JOHN MARK SALDO 11-WISDOM EAPP

The Virgin
(by: Kerima Polotan)

The Virgin by Kerima Polotan, she wrote this short story on 1952. The
Virgin, won two first prizes: of the Philippines Free Press Literary Awards and
of the Palanca Awards. “The Virgin” is a story about a woman named Miss
Mijares that was about 34 years old, And the carpenter. This short story talks
about how important virginity to a woman, and filipina should be proud to
maintain her virginity.

In 34 years, Ms. Mijares had never been committed in a relationship, when

she was younger love does not cross her mind, and she always think about
going and graduating to college. She also needs to take care of her niece and
her mother; her duties did not allow her to be in a relationship. The first
encounter of Ms. Mijares and the carpenter is at the job interview, Ms. Mijares
thinks that she is superior to others. She uses polite language to communicate.
She dedicated her early years for her mother, she valued her family more than
herself. She really suffers from the death of her mother and it changes her
personality, she had learned how to dress herself, she became soft hearted and
open to others. She’s emotionally attached to the carpenter that she became
angry when she knows that the carpenter has a son, she thought he was
single. But this didn’t affect her feelings for the carpenter, she soon accepts
that the carpenter has a son and never complains about it.

The virgin deals how Ms. Mijares life was change by the carpenter, after all
the things that happened to her when she was younger that caused her to be
cold, and have a strong personality. Ms. Mijares is now free from all her
problems because of the carpenter who brought order in her life, the carpenter
fixed the life of Ms. Mijares, her love for the carpenter change her life for the
better. She has gone through the protesting stage and now she is able to
express herself, her own feelings, and her own desires. She is now capable of
going beyond her social roles as she reveals that she is ready to surrender
herself to the carpenter. Her virginity is a symbol of dignity; however it is a part
of the women’s purpose to have a man who will be able to consume that long
preserved virginity.
 Us a new generation we must read this story, because it well teach us how
to value what we already have, than what we want to have. It also teaches us to
have clear priority, just like Ms. Mijares, even if she somehow suffers from her
experiences, but at least she knows her priority. I think the one knowledge that
I want to share with you is always think the possible outcome of your every
decisions.