Jose Garcia Villa a comma after every an early age and starting a

 Jose Garcia Villa was word. family.

a Filipino literary  He used the
critic, poet, painter, pseudonym Doveglio Explanation:
and short story n, which is derived In the story "Footnote to
writer. He was born from dove, eagle, Youth," Dodong is the
on August 5, 1908 in lion. symbol for the Filipino youth.
Manila.  He died on July 7, His decision to marry his love
 He gained both local 1997. interest, Teang, at the age of
and international seventeen demonstrates the
recognition for his Analyzing a writer's works passion of teenagers when it
works. He was will help you understand and comes to relationships.
named as the identify his or her Those of the younger
National Artist for contributions to Philippine generation usually strive for
Literature in 1973, literature. new pursuits to learn things
and he was also a on their own, often rejecting
recipient of the Example: their elders’ guidance. From
Guggenheim One of Jose Garcia Villa's the story, it is depicted that
Fellowship. well-known works is lessons are learned through
 During his college "Footnote to Youth." experience. Dodong, as well
years, he wrote Man a. Setting as Teang, had many
Songs, a collection of The short story is set in a realizations when he became
controversial poems small town. a parent.
that was considered b. Plot
too bold by the  Exposition  In analyzing a literary
University of the Dodong, a work, make sure that
Philippines and seventeen-year-old you read it
became the ground boy, tells his parents thoroughly and anal
for his suspension that he wants to yze it well.
from the said marry his girlfriend  Study the
institution. Teang. background of the
 Some of his well-  Rising Action author, as this will
known literary works Teang secretly give you insights
are "Mir-i-nisa" (won regrets marrying regarding the setting
in the Philippines Dodong at a young of the story and the
Free Press in 1929), age. She wonders historical and/or
and "Footnote to what can happen if social influences of
Youth" (published in she has married the time and place in
1933). Lucio, who is nine which the author
years older than lived.
Jose Garcia Villa as a Poet Dodong.  Analyze the concepts
 As a poet, Jose  Climax presented in the
Garcia Villa is known Dodong wonders literary work
for introducing the why life does not get by relating them to
reversed consonance to fulfill all of a practices and
rhyme scheme. youth’s dreams. traditions in the
According to Villa, in  Falling Action Philippines or in the
this method, the last Blas tells Dodong place used as the
sounded consonants about his plan to setting of the story.
of the last syllable, or marry Tona.
the last principal  Conclusion Carlos P. Romulo
consonant of a word, Dodong wants to
are reversed for the keep Blas from  Carlos P. Romulo was
corresponding marrying Tona, but a Filipino diplomat,
rhyme. Thus, a he cannot do statesman,
rhyme for lightwould anything about it. He journalist, and
be words such as tile, feels sorry for Blas. soldier. He was born
tall, tale, etc. c. Theme on January 14, 1898
 He is also known for The story focuses on the in Intramuros,
his comma poems, consequences of marrying at Manila and grew up
where he employed in Camiling, Tarlac.
  He was the first what he thinks of the contemporary
Filipino journalist Filipino and what it writer. He is one of
who was awarded means to be one. the prominent
with the Pulitzer  In the essay, the Filipino fictionists in
Prize in Journalism. author speaks of the English.
He was also the first pride and dignity of  He is known for
Asian who served as the Filipino race, innovating and
the president of the which is something exploring new
United Nations he wants the future literary forms and
General Assembly. generation to uphold experimenting with
 "I am a Filipino" is and cultivate. different techniques
one of the many  The essay also in short story writing.
essays written by explains the Filipino  He was a member of
Carlos P. Romulo. It identity as a product the group The
was published in The of the fusion of Veronicans, which
Philippines Herald in Western culture was composed of
August 1941. (Spanish and influential Filipino
 He also wrote the American) and writers who aimed to
book entitled I Saw Eastern culture use sensible
the Fall of the (Japanese literature in order to
Philippines, in which occupation and create a greater
he narrated his Malayan roots). impact on the
personal experiences  Carlos P. Romulo Philippines.
as an aide-de-camp stresses that the  He was also the first
to General Douglas fight for freedom director of the
MacArthur in sprung up from one’s University of the
Corregidor. This pride of being a Philippines Creative
book was followed Filipino. He takes Writing Center.
by a sequel, I See the pride in the bravery  Some of his well-
Philippines Rise, a and sacrifices of the known literary works
journalistic account heroes who fought are the short stories
of the Philippine War for freedom like "The Man Who
in 1944. Lapu-Lapu , Diego Would Be Poe,"
 Among his other Silang, Jose Rizal , "Death in a Factory,"
famous literary Gregorio del Pilar, "A Clown
works are Mother Antonio Luna, and Remembers," "The
America: A Living Manuel L. Quezon. Mats," and "Lina."
