Sadicon, Sharmila L February 10,2023

BSC-1204 Activity 1: Tata Selo

Summary
The short story “Tata Selo” by Rogelio Sicat is about a farmer named after
the title of story. Tata Selo is a widower, he lost his wife due to a sickness and
left the daughter named Saling to be alone with his father. Tata Selo wanted to
reclaim his land because he sold it for the sake of his wife who was sick at the
time. But he did not have any money therefore he has to work to reclaim the land
that he once had. The conflict of the story started when Kabesang Tano forces
Tata Selo to leave his land because he already has other farmers on his land.
While begging Tata Selo is begging to not to be dismissed, Kabesang Tano
keeps hitting him on the forehead. Defending himself, he struck Kabesang Tano
and accidentally killed him. From that point, a lot of oppression and inequality can
be perceived against the protagonist of the story.

Setting
The story is set in the Sakahan where Tata Selo and Kabesang Tano
fought. Another setting of the story is Munisipyo and Istaked where the
discussion of Tata Selo and Kabesang Tano incident done. These are the places
where the main event happened in the story.

Characters and Characterization

-Kabesang Tano
the poor landowner who was killed by tata selo
-Mga Pulis
-Alkalde o Presidente kahanggan ni tata selo
He is the mayor of the town. He is the one who talks to Saling about her
father’s case.
-Hepe
He is the chief police officer who ruthlessly hurt the oppressed farmer,
Tata Selo.
-Binatang mayaman
He is the son of the richest proprietor in San Roque. He is tall and white.
He wears shade glasses and standing with his arm akimbo while smoking
cigarette.
-Tata Selo
Round character
The story revolves around him
Was characterized as weak, helpless, polite, and a loving father
 -Saling
Daugther of Tata Selo, who worked for the captain in his house but went
home to Tata Selo sick, the nature of sickness we know little about but
may pertain not to a conventional sickness but to a sickness of which
woman reputation is at stake.

Point of View
-Third-person objective
- Has a neutral narrator that is not privy to characters’ thoughts or feelings. The
narrator presents the story with an observational tone.

Plot Device
-In medias res
-(Latin: “in the midst of things”)
- Supplies exposition thru flashbacks or conversations

Conflict
-Man vs. man
Because each side have their own belief and compromise.
Theme
-Injustice

Message
Through Tata Selo’s struggle for justice, Rogelio Sikat were able to use
his protagonist to symbolically represent the injustices that the poor are
experiencing as well as the exploitation of the landlord to his tenant/kasama.
Filipino social belief presents in the story: “utang na loob” and “padrino
system”.