published in the Kalayaan, the newspaper of the society. The literature at that time was more
propagandistic than literary as the situation and events at that time needed such purpose for liberation.
The three periods mentioned are the core of our history and literature. History has a very important role
in literature as literature not only reflects a fact with aesthetic language but more importantly, it displays the
ideas and feelings of the people living at that time. Not only does literature exhibit history but so as the hope
that people have. It shows what they hope for the nation, or for themselves, may it be about nationalism, love,
or other aspects going on in life. As the Philippines underwent a lot of history, as well as changes, literature
also evolved. In the similar case as the first three periods, literary genres also evolve depending on the
influence, state and the condition that our country is in. From epics to folksongs, to the cenaculo and Noli Me
Tangere, to Tagalog and English short stories, essays, poetry, to the Palanca Awards entries, drama and film,
 to Wattpad and blogs – these are all reflective of the history, evolution, and developments or mishaps of the
Filipino nation. Each period has its own distinct genre and unique artists that everyone remembers.
The idea is to create an e-book reading application, as e-books are becoming in demand during that
time, however, the founders thought that it would be time consuming to maintain their own catalog, so
they decided to let the community decide what they want to read, and they can also upload their works
and content into the application. This had made it possible for the youth to read more and to start
creating their own compositions.

It has become a network.

21ST CENTURY LITERATURE
 Anything that was written and published in the year 2000s. It is a bit too early to give a definite and
elaborate description of the 21st century literature in the Philippines and the world. It is possible,
however, to approach contemporary literature as a reaction to and dialogue with existing forms of
expressive culture. As we engage in technology more and more, we create and discover more existing
forms of expressive culture as well. We have a wide range of resources through the internet and this
gave opportunities to people, especially the youth, to begin writing and expressing their thoughts, ideas,
and feelings. A perfect example would be WattPad.  It became popular to the Filipino youth in 2006.

Literary Genres in the 21st Century Philippine Literature

a. Illustrated Novel - story through text and illustrated images.

b. Digi Fiction - It is a literary experience that combines three media: book, movie/video, and internet websites.

c. Creative Non-fiction - It’s a rich mix of flavors, ideas, and techniques, some of which are newly invented and
others as old as writing itself. Creative non-fiction can be an essay, a journal article, a research paper, a
memoir, or a poem; it can be personal or not, or it can be all of these.

Some of the creative nonfiction in the Philippines are:

 “The Cardinal’s Sins, the General’s Cross, the Martyr’s Testimony, and Other Affirmations” by
Gregorio C. Brillantes
 “Manananggal Terrorizes Manila and Other Stories” by Jessica Zafra
 “Sapay Koma” by Jhoanna Lynn Cruz

d. Hyper Poetry - New genres of literature that use the computer screen as medium, rather than the printed
page. The literary works rely on the qualities unique to a digital environment, such as linked World Wide Web
pages or effects such as sound and movement. Hypertext “poetry” can consist of words, although not
necessarily organized into lines and stanzas, as well as, sounds, visual images, movement or other special
effects.

Although the poem may be dazzling with sounds, perhaps of a lawnmower, while the words “mowing,”
“stop,” “Sunday,” and “morning” floats across your computer screen in pseudo-three-dimensional letters, one
will have been hard pressed to identify the use of any formal poetics.

e. Mobile Phone text tula - A cell phone novel or mobile phone novel is a literary work originally written on a
cellular phone via text messaging. This type of literature originated in Japan, where it has become cell phone
novel, or mobile phone novel is a literary work originally written on a cellular phone via text messaging. This
type of literature originated in Japan, where it has become a popular literary genre. However, its popularity has
also spread to other countries internationally, especially to China, United States, Germany, and South Africa.
Chapters usually consist of about 70-100 words each due to character limitations on cell phones.
However, its popularity has also spread to other countries internationally, especially to China, United
States, Germany, and South Africa. Chapters usually consist of about 70-100 words each due to character
limitations on cell phones.
f. Chick lit - Consists of heroin-centered narratives that focus on the trials and tribulations of their individual
protagonists”. The genre often addresses issues of modern womanhood – from romantic relationships to
female friendships to matters in the workplace – in humorous and lighthearted ways.

Some of the chicks lit in the Philippines are:

 Spotlight New Adult by Mina V. Esguerra
 Tall Story by C0andy Gourlay
 All’s Fair in Blog and War by Chrissie Peria

Contemporary writers often consciously draw inspiration and ideas from the writers who have come
before them. As an outcome, many works of 21st literature deal with the events, movements and literature of
the past in order to make sense of the current times. In addition, the technological developments of the 21st
century have directed other writers to theoretically write about the future, usually to comment on the present
and suggest introspection

There are various themes and topics that the contemporary literature addresses. One of which is
Identity. With increasing globalization, intersections of cultures and more vocal discussions of women’s rights
and LGBT rights, identity has become a common theme in 21st century literature. In a world that is now able to
exchange ideas more quickly than ever before via the Internet and other technological advancements, people
have relatively more freedom to draw from multiple cultures and philosophies and question the concept of the
self and its relation to the body, brain and “soul.” Another theme is history and memory. Often contemporary
literature explores the notion of multiplicities of truth and acknowledges that history is filtered through human
perspective and experience. Another main theme is technology.

Today, technology is more integrated into people’s lives than ever before. Dreams of what technology
could potentially help people become and anxieties regarding the demise of humanity because of technology
can be seen in 21st century literature. Additionally, many 21st century works of literature explore what it means
when all of humanity’s experiences are filtered through technology. These are just among many themes that
21st century literature covers. Among these are of course, love, sex, family, religion, but approached in a
different way. They are more liberal and unfiltered in a sense, just like the world we live in.

For this reason, the language and tone that are commonly used doesn’t really follow a rule just like the
traditional and classical works, as long as it is able to express and convey the authenticity and the essence of
the meaning of the work and the identity of the characters. Examples of this would be the works of Bob Ong,
Ricky Lee, and Bebang Siy. The poems of Maria Cecilia dela Rosa are perfect examples of 21st century
literature as she conveys a different flavour and turn to her works.

The previous periods had already established canon writers and their works which, until now, are being
studied in schools and universities. As times change, people need to innovate and become more aware of the
present time and condition, as well as the events that recently directed us to be at the current circumstances
that we stand. Modernization, invention, expression and a wider point of view are results of the arising
awareness people have. Modern day Filipinos, as well as the youth of today becomes more conscious of
what’s happening, primarily because of easier access to education and technology. Print, we might say, is
gradually dying but our appetite for information continues to grow and of course literature, along with
technology still thrives. 

All of this paved the way to the 21st century Literature, with various genres, themes and voices.  The
Philippines continues to develop in many aspects and as a liberal and democratic country, we are part of the
worldwide innovation of ways on how to exchange and share ideas about the present events which have much
similarities in each country.

Since we are in the age of technology, we use them to impart and experience literature to make it more
interesting especially to the young ones. They grew up using technology as a primary learning tool and for
them to be more engaged in literature, technology such as the internet and gadgets play a huge role for them
in acquiring knowledge and information.

Literature continues to change with society and although we are in the 21st century and are binded with
technology, authors are still trying to address absolute human questions in new ways and therefore, reconcile
them with the ever-changing technology that surrounds us; hence, the birth of the different 21st century literary
genres.

In the new educational system that the Philippines is currently under which is the K+12 program,
students are also entitled to learn the new literary genres that we have in the 21st century. In this guide, we will
find the different characteristics of the 21st century literature in the Philippines and their genres, along with
their representative texts that tackles their relevance to our current situation.

