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Philippine Literature Readings and Notes - Printable
Philippine Literature Readings and Notes - Printable
Philippine Literature Readings and Notes - Printable
PHILLIPINE LITERATURE
for
Filipino
Individuals
and
Rough beginnings
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PHILLIPINE LITERATURE
WORKS:
the Inquirer.
It is a tough sell especially in the Philippines, a country
where some members of Congress are looking to phase
out the Filipino language.
When former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo pushed
for Spanish to be taught in high schools and for
prioritizing English so Filipinos could better serve global
business, Ruth mobilized a protest petition, according to
the Inquirer.
I encouraged my students all over the United States
tosign a petition to fight the killing of Filipino in high
school and college, which was part of the Gullas Bill that
Arroyo favored. Later on, I organized the Filipino as a
Global Language conference as a professor of Filipino
language and Philippine literature at the University of
Hawaii, she said. She has made it her mission to create a
global network of Filipino language teachers and promote
the national language to students around the world.
It is a difficult task but one she aims on succeeding.
Language is tied to our culture, she said. What I want to
point out is that Filipino or the national language should
be given the same importance as medium of instruction
side-by-side with the English language in our educational
system, said Mabanglo to Manila Mail. Nakatanim sa
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PHILLIPINE LITERATURE
Am I to be blamed?
I intended to examine my opportunities
Similar to the ritual of washtubs and frying pans.
I seek to go abroad.
A plunging kite.
And smokes,
While I am restrained by the crib and books,
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PHILLIPINE LITERATURE
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PHILLIPINE LITERATURE
From your feet your thoughts will roam-At the window the woman we will see is already different..
--Rio Alma
I have a husband I can go home to,
I am not ugly. In fact, I am beautiful.
I have no injuries,
remembered.
She also delivers my comb and brush,
I cloak my hopes.
I am hollow.
A wound that will leave the hospital.
An unattended wound left to pus.
Nameless and without a past, yet I will walk out.
No danger, no danger--
up.
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PHILLIPINE LITERATURE
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PHILLIPINE LITERATURE
freshmen program.
notchers.
The new teacher of the said, Class, you look intelligent, all
a boy and a girl sing The loyal Soldier. The song was well
rendered and thunderous applause followed as the boy
fashion.
voice.
At the sound of the first bell, as the class was getting ready
Class dismissed.
American
Hes
accent,
an
and
Ilocano,
Conchita
and
finished.
Look,
she
said,
why
dont
we
prove
it?
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PHILLIPINE LITERATURE
class even longer than a day at a time. That was how they
blundered.
about his family. They heard his family had come to town.
anything he did.
But nobody even saw his wife and children. Nobody cared.
Once he told his class, I forgot to tell you last week that
When they studied the poem, Mr. Torres would tell them
in his impersonal way that the author wrote other great
there was something about him and his ways that like a
During the latter part of August, there were days when Mr.
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PHILLIPINE LITERATURE
Some of the girls didnt want to wear white. The boys said
day. That was all that could be said about the program
and Ester looked away when their eyes met, both of them
would ask the students how they were getting along. They
The class sang every song she chose without feeling. When
song. We dont like it. Its too common, they wanted Mr.
Torres had to yield, saying they could use any song they
liked.
strange voice that the two girls were to remember the rest
of tier lives.
disappeared.
There was no clapping hand. Many were the eyes wet with
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PHILLIPINE LITERATURE
listening throng.
Philippines.
the
the
land
land
of
of
joy?
lasting
rapture,
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PHILLIPINE LITERATURE
Virgil was only seventeen years old - still young but his
mother thought he was old enough, so she courted a girl
for him.
I may I know your name? I didnt hear clearly what my
Strange? Perhaps in the city, but in the provinces it is a
mother said.
But Virgil was in luck. His mother fell in love with a girl
who was also the silent choice of his own heart. He had
And yours?
speak to her.
Virgil! Are you an American?
His mother took Virgil to the girls house one afternoon
and introduced him to her. After that she and the girls
mother left them together and went off to talk about some
business of their own.
The girl laughed and he was surprised. Why did she laugh?
He thought. Was there something funny in what he had
something to say.
had not yet conquered his timidity when the two mothers
returned. Virgil looked at his mother and saw that she was
agreement.
Virgil and his mother visited Cely and her mother in the
afternoon of the next day and again Virgil and Cely were
again.
left alone while the mothers went into another room. The
two young people were now less restrained. Virgil told
Cely about his childhood and Cely told Virgil about hers,
future.
Every afternoon for two weeks Virgil and his mother called
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PHILLIPINE LITERATURE
wedding.
knowing how it had happened. They had not yet told each
did.
other what was in their hearts, and yet they were engaged.
Yesterday they were just friends, now they would soon be
married.
