AUSTERO | 3APH

Unit 5: Discovering Love and the Filipino Second stanza:

“Bonsai” – Edith Tiempo “Son’s note or Dad’s gaudy tie, A root picture of a
 The poem entitled “Bonsai” written by Edith Tiempo young queen, a blue Indian shawl, even a money
talks about love in terms of a plant “Bonsai.” Bonsai is a bill” serve as a memento of the persona
perennial woody plant that has the features of a tree. In Third stanza:
the poem, it describes how a Bonsai could be related to To scale love down to a cupped hand’s size -
love. Many say that love is a huge monumental feeling to control love as to prevent obsession
that is found in every little aspects of life. This award- Fourth stanza:
winning poet describes how love could be scaled down Love is to be simplified to the point that even a
into a “cupped hand size.” child can understand what love is.
 One of the literary images shown in the poem is how all Edith Tiempo (April 22, 1919 – August 21, 2011)
the author‘s love is fold over once. This shows how the o A poet, fiction writer, teacher and literary critic
author thinks that love is something that is foldable or o A Filipino writer in the English language.
flexible depending on the situation. The author expressed
o Tiempo was born in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya. Her
how love could be reduced to a cupped hand‘s size. This
poems are intricate verbal transfigurations of significant
irony shows that we all have control to what our hearts
experiences as revealed, in two of her much anthologized
could give. However, we are limiting ourselves, which in
pieces, "Lament for the Littlest Fellow" and "Bonsai." As
return, makes our hearts smaller than it could really be.
fictionist, Tiempo is as morally profound. Her language
Another literary image shown in the poem is the metaphor
has been marked as "descriptive but unburdened by
scrupulous detailing." She is an influential tradition in
“Till seashells are broken pieces from God‘s own bright
Philippine literature in English. Together with her late
teeth.” Seashells are said to be nature, which are slowly
husband, writer and critic Edilberto K. Tiempo, they
being destroyed by man. Man would then pay the price
founded (in 1962) and directed the Silliman National
and man would later be judged by God. This goes to
Writers Workshop in Dumaguete City, which has
show that everything needs to come to an end and that
produced some of the Philippines' best writers.
nothing lasts forever.
o She was conferred the National Artist Award for
 The title “Bonsai” would at first seem as an
Literature in 1999.
inappropriate title for the poem, but as you read the poem
over and over again, you would come to realize that the
Unit 6: Exploring Filipino Humor
poem speaks for a Bonsai plant. Bonsai is a special type
 Part of Humor
of plant wherein you would have to limit its growth by
o Shared knowledge – no need to explain
constantly cutting or trimming its artistic shape. Similarly,
 Origin of Humor
love could not be perceived to be something very general
o Relief Theory
or large because too much of something would not do any
good. It is essential to keep everything to limit it to a o Superiority Theory
smaller size in order to maintain all its features.  Pamimintas
Furthermore, any bonsai plant will not live forever. There  You feel superior kasi it’s not you
would come a time wherein it would die or fade away. o Incongruity Theory
Likewise, love does not always last forever. It would  Deviation from norm (inconsistent)
always be there but it would never be the same.  Mababaw kaligayahan ng Pilipinas
Sometimes, it may fade away if it is left unattained or it
would just die down once it loses control. Thus, bonsai “My Own Theory of Devolution”– Jessica Zafra
and love should be properly cultivated and respected for it  Point of view: 1st person
to attain its deepest purpose.  Devolution: the more you drink, the lower you become
 *scaling down of love  Stages of Devolution:
 *tremendous emotions o APE – vision blurs, nauseous, starting to slouch, arms
 *artifacts that remind us of the feelings down like an ape
 *sentimental values o REPTILE – non-functional legs, crawl to travel to
 *Bonsai – small na mataba na plant/ tree – loved another part of the room
tenderly o POLITICIAN – talkative, loud voice, reveal secrets to
strangers, then become pompous, and stop making
First stanza:
sense, obnoxious
Love is folded into something small or compact.