LITERARY THEORIES
1. Formalist Theory
 Nothing outside of the text
 Independent
 No outside influences
 All within context
analyze plot, character, setting, diction, imagery, structure, point of view, form, genre
evaluate uses of these forms
close reading of passages
emphasis on determining tension and/or ambiguity
(Connection to Structuralism and Deconstruction)
2. Biographical Theory
 knowing the life of the author reveals information in the text
 author’s life influenced the text
analyze author’s experiences
analyze author’s process/struggle in writing (Connections to Psychological Theory)
emphasis on author’s knowledge
3. Historical Theory (Old Historicism)
 history forms a background to the text
 literary text must be read with knowledge and understanding of the time and place of its
creation
analyze historical documents contemporary to the text
analyze language of text and its time
4. Historical Theory (New Historicism)
 text is a reflection of the events, ideas, and attitudes of the time and place of the text’s creation
 Literary text must be read with social backgrounds and intellectual ideas of the time and place
of its creation.
Analyze political structures of the time and place of the text’s creation.
Analyze values, conflicts, social events of the time and place of the text’s creation. (Connections to
Psychological and Cultural Theories)
5. Psychological Theory
 text is a revelation/product of author’s mind and personality
 reflection of the author’s consciousness and mental world
 reflects the creative process of the author - imagination
analyze the author’s/character’s motivations and behaviors
interpret the actions of the characters
interpret the intentions of the author
 evaluate the text/characters/author as you would a patient
* Theories tailored from whichever psychological theory preferred*
Connections to:
 Psychoanalysis Queer Theory and Gender Studies
 Jungian symbolism Semiotics
6. Sociological Theory
 social context of the time and place of texts are critical
 influences of power relations within society
 values and ethics of society
 economics, politics, culture are reflected in text
Two major branches within this:
 Marxist criticism
 Feminist criticism
7. Sociological Theory (Marxist Criticism)
 applies theory of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels to literature
 subjugation, exploitation, alienation
 bourgeoisie versus proletariat
analyze class conflicts
evaluate politics and economics within text
evaluate power structures
acknowledge text as “product” not art form
acknowledge text as part of the revolution

8. Sociological Theory (Feminist Criticism)

 importance of the social, economic, cultural roles of women in the text
 male author’s portrayal of women, female author’s portrayal of women
acknowledge text as “agent for social transformation” or as means of maintaining patriarchal social
structures (Connections to Gender studies)
analyze female characters within the text
evaluate feminine voice(s) in the text
Focus on four tenets:
 Patriarchy of Western Civilization
 Gender traits and roles and how they are viewed, imposed, changed
 Canon of literature is “androcentric,” male-centered
 Traditional analysis of literature is gender-biased in favor of the masculine
9. Reader-Response Theory
Three perspectives used:
 text is a mirror for the reader - focus on the text
 temporal aspect of reading - focus on the “space” (time and place) between the reader and the text
  themes identified by the reader are unique to the reader - focus on the reader, text is background
 Text is different for every person, gender, culture, historical period, economic background, class…
 reader’s imagination, identity, and feelings are key, but are regulated by the text
 process of reading is important
Evaluate your feelings and thoughts as you read a text
Analyze the “triggers” in text for your feelings and thoughts
Analyze tone and mood
Acknowledge differing views of a text between types of readers
Subjective information is equal to objective information discovered in a text
10. Mythological Theory
 universal story patterns
 common, familiar, universal human experiences
 representations of “religious beliefs, social customs, cultural attitudes”
o Common human events are used for symbolic meanings: birth = beginning, death = ending…
 Identify, analyze, and evaluate:
 Archetypes: universal symbols found in all types of literature throughout history and around
the world (Connections to Structuralism and Semiotics, linguistic theory of language
development)
 Story types: quest, revenge, death, loss, transformation, enlightenment
 Genres: novel, poem, play, song, short story, proverb
A. Structuralism
 derives from linguistics and anthropology
 language as an arbitrary system of signs
 focus on “binary opposition”
 onomatopoetic use of sounds (pleasant vs. unpleasant, soft vs. harsh, harmony vs. discord)
identify and analyze binary opposites
analyze use of sounds, letters and syllables
evaluate differences in word and sentence structures (Connections to Deconstruction)
B. Structuralism (Semiotics)
 study of signs, sign systems, and codes
 how signs help in understanding human interaction – literature is only one aspect of this
identify and analyze signs in a text
evaluate signs to guide interpretation of a text
utilize signs of one text to evaluate and interpret other texts
C. Deconstruction
 derives from structuralism
 binary opposites are seen as equally valid
 reveals prevailing ideologies that are questioned in the text
 emphasizes ambiguity in all texts
 language is oppositional
 all texts are self-contradictory
 the meaning of a text is allusive
reduce text to binary oppositions
analyze binary opposites
evaluate ambiguities in text and how they defer meaning
D. Cultural Studies
 multidisciplinary – utilizes all forms of criticism
 humanistic disciplines and sciences
 culture as a way of life and culture as the best of humanity
 focuses on conflict inside and between “cultures”
identify challenges and differences to “accepted” norms and values
evaluate how challenges redraw so-called cultural boundaries
analyze differences of cultures
E. Cultural Studies (Gender Studies)
 Feminist criticism
 Gay/Lesbian studies
identify and analyze how gender is defined in a text
evaluate differences of cultural gender versus biological gender as presented in a text
analyze and evaluate sexual orientation of characters in a text – utilizes psychoanalytic theory
Queer Theory
 identify all people/characters as “queer”
 acknowledge that there is no such thing as “normal”
 evaluate the lack of sexual/gender boundaries
PHILIPPINE HISTORY AND LITERATURE (Reading and Revolution)

Background Knowledge

When people write about Noli Me Tangere in the history books, they always mention how Andres
Bonifacio was inspired to revolution, and that it was the ideological fire that that forged the Katipunan.
However, it was not just Andres Bonifacio who was inspired by the novel, but countries either Filipinos who felt
for the very first time, that Jose Rizal, was articulating what they felt about the Philippines.

When people write about Noli Me Tangere in the history According to the poet and writer, Neil Garcia,
before Rizal wrote Noli Me Tangere, there was no real concept of the Philippines nation, that the novel was a
myth-making, project a means of imagining the special communal fantasy that was the nation. When Rizal
wrote the Noli, the concept and dream of the Philippine nation was born.

When you think about it, it is interesting that the seeds of Philippine nationhood came from a novel.
Although some people may say that literature is not important, during those times, literature was important
enough for people to imagine a nation and be willing to fight for it.

The Revolution According to Raymundo Mata (Excerpt) By Gina Apostol

Gina Apostol's fourth novel, Insurrecto, was a finalist for the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, long listed for
the Dublin Impac International Prize, and named by Publishers' Weekly one of the Ten Best Books of 2018.
The New York Times calls Insurrecto "a bravura performance...Apostol is a magician with language (thinks
Borges, think Nabokov)...." Her third book, Gun Dealers' Daughter, won the 2013 PEN/Open Book Award and
was shortlisted for the William Saroyan International Prize. Her first two novels, Bibliolepsy and The Revolution
According to Raymundo Mata, both won the Juan Laya Prize for the Novel (Philippine National Book Award).
Her most recent work uses her research on the Philippine-American War to cast a lens on our contemporary
times.

Background about Gina Apostol

She was writer-in-residence at Phillips Exeter Academy and a fellow at Civitella Ranieri in Umbria, Italy,
and the Emily Harvey Foundation, among other fellowships. Her essays and stories have appeared in The
New York Times, Los Angeles Review of Books, Foreign Policy, Gettysburg Review, Massachusetts Review,
and others. She lives in New York City and western Massachusetts and grew up in Tacloban, Leyte, in the
Philippines. She teaches at the Fieldston School in New York City.

In the excerpt of Gina Apostol’s novel “ The Revolution According to Raymundo Mata, “ the
revolutionary act is explore through the eyes of a young man, a high school student from the Ateneo. Reading
it makes you imagine what it would have been like to be alive during those heady days of revolution. In this
excerpt, he reads the book Noli Me Tangere by Jose Rizal, which was given to him by his friend, Father
Gaspar, a Filipino priest.
 This review, which discusses Gina Apostol’s second novel, The Revolution According to Raymundo
Mata (Anvil Publishing, 2009), raises two main points. First, it looks at how the novel uses various devices to
fragment and distort the narrative, and how using such devices allows the novel to dramatize its own
dependence on and misgivings about narrative cohesiveness. Second, the review looks at how the novel uses
humor and wordplay to leave the book’s serious subject matter. Also tackled in the review is the influence on
the novel of other texts, particularly the Gospels, the stories of Jorge Luis Borges, and Vladimir Nabokov’s Pale
Fire.

