OLI IMPAN

BY ALBERTO S. FLORENTINO

Oli Impan is written by Alberto S. Francisco that aims to shows the

innocence of the children living in the slums. This story also shows how people
fight for their homes and lastly, how people especially those who are in the
edges of society work for their day to day expenses. Oli Impan gives us, the
readers a glimpse on how lots of Filipino experience and still considering
themselves as poor individuals. The lack of proper education is one of the
reasons why there’s still a high percentage of poor and unemployed individuals
here in our country. This story also shows how prostitution among women in
Manila are becoming more “normal” job as a source of income for many Filipinos

The setting where the story happens, and also the theme of Oli Impan
depicts the day to day environments and life of Filipinos living in the slums. This
shows the refusal of every individual living in the slums to move out from their
settlements in the bombardment remnants of an old government building of
Juan Luna. The lack of education, is the direct effect of poverty, is somewhat
made obvious with the young boy’s incorrect way of singing the lyrics of the
famous Christmas song “Silent Night”. This story happens four days before
Christmas time and this song portrays the innocence of two young children.
Silent Night symbolizes the unhappiness that can be seen from the two young
children and the sacrifices of baby Jesus when he was born in the manger where
he got wrapped in swaddling clothes. May families especially the two children in
the play become homeless on Christmas day just like when Jesus Christ was also
homeless when he was born in the month of December. Overall, the story of Oli
Impan shows the beliefs Christianity such as the existence of Christmas day and
Jesus Christ.

Oli impan serves as an eye opener to the people who are reading this
story. In the Philippines, we all know that the percentage of unemployment and
poverty are extremely high and this is due to the lack of education. In the story,
the young boy sang the “Silent Night” song even if it is not in the right tune and
lyrics. Most of the people living in the slums area choses to work at a very young
age instead of studying in order to buy the daily needs such as their food and
medicines. This story also shows how in spite of difficulties in life there’s still a lot
of Filipinos who find light in the dark. The innocence of the children about what’s
really happening in their surrounding shows how the young people especially
those in the age of the characters in the story are can be easily influenced by
what they see and they are still not able to identify the good and bad things in
their mind. Overall, I was exceptionally propelled by this story, taking into
account how a kid who didn't have the slightest idea what and who God is, sing
a song that was about for him. Regardless of whether he didn't actually get the
lyrics right, it's continually endearing to see somebody attempting their closest to
perfect in accomplishing something. Oli Impan gives us a story persistence and
assurance, regardless of the entirety of the difficulties that come in front of us.
Despite the fact that we don't really need to become poor and become vagrants,
I can say that this story can be applied to circumstances in our everyday lives. It
likewise shows a nature of Filipinos that in any event, during hardships they stay
together and man the tempest boldly, keeping assurance in their hearts and
souls.