AUSTERO | 3APH
o FISH (or Sammy the Sperm) – not attempting to crawl • stop talking ; start speechifying
anymore, swim on the floor • most obnoxious (difference between reptile
o ROCK – pass out, lose consciousness, not an organism stage)
anymore, lowest on the evolutionary ladder 4.) Fish
 Next morning: start of evolution again • Sammy the sperm phase
 Resolutions to never drink again and not keep: human • attempt to swim on the floor
again 5.) Rock
• body goes to sleep on you
 *Alcohol needs water to dilute  our body puro water
• pass out whatever surface you are on
 then yun brain mawawalan ng tubig + malfunction
• lost consciousness
 *Alcohol deprives body of the needed water (lack of “You mouth vile things-You’re a politician. You
water) crawl toward the bathroom-you’re a reptile. You
 “In vino veritas” = Latin  “In wine there is truth” stand on your legs to reach the sink- you’re a
 *Bacchos – god of wine (bacchanalia) monkey. You throw up, and between heaves, you
 *Metaphor  popular / not misleading archetypes swear to never touch Vodka from Hell again. You’re
dapat making resolutions you won’t keep. Congratulations.
You’re human again.”
 *Problems with Metaphor
o Walang isang kahulugan (w/c one sinasabi) Jessica Zafra (1965)
 *Pacto de sangre – blood compact o Jessica Zafra (born 1965) is a fiction writer, columnist,
editor, publisher, and former television and radio show
Theory of Evolution
host. She is known for her sharp and witty writing style.
• Charles Darwin
Her most popular books are the Twisted series, a
Devolution
collection of her essays as a columnist for newspaper
• exact opposite of evolution
Today (now Manila Standard Today), as well as from her
• deteriorating to a lower life form
time as editor and publisher of the magazine Flip. She
Evolution
currently writes a weekly column for InterAksyon.com, the
• moving up to a higher life
online news portal of TV5. She resides in Metro Manila,
Theory About Alcohol
Philippines, where she is working on her first novel. She
• the more you drink, the lower you go down
also managed the Eraserheads during the 90's.
the evolutionary ladder
Stages: (ARPFR) o Her work often are about current events (both Philippine
1.) Ape and international), tennis, movies, music, cats, books,
• vision blurs technology, and her personal life. Her work has been the
• room appears to be spinning subject of academic study. The main ingredient to her
• feels like being inside a blender with ice and work is often fun cynicism and irony.
oranges o She went to St. Theresa's College, Quezon City, from
• face feels lopsided prep school until 6th Grade. After which, she went to the
• Ape-like shuffle main campus of the Philippine Science High School then
• nauseous to the University of the Philippines and majored in
• monkey Comparative Literature
• simian
2.) Reptile Unit 7: Interrogating Gender Relations and the
• swilling the drink of depressed Russians Filipino
• legs turn to vestigial appendages (they’re there “THE CONVERSION”
but you can’t use them) J. NEIL GARCIA
• crawl, slither on hands and stomach
• make a crashing noise that resembles hissing J. NEIL GARCIA was/is
3.) Politician  earned his A.B. Journalism, magna cum laude, from
• talkative, hyperverbal the University of Santo Tomas in 1990; 
• noticeable rise in the volume of voice  M.A. in Comparative Literature in 1995,
• built-in-megaphone  Ph.D. in English Studies: Creative Writing in 2003
• insult friends from the University of the Philippines Diliman.
• reveal darkest secrets to people
AUSTERO | 3APH
 currently a Professor of English, Creative  won several literary awards including
Writing and Comparative Literature at the College of the Palanca and the National Book Award from the
Arts and Letters, University of the Philippines Manila Critics Circle. He
Diliman,
 has also received grants and fellowships to deliver
 serves as an Associate for Poetry at the Likhaan: lectures
U.P. Institute of Creative Writing. in Taipei, Hawaii, Berkeley, Manchester, Cambridg
 author of numerous poetry collections and works in e, Leiden and Bangkok.
literary and cultural criticism:  6’11’’
o Our Lady of the Carnival (1996), 
 legitimized homo
o The Sorrows of Water (2000), 
 “The Bearded Lady”
o Kaluluwa (2001), 
o Slip/pages: Essays in Philippine Gay INTRO:
Criticism (1998),  GENDERS:
o Performing the Self: Occasional o male
Prose (2003),  o female
o The Garden of Wordlessness (2005), o lesbian
o Misterios and Other Poems (2005). o gay
 groundbreaking study, Philippine Gay Culture: The o transvestite
Last Thirty Years (1996),  gender fuck
 awarded a National Book Award by the Manila  gender bend
Critics Circle in 1996.  u don’t need to be opposite
 editor of the famous Ladlad series o transsexual
of Filipino gay writing,  knife
 edited for the Likhaan, the following o transgender
anthologies: The Likhaan Book of Philippine  girly clothes
Criticism (1992-1997) and The Likhaan Book of ANALYSIS:
Poetry and Fiction (1998 and 2000).  Why “CONVERSION”?