Story Line

It was a bolt – a thunder bolt. A rain of bricks, a lightning zap. A pummeling of mountains, a heaving
violent storm at sea – a whiplash. A typhoon. An earthquake. The end of the world. And I was in ruins. It struck
me dumb. It changed my life and the world was new when I was done. And when I raised myself from bed two
days later, I thought: It’s only a novel. If I ever met him, what would my life be? I lay back in bed. But what a
novel! And I cursed him, the writer – what was his name – for doing what I hadn’t done, for putting my worlds
into words before I even had the sense to know what the world was. That was his triumph – he’d laid out a trail,
and all we had to do is follow his wake. Even then, I already felt the bitter envy, the acid retch of a latecomer
artist, the one who will always be under the influence, by mere chronology always slightly suspect, a borrower,
never lender be. After him, all Filipinos are tardy ingrates. What is the definition of art? Art is reproach to those
who receive it. That was his curse upon all of us. I was weak, as if drugged. I realized: I hadn’t eaten in two
days. Then I got out of bed and boiled barako for me.

Later it was all the rage in the coffee shops, in the bazaars of Binondo. People did not even hide it –
crowds of men, and not just students, not just boys, some women even, with their violent fans – gesticulating in
public, throwing up their hands, putting up fists in debate. Put your knuckle where your mouth is. We were
loud, obstreperous, heed less. We were literary critics. We were cantankerous: rude raving. And no matter
which side you were, with the crown or with the infidels, Spain or Spolarium, all of us, each one, seemed
revitalized by spleen, hatched by the woods of long, venomous silence. And yes, suddenly the world opened
up to me, after the novel, to which before I had been blind.

Still I rushed into other debates, for instance with Benigno and Agapito, who had now moved into my
rooms. Remembering Father Gaspar’s cryptic injunction - “throw it away to someone else,” so that in this
manner the book traveled rapidly in those dark days of its printing, now so nostalgically glorious, though then I
had no clue that these were historic acts, the act of reading, or that the book would be such a collector’s item,
or otherwise I would have wrapped it in parchment and sealed it for the highest bidder, what the hell, I only
knew holding the book could very likely constitute a glorious crime – in short, I lent it to Benigno.

Raymundo Mata Connection to Rizal

Is this story is talk about the publication of Noli Me Tangere and how it affected the Philippines? This
novel in the Philippines is as important as they used to read when the Noli Me Tangere was published in 1887.
People still inspired by this novel. The Noli Me Tangere, a book that was banned in the past, now required
reading in the Philippine schools because Noli Me Tangere Give More Knowledge to all students to learned a
lot of experiences of the Filipino’s felt from the hand of American during that time, during the Philippine
revolution and for the people to imagine a nation and be willing to fight for it For this sense titled "The
Revolution According to Raymundo Mata" explained of what the narrator's experiences when he read the
Novel Noli Me Tangere. The narrators says that the "Act of reading was a historic act." It gives people more
empathy and more critical and reflective.
 Given the excerpt, the importance of literature to society, according to Brother Azurin, literature
expresses the feeling of people to society, to the government, to his fellowmen and to his Divine Creator
because a faithful reproduction of man's manifold experiences blended into one harmonious expression and
this is still applicable even today because it is important to all people to know of what our ancestors
experienced during the past time of revolution. Noli Me Tangere have such a big impression for the people
because the Noli Me Tangere is a novel that we need to study the past, the concept and the dream of the
Philippine nation and to countless other Filipino’s who felt. I could relate much to the narrators experience of
reading because when I've read the novel "Noli Me Tangere” I feel frustrated and imagining the past of what
the Filipino’s feel in the past. I imagine how so many Filipinos died during the revolution and sacrifice their lives
during that time. Sometimes, when i had read the book Noli Me Tangere my tears started to fall down because
of the Filipinos felt from the hand of American. The Filipino are very strong because" they fight for our country
and they died for our country" they fight not for their own sake but for the sake of every one of us to protect us
from the hand of American.

In the excerpt of Gina Apostol's novel The Revolution According to Raymundo Mata, the "revolutionary
act of reading” is explored through the eyes of a young man, a high school student from the Ateneo. Reading it
makes you to imagine what it would have been like to be alive during those heady days of revolution. In this
excerpt, he reads the book Noli Me Tangere by Jose Rizal, which was given to him by his friend, Father
Gaspar, a Filipino priest. The Revolution According to Raymundo Mata doesn’t deviate from the usual
hypothesis and deductions regarding the events leading to the 1898 revolution. However, the protagonist is
both there and not there, always between involvement and simply knowing, calculating but never decisive
unless forced into a situation, and passionate about books and reading. “The question”, however, “is whether
the chief protagonist's soul is 'too narrow' or 'too broad' in relation to reality” in this case, to the germination of
the 1898 revolution.

The revolution, In June 1896, a crucial time in Philippine history, Andres Bonifacio sent Dr. Pio
Valenzuela as an emissary to Dapitan to obtain Rizal’s opinion or agreement to an armed revolution. The
Kataas-taasang Kagalang-galangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan or KKK led by Bonifacio, the
Supremo, had, by then, recruited men and women from both the rich and poor classes of people and was
aiming for no less than the country’s freedom from Spain. According to records of Philippine history Jose Rizal
did not endorse the revolution, and is believed to have had remarked that based on insufficient arms and lack
of logistics alone, the time wasn't ripe for a people's revolution.

In Apostol's novel, Raymundo Mata is with Dr. Pio Valenzuela during this errand to Dapitan. Raymundo
Mata is Dr. Pio Valenzuela’s decoy who will help him gain audience with Rizal. In order to distract the Spanish
wards, their script is that Dr. Pio Valenzuela will consult with Dr. Rizal about Raymundo Mata’s night blindness
so that the doctor's errand would come off as a medical rather than a political mission.

At the time, Raymundo Mata works in a printing press, reads a lot, a college graduate who used to
dream about becoming a writer, but now finds it tragic that in spite of his diploma, he has ended up as a
regular blue-collar worker who is unpopular among his colleagues in the press. Bullied when he was a student,
he is simple and a coward due to others making him believes as such.

Nevertheless, he has become a member of the secret society KKK. He admires Andres Bonifacio, who,
he has long discovered, loves to read, too, and he envies Emilio Aguinaldo – Miong, his childhood friend in
Kawit – because Miong is a Mayor and commands authority wherever he goes, in spite of the fact that he
doesn’t read that much at all.

The Revolution According to Raymundo Mata (Historical Approach)

 Historical Approach is a technique to express information using Historical ways and we choose “The
Revolution”, The Revolution according to Raymundo Mata is an excerpt by Gina Apostol it’s about a person
reading the two novels of Dr.Jose Rizal Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo .Gina Apostol used this excerpt
to enlighten us that history is a part of our life and it’s like a piece of puzzle that help us to complete the
present.

During Spanish Colonialism ,they introduced a lot of things culture and tradition that we still coping
even up to this day and I realized that we are not full blooded Filipinos and we can’t deny that Spanish
Colonization has a big impact to our life.

The Revolution

In Spain, during the Spanish revolution there civil wars and took millions of lives. Despite the opposition
of the political parties and this idea of liberation communism was put into. Revolution is the great turning point
of history. A revolution is a transformative event that attempt in the past generations that happen in 1936. On
the revolution is their happen the two groups the Magdiwang and Magdalo that the leader is Aguinaldo and
Bonifacio. and on that day the tejeros convention, decide to have a voting for the new president and Aguinaldo
and Bonifacio is the men representative so both of them they want to win and Aguinaldo he find ways to won
so they do is to cheat and the winner is Aguinaldo because Bonifacio he do the right while Aguinaldo is
cheating and he killed Bonifacio.

Convention decides the new president for Emilio Aguinaldo.

