Chapter 1

The Problem

Introduction

“Genuine equality means not treating everyone the same, but attending equally

to everyone’s different needs.” (Terry Eagleton, Why Marx Was Right)

The novel “Banaag at Sikat” or the “Rays and Sunshine”, is the first Tagalog

sociological type of book that is written by a Filipino author Lope K. Santos in 1906. He

describes all the different social issues that is mentioned in the novel such as capitalism,

socialism and the united association of the labor workers. 5 This novel clearly discusses some of

the Politics in the Philippines, but Lope K. Santos' Banaag at Sikat is the only novel that is

considered to be included in the list of significant books about Tagalog literature in 1949 by the

Famous Filipino critic Teodoro Agoncillo. He stated that the novel has its own weakness points

but it is the only novel that started the system of writing a Tagalog novel. This novel of Lope K.

Santos mostly originated the structure on how to write in other techniques using the Tagalog-

language in the novels that may feature a combined themes about equality, livelihood, love, and

therefore the reality and poignant status of our society. Additionally, in spite of being one of the

first long narrative in the Philippines that aggravated the mood of society, it also encouraged the

cause of the Hukbalahap or the Hukbo ng Bayan Laban sa Hapon, and literally the “people’s

army against the Japanese colonizers” during the World War II. Although, Lope K. Santos'

Banaag at Sikat novel is not the first Tagalog novel that is made in the Philippines, it was

published after the first considered Tagalog novel written by Valeriano Hernandez Peña which is

the “Nena at Neneng” or “Nena and Neneng” novel in 1905. But there was another Tagalog
novel, “Kababalaghan ni P. Brava” or “P. Brava's Mystery” by Gabriel Beato Francisco, which

appeared on the pages of the magazine “Kapatid ng Bayan” or the “Comrades of the Nation” in

1899.6

The summary of the novel Banaag at Sikat written by Lope K. Santos revolves

around the aspirations and stances of two friends, Felipe and Delfin. Felipe was the son of a

wealthy president of their town in the East. Because of his hatred for his father's ways of

enriching himself and his cruelty to the poor farmers and domestic servants he forsook their

wealth, entered a printing press, and pursued a poor but honorable maiden named Tentay.

Meanwhile, he lives in the house of his father-in-law, Don Ramon, in Manila. Don Ramon’s

methods of enrichment, his low regard for the poor and his oppression of those in power

aggravated Felipe’s hatred for all the rich people and reinforced his anarchism .He dreamed of

the day when people who thinks highly of themselves, and law-abiding people would be gone,

all people would be equal and would enjoy the utmost distance and equitable comfort in life.

When his father forced him to return to his hometown, he complied. But he taught the farmers

and the domestic servants their rights. His father got angry at Felipe and he was cast out and

rejected him as a son. He returned to his former job in Manila and persuaded Tentay to stay with

him even if they're still not married, because he was opposed to marriage ceremonies and

strongly believed only in free love.

Delfin is not an anarchist but a socialist. He did not seek to lose the government but

like Felipe he was opposed to the accumulation of wealth by a few people indulging in comfort

while thousands were starving, suffering and dying in poverty. He was also opposing to children

that inherits the wealth of their parents. He was a poor orphan raised by an aunt. While studying
law he served as a writer for a newspaper. He was a friend and ally of Felipe, though not as

radical. Felipe wanted the early attainment of their goal, to the extent that it was to be carried out

violently, while Delfin's desire was to slowly lead the people to alleviate the ignorance of the

masses and the greed of the few wealthy people, by gradual introduction into the Philippines of

the principles of socialism. Don Ramon has two daughters and a son who is already married. The

girls are Talia and Meni. Talia is in love with a lawyer, Madlanglayon. Their wedding was very

honorable and very costly, something that for Felipe and Delfin is an example of the stagnation

of the social system that is caused by the rich who are useless when they squander money while

thousands of people are starving in food and other things other than the basic necessities of life.

With Felipe's help when he was living in Don Ramon's house, Delfin met and fell in love with

Meni. Don Ramon is opposed to Delfin’s love for his daughter Meni; because Delfin was poor,

and secondly, because it explicitly expressed its socialism in a conversation between the two of

them in a bathhouse in Antipolo. Though this objection did nothing because Love reigns until

their love is sown. When Talia and Madlanglayon noticed Meni's condition, they could not hide

it from Don Ramon. Don Ramon was angry; it hurt Meni and almost killed her, At

Madlanglayon's a-uki, Don Ramon agreed to marry Meni to Delfin, but made a will leaving all

the wealth to his two children except for Meni; Meni was not included in receiving her father's

wealth for marrying Delfin.