 latest critical work, Postcolonialism and Filipino o Dahil dun sa tubig= baptized
Poetics: Essays and Critiques, is a revised version  Lots of allusion-
of his very provocative Ph. D dissertation. The  Bakit TUBIG SA DRUM?
book examined Filipino poetics from the o dahil daw natatanggal yong dumi sa
perspective of post-colonialism consisting of the katawan
author’s own critical and personal reflections on o oldest form of torture
poetry-both as he “reads” and “writes” it. o sets situation
 sought to answer a specific and difficult  In our society today, we all know that gender
question: just how do the dominant poetic theories equality is still a problem – a problem that the
in the  Philippines  address the problems and world is yet to face. Which is why “The
debates of postcolonialism Conversion” by J. Neil Garcia is an eye opener to
 led Garcia to confront the issue of the society about gender inequality. However, the
Filipino nationalism. Garcia poem has its strengths and weakness in
 addressed the assumptions and consequences of delivering the message being portrayed in the
text.
Filipino nationalism 
 The strength of the poem upon reading it is its
 engaged with the poetics of National Artist Virgilio message. Why? Because you can clearly see
Almario and eminent poet-critic Gemino Abad,
that the message is trying to portray a life of a
whom Garcia referred to as “the foremost
gay person who converted himself from being gay
commentators on Filipino poetics.”
back to its original gender the “male” for he was
 currently working on a full-length book, a post- not accepted by his father. Within this line (37)“In
colonial survey and analysis of Philippine poetry in the end I had to say what they all wanted me to
English. say.” The message clearly depicts that we must
really understand and accept ourselves for who
AUSTERO | 3APH
and what we are or to those people who is on the “his senses” and revert to the “proper” gender.
same journey of the LGBTQ (Lesbians, Gay, And while the last line of the poem may refer to a
Bisexual, Transgender and Queer) community. hopeful tone, I always felt the poem to be quite
Another strength that I have I noticed is that the sad. The persona may have been “saved,” but his
poem speaks for itself. How? Simply by the current life is just as marred with violence as
emotions being portrayed in the text. (68-69) “I when he/his “other” self was killed in that drum.
sometimes think the girl who drowned
somewhere in a dream many dreams ago.” – it “The Small Key” by Paz Latorena
captivates you with every single word you read.
LITERARY ANALYSIS:
Lastly, I see the structure of the poem as a
strength because it allows you to distinguish the The story entitled The Small key by Paz Latorena is
events and happenings in the story for the about how we react in a certain situation if we are
readers to understand. The opening line goes (1) defeated by our own emotions. Sometimes people do
“It happened in a metal drum” and it ends with something to satisfy themselves even when they are fully
(78) “We die to rise to a better life.” It shows that aware of what the consequences of their actions will be.
there has been a lot of changes that happened in Through this theme, we will know some nature of person:
his life. that we do some decisions without thinking critically. Then
 One weakness I have noticed is the assimilation lately we realize that what we’ve done is wrong. In the
of the words into the sentence structure used by story, Pedro shows the filipino attitude and characteristic
the author impediments the total comprehension of being sentimental that he give importance to the
of some readers. (5-6) “The laundry lay caked person he love and to the things the deceased have left.
and smelly, In the flower-shaped basins.” Some And for Soledad, she portrays another filipino attitude of
readers will have a little difficulty in understanding being jealous and a person of mistrust. The story for me
some of the lines due to its complex structure and also banks in the concept and ideology of love, trust and
there are also words which are hard to forgiveness. For it was emphasized in the story how love
understand. can transcend in different aspect and faces; and how love
 I think the overall presentation through the use of can lead into issues of trust and forgiveness at the same
literary devices was effective because for me it time.
helped me understand the message of the story.