-The author wrote this to bring back the memories on that generation and to know what the happen about the
time of Spanish revolution and this generation we know that many student’s they didn’t want to know what
happen that generation so the author wrote this article to have responsible.

The Philippine revolution began in August 1896 with the secret society of the Katipunan founded by
Andres Bonifacio. The organization began to influence much of the Philippines. Bonifacio simultaneously
planned an attack on Manila. However they were caught off guard, as though the revolutionaries were greater
in number, the Spanish authorities were more armed. According to historical accounts, Bonifacio continued
with his plan despite the failure in his first attempt. The revolt flared up in the surrounding provinces, including
Central Luzon, San Juan del Monte and Southern Tagalog. The revolution dragged down the name of Rizal.
He was accused of being associated with the secret militant society.

Charged with sedition, conspiracy and rebellion, Rizal was sentenced to death by firing squad.
Alongside the Spanish authorities, Katipuneros were soon fighting amongst themselves. The Katipunan divided
into two councils, namely the Magdiwang who favored Aguinaldo and Magdalo favored Bonifacio. Bonifacio
was given the role of Director of the Interior, but his qualifications were questioned. Under these further
discussions he left the assembly. Aguinaldo took oath as President the following day. After that they had fought
and lead to the trial and execution of Bonifacio on Aguinaldo’s orders.

Aguinaldo later drafted a constitution and established the Republic of Biak-na-Bato in Bulacan province.
Aguinaldo and his fellows soon established the Republic of Biak-na-Bato and drafted the first constitution. They
came up with a pact that called for an end to the revolution, which was positively favored by the Spanish
Governor-General. The pact’s agenda included: the surrender of weapons to revolutionaries, amnesty, exile for
leaders, and payment to the revolutionaries worth $400,000 USD. While the Spanish kept their word, other
revolutionary generals took arms – the Philippines was still not independent.

Historical approach helps to bring back whatever happened the past, from the past many story that
happen and many people was killed cause of every world war. The revolution happened when the year was
moved and moved until now the life of every people now is very social even when other people was poor and
didn’t good life. – When i was read many articles about revolution, historical approach is thinking to me when
the past the life of every people is not good and slave to Spaniards colonial.

Based on a short story of the Spanish revolution, I find many people were killed and enslave because
they are so powerful and they have a great government that many people were scared. – But when the
Spanish revolution from the historical approach many virtues of Spanish was learn of every Filipinos.

When the years of Spanish colonial to the twentieth-century Spain with hope, frustration, and drama.
Only the put countryman against countryman and neighbor against neighbor, when the Spanish colonial came
many national heroes was died like Jose Rizal and Andres Bonifacio. They both want to be good and free the
people from the rule of Spanish government they both fighting to Spanish but not same using an ways to
fighting because Rizal was wrote a two novel and Andres Bonifacio was fight using a that can killed. – The
authors wrote because she want to read a many people that born a new generation because the history that
happen in the past was given a many lesson and remember to how the cruel of the Spanish colonel.

The revolution is part of our life being Filipino. Before Andres Bonifacio create KKK before start the
rebellion against Spain, the Women in Philippines dress elegant and luxurious clothing and many Filipinos
dressing European fashion Adapting in other Country and Filipino men show they elegant dress and outfit.
Displaying their enlightenment the common house of many Filipino called Nipa hut or Bahay kubo.

I discovered the social classes of our country and I feel sad because the most powerful people at the
time are peninsulas they are full blooded Spanish living in the Philippines and born in Spain and our status in
our country is low so that is reason why Spanish dominant at the time, when you read this story you know the
historical events in the revolution from 1890-1896. the revolution in 1890-1896 Spanish dominant at the time
and our status of our country are like slaves because Spanish colonization is like tiger when you are against
the Spaniards you will killed that is reason why in social classes of that time Filipino are very low, and another
culture is the show they enlighten by using dress reflect the freedom of the life and the bahay kubo is part of
our culture because of the first house by creating some Filipinos originally our ancestor use bahay kubo for the
daily life and because the author wrote this story because Gina Apostol show her love of her country like Rizal
wrote Noli and el file for many Filipinos blind, chance see the truth behind their beliefs.

Revolution is one of the most important events in the country’s history, awakening a proud sense of
nationalism for generations of Filipinos to come. In period of heavy struggle and conflict, Filipinos of different
backgrounds united with a common goal to resist colonialism the revolution against Spain sparked in 1896.

Revolution is one of the most important event in the country’s history, awakening a proud sense of nationalism
for generations of Filipinos to come. In period of heavy struggle and conflict, Filipinos of different backgrounds
united with a common goal to resist colonialism the revolution against Spain sparked in 1896.

Here in Philippines, we are colonized by Spanish Three hundred years ago, Filipinos that times were
slaves by Spaniards and the most beautiful contribution of Spain was their religion “Christianity” it was
important because we think about our past , Spanish has a lot of contribution to our country and we can’t deny
that we still using it in the present. The Philippines was colonized by the Spaniards and Jose Rizal wrote El
Filibusterism and Noli Me Tangere so that Andres Bonifacio awaken by the Rizal Book he influenced Andres to
have Revolution in 1896 and it was ended in 1902.

The author wrote is story of what happened of to let us known in the revolution in time of the Spanish
revolution, the purpose is to know all people that what happened on that generation and to give knowledge to
all of us.
 THE DEATH OF A HERO

Background Knowledge

Did you know that Jose Rizal is not the Philippine’s national hero? According to the Nationa;
Commissions for Culture and the Arts. (NCCA 2011,) there has been no official proclamation of any Filipino
historical figure as our national hero. The NCCA states. Even Jose Rizal, considered as the greatest among
the Filipino heroes was not explicitly proclaimed as a national hero. The position he now holds in Philippine
history is a tribute to the continued veneration or acclamation of the people in recognition of his contribution to
the significant social transformations that took place in our country.

PADRE FAURA WITNESSES THE EXECUTION OF RIZAL BY: DANTON REMOTO

Danton Remoto is a Professor of Creative Writing and Literature at the University of Nottingham in
Malaysia. He has taught at Ateneo de Manila University (Associate Professor of English) and The Manila
Times College (Professor, Dean, and President). He was educated at Ateneo de Manila University, Rutgers
University (USA), University of Stirling (Scotland, UK) and the University of the Philippines. He has held
fellowships from the Asian Scholarship Foundation, British Council, Ford Foundation and Fulbright Foundation.
He was a General Participant in Fiction at the Breadloaf Writers' Conference (USA) and an International
Writing Fellow at Hawthornden Castle (Scotland, UK). He was also a Fellow at the Cambridge Conference on
Contemporary British Writing held at Downing College, Cambridge University.

He has published 20 books in English and won the National Achievement Award in Literature (Poetry)
from the Writers' Union of the Philippines. He has read his poems and moderated panels at the Melbourne
Festival of the Arts as well as the Georgetown Literary Festival in Penang, Malaysia. He has been published in
France, Germany, Japan, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Singapore, Spain Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and
the United States. His works are cited in 'The Routledge Concise History of Southeast Asian Writing in English'
as well as in 'The Oxford Research Encyclopaedia of Literature.'