Story of Democracy,  He also emphasizes  In 1990, he was
a discussion of his the beauty of the awarded as the
political ideals about Philippines as National Artist for
American democracy blessed with Literature.
in the Philippines, bountiful natural  His short stories
and I Walked with resources and "Flowers of May,"
Heroes, his colorful history and "Christmas Gift," and
autobiography. culture. "The Mats," were
 He was conferred as adapted as
National Artist for Carlos P. Romulo is a screenplays.
Literature in 1982. profound writer who wrote
 He died on the essay I am a Filipino, Analyzing a writer's literary
December 15, 1985. which is one of the great works will help in identifying
contributions to Philippine his contributions to
About the Essay I am a literature not only because it Philippine literature.
Filipino shows one’s love for his
country and freedom but Example:
 I am a Filipino is one also of being proud as a Below are details regarding
of the valuable Filipino. Francisco Arcellana's "The
contributions of Mats."
Carlos P. Romulo to Francisco Arcellana
Philippine literature. a. Setting
Analyzing it would  Francisco The short story is set in the
help one understand Arcellana is a Filipino afternoon until evening at
teacher and a
the house of the Angeles
family.
 Explanation:
b. Plot  Francisco Arcellana
 Exposition
Mr. Angeles comes
from a periodic
inspection trip in
Mariveles. During
the trip, he writes to
his family and gets
them excited about
the exceptionally
beautiful and
colorful mats he
bought from an
artist.
 Rising Action
Upon arriving, he
gives the mats one
by one to his
children. Each mat is
woven with his
child’s name and
symbols. They are all
happy to receive the
mats.
 Climax
There are three mats
that are to be
unfolded. In a loud
voice, he offers the
three mats to his
dead children named
Josefina, Victoria,
and Concepcion.
 Falling Action
Nana Emilia,
anguished, said he
should not have
bought mats for N.V.M. Gonzalez
them, but Mr.  Nestor Vicente
Angeles insists that
they must be
remembered.
 Conclusion
The children feel the
tension and see the
grief in the face of
Mr. Angeles and the  He is the first
sadness of Nana
Emilia. The father
unfolds the three
mats in silence.  He is also honored as
 c. Theme
Coping with the
death of a loved one
is a struggle.
Commemorating his
or her life is painful,
but it must be faced
with courage and  He was a recipient of
faith. the following
awards: The Republic
Cultural Heritage
presented the story Award, the Jose Rizal
using a distinct style. Pro-Patria Award,
He focused on the the Carlos Palanca
characters' actions Memorial Award for
and dialogues to Literature, and the
reveal the innermost National Artist
feelings and motives Award for Literature
of the characters, in 1997.
which set the  Some of his
dramatic tone of the published works
short story. are Seven Hills
Away (1947), Childre
n of the Ash-Covered
Francisco Loam and Other
Arcellana is a Filipino Stories (1954),
fictionist who and The Bamboo
demonstrated his Dancers (1949),
craftsmanship in which appeared in
writing great literary Russian translation in
pieces such as "The 1965 and 1974.
Mats," a story that  Seven Hills Away is a
highlights Filipino collection of short
family values and stories that sketch
pictures an the daily lives of the
interesting character Filipino kaingeros in
coping with the his hometown
death of loved ones. province, Mindoro.
In this short story, he  The Bamboo
uses writing Dancers is a diasporic
techniques such as novel that features
emphasizing the the challenges faced
characters’ actions by Filipinos in
and dialogues to America.
reveal their inner  Carefully analyzing
motives and the works of a writer
emotions. will help in
determining what his
works have
contributed to
Madali Gonzalez is literature.
an award-winning
Filipino poet, Example:
essayist, fictionist, "Children of the Ash-Covered
journalist, editor, Loam" is a short story that
and teacher of depicts Filipino family
creative writing. practices and beliefs in a
rural setting.
president of the
Philippine Writers’ a. Setting
Association. The story is set in a
provincialplace
one of the great where kaingin is a common
Filipino writers who practice.
advanced literary
traditions and b. Plot
culture. Exposition
The story begins one sunny
afternoon when Tarang’s
father arrives with a pig to be
taken care of by Tarang, a
seven-year-old boy.