The author was using the 1 st persona which he SUMMARY:
narrated his painful experience as a gay person It is about a woman named Soledad who is married to a
who was not accepted by his family – the reason man named Pedro Buhay. They live on a farm. One
why he converted back himself to being a man. morning Soledad finds herself knowing that the farm will
The author also used metaphors in the text which produce plenty but that she still had some inner feeling of
was a hard to understand. “It happened in a metal discontent. She planned to mend some of her husband's
drum” wherein the “metal drum” is the symbol of shirts, which were in a locked trunk. Pedro took out from
the punishments his father did to him. “Water is his pocket a string which held two keys, one large and
still a problem and the drum is there, deep and shiny and one small and rusty. He gave Soledad the large
rusty.” In this part “deep and rusty” symbolizes key to his trunk and put the small key back in his jacket
the painful experiences he has gone through pocket. Since it was hot that morning, he removed his
together with the metal drum. coat before leaving to work in the field. When he was
 Why is it titled Conversion? gone, Soledad began to fold the jacket and the small key
- Because of the water which symbolizes fell to the floor. It is obvious that Pedro values the small
baptism key while Soledad fears it. 
 Water inside the Drum represents the cleansing
of
the body Soledad knows that the small key is a key to a different
trunk. She tries to busy herself so that she will not think
 A lot of Allusion present in the poem
about what the smaller trunk contains, but she cannot
It is visual trope in Filipino films (usually in
stop thinking about it and reveals that the small trunk
comedy) where a young boy who is seen as
contains clothing that belonged to Pedro's first wife. She
“confused” is dragged by either his father or any
wonders why it is that he keeps her old clothing and why
authoritative male relative and dunked into the
he seems to have a special feeling about them. She
drum. The action is thought to “shock” the boy to
AUSTERO | 3APH
obviously fears that Pedro still loves his first wife even has done and rushes to look in the trunk to confirm it.
though she has been dead for many years by now. She Soledad has indeed, burned his first wife's clothing.
reveals that she hates the things in the small trunk and
Pedro is angry and bitter that this has happened and he
worries that they will destroy the relationship between her
expects that Soledad will explain things later. He thinks to
and her husband. Despite her attempts to not think about
himself that he will forgive her because he loves her but
the contents of the small trunk, Soledad opens it. At this
that even if she did it out of love for him, it will always
point, Pedro returns home to find Soledad in bed
remain a matter of some resentment toward her for doing
supposedly with a fever. It turns out she does not. The
it.
next morning Pedro discovers a pile of ashes and half
burnt clothing in the backyard. He realizes what Soledad Symbolization:
has done and rushes to look in the trunk to confirm it.
Soledad has indeed, burned his first wife's clothing.  •Small key- It represents the first wife of Pedro Buhay
who passed away many years because she has power to
Pedro is angry and bitter that this has happened and he control Pedro by keeping of her old clothes
expects that Soledad will explain things later. He thinks to
•Large Key- It represents to Soledad because she has a
himself that he will forgive her because he loves her but
power to burnt the clothes of the first wife of Pedro
that even if she did it out of love for him, it will always
remain a matter of some resentment toward her for doing •Trunk- symbolized how Pedro tried to hide his memories
it. of his dead wife.

SETTINGS: •Dead wife’s clothes – the remains served as the main

memories of his past wife.
What:
•Farm: it represents the feelings of Soledad to the first
Soledad finds herself knowing that the farm will produce
wife of Pedro.
plenty but that she still had some inner feeling of
discontent. Thus, Soledad is going to find out what Theme of the Story:
bothers her.
The writers point is do not give up with your love for the
Where: seek of good relationship because sometimes, in life,
people do something to satisfy themselves even when
On low, square nipa house and in the farm.
they are fully aware of what the consequences of their
When: actions will be.

