PHILIPPINE

LITERATURE
(STORIES)
 “HOW MY BROTHER LEON BROUGHT HOME A WIFE”
Leon and his wife Maria are about to return to Leon’s village after getting married. They
had met in the city and Maria has never lived in a village. They are greeted by Baldo, Leon’s
younger sibling, as their horse carriage stops outside the village. Baldo welcomes the new
member of the family. He is impressed by her beauty and soft feature. He observes her nice
fragrance and radiant smile. He ties their bull, named Labang, to the cart and Leon hauls their
trunk on it.

Baldo encourages Maria to touch Labang’s hair and horns. She is awestruck at Labang’s
strength and horns. Leon helps her on the cart and she sits on a bale of husk. They start their
journey and Leon has the reins. After going a little further, Baldo takes the reins and takes a
sudden route change into the rocky road of Waig and surrounding fields. Leon enquiries about
the change of route and Baldo assure him that he is only following their father’s orders.

Baldo and Leon both question Maria about her views about their village, fields and rocky
roads. She is enthralled by the natural beauty and simple lifestyle. She condemns the sheer
number of vehicles and noise in the city. She loves the starry and clear skies over the lush fields.
She and Leon even start to sing a song that Leon was taught by his father about the sowed fields
under clear skies. They meet a couple of people after coming out of the fields but not many as
most people avoid using the fields after dark.

They finally reach their house and are welcomed by Leon’s mother and sister. They are
smiling and excited. Leon enquiries about his father who is in his room struggling with leg pain
(injured in the revolution). Baldo goes to tie Labang and when he returns he finds Maria talking
and crying with his mother and sister. His hears his father’s call and goes to meet him.

His father questions about Maria’s conduct and her behaviour throughout their journey to
the house. It was test designed to see if she can adjust and accept the life of the village and make
it her home. Baldo reassures him about her live for Leon and commitment to their marriage. He
confirms his observation that Maria was ready to embrace their house as her home. Their
conversation is disturbed as the new couple enters to meet with the father. Baldo leaves the room
giving them some space with the head of the family
 How my Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife Analysis

Writer. MANUEL E. ARGUILLA (1911-1944) was an Ilocano who wrote in English. He was

best known for his short story "How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife" which received
first price in the Commonwealth Literary Contest in 1940.
Most of his stories depict life in Barrio Nagrebcan, Bauang, La Union, where he was born
in 1911. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Education in 1933 at the University of the
Philippines. He became a member and later the president of the UP Writers' Club and editor of
the Literary Apprentice. He married Lydia Villanueva, another talented writer, and they lived in
Ermita, Manila.
Arguilla taught creative writing at the University of Manila and worked in the Bureau of
Public Welfare as managing editor of the Welfare Advocate until 1943; afterwards, he was
elected to the Board of Censors. He secretly established a guerilla intelligence unit against the
Japanese during World War II. In August 1944, Manuel Arguilla was captured and executed by
the Japanese.
Character. Noel/Leon-Husband of Maria
Maria-She was born in a big city and she was the wife of Leon
Baldo-The one who narrated the story and younger brother of Leon
Labang-The bull who brought the wife and Leon to the home. And Baldo considers as
his pet
Father-The one who instructed Baldo on what he will do while he is on the road with Leon
and Maria.

