Lesson 10: National Capital Region (NCR)

INTRODUCTION
The National Capital Region, or called as Metro Manila, is the most populous of the
twelve defined metropolitan areas in the Philippines and the 11th most populous in the
world.
The region is the political, economic, social, cultural, and educational center of the
Philippines. As proclaimed by Presidential Decree No. 940, Metro Manila as a whole is
the Philippines’ seat of government while the City of Manila is the capital. The cities that
comprise the NCR Region are: Caloocan City, Las Piñas City, Makati City, Malabon City,
Mandaluyong City, Manila City, Marikina City, Muntinlupa City, Navotas City,
Parañaque City, Pasay City, Pasig City, Quezon City, San Juan City, Taguig City,
Valenzuela City.
NCR is the smallest region in the Philippines and found on the largest island of Luzon. It
shares borders with only two other regions, Central Luzon Region or Region 3 and
Calabarzon Region or Region 4a. The province of Bulacan in Central Luzon Region is to
the north. Sharing a border to the northeast is Rizal Province, which is part of
Calabarzon Region. Also, from Calabarzon Region are the provinces of Cavite and
Laguna which are to the south of the National Capital Region.To the east and the west
you have water, Laguna de Bay and Manila Bay respectively. Both these bays are joined
by the Pasig River.

Learning Objectives

 Students can discuss the literature of NCR

 Students can classify the various Literary Genres
 Students can justify dilemmas in the stories;
 Students can assess characters in the story; reflect and compose insights formed
on their readings.
DISCUSSION
A. Footnote to Youth by Jose Garcia Villa

(Read the Story.)

B. Liham ni Pinay mula sa Brunei by Elynia Ruth Mabanglo

Ako’y guro, asawa at ina.

Isang babae--pupol ng pabango, pulbos at seda,
Kaulayaw ng batya, kaldero at kama.
Napagod yata ako’t nanghinawa,
Nagsikap mangibang-lupa.
 
Iyo’t iyon din ang lalaking umuupo sa kabisera,
Nagbabasa ng diyaryo uma-umaga.
Naghihintay siya ng kape
At naninigarilyo,
Habang kagkag ako sa pagitan ng kuna at libro,
Nagpapahid ng lipstick at nagpapatulo ng gripo.
Hindi siya nag-aangat ng mukha
Umaaso man ang kawali o umiingit ang bata.
Hinahatdan ko siya ng brief at tuwalya sa banyo,
Inaaliw kung mainit ang ulo.
Wala siyang paliwanag
Kung bakit hindi siya umuwi magdamag,
Ngunit kunot na kunot ang kanyang noo
Kapag umaalis ako ng Linggo.
Ayaw niya ng galunggong at saluyot
Kahit pipis ang sobreng inabot,
Ibig pa yatang maghimala ako ng ulam
Kahit ang pangrenta’y laging kulang.
  
Ako’y guro, asawa at ina.
Isang babae-- napapagal sa pagiging babae.
Itinakda ng kabahaging
Masumpa sa walis, labada’t oyayi
Kahit may propesyo’t kumikita ng salapi.
Iyo’t iyon din ang ruta ng araw-araw--
Kabagutang nakalatag sa kahabaan
Ng bahay at paaralan,
Ng kusina’t higaan.
 
May karapatan ba akong magmukmok?
Saan ako tatakbo kung ako’y malungkot?
May beerhouse at massage parlor na tambayan
Ang kabiyak kong nag-aasam,
Nasa bintana ako’t naghihintay.
Nagbabaga ang katawan ko sa paghahanap,
May krus ang dila ko’t di makapangusap.
Humihingi ng tinapay ang mga anak ko,
Itinotodo ko ang bolyum ng radyo.
Napagod yata ako’t nanghinawa,
Nagsikap mangibang-lupa.
 
Noon ako nanaginip na nakapantalon,
Nagpapadala ng dolyar at pasalubong.
Nakakahinga na ako ngayon nang maluwag,
Walang susi ang bibig, ang isip ay bukas.
Aaminin kong ako’y nangungulila
Ngunit sariling kape ko na ang tinitimpla.
Nag-aabang ako ng sulat sa tarangkaha’t pinto,
Sa telepono’y nabubusog ang puso.
 Umiiyak ako noong una,
Nagagamot pala ang lahat sa pagbabasa.
 
Ito lamang ang sagot,
Bayaang lalaki ang maglaba ng kumot.

C. D.H by Genoveva Edrozap Matute

D. When you see a Mother, you see God by Anita S. Meily

What is a mother’s love? A noble, pure and tender flamed enkindled from above.