Meni endured a life of poverty in their house with Delfin. Occasionally, when the

need was great, she would sell clothes or pawn her jewelery that she was using when she was

still a young girl. Delfin and his sister were very upset and embarrassed, but they could not cover

the need. At first, Meni was visited by two sisters, especially Talia, and sent money and clothes
for her. But the visit slowed down until it stopped, and so did the help that was sent. Meanwhile,

Don Ramon, to the extent of his social embarrassment due to the blasphemy committed by Meni

and Delfin, sailed to Japan, the United States and Europe, with a favorite servant. He has no

plans to return to the Philippines. He forgot the destruction he had done to the honor of the many

women he had been with; the only thing planted in his mind was the loss of self-esteem in the

eyes of society because of Meni’s reckless decision to marry Delfin. Meanwhile, Meni gave birth

to a baby boy. Desiring to be able to prepare a baptismal feast for her son, amendment to the

customs, Meni pawned her earrings, despite Delfin’s objection to all pomp. The godfather of

baptism was Felipe who not only refused his friend, but also opposed the baptismal ceremony.

As an anarchist he was against all formalism of society. For most of the main attendees, invited

or not, Delfin was almost unprepared, thankfully and the cook knew the tactics to save such an

event. The joy of the baptism was suddenly interrupted by the arrival of a cablegram announcing

that Don Ramon had been killed by his fellow servant in a hotel in New York. When the corpse

arrived at the port, all the workers in the tobacco factory met at the behest of Don Felimon, Don

Ramon's partner, who warned that all those who did not meet would not be paid next Saturday.

Among those who delivered the body to the Philippines was Ruperto, Tentay's brother who has

been missing for a long time. After touring the Philippines, with a Spaniard whom he had

wronged for a small amount, he was sold or asked to be a friend who served on a crew. As a

result, he traveled to various countries in Africa and Europe, then settled in Cuba and California,

and finally settled in New York. There he met and became friends with the servant with Don

Ramon who lived in a hotel near the bar where he served. It was Ruperto who told Felipe that

Don Ramon was killed because of his cruelty to his fellow servant.
 Don Ramon's funeral was lavish, as it was with Talia's wedding. Even to his grave,

Don Ramon's wealthy family still carries with them the habit of the luxury of scattering and

suffering of many people. In the grave Delfin and Felipe were left in the twilight to exchange

opinions and beliefs. Felipe remembered the miserable condition of his father's companions and

servants. Delfin expressed despair for the poor citizens as the law upholds the right of parents to

inherit wealth and power from their children. They remembered the widespread ignorance and

superstitions, the blind faith. It will take long and eternal rebellion against existing companions.

Many more heroes are demanding time. Socialist ideas must spread, not only in one country but

throughout the world before real and complete success can be achieved. Felipe and Delfin

discuss the history of anarchism and socialism-its spread in Europe, Africa, and the United

States. Felipe said that some lives that are enlightened by the growth of ideas of the poor are few

compared to so many people who are oppressed every day. But Delfin is adamant against any

way that will lead to bloodshed. Despite this difference in their position, they were united in

saying, as they left the tomb, late at night, "Let us go, let us leave and pass the stress of the

night."d have more right in all the businesses, properties, and other national activities. Although

he is poor who studies law and works as a writer for a newspaper, Delfin still strongly believes

that a society inclined to the cause of the poor through peaceful means, a challenge that could be

achieved through violence. On the other hand, Felipe – who advocates anarchy – believes in the

forceful way of destroying the existing powers and cruelty harbored by the rich landowners. He

wants to dispel the abusive members of society who rule society. Even though he is the son of a

rich town leader, Felipe hates the cruel ways of his father. He would rather see a society with

equal rights and equal status for all its citizens: where there is no difference between the poor

and the rich classes. Due to his hatred of his life as a son of a cruel and rich landowner, Felipe
left his home to live a life of poverty. He left his life of luxury in order to join the common class

of society. He decided to live with Don Ramon, a godfather through the Catholic sacrament of

confirmation, in Manila. Later on, Felipe also felt hatred against his godfather who was just like

his father: a rich man cruel to his helpers. Felipe fell in love with Tentay, a commoner but with

dignity despite of being poor. Felipe was forced by his father to return to their home in the town

of Silangan, but was only forced to leave the home after teaching the farmers and household

helpers about their inherent human rights. Don Ramon, Felipe’s godfather, has two siblings.

Thalia was the eldest and Meni is the youngest daughter. Delfin - Felipe’s friend – fell in love

with one of these two siblings, a woman named Meni. Meni became pregnant and was disowned

by Don Ramon. Meni decided to live with Delfin to live as a commoner. Because of what Meni

did, Don Ramon left the Philippines, together with a favored household helper named Tekong,

but was murdered while in New York City. Don Ramon’s body was brought back to the

Philippines by Ruperto, the long lost brother of Tentay, Felipe’s lover. It was Ruperto who

revealed the reason why Don Ramon was killed by an unknown assailant: he was ruthless to his

household helpers. The novel ends at a scene when Felipe and Delfin decided to stay for a while

at the grave of Don Ramon. They talked about their principles and social beliefs. They left the

cemetery while approaching the darkness and the depth of the night.7

Marx ideologies may help us to further analyze the novel. The story behind this

novel was a portrait of socio-cultural and anarchism reference at that time and also the time

where poverty was the biggest problem in the town, the aristocrat system that led the country,

and how the society see what is the real meaning of life. These points were interesting to

analyze, because this novel depicted the social ideology, anarchism and views during that time. It

is most likely to understand that this novel of Lope K. Santos had a strong implication of Marx
ideology towards the society, how the class struggle between people to change and improve their

current state, how people are being classed such us being rich and poor, and how the false

consciousness circulates.