Summarization.Leon and his wife Maria are about to return to Leon’s village after getting
married. They had met in the city and Maria has never lived in a village. They are greeted by
Baldo, Leon’s younger sibling, as their horse carriage stops outside the village. Baldo welcomes
the new member of the family. He is impressed by her beauty and soft feature. He observes her
nice fragrance and radiant smile. He ties their bull, named Labang, to the cart and Leon hauls
their trunk on it.
Baldo encourages Maria to touch Labang’s hair and horns. She is awestruck at Labang’s
strength and horns. Leon helps her on the cart and she sits on a bale of husk. They start their
journey and Leon has the reins. After going a little further, Baldo takes the reins and takes a
sudden route change into the rocky road of Waig and surrounding fields. This waig route will
test Maria if she can live in the province which differs a lot from the city where she lived in, but
then it seems like Maria like the province.
When they arrived home, father talked to Baldo asking what happened during their travel,
the father asked Baldo if Maria was afraid in their place, Baldo answered that Maria was not
afraid and instead she enjoyed the journey. She is enthralled by the natural beauty and simple
lifestyle and also condems the sheer number of vehicles and noises in the city. Maria was still
afraid that she won't be accepted by Leon's father because she may not able to adapt their way of
living in the province.
Baldo goes to tie Labang and when he returns he finds Maria talking and crying with his
mother and sister. Baldo reassures him about her live for Leon and commitment to their
marriage. Also he confirms his observation that Maria was ready to embrace their house as her
hyome. Leon's entire family talked to Maria, his Father's voice became livelier than before when
he talked to her (which means he accepted her wholeheartedly).
Exposition. From the beginning of the story where the story introduced and visualized Maria and
Labang as well. It goes on as the story visualizes and describes the scenery as the four, Labang
included, go through their journey back to their home in Nagrebcan.
Rising Action.   It would be the point where Maria is afraid that Leon’s father may not accept her
which would be also the main conflict of the story.
Climax. When they have arrived home and Baldo was called by his father and they had a
conversation about their trip and about Labang. He did ask a little about Maria at first it seemed.
Falling Action. The father asked Baldo to go take care of Labang as an action to privately talk to
Leon and Maria.
Ending. Baldo leaves and it seems that the three are left and gonna talk to each other about Leon
having a wife.
Moral Lesson. We like the story because it taught us about respect and acceptance of one's life.
In order to have a long-lasting relationship you must show respect to each other and the family.
And if you really love a person you should accept who he/she is, and what he/she is and also
don’t judge other people first without even knowing him/her in person.
Symbolism. The journey they went through symbolizes the journey they have to go through as
husband and wife to face many challenges such as introducing your spouse to your family
whether they might accept them or not.
Theme. Again, it’s the “journey” we have to go through, not just in marriage but could be also
many others very much like life,  we have to go through where we have to pass through hurdles
or obstacles to get to our sweet, hard fought destination.
Reaction. The story highlights the value of togetherness and family. It speaks about loving and
caring for each other. This entails and necessitates the ability and willingness to sacrifice selfish
desires or even comforts to make your loved ones happy. The story praises the ability to adapt to
new circumstances and being positive to change and growth. It talks about overcoming hardships
and fears and ultimately in finding peace and happiness in each other’s betterment and well
being.
 Macario’s Noche Buena
By; Tarcila Malabanan Katigbak

Characters
O Macario- the main character he is a famous thief and a chief of a gang who hunted across
the country, Philippines.

O Merchant- the man riding a horse with baskets of groceries and toys. Based on the things
he has he seems to be a loving parent and relative to his family.

Settings
O Time- December 24th, Noche-Buena

O Place- In the shores of Laguna De Bay.

Synopsis
O The story of Macario who was known as a thief and a chief of a gang who haunted the
Philippines. The story happens during the Christmas eve December 24, Noche Buena
time.

O Along the silent road with the cool wind Macario was at the bamboo trees looking for
someone to cross the road, until a man riding a horse showed up. Macario rushed into the
man and brought to the nearby nipa hut, the man gave him five pesos saying that he had
no more.

O Macario looked for the basket man had and saw groceries and a box full of toys that
contained three dolls with different sizes, small green carriages drawn by red horses and a
little drum. Macario took the drum and suddenly reminisced things way back his
childhood life, the little drum made an impact on him and remembered the time when a
little boy who was himself had a bond with his Godfather.

O Aside from that, he remembered how a man like him just like from a young boy playing
and enjoying life happily turned into a man who will someday be handed into the hands
of guardia civils.
Literary Theory
Psychoanalytic criticism adopts the methods of "reading" employed by Freud and later
theorists to interpret texts. It argues that literary texts, like dreams, express the secret
unconscious desires and anxieties of the author, that a literary work is a manifestation of the
author's own neuroses.