PADRE FAURA WITNESSES THE EXECUTION OF RIZAL

(POETRY)
I stand on the roof
Of the Ateneo Municipal,
Shivering
On this December morning.
Months ago,
Pepe came to me
In the Observatory
I thought we would talk
About the stars
That do not collide
In the sky:
Instead, he asked me about purgatory.
(His cheeks still ruddy
From the sudden sun
After the bitter winters In Europe.)
And on this day
With the year beginning to turn,
Salt stings my eyes.
I see Pepe,
A blur
Between the soldiers
With their Mausers raised
 And the early morning's
Star:
Still shimmering
Even if millions of miles away,
The star itself
Is already dead.
ANALYSIS
Lines 1-4
It talks about the perspective of Padre Fuara on the day of the execution of Rizal where it is clearly
stated that Padre Faura witnessed the execution on the roof of Ateneo Municipal clearly nervous and scared
as for the word shivering even mixed in with in with cold since of his location.
Lines 5-12
These lines serves as flashback a few months before when Rizal visited Padre Faura on the
observatory in Ateneo Municipal. Padre Faura thought that they will just talk about the starts but instead the
talk went to purgatory. Vividly Rizal knew of his impending death the reason why he asked about purgatory.
Lines 13-16
Rizal just came back from Europe after the bitter winter. The sudden climate change mad Rizal’s
cheeks ruddy.
Lines 17-25
Back to the present Padre Fura was crying as stated these lines.
THE EXECUTION OF A HERO: DR. JOSE P. RIZAL
Introduction
In 1886, Rizal published in Berlin a Tagalog novel in the Spanish language with the title Noli Me
Tangere, a book that overflows with hatred against the mother country. In it, he lashes at the Spaniards with
the most infamous insults, defiles the Catholic religion and attempts to prove that the Philippine nation can
never be civilized as long as it is ruled by those whom he calls decadent and contemptible Castilians. It goes
without saying that after the authorities received knowledge of it, the distribution of this work in the islands was
forthwith prohibited. The sequel to Rizal’s Noli came off the press by the middle of September 1891, entitled El
Filibusterismo. In veneration of the three priests, he dedicated the book to them. However, Rizal succeeded in
eluding the government order and in distributing the book throughout the archipelago - with the foreseeable
deleterious effects.
The Trial and Martyrdom of Rizal• November 3, 1896- Rizal arrived in Manila with the steamer Colon.•
Rizal was brought to Fort Santiago pending the persecution of his case.• The Spanish authorities were very
much preoccupied with the gathering and fabrication of evidences to be used against him.
The Preliminary Investigation• Colonel Francisco Olive, the Judge Advocate of the Spanish military
tribunal, summoned Rizal to appear before him on November 20, 1896.• Two kinds of evidences brought up
against Rizal  Documentary  Testimonial• The Investigation took 5 days• After 6 days, Rafael Dominquez
evaluated the case and a prima facie case was against Rizal, for the crime of rebellion and formation of illegal
organization.• The judge Nicolas dela Pena, gave Rizal some recommendations to Governor Blanco 
Accused be kept under the custody of law  Accused be brought to trial  Order of attachment be issued
against his property  Accused be defended in court by an army officer he Arraignment of Rizal• On December
8, 1896, Rizal was informed that his arraignment was set on December 11,1896.• Rizal pleaded not guilty to
the crime charges against him.
The Trial of Rizal• Trial commenced on December 19, 1896 for prosecution.• Taviel de Andrade
defended Rizal by saying that the alleged accusations were biased.• Rizal was found guilty beyond reasonable
doubt and to be condemned to death by a firing squad. Rizal’s Trial and His Alleged Guilt Rizal was a civilian
but was tried by a military tribunal Rizal was already condemned guilty even before the trial All allegations
against Rizal were accepted by the court but not the arguments and evidence in his favor Rizal was not
allowed to confront witness against him nor his counsel to cross-examine them Evidence to convict Rizal
didn’t have any bearing on his alleged commission of the complex crime of rebellion Rizal’s Last day• Rizal
spent his last 24 hours in his death cell where he received members of his family and writes his letter of
farewell, the first one to his "second brother Ferdinand Blumentritt. He gave his sister, Trinidad, an old
petroleum lamp and whispered to her in English that there is something inside the lamp. Thus is Rizals famous
farewell poem “Mi Ultimo Adios", (Last Farewell) was found.• Rizal said to have married his Irish girlfriend
Josephine Bracken according to catholic rites in the very last hours of his life.
Rizal, ready and calm, took his position opposite his executioners. His last words were those of Jesus
Christ: “consummatum est”,--it is finished. Then Roll of drums and a volley of artillery accompany the firing of
the soldiers. And even at the moment of his fall, Rizal turns his body so that he ends up lying on his back, with
his face to the sun. The elegant Spanish ladies wave their handkerchiefs, the Gentlemen applaud. And while
the Filipinos see the execution in enraged silence, calls of "Viva España!" resound thunderously.
Rizal was secretly buried in Paco Cemetery in Manila with no identification on his grave. His sister
Narcisa toured all possible gravesites and found freshly turned earth at the cemetery with guards posted at the
gate. Assuming this could be the most likely spot, there never having any ground burials, she made a gift to the
caretaker to mark the site "RPJ", Rizals initials in reverse.
PADRE FAURA
The Man Behind the Street Federico Llatzer Manuel Faura y Prat, better known as Padre Faura, was
born on 30 December 1840 in Barcelona, Spain, in the diocese of Vich. He was the fourth of twelve children of
Victor Canais Faura and Raimunda Canudas Prat; they had seven boys and five girls. The religiosity of the
Faura family is evidenced by having five oft the siblings yielding to the call of God; three would be ordained
priests while another two would become nuns.
Wanting to become a servant of God, Federico Faura entered the diocesan seminar but left after just
three years. Later on, after his application to the Provincial of the Aragon Province, he was admitted as a lay
brother in the Society of Jesus on 16October 1859. During the same month, ten of his fellow Jesuits in the
Philippines were authorized by Governor-General Fernando Escudero Norzagaray to take over the Escuela
Municipal (later on to become Ateneo Municipal). Realizing Faura’s capability to become a priest, the
Provincial would soon tell him to return to the seminary of Vich.
Seven years after joining the Jesuit missionary in 1859, he was ordered to proceed to Manila. Suffering
from a fever, he came to Manila on 20 June 1866 and was assigned to teach mathematics and physics in
Ateneo Municipal. He also took charge of theme teorological work and studies at Ateneo. Eventually, Faura
became the first official director of the Observatory of the Ateneo Municipal de Manila and it was through him
that the observatory gained recognition. The aforementioned observatory had come into existence on 1
January 1865 and was later granted an official recognition by the Spanish Government. Through the efforts of
Faura, a Royal Decree was issued on 28April 1884 designating it as the central office of the Meteorological
Observatory of Manila.
. Unlike most Spaniards in the Philippines, Faura was not a colonist. It is said that his chief passion was
watching the heavens and recording the winds from his quiet to observatory in Ermita that was later to carry his
name. As director of the observatory ,he was able to assemble the Universal Meteorograph that was invented
by Rev. Angelo Secchi, S.J. of the Vatican Laboratory. A very expensive and recently invented instrument, the
weather-recording device was acquired from Rome that was made possible by the monetary donations of
Manila businessmen. They realized the need for an adequate forecasting system since their businesses were
often affected every time strong typhoons visit the country.
 It is said that when the device arrived in the early part of 1869, it was wholly disassembled with no
accompanying assembly instructions whatsoever. It was the first of its kind to be seen in the Philippines: a
delicate instrument composed mainly of jumbled gears, levers, and springs. Fortunately, Faura was there to
work on the jigsaw puzzle. Staying solely in a room, he would eventually complete theme teorograph to the
surprise of other scholastics. Such is the determination and patience of the man behind the early triumphs of
the institution. Tireless as he was, his health was frail. The tropical climate in the Philippines did not seem
suited to his health. Faura had fever when he first arrived in Manila that would even last for weeks and recur at
intervals during the year. He was forced to take vacations and rests every now and then to regain his strength.
To aggravate the matter, he also had an asthmatic condition. Despite poor health, he proceeded with his work
magnificently. Encouraged by the Spanish Government, he established weather stations in Luzon, Visayas,
Mindanao, and Marianas Islands. Furthermore, he was once delegate to the 1868 eclipse expedition that met
in Europe that became highly successful despite numerous impediments. Furthermore, he contributed various
articles to the Boletin Meteorologico which was published in Rome by Father Secchi. In 1871, Faura returned
to Europe to continue his theological studies at St. Cassaein in France, and at the same time, to further his
meteorological research. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1874 and made his solemn profession as a
Jesuit in Rome on 15 August 1877. The following year, Faura returned to the Philippines officially assuming the
position of Director of the observatory. However, lack of personnel at Ateneo left him without an assistant while
simultaneously handling classes and other assignments.
Upon the resumption of his meteorological work, Faura studied the paths and patterns of typhoons. On
7 July 1879, Faura predicted the arrival of a strong typhoon that saved hundreds of lives. Because of the
typhoon warning, losses incurred were relatively slight in the affected areas. His forecast was the first official
storm warning in the Far East, and after which, weather forecasting became a regular service of the
observatory .In 1880, an earthquake hit Manila. With the use of seismological instruments, Faura observed the
earth’s movement and his findings were subsequently reproduced in studies published after the quake. In
appreciation for Faura’s work, citizens of Manila(and Hong Kong) put up a sum of money for the acquisition of
new instruments.
Likewise, the Manila City Council conferred upon him the title of “Adopted Son of Manila.” In 1885, he
was made Corresponding Member of the Meteorological Society of Hamburg.Hard work would soon take its
toll on Faura’s health. In September 1888, he was forced to return to Spain due to ill health. Nevertheless,
while in Europe, he still represented the Manila Observatory at the exposition in Barcelona. In January
1890,Faura came back to the Philippines but again had to leave for Spain in April 1890. This would be the last
time he was to see his native land alive. Faura returned in February1894 only to take a vacation in Macao on
April 1895 to escape the summer heat of Manila. Moreover, his asthmatic condition had grown from bad to
worse. After staying there for about a month, he came back to Manila and once again resumed work.
By December 1896, he gave up active duty and rested at the Ateneo .During this time, the Philippine
Revolution was well underway as open conflict had already broken out between his fellow Spaniards and the
Filipino people whom he had greatly served as a scientist. A contributing factor perhaps to the deteriorating
health of the weak and anguished man was the eventual execution of Dr. Jose Rizal, one of the most brilliant
pupils he had met at the Ateneo. Faura even visited Rizal inside his cell at Fort Santiago while awaiting
execution at Bagumbayan. Rizal was said to have remarked that Faura was a prophet since the priest once
predicted and told Rizal that his head would be cut off if he will not restrain himself from bickering with the
colonial government. And so it was, Rizal was martyred at Bagumbayan on 30December 1896.Sick at heart,
Faura’s health continued to weaken.
On 23 January 1897, the eminent Jesuit meteorologist passed away at the age of 56. Before his death,
he laid the foundations for the astronomical section to complete the Manila Observatory. Both the
seismological and magnetic sections were already in place upon in his death. Faura faithfully served the
people of a country which was not even his own but a country he knew so well. Immediately after the death of
the prolific and foremost scientific pioneer in the Philippines, city authorities named the street in front of the
observatory Padre Faura Street in recognition of the work done by a man who spent his life as a servant of
God and a disciple of science..
AUTHORITARIANISM