Rising Action
Tia Orang, an old midwife,
sees Tarang and tells him to
inform his mother of her
passing by.
Climax
Tatay and Nanay, Tarang’s
parents, together with their
neighbors are all set for
performing religious rites
after kaingin (burning of
trees). They believe that
these practices will take
away all evil spirits and will
give them a bountiful
harvest. Tatay lays the
pullet’s neck and lets the
streaks of blood drop on the
ash-covered loam.
Falling Action
After the clearing of the land,
Tia Orang visits the family
and performs hilot on Nanay
and tells her that she is ready
to bear a child. She also
shares stories of evil ones
and spirits.
Conclusion
Tarang, half-awake, hears
the noise outside, gets up,
and accidentally strikes a
tree stump with his big toe.
The hurt does not concern
him, for he is more
interested in seeing how life
emerge from the land as the
rice grains peek through the
dirt.
c. Theme
Death forms new life. Death
and new formations of life
are recurring motifs in the
story. When a living thing
dies, a new life emerges. The
story paints a cycle of life
and death for the family.
The kainginpractice and the
killing of the pullet as a ritual
are some forms of deaths
that the family believes will
bring new life like a bountiful
harvest and another child.
Explanation:
 The use of words
such as kaingin, hilot,
Nanay, and Tatay is  Some of her well
part of N.V.M.
Gonzalez's writing
style, as even his
other works
showcase terms that
are unique to the
setting of the story.
Analyzing a story will
help readers see
details such as this
that will give them
ideas regarding the
writer's
contributions to
Philippine literature.
 how tangible objects
N.V.M. Gonzalez is
known as a local
colorist writer. Local
color is a literary  As a fictionist, she
technique that
features the unique
regional traditions of
people and
emphasizes the
ordinary events in
their lives. This is
used by N.V.M
Gonzalez to present
the sociocultural
dimensions of
Filipino families and
farmers in the
provinces. In
"Children of the Ash-
Covered Loam,"
words that show
local color
include kaingin, hilot,
Nanay, and Tatay.
 Since the terms used  She also wrote the
by local colorists may
be unfamiliar to you,
you should analyze
and infer their
meaning by taking
note of context clues
in the story.  She was awarded as
Edith L. Tiempo
 Edith L. Tiempo was
a Filipino writer in  She founded with
English. She was a
poet, fiction writer,
and literary critic.
 She was known for
using intricate and
witty
representations to
portray significant
human experiences.
known poems are
"The Return," a
poem that describes
the characteristics of
old age, "Lament for
the Littlest Fellow," a
poem that presents a
metaphor to
describe the plight of
a submissive wife
under her
domineering
husband, and
"Bonsai," a poem
that gives a look at
could be keepers of
memories and
emotions.
was known for her
moral profoundness.
One of her
remarkable short
stories, "The Black
Monkey," won third
prize in the Carlos
Palanca Memorial
Award. "The Black
Monkey," which is
set during the time
when guerrillas were
fighting against the
Japanese during
World War II,
narrates the
tormenting
encounter of a
woman with a
monkey.
novel A Blade of
Fern, which depicts
the problems of
Filipino miners of
Nibucal in southern
Philippines.
the National Artist
for Literature in
1999.
her husband the
Silliman University
National Writers
Workshop, which
produced great
young writers of her
time.
  Analyzing the literary
work of a writer
would help in
determining what
her contributions are
to literature.
Example:
Below is an excerpt of Edith
L. Tiempo's poem "The
Return."
The Return
If the dead years could shake
their skinny legs and run
As once he had circled this
house in thirty counts,
he would go thru this door
among those old friends and
they would not shun
Him and the tales he would
tell, tales that would
bear more than the spare
Testimony of willed wit and
his grey hairs.
And he would live in the
whispers and locked heads.
Wheeling around and around
turning back was where he
started:
The turn to the pasture, a
swift streak under a boy’s
running;
The swing, up a few times
and he had all the earth he
wanted;
The tower trees, and not so
tall as he had
imagined;
The rocking chair on the
porch, you pushed it and it
started rocking,
Rocking, and abruptly
stopped. He, too, stopped in
the doorway, chagrined.