One morning Characters:

Pedro Buhay
Conflict: • prosperous farmer
• husband of Soledad
Soledad knows that the small key is a key to a different
• “Indo”
trunk. She tries to busy herself so that she will not think
Soledad
about what the smaller trunk contains, but she cannot
• wife of Pedro Buhay
stop thinking about it and reveals that the small trunk
• woman past her early 20s and has dark hair
contains clothing that belonged to Pedro's first wife. She
• “Choleng”
wonders why it is that he keeps her old clothing and why
• burned the clothes of Pedro Buhay’s first wife
he seems to have a special feeling about them. She
thus causing Pedro to resent him*
obviously fears that Pedro still loves his first wife even
Tia Maria
though she has been dead for many years by now. She
• told Pedro Soledad has a fever
reveals that she hates the things in the small trunk and
Dr. Santos
worries that they will destroy the relationship between her
• was called to check up on soledad
and her husband. Despite her attempts to not think about
Important notes:
the contents of the small trunk, Soledad opens it. At this
Key
point, Pedro returns home to find Soledad in bed
• to Pedro’s trunk
supposedly with a fever. It turns out she does not. The
• string of nondescript red which is held together
next morning Pedro discovers a pile of ashes and half
a big shiny key and another small
burnt clothing in the backyard. He realizes what Soledad
rather rusty-looking one
AUSTERO | 3APH
Garment Scholastica’s College in Manila and the Manila
• has faint smell of his favorite cigars South High School (As the Araullo High School).
• small key fell down from this garment In 1926, she took up Education at the University
Trunk of the Philippines (UP) in Manila where she also
• small and old attended a short story writing class under a key
• held things she had once come to hate with figure in Filipino literature in English, Paz
unreasoning violence, the things that were Marquez Benitez of “Dead Stars” fame.
causing her so much unnecessary anguish and  In 1927, Latorena received an invitation from
pain, and threatened to destroy all that was Benitez to write a column for the Philippines
beautiful between her and her husband Herald Magazine, of which Benitez was the
• contained the clothes of Pedro’s first wife literary editor. That same year, Latorena, along
(dead) with other campus writers, founded the UP
San Isidro Labrador Writers’ Club. The Literary Apprentice, the UP
• patron saint of their barrio Writers’ Club’s publication, then ran a short story
Sunday by Latorena, “A Christmas Tale.”
• work in the south field was finished  Latorena also wrote poetry under the pseudonym,
Mina Lys, which, according to Tanlayco, had a
**additional notes: “romantic significance,” for the then young writer.
Sex  Before the year ended, the Marinduque native
● In biology, sex is a process of combining and won the third prize in Jose Garcia Villa’s Roll of
mixing genetic traits, often resulting in the Honor for the Best Stories of 1927 for her story,
specialization of organisms into a male or female “The Small Key.”
variety.  For her final year of college in 1927, Latorena
Gender transferred to UST to finish her Education degree.
● Culturally constructed and learned behaviors and She became the literary editor of the Varsitarian
ideas attributed to males, females, or blended and published her poems, “Insight” and “My Last
genders. Song,” under her nom de plume Mina Lys
Gender Roles  She shortly earned her master’s and doctorate
● refers to the set of social and behavioral norms degree while teaching literature courses in UST.
that are widely considered to be socially In 1934, her doctoral dissertation, “Philippine
appropriate for individuals of a specific sex in the Literature in English: Old Voices and New,”
context of a specific culture, which differ widely between received the highest rating of sobresaliente.
cultures and over time.  Latorena’s former students are now giants in
Philippine letters: F. Sionil Jose, Nita Umali,
The Author: Paz Latorena Genoveva Edroza Matute, Zeneida Amador,
Ophelia Dimalanta and Alice Colet-Villadolid, to
 Paz M. Latorena (January 17, 1908 – October
name a few.
19, 1953), one of the foremost writers of the first
generation of Filipino English writers, in both Unit 8: Representing Death and the Filipino
literary writing and education was a poet, editor, “Ghost” by Connie Jan Maraan
author, and teacher. She was born in Boac,
Marinduque. Fictionist. She received her ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
elementary education in at the St. Scholastica’s CONNIE JAN MARAAN was/is
College and her secondary education at the  written works:
Manila South (now Araullo) High School. She o “The Boundary”
earned her bachelor of science degree in o "Transient and other short stories”
education at the University of the Philippines o “The Children’s Hour: Stories on Childhood.”
College of Education and took a graduate course  professor in De La Salle University
at the University of Santo Tomas (UST). She  an obscure writer, not so well anthologized. -Dr.
taught English at the UST. Joyce Arriola (Department of Literature, Faculty of
 Paz Manguera Latorena, the oldest among the Arts and Letters and the Graduate School of the
ten children of Magda Manguera and Ricardo University of Santo Tomas)
Latorena, was born on Jan. 17, 1908 in Boac,
Marinduque. She finished basic schooling at St.