Background of the Knowledge

There are many different perspectives regarding martial law. In the history books, martial law is seen as
a great evil under the reign of former President Ferdinand Marcos, but there are some Filipinos who look at our
martial law past with fondness. Why do you think this is the case?
Martial Law began in September 21, 1972 under the Proclamation No. 1081, and the Marcos
babies(those who were born from 1964 to 1986) are only beginning to write about this segment of the past.
When martial law began, there was not much resistance to it, as people believed that it would curb the
insurgency of various rebel groups at the time. Although it did lessen crimes in the country, anyone who went
against President Marcos was jailed, and in many cases, disappeared without a trace. According to Philippine-
History. Org. 30,000 politicians, students, and journalists were “detained by military compounds under the
President’s command, and many news publication and television news broadcasts were closed or controlled
by the Marcos government. Numerous human rights violations were made during this time.
The following poem explores the experience of martial law and what came after it. It is written using a
child’s point of view and is complicated by his relationship with his father.
The Philippines During Martial Law
Proclamation of Martial Law: On September 21, 1972, President Ferdinand E. Marcos placed the
Philippines under Martial Law. The declaration issued under Proclamation 1081 suspended the civil rights and
imposed military authority in the country. Marcos defended the declaration stressing the need for extra powers
to quell the rising wave of violence allegedly caused by communists. The emergency rule was also intended to
eradicate the roots of rebellion and promote a rapid trend for national development. The autocrat assured the
country of the legality of Martial Law emphasizing the need for control over civil disobedience that displays
lawlessness. Marcos explained citing the provisions from the Philippine Constitution that Martial Law is a
strategic approach to legally defend the Constitution and protect the welfare of the Filipino people from the
dangerous threats posed by Muslim rebel groups and Christian vigilantes that places national security at risk
during the time. Marcos explained that martial law was not a military takeover but was then the only option to
resolve the country’s dilemma on rebellion that stages national chaos threatening the peace and order of the
country. The emergency rule, according to Marcos’s plan, was to lead the country into what he calls a “New
Society”. Marcos used several events to justify martial law. Threat to the country’s security was intensifying
following the re-establishment of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) in 1968. Supporters of CPP’s
military arm, the New People’s Army, also grew in numbers in Tarlac and other parts of the country. The
alleged attempt to the life of then Minister of Defense Juan Ponce Enrile gave Marcos a window to declare
Martial Law. Marcos announced the emergency rule the day after the shooting incident. Marcos also declared
insurgency in the south caused by the clash between Muslims and Christians, which Marcos considered as a
threat to national security. The Muslims were defending their ancestral land against the control of Christians
who migrated in the area. The minority group organized the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in Malaysia
and pushed for the autonomy of Mindanao from the national government.
The move was initially supported by most Filipinos and was viewed by some critics as a change that
solved the massive corruption in the country. Martial law ceased the clash between the executive and
legislative branches of the government and a bureaucracy characterized by special interest. Marcos started to
implement reforms on social and political values that hindered effective modernization. To match the
accomplishments of its Asian neighbors, Marcos imposed the need for self-sacrifice for the attainment of
national welfare. His reforms targeted his rivals within the elite depriving them of their power and patronage but
did not affect their supporters (US Library of Congress, Martial Law and the Aftermath).
Thirty-thousand opposition figures including Senator Benigno Aquino, journalists, student and labor
activists were detained at military compounds under the President’s command (Proclamation 1081 and Martial
Law). The army and the Philippine Constabulary seized weapons and disbanded private armies controlled by
prominent politicians and other influential figures (Proclamation 1081 and Martial Law). Marcos took control of
the legislature and closed the Philippine Congress (Proclamation 1081 and Martial Law). Numerous media
outfits were either closed down or operated under tight control (Proclamation 1081 and Martial Law). Marcos
also allegedly funnelled millions of the country’s money by placing some of his trusted supporters in strategic
economic positions to channel resources to him. Experts call this the “crony capitalism.”
The deterioration of the political and economic condition in the Philippines triggered the decline of
support on Marcos’ plans. More and more Filipinos took arms to dislodge the regime. Urban poor communities
in the country’s capital were organized by the Philippine Ecumenical Council for Community and were soon
conducting protest masses and prayer rallies. These efforts including the exposure of numerous
human rights violations pushed Marcos to hold an election in 1978 and 1981 in an aim to stabilize the country’s
chaotic condition. Marcos, in both events, won the election; however, his extended term as President of the
Republic of the Philippines elicited an extensive opposition against his regime. Social unrest reached its height
after former Senator Benigno Aquino was murdered. The incident sent thousands of Filipinos to the streets
calling for Marcos’ removal from post. Turning again to his electoral strategy, Marcos held a snap election in
1986 but what he hoped will satisfy the masses only increased their determination to end his rule that seated
Corazon Aquino, widow of Benigno Aquino, as President of the Philippines ousting Marcos from Malacañang
Palace and ending the twenty-one years of tyrant rule.
The Philippines was praised worldwide in 1986, when the so-called bloodless revolution erupted, called
EDSA People Power’s Revolution. February 25, 1986 marked a significant national event that has been
engraved in the hearts and minds of every Filipino. This part of Philippine history gives us a strong sense of
pride especially that other nations had attempted to emulate what we have shown the world of the true power
of democracy. The true empowerment of democracy was exhibited in EDSA by its successful efforts to oust a
tyrant by a demonstration without tolerance for violence and bloodshed. Prayers and rosaries strengthened by
faith were the only weapons that the Filipinos used to recover their freedom from President Ferdinand
Marcos’s iron hands. The Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) stretches 54 kilometers, where the peaceful
demonstration was held on that fateful day. It was a day that gathered all Filipinos in unity with courage and
faith to prevail democracy in the country. It was the power of the people, who assembled in EDSA, that
restored the democratic Philippines, ending the oppressive Marcos regime. Hence, it came to be known as the
EDSA People Power’s Revolution.
The revolution was a result of the long oppressed freedom and the life threatening abuses executed by
the Marcos government to cite several events like human rights violation since the tyrannical Martial Law
Proclamation in 1972. In the years that followed Martial Law started the suppressive and abusive years–
incidents of assassination were rampant, particularly those who opposed the government, individuals and
companies alike were subdued.
The Filipinos reached the height of their patience when former Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Sr.
was shot and killed at the airport in August 21, 1983, upon his return to the Philippines from exile in the United
States. Aquino’s death marked the day that Filipinos learned to fight. His grieving wife, Corazon Cojuangco-
Aquino showed the Filipinos and the world the strength and courage to claim back the democracy that
Ferdinand Marcos arrested for his personal caprice. Considering the depressing economy of the country,
Ninoy’s death further intensified the contained resentment of the Filipinos. In the efforts to win back his
popularity among the people, Marcos held a snap presidential election in February 7, 1986, where he was
confronted with a strong and potent opposition, Corazon Aquino. It was the most corrupt and deceitful election