He would go among them
but he would not tell, he
could be smart,
He, an old man cracking the
bones of his embarrassment
apart.
Explanation:
Old age is the subject
of the given poem. This
poem describes the life of an
old man who loved to travel
in his youth. The
phrases dead years, skinny
legs, and thirty
counts denote the physical
weakness and isolation that
the old man feels. The old A poem could have two or
man wants to visit his friends more themes.
to bond with them and share
to them his travel stories and F. Sionil Jose
experiences. Hopelessly, he  Francisco Sionil Jose,
sees only the things widely known as F.
associated with old age: Sionil Jose, was born
irritability and illness, rocking on December 3, 1924
chair, pasture, and the tower in Rosales,
tree. Pangasinan.
 His life and most of
The themes or his works are
messages of the poem are: influenced by Dr.
 Time is irreversible, Jose P. Rizal.
and memories can  He edited various
only be remembered literary and
and cherished. journalistic
 Old people face publications, and he
physical weakness founded the
and emotional Philippine PEN, an
challenges such as organization of
feelings of isolation, poets, playwrights,
sadness, and and novelists.
frustration.  He opened
 Old age is an Solidaridad
inevitable period in Publishing House in
human growth and 1965. A year after,
development. he
Author’s Style founded Solidarity, a
Edith L. Tiempo used magazine that
a very contemplative style in produces content
writing the poem "The mainly focused on
Return." The theme and the "current affairs,
subject of the poem are very ideas, and the arts."
serious. Her narrative tone  He was a recipient of
and vivid visual imagery numerous awards.
allow readers to think deeply Some of which are
about old age and evoke the Ramon
emotions of nostalgia and Magsaysay Award
sadness from the old man’s for Journalism,
perspective. Literature, and
Creative
Edith L. Tiempo is one of the Communications in
foremost Filipino 1980, the Pablo
contemporary writers in Neruda Centennial
English who is known for her Award in 2004, and
style and substance. Her the Officer in the
language is considered French Order of Arts
descriptive but without and Letters in 2014.
scrupulous detailing. Her  He was conferred as
literary works are hailed for National Artist for
their artistic representation Literature in 2001.
of significant human 
experiences. F. Sionil Jose's Literary
In analyzing and interpreting Works
a poem, a reader must not  F. Sionil Jose’s are
confuse the subject and the generally written in
theme of the poem. The English and are
subject is what the poem is translated to more
about whereas the theme is than twenty
the poem's underlying idea
or message.
 languages and who wanted a bulol, an she once asked him,
produced worldwide. Ifugao god sculpture, as a in an accusatory
 Among his most souvenir before he gets back tone, if he did write
celebrated works is to Boston. Philip stole his his composition
the Rosales Saga. It grandfather’s bulol for Sam, himself. In his third
is a series of novels as he felt indebted to repay year in high school,
that are set from the Sam’s kindness. Then Philip’s his teacher gave him
Spanish colonial grandfather died, and he no difficult works of
period to the longer wanted to come with literature to read.
proclamation of Sam back in the city.  Lumbera took a
Martial Law in the degree in journalism
1970s. This saga Explanation: at the University of
includes the The story tackles one of the Santo Tomas in 1950
following novels: Po- many effects of colonization, and graduated cum
on, Tree, The that is, losing one’s identity. laude in 1954. A year
Pretenders, Mass, an Philip represents the before his
d My Brother, My Philippines, while Sam graduation, his first
Executioner. represents America. Philip’s published work, the
 He has also written way of offering the bulol to poem “Frigid Moon,”
several short stories, Sam out of gratitude shows appeared in the
including the notable how he tried to denounce his Sunday magazine of
"The God Stealer". It roots by embracing a new the Manila Chronicle.
is a story about the one, thus losing himself in  On a full scholarship
friendship of Philip the process. granted by the
Latak, an Ifugao, and Fulbright Committee,
Sam Christie, an F. Sionil Jose is among the Lumbera obtained
American who most widely read Filipino his masters and
wanted to buy writers in English whose doctorate degrees at
a bulol, a sculpture novels and short stories Indiana University.
