Trizha Nera

12- Techumss

Name of the author: Manuel Arguilla

Manuel Estabilla Arguilla (Nagrebcan, Bauang, June 17, 1911 – beheaded,

Manila Chinese Cemetery, August 30, 1944) was an Ilokano writer in English, patriot, and
martyr. He is known for his widely anthologized short story "How My Brother Leon Brought
Home a Wife," the main story in the collection How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife
and Other Short Stories, which won first prize in the Commonwealth Literary Contest in 1940.
His stories "Midsummer" and "Heat" were published in Tondo, Manila by the Prairie Schooner.
Most of Arguilla's stories depict scenes in Barrio Nagrebcan, Bauang, La Union, where he was
born. His bond with his birthplace, forged by his dealings with the peasant folk of Ilocos,
remained strong even after he moved to Manila, where he studied at the University of the
Philippines, finished his BS in Education in 1933, and became a member and later the president
of the U.P. Writer's Club and editor of the university's Literary Apprentice. He married Lydia
Villanueva, another talented writer in English, and they lived in Ermita, Manila. Here, F. Sionil
José, another seminal Filipino writer in English, recalls often seeing him in the National
Library, which was then in the basement of what is now the National Museum. "You couldn't
miss him", José describes Arguilla, "because he had this black patch on his cheek, a birthmark
or an overgrown mole. He was writing then those famous short stories and essays which I
admired.”
He became a creative writing teacher at the University of Manila and later worked at the
Bureau of Public Welfare as managing editor of the bureau's publication Welfare Advocate until
1943. He was later appointed to the Board of Censors. He secretly organized a guerrilla
intelligence unit against the Japanese. On August 5, 1944, he was captured and tortured by the
Japanese army at Fort Santiago.
In one account, he was later transferred to the grounds of the Manila Chinese Cemetery. Along
with him were guerrilla leaders, along with more than 10 men. They were then asked to dig
their own graves, after which, they were immediately, one by one, beheaded with swords. His
remains, as well as the others', have never been recovered, as they were dumped into one
unmarked grave. The remains of the executed men were said to be located and identified by
their compatriots after the war, after a Japanese-American officer (working in the Japanese
Army as a spy), revealed what he had seen and the location of the grave after the executions of
August 30 of 1944. At present, their remains lie within the Manila North Cemetery.
 Midsummer Summary

The unforgettable encounter takes place in a rural setting near a village well. The
summer was intense in its exhausting and uncompromising heat. Manong, travelling with
his bull and cart, arrived at the village well and found the comely figure of Ading to his
surprise. There is intense heat in the ambience and it is multiplied with a greater sense of
electricity between the two. Ading throws a curious glimpse at Manong who is a bit more
reserved and accords her comforting space and regard. He draws water from the well but is
lost in the thoughts of Ading. He shows an appearance of fledgeling romance as he worries
about the state of her palms subjected to the callous wear due to the rugged ropes while
drawing up water from the well. There are physical cues of breaking the ice as Ading offers
a muted smile. As he is consuming his meal, Ading draws nearer to him. The nerves are
amplified and she spills water on herself as a result. The drenched clothes of Ading capture
Manong’s fancy while his muscular development makes Ading appreciates his strength and
masculinity. Such explicit expression denotes a level of budding lustful gravitation between
the two. Gathering his wits, Manong helps Ading fill her jar of water again. Obliged and
indebted to his help, she invites him to her house. She assures him regarding her mother’s
sanction and he readily agrees to follow the damsel to her humble abode.

Midsummer Analysis

The story of Midsummer is one of the revered works in the Philippines. It is

thematically based on the powers of attraction and gravitation that exist between two
strangers, a young maiden, Mahinhin Filipina named Ading and a young Binata boy named
Manong. Here, the author instils sensual chemistry between the two. The ending leaves a
notion of fanciful openness as the author leaves her readers to come to their own romantic
conclusions. Did their romance end well into marriage? Were they misguided into a fit of
lust and miscalculated physical attraction into the love of substance and meaning? Did the
girl’s family cause an uproar? On the flipside, the brashness of sensual expression in the
story also points to the flight of fantasy that physical attraction can breed in young people’s
minds. The fact that the two were perfect strangers and could hardly vouch for each other’s
characters; their intimacy leaves an uncomfortable taste and highlights the youthful,
hormonal-driven frenzy that often overpowers sound judgment and rational thought.
Robt Reyes
12- Techumss

Name of the Author: Manuel Arguilla

Manuel Estabilla Arguilla (Nagrebcan, Bauang, June 17, 1911 –

beheaded, Manila Chinese Cemetery, August 30, 1944) was an Ilokano
writer in English, patriot, and martyr. He is known for his widely
anthologized short story "How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife," the
main story in the collection How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife and
Other Short Stories, which won first prize in the Commonwealth Literary
Contest in 1940. His stories "Midsummer" and "Heat" were published in
Tondo, Manila by the Prairie Schooner. Most of Arguilla's stories depict
scenes in Barrio Nagrebcan, Bauang, La Union, where he was born. His
bond with his birthplace, forged by his dealings with the peasant folk of
Ilocos, remained strong even after he moved to Manila, where he studied at
the University of the Philippines, finished his BS in Education in 1933, and
became a member and later the president of the U.P. Writer's Club and
editor of the university's Literary Apprentice. He married Lydia Villanueva,
another talented writer in English, and they lived in Ermita, Manila. Here, F.
Sionil José, another seminal Filipino writer in English, recalls often seeing
him in the National Library, which was then in the basement of what is now
the National Museum. "You couldn't miss him", José describes Arguilla,
"because he had this black patch on his cheek, a birthmark or an overgrown
mole. He was writing then those famous short stories and essays which I
admired.”
 HOW MY BROTHER LEON BROUGHT HOME A WIFE (SUMMARY)

The story started when Leon and his younger brother were both
waiting for the arrival of Leon's wife, Maria, riding in a carretela. As Baldo saw his
older brother's wife, he described her as lovely, tall, and beautiful. He narrated
their journey to Nagrebcan, their hometown. Leon wondered why Baldo drove
them to the Waig instead on the Camino Real. Baldo answered that he drove them
to the Waig because their father told him to follow the Waig. The Waig route
served as a test for the wife to see if she could really live in a province which was
very different in a life in a city where she lived. While travelling, Maria described
the place of Leon as clean, and free of dust and smoke. Maria admitted of having
some fears if the father of Leon would not accept her as to be his daughter-in-law
because she may not able to survive the life in the province. When they got
home, Leon's family talked to Maria. Baldo and his father had a conversation
about what had happened while they were travelling. The father asked Baldo if
Maria was afraid in their place. Baldo answered that Maria was not afraid and
instead she enjoyed the journey.

HOW MY BROTHER LEON BROUGHT HOME A WIFE (ANALYSIS)

It tackles about respect and acceptance of one's life. In order to have

a harmonious and 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. The writing style of the author was good because he used
figurative languages which made the story more interesting, convincing, and
beautiful. The message of the story was easy to understand because it was clear
and concise. The characters of the story were presented well of what were their
roles. The flow or the plot or the scenes in the story were organized. The words
used were appropriate. The story also taught us many moral lessons in life like
one may have to sacrifice small part of one’s life in order to be happy.