held in the Philippine history. There was an evident trace of electoral fraud as the tally of votes were declared
with discrepancy between the official count by the COMELEC (Commission on Elections) and the count of
NAMFREL (National Movement for Free Elections). Such blatant corruption in that election was the final straw
of tolerance by the Filipinos of the Marcos regime. The demonstration started to break in the cry for democracy
and the demand to oust Marcos from his seat at Malacañang Palace. The revolt commenced when Marcos'
Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile and the Armed Forces Vice-Chief of Staff command of Fidel V. Ramos,
both withdrew their support from the government and called upon the resignation of then President Marcos.
They responsibly barricaded Camp Crame and Camp Aguinaldo and had their troops ready to combat against
possible armed attack organized by Marcos and his troops. The Catholic Church represented by Archbishop
Jaime Cardinal Sin along with the priests and nuns called for the support of all Filipinos who believed in
democracy. Radyo Veritas aired the message of Cardinal Sin that summoned thousands of Filipinos to march
the street of EDSA. It was an empowering demonstration that aimed to succeed peacefully with the
intervention of faith. Nuns kneeled in front of tanks with rosaries in their hands and uttering their prayers.
With the power of prayers, the armed marine troops under the command of Marcos withdrew from the
site. Celebrities expressed their support putting up a presentation to showcase the injustices and the
anomalies carried out by the Marcos administration. Finally, in the morning of February 25, 1986, Corazon
Aquino took the presidential oath of office, administered by the Supreme Court Associate Justice Claudio
Teehankee at Club Filipino located in San Juan. Aquino was proclaimed as the 11th President of the Republic
of the Philippines. She was the first lady president of the country. People rejoiced over their victory proving the
success of the EDSA People’s Power Revolution, the historic peaceful demonstration. Although in 2001, there
was an attempt to revive People Power in the efforts to oust then President Joseph Estrada, it was not as
strong as the glorifying demonstration in 1986. The bloodless, People Power Revolution in EDSA renewed the
power of the people, strengthened the meaning of democracy and restored the democratic institutions of
government. Continue to the 5th Republic (1986) up to the Present Time.
Apo on the Wall By: Bj Patino
There’s this man’s photo on the wall Of my father’s office at home, you
Know, where father brings his work, Where he doesn’t look strange
Still wearing his green uniform
And colored breast plates, where, To prove that he works hard, he
Also brought a photo of his boss
Whom he calls Apo, so Apo could You know, hang around on the wall Behind him and look over his shoulders
To make sure he’s snappy and all. Father snapped at me once, caught me Sneaking around his office at home
Looking at the stuff on his wall- handguns, Plaques, a sword, medals a rifle
Told me that was no place for a boy Only men, when he didn’t really
Have to tell me because, you know, That photo of Apo on the wall was already Looking at me around,
His eyes following me like he was That scary Jesus in the hallway, saying I know what you’re doing.
About the Poem
Apo on the wall by Bj Patino is a poem that talks about the narration of a child’s point of view about his
rigorous Father and the hanging photo around the wall called “Apo”. The poem tells the reality of life during the
reigning of Marcos alongside with the Martial Law. It is a reflection of the scenario of what and how the
Filipinos experienced the tragic and traumatic event throughout the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos in the
Philippines. “Apo on the wall” shows the real situation concerning with the different perspective between
millennial and those who lived through Martial law. This masterpiece of Bj Patino advocates reasonably close
to the realization of giving importance on looking back to our past, moving forward through our present and
ensuring the success of our future.
Who is Bj Patino?
In 1927, in the year that B J Patino was born, in September, the Columbia Broadcasting System (later
called CBS) became the second national radio network in the U.S. The first broadcast was a presentation by
the Howard Barlow Orchestra from radio station WOR in Newark, New Jersey.
In 1940, by the time this person was just 13 years old, on July 27th, the cartoon character Bugs Bunny
debuted in his first film A Wild Hare - voiced by Mel Blanc. He has since appeared in more short films, feature
films, compilations, TV series, music records, comic books, video games, award shows, amusement park
rides, and commercials than any other cartoon character. He even has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
"What's up, Doc?"
In 1958, this person was 31 years old when on March 24th, Elvis Presley was inducted into the United
States Army. Although he could have served in Special Services as an entertainer, he chose to become a
regular soldier. Almost everyone thought it would be the end of his career - it wasn't.
In 1960, B was 33 years old when on September 26th, the first televised debate for a Presidential
campaign in the United States - Kennedy vs Nixon - was held. Seventy million people watched the debate on
TV. The debate pre-empted the very popular Andy Griffith Show.
In 1988, in the year of B J Patino's passing, on December 16th, 1988 the popular film Rain Man was
released. Featuring Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise. this film brought attention to autistic savants and was
based on the "megasavant" Laurence Kim Peek. The film would later go to win four Oscars including Best
Picture, Best Original Screenplay, Best Director and Best Actor in a Leading Role.
THE SAFE HOUSE By: Sandra Nicole Roldan
From the street, it is one box among many. Beneath terracotta roof tiles baking uniformly in the
sweltering noon the building/s grey concrete face stares out impassively in straight lines and angles. Its walls
are high and wide, as good walls should be. A four-storey building with four units to a floor. At dusk, the
square glass windows glitter like the compound eyes of insects, revealing little of what happens inside. There
is not much else to see.
And so this house seems in every way identical to all the other houses in all the thirty-odd other
buildings nestled within the gates of this complex. It is the First Lady’s pride and joy, a housing project
designed for genteel middle class living. There is a clubhouse, a swimming pool, a tennis court. A few
residents drive luxury cars. People walk purebred dogs in the morning. Trees shade the narrow paths and the
flowering hedges that border each building give the neighborhood a hushed, cozy feel. It is easy to get lost
here.
But those who need to come here know what to look for-the swinging gate, the twisting butterfly tree,
the cyclone-wire fence. A curtained window glows with the yellow light of a lamp perpetually left on. Visitors
count the steps up each flight of stairs. They do not stumble in the dark. They know which door will be opened
to them, day or night. They will be fed, sometimes given money. Wounds will be treated,
bandages changed. They carry nothing-no books, no bags, or papers. What they do bring is locked inside
their heads, the safest of places. They arrive one at a time, or in couples, over a span of several hours. They
are careful not to attract attention. They listen for the reassuring yelps of squabbling children before they raise
their hands to knock.
It is 1982. The girl who lives here does not care too much for the people who visit. She is five. Two
uncles and an aunt dropped by the other day. Three aunts and two uncles slept over the night before. It is
impossible to remember all of them. There are too many names, too many faces. And they all look the same-
too tall, too old, too serious, too many. They surround the small dining table, the yellow lamp above throwing
and tilting shadows against freshly-painted cream walls.
They crowd the already cramped living room with their books and papers, hissing at her to keep quiet,
they are talking about important things. So she keeps quiet. The flock of new relatives recedes into the
background as she fights with her brother over who gets to sit closer to the television. It is tuned in to Sesame
Street on Channel 9. The small black and white screen makes Ernie and Bert shiver and glow like ghosts.
Many of these visitors she will never see again. If she does, she will probably not remember them.
She wakes up one night. Through the thin walls, she hears the visitors arguing. She can easily pick out
one particular uncle’s voice, rumbling through the dark like thunder. He is one of her newer relatives, having
arrived only that morning. All grown-ups are tall but this new uncle is a giant who towers over everyone else.