Reaction/Comparison
For comparing or our reaction on what happened in the story we come up with the two
pictures. One picture showed how Filipino people celebrating Noche Buena and their simple
culture. The second picture showed how happy and satisfied those children because of the gifts
that they’ve received during Christmas.
Instead of taking the story negatively we look at the positive side of it. Just like those two
pictures as we all know that the real essence of Christmas is sharing and giving especially in this
time particularly with children and for that we can clearly see how they will appreciate, cherish
and treasure those kinds of gifts just like how Macario cherished the drum toy that was given by
him of his Godfather.
And it was a good thing that there are other people whom they will choose to spend
Christmas together with their family just like the merchant did in the story.
 “The Fence”
by: Jose Garcia Villa

Jose Garcia Villa

• Jose Garcia Villa was born on August 5, 1908 in Manila’s Singalong district.

• A Filipino poet, literary critic, short story writer and a painter. He used the penname
Doveglion (derived from "Dove, Eagle, Lion"), based on the characters he derived from
himself.

• He was the son of Simeon Villa (a personal physician of Emelio Aguinaldo) and Guia
Garcia (a wealthy landowner)

• He graduated from the University of the Philippines Integrated School and the University
of the Philippines High School in 1925.

Are there any events in the text a direct transfer of events in the writer’s life?

In the story “The fence” there is a bit similarity in the writer’s life focusing on the
separation of the couple. Jose Garcia Villa is separated with his wife and had kids.

When was the Work Written and Published?

• The Fence was written during American Colonial Period.

• It was published on December 24, 1927 – Philippines Free Press.

Plot

Beginning
 • The story opened with the description of the setting and how the characters are reflected
in the setting.

• "They should have stood apart, away from each other, those two nipa houses." "There
should have been a lofty impenetrable wall between them, so that they should not stare so
coldly, so starkly, at each other—just staring, not saying a word, not even a cruel word."

Backgrounding

Formerly there had been no bamboo fence; there had been no weeds. There had been two
rows of vegetables, one to each house, and the soil was not parched but soft and rich. But
something had happened and the fence came to be built, and the vegetables that were so green
began to turn pale, then paler and yellow and brown.

Inciting Incident

Aling Biang had caught her husband with Aling Sebia one night.

Rising Action

The next morning she had gone to the bamboo clumps near the river Pasig and felled
canes with her woman strength. When morning dawned she rose and went back to the back of
the house although very tired and began to split the bamboos. Her husband noticed her, but said
nothing. By noon, Aling Biang had built that fence.

Climax

But early one night, from beyond the fence, Aling Biang heard cries from Aling Sebia.
Unwilling to pay any heed to them, she extinguished the light of the petrol kinke and laid herself
down beside Iking. But, in spite of all, the cries of the other woman made her uneasy. She stood
up, went to the window that faced the fence, and cried from there: “What is the matter with you,
Aling Sebia?”

“Aling Biang, please go the town and get me a hilot (midwife)” “What do you need a
hilot for?” asked AlingBiang. “I am going to deliver a child and I am alone. Please go, fetch a
hilot.” AlingBiang stood there by the window a long time. She knew whose child it was that was
coming as the child of Aling Sebia. She stood motionless, the wind brushing her face coldly.
What did she care of AlingSebia was to undergo childbirth?

She decided to lie down and sleep. Her body struck against her child’s as she did so, and
the child moaned. The other child, too, could be moaning like that. Like her child from the womb
of Aling Sebia. Hastily Aling Biang stood up, wound her tapis round her waist, covered her
shoulders with a cheap shawl.

Falling Action

The boy Iking was not allowed to play by the roadside. And he could just catch glimpses
of a girl on the other side. This made the boy to secretly sneak to the other side of the fence. At
night, he hears an incomplete sound of a guitar he knew coming from the other side. One
morning Iking woke up with a disturbing sound. He saw his mother reinforcing and
strengthening the fence. “Why-why!” he exclaimed in protest. His mother stopped hammering.
She stared at him cruelly. “I need it,” she declared forcefully, the veins on her forehead rising out
clearly. “Your mother needs it. You need it too.”

