Republic of the Philippines

Bulacan State University

Bustos Campus

THE CHIEFTEST MOURNER

By Aida Rivera Ford
I.

AUTHOR BACKGROUND

Aida Rivera Ford

(January 22, 1929)

Aida Rivera Ford was born in Jolo, Sulu. She became the editor of the first two issues
of Sands and Coral, the literary magazine of Silliman University. In 1949, she graduated with an
AB degree, major in English, cum laude. In 1954, she obtained an MA in English Language and
Literature at the University of Michigan and won the prestigious Jules and Avery Hopwood for
fiction.
She taught at the University of Mindanao and Ateneo de Davao University where she
was the Humanities Division Chairperson for 11 years. In 1980, she founded the first school of
Fine Arts in Mindanao the Learning Center of the Arts, now known as the Ford Academy of the
Arts.
In 1982, the city of Davao recognized her contributions to culture and the arts through
Datu Bago Award. In 1984, she was an awardee in the Phil. Government Parangal for Writers of
the post-war years. In 1991, she was a Gawad CCP awardee for the essay in English. In 1993,
she was the recipient of Outstanding Sillimanian Award for her contributions to literary arts and
culture. In 1993, the UP ICW named her National Fellow for Fiction. She became the director of
two NCCA Mindanao-wide Creative Writing Workshops and two UP National Writers

Workshops. As of 1997, she was the president of the Mindanao Foundation for Culture and the
Arts.
II.

SUMMARY OF THE STORY

The story is about the death of Nining's uncle. Her uncle was a poet that's
why his death was on the news papers headlines. When Nining got home, she saw
the coffin of her death uncle and her Aunt Sofia mourning for the death of her
husband. Ningning's uncle was not perfect husband for Aunt Sophia, there was a time
when Aunt Sophia tied him on the chair while he was very drunk. He never drunk
again and when he walked out the door he never came back. After that, Ningning's
uncle lose weight, he is suffering from deppression. On the poet's funeral, his another
woman came out. Walk straight to his coffin, while crying. Everyone was really
shocked to know that Ningning's uncle had an affair while he was still alive. All of
them tried to expel her but before she live, she said that in times when Ningning's
uncle life was miserable, she is the one who guide and took care of him. But after that
she walked away and gave everything up to Aunt Sophia, the real wife. On the burial,
she hides herself behind a tall tree watching from afar.

III.

ANALYSIS

Theme
The general theme is a story with a focal point focused on love and
innocence in the context of text. The underlying theme is the disloyalty of
the people to their love ones.

LOVE- the love of Aunt Sophia to her husband and the unconditional love of
Esang for the great poet despite of hardship and the situation that she are in
just to love the great poet.
INNOCENCE- the innocence of Aunt Sophia about the betrayal og her
husband to her.
DISLOYALTY- the disloyalty of the great poet to Aunt Sophia though Aunt
Sophia serves as a good wife to her.

Plot
It is about the death of Nining's uncle, the great poet. When Nining got
home, she saw the coffin of her death uncle and her Aunt Sofia mourning
for the death of her husband. Ningning's uncle was not a perfect husband
for Aunt Sophia. When her uncle went away and walked out the door , he
never came back. Ningning's uncle lose weight, he is suffering from
deppression. On the poet's funeral, his another woman came out. Walk
straight to his coffin, while crying. Everyone was really shocked to know

that Ningning's uncle had an affair while he was still alive. All of them tried
to expel her but before she live, she said that in times when Ningning's
uncle life was miserable, she is the one who guide and took care of him.
But after that she walked away and gave everything up to Aunt Sophia, the
real wife. On the burial, she hides herself behind a tall tree watching from
the far.
Key Moment/Point of Illumination
The conflict between the great poet and Aunt Sophia that led to their
separation but when the great poet died, Aunt Sophia forgave him. Also, the
conflict between Aunt Sophia and Esang that after their arguments that led
Esang the realization that she must gave up her love for Ningnings uncle
though its ver heartbreaking to her.

Message and Implication

In order to have a stress free life, try to think first about the rights and
wrongs before involving yourself to such situation. Also, be faithful to your
loved ones and love is a sacrifice that through hardships and pains.
Understand each other in all circumstances.

Reviewed by:
Marcelo, Ma. Clarisa Q.
BSED III-J

Date Submitted:
September 21, 2016