His big feet look pale in their rubber slippers, a band-aid where each toenail should have been. He never takes
off his dark glasses, not even at night. She wonders if he can see in the dark. Maybe he has laser vision like
Superman. Or, maybe-like a pirate, he has only one eye. She presses her ear against the wall. If she closes
her eyes and listens carefully, she can make out the words: sundalo, kasama, talahib. The last word she hears
clearly is katawan. The visitors are now quiet but still she cannot sleep. From the living room, there are sounds
like small animals crying.
She comes home from school the next day to see the visitors crowded around the television. She wants
to change the channel, watch the late afternoon cartoons but they wave her away. The grown-up’s are all
quiet. Something is different. Something is about to explode. So she stays away, peering up at them from
under the dining table. On the TV screen is the President, his face glowing blue and wrinkly like an-old
monkey’s. His voice wavers in the afternoon air, sharp and high like the sound of something breaking. The
room erupts in a volley of curses: Humanda ka na, Makoy! Mamatay ka! Pinapatay mo asawa ko! Mamamatay
ka rin P%t@ng*n@ ka! Humanda ka, papatayin din kita!The girl watches quietly from under the table. She is
trying very hard not to blink.
It is 1983. They come more often now. They begin to treat the apartment like their own house. They
hold meetings under the guise of children’s parties. Every week, someone’s son or daughter has a birthday.
The girl and her brother often make a game of sitting on the limp balloons always floating in inch from the
floor. The small explosions like-guns going off. She wonders why her mother serves the visitors dusty beer
bottles that are never opened.
She is surprised to see the grownups playing make-believe out on the balcony. Her new uncles pretend
to drink from the unopened bottles and begin a Laughing Game. Whoever laughs loudest wins. She thinks her
mother plays the game badly because instead of joining in. Her mother is always crying quietly in the kitchen.
Sometimes the girl sits beside her mother on the floor, listening to words she doesn’t really understand:
Underground, resolution, taxes, bills. She plays with her mother’s hair while the men on the balcony continue
their game. When she falls asleep, they are still laughing.
The mother leaves the house soon after. She will never return. The two children now spend most
afternoons playing with their neighbors. After an hour of hide-and-seek, the girl comes home one day to find
the small apartment even smaller. Something heavy hangs in the air like smoke. Dolls and crayons and
storybooks fight for space with plans and papers piled on the tables. Once, she finds a drawing of a triangle
and recognizes a word: class. She thinks of typhoons and floods and no classes.
The visitors keep reading from a small red book, which they hide under their clothes when
sheapproached. She tries to see why they like it so much. Maybe it also has good pictures like the books her
father brought home from, China. Her favorite has zoo animals working together to build a new bridge after the
river had swallowed the old one. She sneaks a look over their shoulders and sees a picture of a fat Chinese
man wearing a cap. Spiky shapes run up and down the page. She walks away disappointed. She sits in the
balcony and reads another picture book from China. It is about a girl who cuts her hair to help save her village
from Japanese soldiers. The title is Mine Warfare.
It is 1984. The father is arrested right outside their house. It happens one August afternoon, with all the
neighbors watching. They look at the uniformed men with cropped hair and shiny boots. Guns bulging under
their clothes. Everyone is quiet afraid to make a sound. The handcuffs shine like silver in the sun. When the
soldiers drive away, the murmuring begins. Words like insects escaping from cupped hands. It grows louder
and fills the sky. It is like this whenever disaster happens. When fire devours a house two streets away,
people in the compound come out to stand on their balconies. Everyone points at the pillar of smoke rising
from the horizon.
This is the year she and her brother come to live with their grandparents, having no parents to care for
them at home. The grandparents tell them a story of lovebirds: Soldiers troop into their house one summer
day in 1974. Yes, balasang k4 this very same house. Muddy boots on the bridge over the koi pond, strangers
poking guns through the water lilies. They are looking for guns and papers, they are ready to destroy the
house. Before the colonel can give his order, they see The Aviary. A small sunlit room with a hundred
lovebirds twittering inside. A rainbow of colors. Eyes like tiny glass beads. One soldier opens the aviary door,
releases a flurry of wings and feathers. Where are they now? the girl asks. The birds are long gone, the
grandparents say, eaten by a wayward cat. But as you can see, the soldiers are still here. The two children
watch them at their father’s court trials. A soldier waves a guru says it is their father’s. He stutters while
explaining why the gun has his own name on it.
They visit her father at his new house in Camp Crame. It is a long walk from the gate, past wide green
lawns. In the hot surrey everything looks green. There are soldiers everywhere. Papa lives in that long low
building under the armpit of the big gymnasium. Because the girl can write her name, the guards make her
sign the big notebooks. She writes her name so many times, the S gets tired and curls on its side to sleep.
She enters amaze the size of the playground at school, but with tall barriers making her turn left, right, left,
right. Barbed wire forms a dense jungle around the detention center. She meets other children there: some
just visiting, others lucky enough to stay with their parents all the time.
On weekends, the girl sleeps in her father’s cell. There is a double-deck bed and a chair. A noisy
electric fan stirs the muggy air. There, she often gets nightmares about losing her home: She would be
walking down the paths, under the trees of their compound, past the row of stores, the same grey buildings.
She turns a corner and finds a swamp or a rice paddy where her real house should be.
One night, she dreams of war. She comes home from school to find a blood orange sky where
bedroom and living room should be. The creamy walls are gone. Broken plywood and planks swing crazily in
what used to be the dining room. Nothing in the kitchen but a sea green refrigerator; paint and rust flaking off
in patches as large as thumbnails. To make her home livable again, she paints it blue and pink and yellow.
She knows she has to work fast. Before night falls, she has painted a sun, a moon and a star on the red floor.
So she would have light. Each painted shape is as big as a bed. In the dark, she curls herself over the
crescent moon on the floor and waits for morning.There is no one else in the dream.
Years later, when times are different, she will think of those visitors and wonder about them. By then,
she will know they aren’t really relatives, and had told her namesnot really their own. To a grownup, an old
friend’s face can never really change; in achild’s fluid memory, it can take any shape. She believes that-people
stay alive so long as another chooses to remember them. But she cannot help those visitors even in that small
way. She grows accustomed to the smiles of middle aged strangers on the street, who talk about how it was
when she was thishigh. She learns not to mind the enforced closeness, sometimes even smiles back. But she
does not really know them. Though she understands the fire behind their words, she remains a stranger to
their world’ she has never read the little red book.
Late one night, she will hear someone knocking on the door.It is a different door now, made from solid
varnished mahogany blocks. The old chocolate brown ply board that kept them safe all those years ago has
long since yielded to warp and weather. She will look through the peephole and see a face last seen fifteen
years before. It is older, ravaged but somehow same. She willbe surprised to even remember the name that
goes with it. By then, the girl would know about danger, and will not know whom to trust. No house, not even
this one, is safe enough.
The door will be opened a crack. He will ask about her father, she will say he no longer lives there. As
expected, he will look surprised and disappointed. She may even read a flash of fear before his face wrinkles
into a smile. He will apologize, step back. Before he disappears into the shadowy corridor, she will notice his
worn rubber slippers, the mud caked between his toes. His heavy bag. She knows he has nowhere else to go.
Still, she will shut the door and push the bolt firmly into place.