A Critical Analysis N.V.M.

Gonzalez's Children of the Ash-Covered Loam

Johnlerry Carillo | Nathalie Cole Tripon | Miguel Concibido | David Jasper Gan| Askia

Mackenzie Hicban | Nonilon Lao Jr. | Victoria Isabel Metica | Raine Isobel Santos

Grade 12 Tesla

The simplicity of life as it used to be. A view of the sun setting after a tiring day in

the fields giving out an extravagant sight to the eyes. N.V.M Gonzales, the author behind

the literary masterpiece "Children of the Ash-Covered Loams." A story that creatively

depicts the simple life of a simple family in the farm, showcasing the richness of Filipino

tradition and cultural treasure in the simplest yet heart-pleasing manner.

Children of the Ash-Covered Loam portrayed N.V.M Gonzalez’ experience and

personal views about life in the rural areas in the Philippines. Nestor Vicente Madali

(N.V.M) Gonzalez was a teacher, a journalist and an essayist. He was born on September

8, 1915 in the province of Romblon, however he was raised in Manansalay which was a

southern town in the province of Oriental Mindoro. Most of Gonzalez’ works focused on

the subject of Filipinos in the countryside. The story tells the simple lives of Tarang and

his family who are living in the rural parts of Mindoro. In his adolescent years, Gonzalez

helped deliver meat from his father’s slaughterhouse in Calapan City. Tarang’s

participation in his parents’ work, raising the sow his father had brought home, represents

Gonzalez’ experience directly getting involved with his father’s business of selling meat.

It is also likely that his father being a school supervisor while his mother was a teacher

influenced his beliefs that men are the breadwinners of the family. This was demonstrated
by Tarang’s father bartering his wife’s camisa in exchange for the chicken they used for

the ritual and his going to Paula’s house to work off what they owe her family.

"The afternoon sun made the bark of the trees glisten like the bolo blade itself."

Gonzalez used various descriptive words to create sensory images. This guides the

readers to picture out what the settings look like. Aside from this, he also used

personification where Bokal, the carabao in the story, was attributed with human traits.

The author used some words that are not familiar with the readers like 'ganta'and 'chupa'

which are used for measuring the amount of rice. Utilizing Spanish words were noticed

from reading the text such as 'camisa' and 'lamparilla'. Some technical terms in farming

were also applied by Gonzalez. For example, he used the term 'sow' which means pig,

and a 'pullet' that is simply a chicken. The utilization of unfamiliar and specialized words

makes it difficult for the readers to comprehend the story appropriately.

Simplicity is the word to describe this story. In the Philippines, where there are

farming traditions and beliefs that they uphold, were shown and clearly stated in the story

that reflects that culture is passed on, and lives throughout years, decades or even

centuries. It showed us how children follow and obey their parents that reflects how our

parents raised and nurtured us. On the other hand, it also presented a ritual which was

being done for so long wherein they use blood to push away bad spirits on their lands in

order to start their works. It displays how important and how huge rituals and beliefs

affects and influences the lives of Filipinos.

The text brings out that being minimal or simple is a virtue and living in such a plain

lifestyle should never be detested. For it is the little things that make a house into a home.

Tradition became a huge role. It explains that our culture is used as a medium to
constantly remind ourselves of how it all started and what are the things that made us

different yet same to others. It explains that no matter how far we reach or no matter how

distant we grow, we should never forget where we come from nor forget who helped us

get where we are right now.