of an Ifugao god. The depict a wide scope of social
story depicts the underpinnings and struggles Literary Background
relationship and of the Filipino masses. He is Lumbera writes in English
truths about the the country’s most influential and Filipino. Below are some
colonizer and the living writer who employs of his works.
colony. realism through his narrative
 Waywaya: Eleven techniques and styles. Poetry Collections
Filipino Short Likhang Dila, Likhang
Stories is a Personal Life Diwa (1993)
compilation of short  Lumbera, who was Balaybay: Mga Tulang Lunot
stories about pre- called Beny when he at Manibalang (2002)
Hispanic Philippine was a young boy,
society. was born in Lipa, Critical Works
 In 2004, he Batangas on April 11, Abot Tanaw: Sulyap at Suri
published the 1932. His parents sa Nagbabagong Kultura at
children’s book The had passed away Lipunan (1987)
Molave and Other before he turned Writing the Nation/Pag-Akda
Children’s Stories. To five. ng Bansa (2000)
identify a writer's  Beny and his older Tagalog Poetry, 1570–1898:
contributions to sister were raised by Tradition and Influences in Its
Philippine literature, Eusebia Teru, their Development (2001)
it is important to paternal
analyze and take a grandmother. Librettos
close look at his  When Eusebia died, Tales of the Manuvu (1977)
literary works. Beny came to live Rama Hari (1980)
Example: with his godparents, Sa Sariling Bayan: Apat na
In a nutshell, F. Sionil Jose’s Enrique and Amanda Dulang May Musika (2003)
"The God Stealer" tells the Lumbera.  Lumbera is a strong
story of Philip Latak and Sam  Beny showed natural advocate of the
Christie. Philip was residing aptitude for English. Filipino language.
in the city for years against In sixth grade, his According to him,
his family’s wishes. Sam, his writing impressed his the gap between the
colleague, was an American teacher so much that well-educated
 Filipinos and the
majority cannot be
bridged until Filipino
becomes their true
lingua franca.
 Lumbera has
received numerous
awards for his work.
The most notable
ones were the
Special Prize from
the Palanca Awards
for his poetry
collection Sunog sa
Lipa at Iba Pang
Tula in 1975, the
Ramon Magsaysay
Award for
Journalism,
Literature, and
Creative
Communication Arts
in 1993, and the
Philippine Centennial
Literary Prize for
Drama in 1998.
 Lumbera received
the title of National
Artist for Literature
in 2006.
‘A Eulogy of Roaches’
by Bienvenido Lumbera
Blessed are the cockroaches.
In this country they are
the citizens who last.
They need no police
to promulgate their peace
because they tolerate
each other’s smell or greed.
Friends to dark and filth,
they do not choose their
meat.
Although they neither sow
nor reap, a daily feast
is laid for them in rooms
and kitchens of their pick.
The roaches do not spin,
and neither do they weave.
But note the russet coat
the sluggards wear: clothed
at birth, roaches require
no roachy charity.
They settle where they wish
and have no rent to pay.
Eviction is a word
quite meaningless to them
who do not have to own
their dingy crack of wall.
Not knowing dearth or taxes,
they increase and multiply.
Survival is assured
even the jobless roach;
his opportunities
pile up where garbage
grows.
Dying is brief and cheap
and thus cannot affright.
A whiff of toxic mist,
an agile heel, a stick
—the swift descent of pain
is also final death.
Their annals may be short,
but when the simple poor
have starved to simple death,
roaches still circulate
in cupboards of the rich,
the strong, the wise, the
dead.
Analysis of the Poem
Published in 1965, “A Eulogy
of Roaches” is a piece
of Bagay poetry. Its subject,
the roaches, represents a
deeper meaning. However,
the poet merely focuses on
giving precise visual images
of the subject and not on
explicitly stating its
representations.
The poet uses imagery, a
literary technique in which
figurative language is used to
appeal to the reader’s
physical senses. An example
is the poet’s description of
roaches as “friends to dark
and filth.”
Also, the poet
uses juxtaposition, a literary
technique in which two (or
more) ideas are placed side
by side for comparison and
contrast. In the last two
stanzas, the poet draws both
a comparison and a
distinction between the
roaches’ life and the life of
the poor: that the poor die
simply of starvation, but the
roaches still go on living their
short lives in the “cupboards
of the rich, the strong, the
wise, the dead.”