AUSTERO | 3APH
 She current author presents herself as a prose writer terms like making anything possible because of the
whose story “Ghost” has been included in the UST absence of feeling.
textbook.
 was nominated for an award for an annual fellowship Analyzing the story using symbolical Approach, we would
who is completing a work in any of the following probably be asking ourselves what symbolizes the train
genres: poetry, fiction, drama, and creative and statues or medallions in the story, or if it is possible
nonfiction for a dead person to still live in our world, and if it is
 a bionote on her is being constructed but is not yet possible for him to remember his life before death. Death
ready on a website about her. is the main idea that the story is presenting. We know that
if a man dies, he/she will either go to heaven or hell. But
SETTINGS: in Maraan’s story the spirit, she presented that if a person
 Tayuman dies, he/she will be remain in another persons’ heads and
 flashback of the 1990 crash and the protagonists will stay as a memory. Just like religious statues or
life medallions that reminds us that God is with us all the
time. We can conclude that the story is telling us not to
CHARACTERS: disregard our deceased loved ones, to always let them
1. The Ghost remain in our hearts and make their memory live with us
 genderless always.
 no sense of feeling
When people think of trains and their functions, they
2. The Creator
simply view them as modes of transportation. In this story,
 flat character
this is not solely the case. While it is true that trains are
 no beard
included in the setting, the trains may be present for
 hardly looks fatherly
underlying reasons.
 androgynous in appearance
3. Friend As Connie uses train as a symbol, It has been used as a
 taught the art of hand-holding place where the protagonists accidentally meet, go their
 pleasantly rotund but crude in conversation separate ways with her love ones, take the time to think,
4. His / Her Better-half work on something or just contemplating, and even as a
 had an argument with the ghost’s past life in the place of rest and relaxation. As the protagonist journey
summer of 1984 back and forth in his memory in the train it helps him
 stole a red banana for the ghost when he / she relieve his doubt and make him realize that things had
was still alive happened and that he is dead.
 had a weakness for family and friends In the story, the main character doesn’t want to die or
gathering even to accept that she is dead. She always reminisced
so many things that she left that needed to done. “I miss
SUMMARY/ANALYSIS (1): my senses, or rather can’t get use to having them.” This
The story is all about a ghost who died when the statement shows that she misses being alive. She misses
Tayuman LRT Station suddenly collapsed and the train feeling things. “While I know I have lived through them,
came falling down on his face. A recently dead man knowing is not feeling.” Since she is already dead, she no
recalls how he came to be in the afterlife and according to longer has the senses of a living person. Sight, touch,
him, he has seen Christ because of that incident. taste, hearing. She also missed the feeling of love and
her loved one. “Maybe, someday, Tayuman will reward
In Connie Jan Maraan’s story entitled “Ghost”, she you with a glimpse of my ghost.” This statement of hers
applied various symbols to express what happened in the was addressed her loved one.
accident, used rhetorical devices to make the story more
colorful and depicted the possible events that may As what the story was telling, she was trying to buy a
happen after death. Maraan is an interesting writer who figurine from Tayuman and slabs of concrete fell on them,
uses lively descriptions and language in depicting the which what caused her death. In a bitter sweet way, she’s
realities presented in the story. She helps the readers like saying that if her lover would someday visit Tayuman,
attain a good understanding of the possible beauty in she wanted that her lover would remember her, the spot
what could otherwise be morbidity in its very notion. where she died and the moment the accident happened. I
Death is presented and tackled in the most acceptable think in this part she is getting emotional. She had so
AUSTERO | 3APH
many unfinished things in life, restless with her death but -Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards
yet optimistic in a way: remembering and highlighting on
-National Book Awards from the Manila Critic’s
the things that were special to her and sentimental.
Circle, Arinday (Siliman University), Gintong Aklat
As the symbols point it, the main character of the story
(Book Development Association of the Philippines)
just needs to accept her death and move on. There is
and Philippine Free Press
nothing she can do anymore.