Denouement

Iking really wanted his mother to allow him at least listen to the music but he was never
granted even though that night was Christmas and both of them prayed for the lord. Even after
the Christmas eve, Iking was still waiting for the guitar to be played because he is hearing that
sound on that time. But it never played. Until 2am when Ikeng's eyes were closed and his hands
were cold. So sick he rested that night. At 2:03am, the guitar was played and finally finished its
playing but aling Biang was very angry, shouting that the guitar playing was a mock because his
son is already dead.

Point of View

The story is in the Third Person Point of View. The narrator is not part of the story but
lets us know exactly how the characters feel. We learn about the characters through this outside
voice.
Characters in the Story

• Aling Biang - unforgiving woman who was betrayed by her husband with her neighbor

• Aling Sebia - a childless widow/ aling Biang's neighbor who has not seen a feeling of
remorse having caught with her neighbor's husband

• Iking - aling Biang's son who wanted his mom to reconcile with their neighbor. He has
hollow dark eyes and shaggy hair

• Aling Sebia's Daughter - a girl who is good in playing guitar that made Iking to fall in
love. She has rugged features , a simian face, and a very narrow brow, dark- complex-
ioned, flat-nosed

• Aling Biang's husband - a man who left unsettled with his wife

Settings

• The story happened in an old house on the roadside, so brown were the nipa leaves that
walled and roofed them that they looked musty, gloomy. The setting is reflective of the
kind of characters and the situation they would be in.

• The nipa huts look desolate and empty, reflective of how their occupants behave and feel
for each other.

• They have no neighbors and yet the need for each other seems remote and distant.

Symbols

• The fence signifies the walls that hindrance and separate even best friends, family, or
relatives. The fence was made to separate and enclose two ownerships-land or space is
one. It symbolizes that that property is exclusive only and that no one is allowed to
trespass. Thus, the separation also leads to separation of lives among people. Neighbours
are good example of this one and because of this communication and building
relationship are deemed to create.
 • The bamboo strengthened the hatred as these bamboos take away the decaying feeling in
the heart of Aling Biang and Aling Sebia toward forgiveness.

Imagery

• Seeing - “The fence grew moldy and inclined to one side, the child of Aling Biang grew
up into a sickly boy with hollow dark eyes and shaggy hair, and the child that was born to
Aling Sebia grew up into a girl, a girl with rugged features, a simous face, and a very
narrow brow”

• Hearing - “At night as he lay on the bamboo floor, notes of a guitar would reach his ears.
The notes were metallic, clanking, and at the middle of the nocturne they stopped
abruptly.”

• Touching - “She stood motionless, the wind brushing her face coldly.”

Figurative Language

• Simile- “windows as desolate as the souls of the occupants of the

house, as sharply angular as the intensity of their
hatred.” 

• Personification- “From the road these houses feared no enemy – no

enemy from the length, from the dust, of
the road: they were unfenced.”

“The fence grew mouldy and inclined to one side.”

“Cicadas sang and leaves rustled.”

Theme

Hatred Overrules

Aling Biang and Aling Sebia are most afraid one of them would give way. The building of the
fence seems necessary to protect themselves from seeing each other.
 WHAT IS AN EDUCATED FILIPINO?
By: Francisco Benitez

Brief Background of the Author

Francisco F. Benitez (June 4, 1887- June 30, 1951)
 An outstanding educator, author, editor and the first dean of the school of education of
the University of the Philippines. (UP)
 Studied at the Philippine Normal College 1904
 He had four brothers: Ceferino, Teofilo, Conrado and Eulogio, and a sister, Antonia.

Piece of “What is an Educated Filipino”

For more than decades now, our constant contact with the Americans transformed us and
led us to the evolution of our public schools and democratic institutions which then, in turn,
developed in us our national consciousness in strength and in solidarity. It gave rise to a new
concept of education which is deemed as the training of an individual for the duties and
privileges of a citizen not only for his own happiness and efficiency, but also for his contribution
to the national sphere at large. As the State’s primary responsibility is to provide for the
education of every member of the society, it follows that an educated Filipino must up “What is
an Educated Filipino?”

First is the power to do which embraces not only the ability of the Filipinos to produce
material goods but also the valuable services rendered to society through institutions such as the
home, the school, the church and the government. This is best exemplified by a mother who
takes good care of her family.