Bienvenido S. Lumbera is a
poet, critic, and librettist. He
has made valuable
contributions in the
development of Philippine
literature especially in the
vernacular language. He has
published works in English
and Filipino and received
numerous awards including
the National Artist for
Literature title in 2006.
Virgilio S. Almario
Virgilio S. Almario,
popularly known by his pen
name Rio Alma, is a Filipino
artist known for his poetry
and literary criticism. He was
proclaimed National Artist
for Literature in 2003.
Almario, together
with poets Rogelio Mangahas
and Lamberto E. Antonio,
pioneered the second
modernist movement in
Filipino poetry. In his own
words, he defines modernist
poetry as sparing, suggestive,
and restrained in emotion;
its vocabulary and subject
are immersed in the now.
Among his poetry collections
are Makinasyon at Ilang
Tula (1968), his very first
collection; Peregrinasyon at
Iba Pang Tula (1970), which
won first prize in poetry in
the Carlos Palanca Memorial
Awards; Doktrinang
Anakpawis (1979); Mga
Retrato at Rekwerdo (1984);
and Muli Sa Kandungan ng
Lupa (1994).
Almario’s earliest
works of literary criticism
were published in the Dawn,
the weekly organ of the
University of the East. Some
of those works were later
included in Ang Makata sa
Panahon ng Makina(1982),
now considered as the first
book of literary criticism in
Filipino. His other critical
works include Taludtod at
Talinghaga (1965), which
tackles the traditional
Tagalog prosody;
and Balagtasismo Versus
Modernismo (1984), in which
he presents the two main
directions of the Tagalog
Poetry.
Almario performed
significant deeds in the field
of Philippine literature. He
founded the Galian sa Arte at
Tula (GAT) with the other
poets Teo Antonio and Mike
Bigornia in 1970; and the
Linangan sa Imahen,
Retorika, at Anyo (LIRA), an
organization of poets who
write in Filipino, in 1985.
From 1986 to 1992, he
served as chairman of the
Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa
Pilipinas (UMPIL), considered
to be the biggest umbrella
organization of writers. From
1998 to 2001, he served as
executive director of the
National Commission for
Culture and the Arts (NCCA).
In 2013 he became the
chairman of the Komisyon ng
Wikang Filipino (KWF).
Example:
High Zoociety
Ni Rio Alma
Masdan ang tagak sa likod
ng kalabaw,
Parang birheng-birheng
manang
Na di-madapuan ng langaw
Sa ibabaw ng karosa
patungong simbahan;
At ang mga dekadenteng
gansa sa gilid ng lawa,
Maluluma ang mga donyang
nakahilata
Habang ibinibilad ang kuto
at muta.
Hayun ang mga
maryakaprang paawit-awit,
Parang mga binibining
umiikot ang puwit,
Sa bulwagang hitik sa
masalapi’t makikisig;
At ang mga burukratang
unggoy
Sa tuktok ng mala-palasyong
kahoy,
Pulu-pulutong kung
magpulong
Kung paanong mas lalapad
ang papel at tumbong.
Naghahari’t matitikas na
oso’t agila,
Nagkikikil lang ng kuko’t
pangil tuwing umaga
Para isakmal sa karne’t isuob
na barya
Kaya tumatambok ang tiyan
at bulsa.
Samantala, matatalinong
kuwago’y naghihilik,
Malalaki nga ang mata’y lagi
namang pikit,
Marahil, bagong paraiso ang
laman ng panaginip.
Di tulad ng buwayang laging
abala
Sa paghanap ng kahit
butiking mabiktima,
Bundat na’y lagi pa ring
nakanganga.
Pero higit na mag-ingat sa
hunyango’t ahas
Na sa damuhan ay nagkalat;
Tuwing maghuhunos ng
kulay at balat,
Pakay ay kay-hirap
madalumat.
Explanation:
The poem "High
Zoociety" is part of the
collection Doktrinang
Anakpawis (1979). Published
during the martial law years
(1972–1981), the poem and
the rest of the collection are
considered committed
poetry, that is, of social
awareness and concern. The
title is a play on the term
"High Society," which refers
to the rich and powerful.