-PRIZE WINNING POETRY BOOKS
As a moral, people should live their lives as if it’s our last -Dreamweavers: Selected Poems (1976-1986)
to prevent experiencing what the main character did. We
should let our loved ones feel that we love them every -Ochre Tones: Poems in English and Cebuno
day, so that when our day comes, we won’t be regretting (1999)
anything we didn’t do when it’s already too late to change. STORY

ANALYSIS (2): TONE: Serene, solemn, blissful, dreamy

In Connie Jan Maraan’s story entitled “Ghost”, she THEME: Serendipity, peace, serenity
applied various symbols to express what happened in the
accident, used rhetorical devices to make the story more SETTING: very dreamlike (salty seas, tropic skies,
colourful and depicted the possible events that may mountain gentian)
happen after death. Maraan is an interesting writer who VOICE: 1st person POV, talks to the audience as though
uses lively descriptions and language in depicting the he/she is a companion in the poem
realities presented in the story. She helps the readers
SUBJECT: Paradise, God
attain a good understanding of the possible beauty in
what could otherwise be morbidity in its very notion. FOS: SIMILE  eyelashes turned blue as the kingfisher’s
Death is presented and tackled in the most acceptable wings
terms like making anything possible because of the
METAPHOR  God is blue
absence of feeling.
PERSONIFICATION  Blueness embrace us; Is it this
Analysing the story using Mimetic Approach, we would bird that greets us
probably be asking ourselves if it is possible for a dead ANALYSIS
person to still live in our world, if it is possible for him to - We continuously search for God. It seems like God is
remember his life before death. Death is the main idea not with us, because we don’t see him, nor feel him
that the story is presenting. We know that if a man dies, physically but everything we have now, everything we
he/she will either go to heaven or hell. But in Maraan’s see, feel…are temporary. But God, even if we do not see,
story the spirit, she presented that if a person dies he/she hear, smell, feel Him, He is permanent, and He is
will be remain in other persons’ heads and will stay as a everywhere.
memory. We can conclude that the story is telling us not
to disregard our deceased loved ones, to always let them -The first few lines of the poem relate how the author
remain in our hearts and make their memory live with us sees through the creation of God; how she appreciates
always. His creations. She describes this place as peaceful and
relaxingly comfortable figure. She pertained God as blue,
in psychology, the color blue symbolizes trust, peace, and
Unit 9: Understanding Spirituality and the Filipino warmth, that can bring our body to a calming sensation.
“Is it the Kingfisher?” by Marjorie Evasco She must be using this color to emphasize how she feels
towards the beauty of the sight. There was a strong sense
The author: Marjorie Evasco
of blueness the way she said burning blue. That peace
-born on September 21, 1953 in Maribojoc, Bohol and warmth was eating/containing her personal sense
just being in that place and that feeling brought her inner
-write in 2 languages: English & Cebuano-Visayan
peace, surely she was enlightened, a few doubts were
-a Filipina feminist poet answered. Blue was everywhere and it gave her inner
-was from a family of teachers that most of the time peace, which can give visibility or awareness we could
speaks in English never find when troubled. With her title, she must have
thought that maybe the kingfisher was God, the way it is
-AWARDS:
AUSTERO | 3APH
colored blue and the way it gave her enlightenment. It is a  Mock-up baby
personification.  Backpack
 Of Mindanao’s dominant Islamized tribes, the
-A religious type of poem
Maranao have most influenced Philippine fashion.