-James Montgomery

“God could net be anywhere physically. So, he created Mothers.” This is common saying.
Everybody loves a mother, for it is our mothers who gave us life.

The word, “mother”, conjures feelings like unconditional love, security, and acceptance.
Hence, saying, “this is a face only a mother can love.” Mother also means peace and comfort”.
My soul is tranquil like a child in its mother’s breast. (Ps. 131:12)

A mother’s love is absolutely necessary for the normal up-bringing a child- for his
emotion.al, mental, and psychological development. Rene Apitz, an Australian Psychiatrist,
showed in his studies that children reared without a motherly love development psychiatric
disturbance or became a problem children.

When we speak of motherly love, we are referring to the person who does the mothering
and loves the child. This is not necessarily always the biological mother. This may be even the
father od the adoptive parents.

Studies show that the bonding between a child and the adoptive mother is established
early in life, whatever close relationship may be formed later n life between the child and
biological mother will no longer be comparable to the formed with the adoptive mother.
 Motherly love must be made visible and truly felt by the child. This manifestation through
the sound, touch and smile. More affectionate cooing sounds to a baby. Cuddle, fondle, kiss
and hugs the child often. Touch is important during the first three years of its life. A smiling face
conveys love and acceptance. Studies suggest that if the child does not love in his/her early
years, it will be difficult , if not possible, to repair the physical and emotional damage that may
result from this.

Love is not inborn. It is learned. We can only give love if we have felt and known how it
is to be loved.

As child grows, however, love must be communicated more on psychological attitude odf
the mother, expressed in time, attention, and interest she gives. An adolescence once told me,
“the time my mother spends with me makes me so special.” Words and feelings should be flow
freely between them.

This does not mean that the mother should not discipline a child. Discipline, it said, is
bond of love. Only one who loves can discipline the child. The child will feel more secure if there
are limits set by mother, and she sees to it that these are kept.

There is no such this a s perfect mother. I have made mistakes in my mothering years
and still do at my age. In fact, my children relate the many booboo I made, and we laugh about
them together. As long the mother truly loves the child, and the child know this, she needs not
worry that her mistakes will damage the child of life. In the whole spectrum of a mother’s
constant love that matters.

The most important task of motherly love as the child grows is to provide support and
encouragement needed by the child to be his own persona. Then-let go. Motherly love,
however, never ends. One never ceases being a mother.

In a beautiful homily, Bishop Socrates Villegas compared the water with a mother. “Man
cannot live without water,” he said. “Neither man can live without a mother.” Water gives life;
mothers are instruments of life. Abuse water by destroying the rainforest and watersheds and
floods will destroy the earth. Destroy mothers and you destroy the world. “When you see a
mother, you see God,” concluded Bishop Soc. Bless all Mothers!

And Life Goes On…

Philippine Panorama 19 May 2004

 Enrichment Activity

A. Footnote to Youth
1. What made Dodong feel that he was no longer a boy but a man?
2. Why was Dodong’s father sorry about his son’s decision to marry Teang?
3. Why was Dodong confused when his young wife was giving birth? Would you
have felt the same?
4. How did Teang find married life? Did she regret her early marriage? How about
Dodong? Cite instances in the story to prove your answer.
5. Why did Dodong not object his son’s decision to marry at a young age?
6. If you were Dodong, would you have allowed your son / daughter to marry at a
young age? Why or why not?
7. What message does the author wish to convey to the youth of today?
8. Why the story entitled “Footnote to Youth”?
9. Identify the theme and draw out insights about the youth of today.
10. Compare and contrast the scene between Blas and his father; Dodong and his
father.

B. Liham ni Piany mula sa Brunei

1. Describe the woman in the poem.
2. What is the theme of the story? Extract insights.
3. What is the Feminist ideologies are reflected in the poem?
4. How would you respond to the persona in the poem.

C. D.H.
1. Discuss the conflict in the story.
2. Explain How the conflicts are solved in the story.
3. What symbolism are used in the story?
4. How is the story relevant to present da issues?

D. When you see a mother, you see God.

1. Why is the essay given such title?
2. What is the theme of the essay?
3. What insight can be extracted from the essay?
 REFERENCES

Enriquez, Delia C. (2006). Philippine Literature: A Regional Approach. National

Bookstore: Mandaluyong City, Philippines.

Patron, Ida Yap (2002). Interactive Reading-Responding to and Writing About the
Philippine Literature. Great Books Trading: Quezon City.

https://philippinescities.com/ncr-national-capital-region/
http://www2.hawaii.edu/~mabanglo/tagLiham_brunei.htm