In this study the researcher would analyze and identify those aspects and how the

novel depicted Marx Ideologies. It is one of the most interesting book under the Philippine

Culture during the American period.2 The books is all about two friends named Delfin and

Felipe, who is against oppression and the laws and rules ran by the government that affluent

people can insult the impecunious family or workers. Revealing the social issues and social

classes found in the novel may complete our understanding and help us to consolidate, radicalize

elements of labor, inspire and socialist movement.

Statement of the Problem

General Objective

This study attempts to identify and analyze the social issues of the novel by applying

the Marxist Lens using the cardinal tenets and ideologies of Marx's Theory.

Specific Objective

More specifically, the research answer the following questions:

1. What is the author's main purpose for writing the novel?

2. How does Marxism affect the author's perspectives on writing the novel?

3. What social classes do the characters represent in Lope K. Santos' Banaag at

Sikat?

4. How do characters from different classes interact or conflict?

Scope and Delimitation

The study identified and analyzed the different social issues and social classes

through the basis on the characters mentioned in the novel. The author’s main purpose for

writing this novel is included in the analysis, even the Marxism effects on the author’s

perspective on writing this novel. The study also classified all the different social classes and

social issues and on how the characters from different classes interact or conflict.

The researcher analyzed the novel through the use of Marxist Lens and Ideologies,

the characters of the novel are included with the analyzation. The researcher also identified the

conflicts made in the novel which is about the rich people who are used to degrading poor people

and the problem of poverty.

Though the study focused on identifying the different social issues and classes in the

novel and other equally significant characters, might also be included to further analyze the

novel and give proper explanation of the study.

Significance of the Study

The general purpose of this study is to present the different social classes of the

characters mentioned in the novel and to identify the social issues, will be beneficial to the

following:

Teachers and Students of Philippine Literature. This study allows students and

teachers to see the role that class plays in the plot of this novel and may give them proper

understanding and ideas about the social classes that is mentioned in the novel. This may help

them understand the cruelty of the rich landowners in society.

 Students. The result of the study will provide additional knowledge and information

about the different social issues and social classes in the society.

Researchers. The result of the study will serve as their guide and motivation to

improve their understanding about the different social issues and social classes based on the

novel using Marx Ideologies.

Future Researchers. This study may help motivate them to seek out other important

aspects that could be revealed in the novels; further, this may serve to arouse their interest about

facts and knowledge of anarchism and being a socialist and their diverse worldviews which

could be gleaned from the novel.

Definition of Terms

Anarchism. a political philosophy and movement that is skeptical of authority and rejects all

involuntary, coercive forms of hierarchy.1

Socialism. a political and economic theory of social organization which advocates that the means

of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a

whole.1

Oppression. a prolonged cruel or unjust treatment or control.1

Forsook. renounce or give up (something valued or pleasant).1

Poverty. about not having enough money to meet basic needs including food, clothing and

shelter.1
Notes

1
Oxford English Dictionary. 2nd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2021. Definitions,

Meanings, & Spanish Translations | Lexico.com. (n.d.). Lexico Dictionaries | English.

https://www.lexico.com/.

2
Marxism - Analysis Of Society. (n.d.). Encyclopedia Britannica.

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Marxism/Analysis-of-society.3Marxism - Analysis Of Society.

(n.d.). Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Marxism/Analysis-of-society.

4
Banaag At Sikat Analysis. (2016, August 6). Literary Works.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/pink870.wordpress.com/2016/08/06/banaag-at-sikat-

analysis/amp/.

5
Banaag At Sikat Analysis. (2016, August 6). Literary Works.

https://pink870.wordpress.com/2016/08/06/banaag-at-sikat-analysis/#:~:text=Reader-Response

%20Analysis%20The%20novel%20Banaag%20at%20Sikat%20or,people%20can%20insult

%20the%20impecunious%20family%20or%20workers..

6
Santos, L. K. (1906). Banaag At Sikat Explained. Banaag at Sikat explained.

https://everything.explained.today/Banaag_at_Sikat/.

7
Optimizer, I. M. (2008, August 30). Banaag At Sikat. Literature of the Philippines: Banaag at

Sikat. https://alibata-writing.blogspot.com/2008/08/banaag-at-sikat.html.