In the afternoon Virgil and Cely took long walks in the
fields. She would ask him for flowers, and he would pick
them for her. They were no longer so bashful together and
felt as if they had know each other for years.
Once Cely asked Virgil jokingly, If I married somebody
else, would you feel sad?
But that can never happen! he answered. We are
engaged, arent we?
But suppose! said the girl.
Of course, I would be unhappy, Cely, he replied. He came
near her and said, Cely once you were nothing to me. But
now, thought we have only known each other for a month,
I truly love you.
Virgils words made Cely very happy. She, too, loved him.
The two mothers were also glad that their children showed
each other affection. They will make a good pair, they
said.
But one day Virgils mother came to him with a worried
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PHILLIPINE LITERATURE
by Filomena Colendrino
strike me!
Maldang.
she would get coconut midrib broom and chase him with
it. He would run to the house of his compadre and hide
Hugo, Ka Ugong.
Ka Ugong returned to his seat opposite her at the table.
One day just as they were finishin their lunch, Ka Ugong
announced: Im not going to wash the dishes any more.
eyes.
The first one of us who will speak after Id said Begin will
wash the dishes. Always
Only that? said Ka Maldang. The first one who talks will
always wash the plates, and bowls, and pots and pans.
Always.
were stourt. Her voice was also big. Ad who, Mister Hugo,
carabao to the reeds in the field and then you lie down on
said Begin.
the grass towatch it graze. You call that hard work? I cook,
clean the house, wash your clothes, I scrub the floor, I do
They both fell silent. They sat at the table looking at each
all the work that only slaves should do. And yet, you even
They did not like to leave each other for fear that one
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PHILLIPINE LITERATURE
Maldang did not drive the cat away. Neither did Ka Ugong.
The cat licked the pot and pan on it, overturned a kettle,
spilled its contents, then went to lie down under the table.
Ka Ugong pretended that nothing had happened. He
The neighbor was alarmed . He did not get the ax but ran
and trickle down to the sides of her face, and fell drop by
village herb man. The herb man came and when he saw
silently.
The
herb
man
said
Ah,
the
spirit
that
has
spell.
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PHILLIPINE LITERATURE
old herb doctor cried aray and pulled back his hand. He
was afraid that he would surely force her into the coffin if
she did not tell him to go away. But she did not want to
afraid to sleep in that coffin tonight. No, Ill not let them
answer.
But she did not hear Ka Ugong speak. She opened her
the herb doctor said that the spell might be cast on some
eyes just as the herb man, aided by two other men, put his
bamboo wall.
The old her man said, This is the first witchery of its kind
that I have met here. By their silence I believe that they are
first!
dead. Their spirits, driven away by the witch, have left their
bodies. The only thing to do in order to keep their souls in
The herb man ordered some of the men to look for boards
his head with it but he ran out with his neighbors, still
The man easily lifted Ka Ugong and places him inside his
would just get cut of the grave when the neighbors were
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PHILLIPINE LITERATURE
Maldang.
Maldang: Her voic was also big. And who, Mister Hugo, is
a wager. The first one of us who will speak after I have said
the word begin will wash the dishes always.
who talks will always wash the plates, and bowls, and pots
work? I cook, clean the house, wash your clothes; scrub the
floor, I do all the work that only slaves do. And yet, you
even refuse to help me wash the plate from which you
have eaten?
down.
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PHILLIPINE LITERATURE
Neighbor: But why did they leave their ladder at the door?
Ka Ugong said,
will just go up, get the ax and return it later. The neighbor
went up. When the neighbor went up the bamboo ladder
Ugong: Begin!
bowls and spoons. They did not like to leave each other
for fear that one would talkto himself without others
hearing. They sat there just staring. Soon the cat began to
mew itsfood. Neither Ka Maldang nor Ka Ugong paid any
shoulders.
lighter.
speak.
Neighbor:
Maldang!
The
neighbor
Yoohoo!
called
Comadre
again,
Comadre
Maldang!
Yoo-hoo
Comadre
Maldangand
Compadre
Ugong.
The
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PHILLIPINE LITERATURE
nut.
Narrator:
Ka
Maldang
was
very
angry
with
her
forehead of Ka Ugong...
eyes.
Herb-man: and Ka Maldang.
Woman 2: He curled up and went to sleep.
Woman 3: Ka Maldang caught the mans finger and
Man 2: But Ka Maldang refused to get up from where she
spell.
Herb-man: He moved toward Ka Ugong who was lying
Narrator: He then produced from a small bag which he
always carried,
them
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PHILLIPINE LITERATURE
surely force her into her coffin if she did not tell him to go
away. But she did notlike to talk. She hoped her husband
into it, she said to herself. But she did not hear Ka Ugong
speak.
aided by two other men, put his armsaround her to lift her
spirits, driven away by the witch, have left their bodies. The
only thing to donow in order to keep their souls in peace
to bury them.
the dishes.
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