St. Paul University Philippines: Love in The Cornhusks Aida Rivera-Ford

St.
Paul University Philippines

Mabini St. Ugac Highway, Tuguegarao Cagayan 3500
Love in the Cornhusks
Aida Rivera-Ford
A. Background of the Text
Author : Aida Rivera Ford
Born in Sulu , crossed over to Negrot Oriental in 1949 for an Englidh

degree at Siliman University. She taught at the University Of Mindanao and
Ateneo De Davao. Director of the two NCCA Mindanao wide creative writing
workshope
“ love in the cornhusks” is one of five well-crafted stories for which Rivera-
Ford won the Jules and Avery Hopwood in Michigan.
Settings: Place, Time, Culture
- It is barrio in somewhere Mindanao since Bagobo were mentioned in the

story.
- It could be late 60’s- 70’s because letters and postcards are still popular.
- Spanish culture because Tinang called her former employer as senora and
senor and the catholic practices like baptismal.
Theme: the choices or decisions you are making has an impact to yourself
even though you don’t know what will happen in the future , but you have to
face the reality of life, stand firm and learn what ever decisions you made was
already done and that won’t change anything. “ destiny is a not a matter of
chance, but of choice”.
B. Summary
One day, Constantina Tirol, also called as Tinang, visits her former master, Señora,
whom she was working for before she got married. While carrying her baby boy, she
walks through the entrance of the house of her former Señoraand meet his former
young master,Tito, and theSeñora. Upon getting inside the house, Señora asks her
some questions how her married life is together with his Bagobo husband and also
how is it to be a mother of a baby boy.Their conversation continues and they reach to
the point of talking about the tractor drivers of Señora, especially the one who was
good, Amado.
After that, Tinang finally tells her former Señora about her intention of being there.
The baptism of her baby is about to come and she wants Señora to be a Madrina or a
Ninang to her child.The relationship between Tinang and her former Señora with
her family remains good. And so, Señora hastily agreed to be so and yet wants to
provide baptismal clothes for the baby and the fee for the Priest. Before she left from
Señora’s house, she was told by her that there is a letter for her in the drugstore,
which also serves as the post office of the barrio. By that moment, she thought that
someone might be dead or maybe that letter comes from her sister. So she hurriedly
takes her way home and passes by that drugstore to get the letter.
As she continues walking in a muddy road to her way home, she tries to look for a
place where she could lay down her baby, hoping that she could read the letter
before she arrives home. Finally, she finds a good place where she can stop for a
while. There is a Kamansi tree and under of it are scattered cornhusks. So, she
Rodeza Maquera SED1A The Grind May 10,2019

St. Paul University Philippines
prepares a heap of it using her foot and laid her baby upon it. Then, she starts
reading the letter. After doing so, she finds out that the letter is a love letter, her first
love letter, which comes from Amado, her boyfriend, saying that he does not want to
break up with her when he left from the field of Señora without telling the reason
why he did so.
Time cannot be back anymore. It is already too late that she discovers that Amado
still loves her. However, she was not informed that his mother’s worst illness made
him gone for some time. Instead, Tinang marry a Bagobo man, whom owns 2
hectares of land. After all, what she does is only to remember her past with Amado
until the time comes when she has to leave upon noticing that a snake is sneaking
towards her baby boy. In the end, she leaves the place without noticing that her first
love letter fell down among the cornhusks.
C. Literary Analysis
A. What forces are motivating the charcter?
- Tinang is now a wife and mother. A Mother who is doing typical actions
when her son’s “Binyag” is coming. ( asking someone to be godparents)
- Tinang is motivated by the various task or responsibility as a home maker.
B and C. Which behaviors of the characters are conscious ones? Which are
unconscious?
Tinang
- her intention to ask senora to be her Baby’s Ninang was very clear.
- she always make sure that her baby is okay ( when the snake came near at
her baby)
- her family is her top priority in making decisions now
Amado
- writing a letter for Tinang and explaining what really happened by a
letter. He knows what he is doing to the point that he confessed that he still
loves Tinang.
L. What do the characters’ emotions and behaviors reveal about their

psychological states?
Constantina Tirol (Tinang)
- Who have reach atleast grade school was a woman of consciousness who
always thought of what others will say about her. When she got the letter
the person there offered that they can read the letter for her.
- She is a kind hearted and a loving mother .when she saw a snake getting
near to her son she immediately carry her child the reason why she didn’t
noticed that the letter fell in the cornhusks
- A lady whom married to a Bagobo. When she read the letter she has the
chance to be with Amado once again but no. tinang chooses her husband
and their family.

St. Paul University Philippines
Senora
- Belongs to the one of the richest family in their town where Tinang worked
before he got married and soon to be a Ninang of her baby.
- Even though Tinang is not working at them anymore, they have
established a good relationship to Tinang. Welcomed Tinang and asked the
frequent questions being ask to the ones who just married.
Amado
- Former lover of Tinang , the one who wrote the letter. He may love Tinang
but he cant do anything about is as Tinang has her own family already.
N. How does the reader’s own psychology affect his response to the work?
- I am that kind of person who always expects a happy life for the character
but as I read the story, I realized that sometimes we doesn’t get the ending
that we all wanted and expect. Just like the love story of Tinang and
Amado.
- The story is an eye opener for me to be more conscious and be more
realistic in what decisions I may decide. Because the story proved that:
- “Destiny is not a matter of chance, but of choice.”
- After reading the story, I am affirmed that a relationship
tantamount to what Tinang and Amado had is not always certain. Life is full
of twisting events.
- Human beings have to understand that decisions done in every moment must
be discernedwell and its consequences should be accepted.
- We tend to experience the excruciating consequences of our hasty or even faul
ty decisions inorder for us to become a better and mature person someday in
making decisions once again inour life.
- Hence, love in the cornhusk, as it is portraying that life has to be dealt with ac
ceptance, Ilearn that at the end of the day, I must resrve a part of myself a cha
nce of being able to move onand cope with the excruciating moments I may
face in the future.

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St. Paul University Philippines: Love in The Cornhusks Aida Rivera-Ford

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St.

Paul University Philippines

A. Background of the Text

Author : Aida Rivera Ford

Born in Sulu , crossed over to Negrot Oriental in 1949 for an Englidh

Settings: Place, Time, Culture

- It is barrio in somewhere Mindanao since Bagobo were mentioned in the

Rodeza Maquera SED1A The Grind May 10,2019

A. What forces are motivating the charcter?

L. What do the characters’ emotions and behaviors reveal about their

Constantina Tirol (Tinang)

Rodeza Maquera SED1A The Grind May 10,2019

Rodeza Maquera SED1A The Grind May 10,2019

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