"High Zoociety" has eight
stanzas following this pattern
of number of lines: 4-3-3-4-4-
3-3-4. It uses what is called in
Tagalog poetry as "tugmang
karaniwan," wherein the last
word of each line has the
same sound. The second,
fifth, and seventh stanzas
use "tugmang patinig,"
wherein the last words of the
lines have the same vowel
wound. On the other hand,
the rest of the stanzas use
"tugmang katinig," wherein
the last words of the lines
end in a consonant preceded
by the same vowel sound.
However, the poem has no
regular meter.
Virgilio S. Almario, or Rio
Alma, is a Filipino artist
known for his works of
modernist poetry and literary
criticism on Filipino poetry,
which are valuable
contributions to Philippine
literature.
Alejandro R. Roces as a
Filipino Writer
 Alejandro R. Roces
was a Filipino literary
writer. He was born
on July 13, 1924.
 He was a playwright,
an essayist, and a
short story writer. He
was also a columnist
at the Philippine Star,
the Manila Times,
and the Manila
Chronicle.
 He attended the
Ateneo de Manila
University for his
primary and
secondary education
and the University of
Arizona where he
earned his degree in
fine arts. He pursued
further studies at the
following
institutions: Far
Eastern University
(master’s degree);
Ateneo de Manila
University,
Polytechnic
University of the
Philippines, St. Louis
University, and
Tokyo University in
Japan (doctorate).
 Alejandro R. Roces
was known for his
short story "We
Filipinos Are Mild
Drinkers," a story
about an American
soldier in the
Philippines who
brags about his
drinking habits, but
becomes overly
drunk after
drinking lambanog of
fered by a Filipino
farmer.
 From 1961 to 1965,
he served as the
Secretary of
Education under the
regime of former
president Diosdado
Macapagal. He has
 also served as poultry raising, and he of events. As the
chairman of the suggested examining the brothers ran from
Movie and Television insides of the chicken, to the mob, Kiko’s
Review and which Kiko refused. They brother was
Classification Board both agreed to bring the convinced that the
(MTRCB) in 2001. chicken to a cockpit and have chicken was a
 His other literary it fight with a rooster from rooster based on
works are "My Texas. However, the rooster how it defeated its
Brother’s Peculiar performed a love dance opponent, until it
Chicken," a story around the peculiar chicken. laid an egg.
which talks about It turned out that the
two brothers who peculiar chicken was waiting Alejandro R. Roces was
were arguing for a chance to attack. It best known for his short
whether the chicken stubbed its spur into the stories, "My Brother’s
they caught was a rooster, and won. Kiko’s Peculiar Chicken" and
hen or a brother was convinced that "We Filipinos Are Mild
rooster; Something the chicken was a rooster. Drinkers." He employed
to Crow About, the However, when he was humor in most of his
first Filipino zarzuela holding the chicken, it works, usually tackling
in English about a suddenly quivered and laid the Filipinos’ fascination
man named Kiko an egg. of cockfighting.
who earns a living by
means of Humor is a literary
cockfighting; device which aims to make
and Fiesta, a the audience or readers
collection of essays laugh or be amused.
about various Alejandro R. Roces employed
Philippine festivals. humor in most of his works.
 Alejandro R. Roces There are various types of
was conferred as humor. Some of which are
National Artist for exaggeration/hyperbole,
Literature in 2003. surprise, and sarcasm.
 He died on May 23,  Sarcasm – is a
2011. literary device used
to mock. In the story,
Read the synopsis of “My the chicken crowed
Brother’s Peculiar Chicken” and Kiko
below, one of Alejandro R. triumphantly asked
Roces’ notable works. his brother if he
heard it. Kiko then
Synopsis: mocked his brother
Kiko and his brother found a by saying “I suppose
peculiar chicken. They you are going to tell
argued whether it was a hen me now that hens
or a rooster. Kiko believed crow and that
that it was a rooster, while carabaos fly.”
his brother thought  Exaggeration/Hyper
otherwise. Kiko’s brother bole – is a literary
emphasized that it could not device used to make
be a rooster as the chicken an event appear
has neither wattles nor better or worse than
comb. Their parents took what it really is. In
turns in looking at the the story, Kiko’s
chicken and had different brother shared how
thoughts about it; thus, they they were almost
ended up arguing like their whipped for arguing
children. Kiko and his brother too much.
asked the chieftain about it,  Surprise – is a
and he thought that it was a literary device
bird of a different kind. They commonly found in
also asked Mr. Eduardo Cruz, unlikely situation or
someone who studied an unexpected turn