Walang Sugat ni Severino Reyes

Ang zarzeula ay isang dula na may mga awit at sayaw, malimit na tumatalakay sa pag-ibig bagama’t
naka-konteksto sa mga panlipunang usapin at isyu.

Ang kwentong ito ay tumatalakay sa tema ng, pagmamahalan sa gitna ng digmaan, sakripisyo,
pagkawalay, at kontradiksyon ng indibidwal sa pamilya.

Si Tenyong at Julia ay magkasintahan (at parang magpinsan din). Kumaharap ng matinding pagsubok ang
kanilang pag-iibigan nang maaresto ang tatay ni Tenyong dahil sa mga pagkilos nito laban sa mga
prayleng Kastila. Ang tatay ni Tenyong ay tinortyur nang matindi at nasa bingit na nang kamatayan nang
abutan ni Tenyong at kanyang ina. Sa pagkamatay ng kanyang ama, si Tenyong ay nagpasyang sumama
sa armadong pakikibakang inilulunsad ng Katipunan. Dito sila nagkahiwalay ni Julia.

Sa kanilang matagal na pagkawalay ay pinuwersa si Julia na ikasal sa ilustradong si Don Miguel. Bago ang
nakatakdang kasal, pinahanap ni Julia si Tenyong sa dating alalay nito na si Lucas. Nahanap ni Lucas si
Tenyong sa kampo ng mga rebelde at naipaabot ang masamang balita ng pwersahang pagpapakasal ni
Julia kay Don Miguel. Pero bago pa man makatugon si Tenyong sa liham ni Julia, sinalakay ng mga Kastila
ang kampo ng mga Katipunero. Nagkahiwalay si Lucas at Tenyong sa gitna ng labanan. Nakatanggap ng
liham si Julia mula sa isang henral na malubhang nasugatan at nawawala ang batang Kapitan Tenyong.

Dumating na ang nakatakdang araw ng kasal at napilitan na rin si Julia na pumayag, sa pag-akalang patay
na si Tenyong at sa kagustuhang hindi mapahiya ang kanyang ina. Engrandeng selebrasyon ang
magaganap at nakatipon ang buong bayan. Pero bago mairaos ang seremonya, dumating si Lucas na
may balitang nakita na si Tenyong pero agaw-buhay itong nakaratay sa katre. Dinala si Tenyong sa
pinagdausan ng kasal ni Julia. Sa muling pagtatagpo ng magkasintahang sawi, hiniling ni Tenyong sa pari
na, yaman din lamang na mamamatay na siya, ikasal na sila ni Julia. Sa pagkamatay daw ni Tenyong,
maaari nang pakasalan ni Julia si Miguel. Dahil mukhang matutuluyan na nga si Tenyong, pumayag na
rin si Miguel sa kakaibang dying wish na Tenyong.

Kinasal si Tenyong at Julia ng paring Kastila. Matapos ang seremonya ng kasal, biglang tumayo si
Tenyong, at lahat ay napamanghang sumigaw; “Walang sugat! Walang sugat!”.

Bukod sa istorikal na batayan, ipinakita ng Walang Sugat ang pang-aabuso ng mga prayle, lalo na ang
iligal na pag-aresto at tortyur ng mga bihag ng kumukontra sa Espanya.
America is in the Heart is the gripping autobiography of Filipino poet and writer Carlos Bulosan. He
writes in first person under the name “Allos” about his own life in four parts. His story starts as he
describes his peasant youth in the Philippines, recalling memories of growing up on a farm with his
father. Allos feels he did not have a real childhood, as he began working in the fields and doing
chores at age five. His family struggles through pawning their land and other possessions. His
mother, brother and sister live in the city of Banalonan. When he visits them, Allos helps his mother
with her trading and sells fruit to make money. Much of this support goes to Bulosan’s brother,
Macario, as he finishes high school. Macario’s graduation proves important because he will be able
to help the family, though it doesn’t end up working out this way after he loses a teaching job.
As he travels with his mother throughout other villages, Allos develops a dislike toward the middle
class as social unrest in the Philippines exists. Peasant rebellions take place, which help create
Bulosan’s decision to move to America with his brothers, Macario and Amado. They immigrate
separately but all hold the same belief that America means equality, which is exactly what they are
searching for and the reason for going. However, when they get there, they realize the impact of the
Great Depression in America. During this time, it proves to make life difficult for everyone, especially
Filipino migrant workers. As the Filipino population grows and the Great Depression worsens, the
anti-Filipino movement strengthened. There is exploitation and a hatred of Filipinos by whites, the
cruelty of whom is surprisingly saddening to Allos. In America, he finds that he must take whatever
work he can get. Although he makes money picking crops, it is minimal and he continuously finds
himself living in poor, dirty conditions. The agricultural community in the west, especially California,
was characterized by a life of transience and few opportunities at this time. There is also the constant
fear of attack because he is a Filipino immigrant.

Once he understands that he cannot live this way forever, Allos decides to take part in the labor
movement with the people with whom he spends his time. Because they try to organize workers,
they are in conflict with large agricultural interests. Eventually as time passes, he takes refuge in the
Filipino worker rights movement and he and his friends form a committee to help Filipinos obtain
citizenship, though they are not successful. When World War II begins, they are banned from
enlisting and decide to begin another movement. This time around is successful and results in a
proclamation by the president of the United States that allows Filipinos to serve in the military.
Bulosan’s purpose for writing is to create awareness about what Filipino immigrants went through in
America during the time of the Great Depression and throughout history. He focuses especially on
his own experiences and reflections. He did not always have a great relationship with the country, as
he struggled to understand how a place that represented freedom did not allow him such rights at
first. America is in the Heart is similar to other works about this time period in its strong…