Second, a Filipino is one who is distinguished not only by one’s knowledge of the
world’s progress but also and more importantly by one’s understanding of one’s race, people and
country – the ideals and morals that are cherished herein.
 How can a Filipino claim to call himself educated when he has conquered the world yet
he is ignorant of his own culture and origin? Lastly, the educated Filipino is one who is deep-
rooted in one’s speech and conduct. One must put into practice those elements recognized as
concomitant to culture and morality. Hence, one makes use of such elements for one’s growth as
an individual and for a nation’s development as a whole.

Analysis of the Piece

Social Changes
• Americans transformed us and led us to civilization.
• The means of communication have improved.
• Religious freedom has developed religious tolerance in people.
• Our public schools and democratic institution in turn, developed in us our national
consciousness in strength and solidarity.
 There are three characteristics to be an Educated Filipino.
• First, an educated Filipino has the power to do in our economy.
• Second, an educated Filipino knows our national history and the core of our national life.
He has a keen sense of nationalism.
• Third, he has good manners and right conduct. Deep rooted in speech and conduct.

There are three characteristics to be an Educated Filipino.

 First, an educated Filipino has the power to do in our economy
 Second, an educated Filipino knows our national history and the core of our national life.
He has a keen sense of nationalism.

Third, he has good manners and right conduct. Deep rooted in speech and conduct.
 A Literary piece by
JOSE GARCIA VILLA
Entitled
FOOTNOTE TO YOUTH

WHO IS JOSE GARCOA VILLA? 

He is a poet, a critic, a short story writer, and a painter. Jose Garcia Villa was born in
Singalong, Manila, on 05 August 1908. His parents were Simeon Villa who is a personal
physician of revolutionary General Emilio Aguinaldo, and Guia Garcia. He graduated from the
UP High School in 1925 and enrolled in the pre-med course.
CHARACTERS
DODONG Is a farmer’s son who marries at seventeen
and becomes a father shortly thereafter. By
the end of the story he has many children and
is unable to prevent his eldest son from
repeating his mistakes.
TEANG Is Dodong’s sweetheart, then his wife and the
mother of his children. Though she loves
Dodong, she sometimes wishes she had not
married him.
DODONG’S FATHER Is a quiet farmer who unsuccessfully cautions
his son against marrying young.
DODONG’S MOTHER Like Dodong’s father, Dodong’s mother
remains unnamed throughout the story. Since
Dodong is their only child, she does all the
housework alone.
LUCIO is a character who appears only in Teang’s
recollections of her youth. He is a former
suitor of hers who is older than Dodong by
nine years.
BLAS Blas is Dodong and Teang’s firstborn son
who followed their footsteps in the end. Blas-
contemplate to marry Tona when he was 18.
 TONA woman whom Blas wants to marry

SETTINGS
In the province, farm

SUMMARY
It is all about a 17-year-old man named Dodong who can’t wait to marry Teang. He was
hesitant to tell it to his parents. But he asks permission to his father and then he allowed him.
Then they've got married and lived together. Teang gave birth to Blas. Blas was not Dodong’s
only child. More children came to them. Teang looks like shapeless and thin after all the
responsibilities of a mother. She cried sometimes, wishing she had not married. Sometimes, she
thinks that what if she marry Lucio,who is until now childless. Then one night the eighteen-year-
old Blas also wants to marry Tona. Like what Dodong did when he was 17 was the one that Blas
also did. Dodong allowed Blas to marry Tona but deep down inside he felt sad and sorry.

PLOT SUMMARY
EXPOSITION
Dodong wants to marry Teang and ask his father’s permission.
RISING ACTION
When Blas was at his eighteen years of age, he asked permission to his father Dodong to
marry Tona thinking that they are still young, and their love would be short
FALLING AACTION
Teang secretly regretted being married at an early age, she wondered if she would have
the same life if she marries Lucio, Dodong finally realized the hardships of marrying such an
early age.
ENDING
"History repeats itself” Dodong was really feel sad and sorry for his son.
THEME

“Being responsible”
 “The concept of life”

“My Ideal University”

