PASILYO 8 (Title)

ANTONIO MARIA NIEVA (Author)

(Setting) The story obviously enters at a place named Pasilyo 8. This place is described to be
related in an area of often attributed, or a place where deprived and informal settlers can be observed.
The way that the author described the place can be pictured out easily by the readers. Just like how
and where basic human necessities can be found, such as food, shelter, water, medicines, and more
are not met considerably. This type of setting chosen by the author portray the unfairness counterpart
of life that a lot of people can relate to. All the happenings and scenes in the story happened on the
said settings. The dirty, narrow, and dusky corners of Pasilyo 8 became the witness of every major
character’s trials. This is the place or setting where monotonously can be seen that necessities such
as food, water and shelter are big problems. (Theme) Ideally, this story’s prior theme is to open up the
hearts and minds of every reader regarding to the issue of “Poverty and Life Struggles” (Style) Awhile,
the words used in writing this story makes it simple yet can attracts readers because it is intriguing and
intricate that it needs to be read more than twice to fully understand the flow of the story. Even the
mixture of direct language and jargons makes the story a bit colloquia and informal it helps the story to
become more realistic and more relatable or easy to understand. Additionally, it can be observed that
the story did not used a lot of dialogues throughout the story, and that becomes the passage way to
connect the readers to the writer itself.
(Character) The flashbacks presented an idea of the character of the protagonist named
Bianong that links with the things that are happening in the present. And as the story revolves around
Bianong, and his journey as a father living in Pasilyo 8. The other characters are Estella, Bianong’s
wife, the twins Tenteng and Minian, the baby named Biik, and the acquaintance Pareng Isko. Around
the plot mainly circles around their family, and their experience living with scarcity in terms of food and
medicine. The story told and described Bianong as a lazy person or “lazy carabao”(Figurative
Language which means, a big person but not likely doing hard works.) On the contrary, Estella was
the one obliged to work hard, yet the phrase described to her character “was not wearing anything
under her cotton shift” (Figurative Language which means, prostitute) and that description is an idea to
the readers that her job involves her physique sexual. (Conflict)The man versus society conflict, as
well as the indirect man versus self can be seen in the short story as the protagonist embarks on his
quest of survival, doubt, and internal misery.
(PLOT)
(Point of View) To identify the flow of the story, it uses a third person standpoint.From that
standpoint, flashbacks of past story where recollected and serves as hints of pieces that cast up a big
puzzle piece. (Introduction) Bianong’s shortcomings and mishaps when it comes to properly sustaining
his sons and daughters, with the two being ailing twins and the other one being a mere infant, serves
as a societal conflict. The story really begins and introduces problems that the major character is going
through Wherein, the life that the major character and his family has means so much to so many less
fortunate like them. The quality of how the story introduces the story become a little bit hard to
understand yet, it catches readers attentions because of it cliffhanger’s style or the intriguing style of
the story. (Rising Action) The need for drug prescriptions for treatment, milk for the baby, and the
everyday needs of him and his wife is battling the protagonist must face in a day-today basis. This
rising action became a very dramatic part in the story which I think the best way of the writer to
touches the heart of every readers. (Climax) Another conflict he has was regarding the suspicious
affair between his friend Isko and his wife. This part of the story was the most revealing part that turns
the story into much more intense scenes and happenings in the story. (Falling action) The sentence
‘his gaze transfixed upon her swaying buttocks” implies a hidden agenda. Though it was not directly
portrayed, the conflict between Bianong and himself is also ongoing all throughout the story. This part
of the story was intended not just to the character but also to the reader that admitting mistakes and
accepting the truth will slowly relieves huge problems. (Resolution) As the story progresses, and as
certain scenes were revealed, Bianong tries to reunite with his inner self, solving the internal
desolation he himself is facing.