WAYWAYA

by F. Sionil Jose (An Excerpt)

Dayaw is from Daya he kidnaps a woman (Waywaya) - at first no given name, from the neighboring
land, Laud. The woman becomes his slave. They produce a son. It turns out that the woman was the
daughter of the chieftain of Laud.The people of Daya and Laud have long been warring tribes. Waywaya
dies. Dayaw with his younger brother Parbangon, against their father's wishes (their father is stated
throughout the story as the Ulo or in Filipino, means the head or chief, yes their father is the chief of Daya -
so they are like princes of Daya) goes to Laud to talk to the chief - Waywaya's father, about peace between
the two tribes. Dayaw knows that the people of Laud will or may both kill them, he has a feeling that death
will come to them and that peace was absolutely uncertain.

At the end, it is unknown whether Dayaw was able to come back to Daya."There is something about
an old tree," he said, "it grows no more. At the same time, it is difficult to cut it down. Its roots are deep
although it can draw no more sustenance from the earth. Maybe, it is right that new trees should grow…"

He ate little when the food finally came, Parbangon ate nothing for he had fallen asleep. They
brought Dayaw wine- sweet and slightly bitter- and he wondered if it would be in the wine. But it was not.

It was late and he must rest so they left him while the feasting and dancing continued outside. He
slept fitfully until dawn- that deep and tranquil quiet when just a tint of purple appeared in the east and stars
still studded the sky like germs. Now thoughts crowded his mind like drones and he was filled once more
with regret that he had not been kinder to her. He could see her now in this time of day, her hair glossy and
black, her precious face, the luminous eyes, the moist lips - the image of her alive and breathing and
touching, pottering in the kitchen, preparing his meal. And the baby - yes their son, how would it be when he
finally became a man?

And Parbangon, would they enslave him or let him return as he had hoped they would, so that he
could tell the Taga Daya? And how would it end for him? He had been trained not to fear death and though
he had considered fighting, there was no sense to it as there was really no logic for his being here, just as the
Ulo had said. No logic, but since when did love have any?

Morning, and time to leave. The old chief was at the door and as he approached, Dayaw glanced at
Parbangon who was still asleep. "Don't wake him up," the chief said softly. "He needs rest; we will take him
back to the river…"

A wave of joy engulfed him. They went down the broad steps, into a brilliant morning where some
of the warriors have already gathered. The old chief put an arm around his shoulder, murmuring. "Husband
of my daughter - my son." "Father of my wife, my father." He returned the farewell. In the clear light,
everything stood out now- the bamboo houses with their grass roofs, the corrals of the pigs, the chicken
houses, the vegetable patches, the orange trees. He knew almost everything around him just as Waywaya
had described it; why he was almost at home!

They walked him to the edge of the village. He must utter now the important word, Waywaya," he
said in reverential prayer, "I loved her."The fruit of our union, a boy. Your blood is in him, he is across the
river. Will you let him grow in peace, ignorant of a time like this?

The chief did not answer and if he did spoke, Dayaw did not hear. The gongs started again and then,
from the women in the distance came the sound of wailing. Was it for him? In his heart, though he was
afraid, he was glad. The forest awaited him but as sure as sunset, he knew that he would not reach the river.
Directions: Determine the type of conflict used in each situation below. Write the letter of your answer
on your answer sheet.

1. You and your older sibling disagree on TV channel to watch.

a. man vs. man b. man vs. self c. man vs. fate d. man vs. nature
2. Your father decides to cut your daily allowance in half to be able to pay the electric bill.
a. man vs. man b. man vs. self c. man vs. fate d. man vs. nature
3. Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer in the Wimbledon final.
a. man vs. man b. man vs. self c. man vs. fate d. man vs. nature
4. Hurricane Katrina destroying a person’s house and livelihood.
a. man vs. man b. man vs. self c. man vs. fate d. man vs. nature
5. An alcoholic struggling to abstain from liquor.
a. man vs. man b. man vs. self c. man vs. fate d. man vs. nature

1. It is the telling of a story.

a. Narration b. Theme c. Plot d. Setting
2. It is the basic purpose of narratives.
a. to inform b. to encourage c. to entertain d. to investigate
3. It is the central premise in the story.
a. Theme b. Character c. Plot d. Conflict
4. This conflict takes place within the mind of the main character, and often involves making decision
between right and wrong.
a. Man vs. Man b. Man vs. Self c. Man vs. Fate d. Man vs. Nature
5. It includes geographical location and other facets about where the story occurs.
a. Theme b. Character c. Plot d. Setting
6. It is a story that is created in a constructive format that describes a sequence of fictional or non-fictional
events.
a. Narrative text b. Plot c. Narration d. Purpose of narrative
7. These include the main character, subordinate or supporting characters and minor characters.
a. Setting b. Characters c. Conflict d. Plot
8. It is also known as interpersonal conflict.
a. Man vs. Man b. Man vs. Nature c. Man vs. Fate d. Man vs. Self
9. It is the way in which the story develops and includes goals of the characters, obstacles they face and
significant turning points.
a. narration b. man vs. man c. plot d. conflict
10.Narratives can also be written to teach or inform.
a. True b. False c. Maybe d. Not at all