-To the author, God is faith. Believing in God is something  Women traditionally wear malong around and
eye-opening. It is a revelation of what we already know. above breast/around waist
Unit 10: Discovering Philippine Aesthetics o Long-sleeved silk/cotton blouse
o Gold buttons/embroidered with sequins in
“Romancing the Malong: From Cradle to Crypt”
okir designs
by Christine Godinez-Ortega
 Men wrap it around the waist
Christine F. Godinez-Ortega o Wear without blouse  immodest
 Mindamira Saber Macarambon
She completed her undergraduate and graduate studies
o Pointed out in her essay “Aircraft and
in Literature and Creative Writing at Silliman University
and postgraduate study in Creative Writing at the De La Uses of the Malong”  malong is also
Salle University-Taft, Manila. She is Head of the NCCA– used by the Maguindanao, Tausug,
National Literary Arts Committee, Secretary of the Sub- Samal, Yakan, and a group in Palawan
Commission on the Arts, long time Director of the Iligan  Maranao-Maguindanao term malong
National Writers Workshop, and Director of the MSU-IIT o From the same linguistic matrix as the
Office of Publication and Information (OPI). She is a Tausug Samal tajong & Luzon-Visayan
writer, journalist, cultural worker, and faculty at the patajong
Department of English, College of Arts & Social Sciences. o These garments similar to the Indonesian
She received the Umpil Lifetime Achievement Award for & Malaysian sarong, the Thai ponong, the
Literary Education and the 2016 CMO Asia Award Myanmar lounge, and Laotian sinh
forleadership in education.  Maranao of Lanao
o Turned the malong into a work of art
 USES OF MALONG: o Okir  designs; generic term for the
o Blanket
scroll and geometric patterns of the area;
o Bedsheet okir a dato  to the ornamental design
o Baby’s hammock for men and okir a bay  women
o Lounging dress or “dressing room” o Okir an impangkat (zigzag design) 
o Indispensable companion until death adorn the handwoven, narrow, colorful
o All-purpose bag strip called LANGKET
o Umbrella o The wider langket used as accents on the
o Raincoat malong are sewn VERTICALLY while the
o Tent stretcher narrower strips are done
o Swimsuit HORIZONTALLY
o G-string o Some malong have abstract design 
o Beach wear representing PLANTS, ANIMALS, or
o Mat screen OTHER OBJECTS
o Langket contrasts with the rest of the
o Curtain
malong
o Tablecloth
o Red background w/ white/multicolored
o Boxing gloves
designs  typical combination
o Backdrop/prop
 Common langket designs
 Screen
o Mayan sa palaw (mountain-like/slope-like
 Wall
arrangements of the design)
 Cave/tunnel
o Sapak a madanding (branch of happiness
 Sailboat
so called because of the happy effect it
 Wind
has on the wearer or viewer)
 Lake/river
 Rope  Handwoven malong
 Bird’s wings o Usually made of cotton or silk (rarely)
AUSTERO | 3APH
o 1,500-10,000 pesos o 1. Apply a concoction of juices taken from
o Factory-made malong of Chinese cotton fragrant roots & leaves (ex. Towa,
 150-300 pesos salapiin, sabi)
 Social & economic status of the Maranao can be o 2. Borok  drape malong over a baloyan
gauged by the number and kinds of malong she (big basket) and smoke with mixture of
owns dried salapiin leaves, ashes, charcoal
 Malong  Maranao weavers  mainly women
o Measures 72 inches wide and 65 inches  THE MALONG IS NOT MERELY A UTILITARIAN
long GARMENT; IT IS AN ART FORM USED BY THE
o Those woven around the Lanao Lake YOUNG AND OLD, RICH AND POOR, FROM
area are longer & thicker bc of cooler CRADLE TO CRYPT. THE MALONG IS A
climate SYMBOL OF MARANAO CULTURE,
o Named based on their origin, color, and DESERVING ENCOURAGEMENT AND
design SUPPORT FROM BOTH GOV’T AND THE
 KINDS OF MALONG MARANAO COMMUNITY!!!!!!!
 Landap (“beautiful to look at”)  most
common ------end. goodluck y’all--------
o Handwoven
o Decorated with langket
 Pandi (“flag” or “banner”)
 Ampik (“seductive” or “attractive”)
 Bagadat (“striped”)
 Andon (“tying” or “enwrapping”)
o Most prized
o Pattern similar to the Indonesian ikat
o Refers to the process of combining
colors and designs in weaving
 Malong dyes  extracted from local plants (years
ago)
  commercial dyes (now)
 Kabalod  maranao dying technique
o Weavers produce multicolored designs
on the pegaolen or back-loom
o Background colors = red, blue, yellow
o Designs = maroon, orange, fuschia,
green, violet
 PAST
o Only upper class had the privilege of
wearing the yellow malong CALLED
LANDAP A BINANING
 TODAY
o Malong with pink/white horizontal &
vertical bands on a black background or
other non-traditional color schemes have
appeared, a concession to the dictates of
the buyers
o Highly prized malong  kept as heirloom
pieces & waxed & perfumed to preverve
them
 2 METHODS OF PERFUMING THE MALONG