An Essay by Maximo M. Kalaw
Maximo Manguiat Kalaw
 Born at Lipa, Batangas on May 6, 1891.
 He attended the public schools of his native town, and later came to Manila where he
entered the University of the Philippines.
 He is a product of the American system of education established in the Islands.
 In his second year at the University of the Philippines, he became editor-in- chief of the "
The College Folio "— the University magazine.
 Kalaw also obtained a Bachelor of Laws from Georgetown University in 1915 and a
Ph.D. in Philosophy, honoris causa, from the University of Michigan in 1924.
 He was exchange professor at the University of Michigan, becoming the first Filipino to
teach in an American university.
 Essayist, fiction writer, and professor
 He served as associate editor of the Manila Times, and as professor of political science at
the University of the Philippines, where he was Chief of the Department of Political
Science and Dean of the College of Liberal Arts.
 His published works include Usapin ng mga Pilipino (1915), The Development of
Philippine Politics (1926), The Filipino Rebel: A Romance of the American Occupation
of the Philippines (1930), The Philippine Question: An Analysis (1931), An Introduction
to Philippine Social Science (1933), and Materials for the Constitution (1934).
ØFormerly a private secretary in the office of Manuel L. Quezon, Kalaw later became a
representative of the 3rd district of Batangas in the first legislature of the Commonwealth.
 He passed away on March 23, 1955.
 Educators and university administrators must now and then pause in their work and
indulge in a speculative idealism. The routine of administration and the monotony of the
classroom must at times be forgotten to see whether or not we are marching towards the
ideal. A campus rich in the instrumentalities of knowledge, replete with association with
the great minds of all nations yet inviting to the fellowship and the sports of the present; a
student body in reverent attitude toward the past yet eagerly enthusiastic and willing to
try new avenues in the future, wedded to the national ideals of the country without losing
that cosmopolitanism which fits them to become citizens of the world; a faculty enjoying
the bounties of academic freedom yet fully conscious of their moral responsibilities
 toward their students and their country, an inspiration in the classroom and on the campus
yet researchers and scholars within their laboratories and their libraries - these and the
hundred more elements complete the picture of an ideal university.
 Higher Learning Free and Serene
 The ideal university must live a free life, cooperating with, yet financially independent of,
the vital political and economic forces of the country; sympathetic toward national
purposes and ideals yet free from the passions and inconsistencies of contemporary
politics. It will be a university conducted on a business basis where the peso must be
made to run the longest way; but it must shun the business efficiency which stifles the
creative spirit and produces mere bureaucrats and automatons. The university
administrator must look rigorously into the financial side but must intrude as little as
possible into the broad academic field where intellect must rule an empire all its own,
unhindered and unfettered.
 Taking the University to the People
 The ideal university will not be content with merely conducting efficient instruction in
the classroom, with having an up-to-date laboratory, or with merely forth men efficient in
their respective trades. Two other activities must be added to the functions of modern
society: the task of helping enlarge the stock of human knowledge and the duty of serving
with technical help its own people and its own country. In fact, the ideal university will
not be found simply of the campus or in the city where buildings are located. It will be
found wherever its benevolent influence is felt, in the farthest plantation where its
professors may be experimenting on the sugar cane, in the factories, which its chemists
and engineers helped establish, in every town which its publications or lectures may
reach, and in every home which opens its doors to its correspondence courses or to its
radio messages.
 Ideal?
 Yes, I am only discussing my ideal university, for universities, like men, must have their
ideals.
 of the classroom must at times be forgotten to see whether or not we are marching
towards the ideal.”
 “The ideal university will not be content with merely conducting efficient instruction in
the classroom, with having an up-to-date laboratory, or with merely forth men efficient in
their respective trades.”
 The ideal university must live a free life, cooperating with, yet financially independent of,
the vital political and economic forces of the country; sympathetic toward national
purposes and ideals yet free from the passions and inconsistencies of contemporary
politics.”

 “It will be a university conducted on a business basis where the peso must be made to
run the longest way; but it must shun the business efficiency which stifles the creative
spirit and produces mere bureaucrats and automatons.”
 The university administrator must look rigorously into the financial side but must intrude
as little as possible into the broad academic field where intellect must rule an empire all
its own, unhindered and unfettered.”